Maura Rosner reports for Columbia-Greene Media on June 1 Village of Athens officials celebrated the community’s first public electric vehicle charging stations. “This has been a long time coming,” said Athens Mayor Amy Serrago. “We’ve been looking forward to this visible symbol in the heart of our community that shows we are committed to do our part in the fight against global climate change.” The $41,400 for the two chargers with two ports each will be covered mostly by a $10,215 grant from the Athens Community Foundation, $16,000 in rebates from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority, and a $13,700 incentive from Central Hudson. The village will charge citizens $1 per hour for use of the charging stations. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Noah Zweifel reports for the Altamont Enterprise that the Carey Institute is selling its historic 90-acre campus in Rensselaerville and has implemented a conservation easement regulating possible future development. Any new building will be limited to a 16-acre zone where there are already existing buildings, and the total square-footage of all current and future commercial structures can’t exceed an additional 25 percent of the current total. Mohawk Hudson Executive Director Mark King said that the easement “is especially important because of the institute’s proximity to Myositis Lake,” which is in Rensselaerville’s Huyck Preserve. “The easement also limits the potential for disturbance of steep forested slopes along Route 85 entering the hamlet of Rensselaerville,” King said. “This helps maintain the visual character of the area by creating a distinct boundary between the hamlet and the surrounding rural and agricultural landscape, something that is frequently lost in communities as development spreads.” The property has been for sale since 2020 for $2.75 million. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.

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Central Hudson Gas & Electric Company May 31, said that natural gas prices will increase beginning June 1. The utility said the supply price for natural gas will rise to 77 cents per 100 cubic feet, up from 64 cents in May, a 20 percent increase. Central Hudson said that while the use of natural gas “by homes and residents is typically lower in June, supply prices stated on bills and overall bill impacts will vary for individual customers depending on their billing cycle and energy usage." Joseph Jenkins, a Central Hudson spokesman said electricity price changes for the month will be available on June 9 or 10. Central Hudson is deferring gas spot purchases made earlier this year and spreading those costs throughout the 2023 calendar year to help reduce overall bill impacts to customers. “These spot purchases were necessary during the periods of extreme cold this winter to meet the heating needs of residents and businesses,” the company said in a press release. The state Public Service Commission recently announced that while the state is prepared to meet the increased demand for electricity this summer, it anticipates supply costs to increase. The gas supply announcement comes amid thousands of complaints about high Central Hudson bills, and investigations by the Public Service Commission, and a state Senate committee.

MidHudson News is reporting one-term Republican state Senator Michael Martucci announced May 31, that he will not seek re-election in November. “Stepping away from this race is a very difficult decision for me because it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve communities across four counties, and I believe that my team and I have done tremendous work in just two years in office,” he said. The redistricting process would have pitted Martucci against Senator James Skoufis, a Democrat. Martucci said when he first declared candidacy, the district he petitioned in “was completely different from the one that exists today.” He said because of the prolonged process, he had no idea what the new 42nd District would look like or who his opponent would be until last weekend. Martucci said even though he is stepping aside, “I want to be clear about one important fact — this seat has been in Republican hands for most of the last 50 years and I expect it to remain that way.” Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media former Columbia County Undersheriff James Blass was arraigned in court May 31, on child pornography charges. Blass waived his right to indictment. He was arrested in March by state police after the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children notified the state police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit that an image of child pornography was allegedly discovered on one of Blass’ internet accounts. Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Joyce Crawford. Crawford asked Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek to issue an order of protection barring Blass from contact with any children under the age of 18. If convicted, Blass faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. Police began investigating Blass last fall and the probe involved the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, state police Computer Crimes Unit, state police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office Investigators determined that Blass was in possession of child pornography and he was charged with possession of a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony. Blass served with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years, retiring in 1997. Blass also served as Copake town justice and Copake police chief when the town had a police department. Blass is due back in court on July 15. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

This summer's election schedule is complicated, and the first deadline for voters is June 3. That is the deadline to register by mail or in-person to vote in the June 28 primary election. Mailed-in applications to register to vote must be postmarked no later than June 3, and received by a board of elections no later than June 8, to be eligible to vote in the primary election. June 8 is the deadline for registered voters to change their address to vote locally. This summer there are primary elections for governor and state assembly on June 28, a special election for Congress and primary elections for Congress and the state Senate on Aug. 23, and then the general election on Nov. 8.

Jon Brodkin reports at Ars Technica that on May 31 the U.S. Supreme Court over ruled a Texas law banning “censorship” on social media on a 5-4 vote. Amy Coney Barrett, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Brett Kavanaugh, and John Roberts voted to over turn the Texas law, while Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch dissented, and Elena Kagan voted against but did not sign on to Alito's dissent. The Texas law said, "social media platform may not censor a user" based on the user's "viewpoint" and defines "censor" as "block, ban, remove, deplatform, demonetize, de-boost, restrict, deny equal access or visibility to, or otherwise discriminate against expression." The law was largely created because Twitter banned former President Donald Trump. The Texas law, "would have been a disaster for social media users and for public discourse," said John Bergmayer, legal director for consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge. "It would have ordered social media platforms to host and distribute horrific and distasteful content, and to turn a blind eye to hate, abuse, and coordinated misinformation campaigns. The main result of these policies would not be to enhance free speech, but to keep people from speaking by driving them away from toxic platforms." Read more about this story at Ars Technica.

Former Governor Cuomo and the state Democrats have passed laws to prevent independent third party candidates from running for statewide office, among the hardest ballot access laws in the world. Still, the Green Party is mounting a challenge. We talk with public health care worker Gloria Mattera, their nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

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Sarah Taddeo and Mike Stucka report in the Poughkeepsie Journal that New York's COVID-19 case counts dropped 36.5 percent last week. There were 45,469 new cases last week, down from 71,647 new cases the week before. New York now ranks 22nd in the country for new cases. But 32 out of New York's 62 counties counties are still in the high-risk COVID-19 category. Greene County is only at medium risk, while Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Dutchess, and Ulster county residents are still at high-risk and should wear masks in indoor public settings. "It is important that we don't let our guard down and continue to use the tools we have available to us to stay safe and healthy," Gov. Kathy Hochul said May 27. "The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness is to get vaccinated and keep up to date with your booster doses." Read more about this story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Spectrum News reports that gas prices could be lower on June 1 New York's state gas tax suspension begins. In April, lawmakers voted to suspend collection of the gas tax from June 1 to January 1. Lawmakers are passing on more than $600 million in revenue, and giving back consumers 16-cents per gallon. Local counties have the option to all suspend their share of the gas tax too, but few have. Oswego, Onondaga, Monroe and Dutchess counties are among the counties giving their share of the gas tax back to consumers. Gas Buddy reports the average price of gasoline throughout New York is close to $5 a gallon, with $4.87 reported in Albany. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Lt. Gov.Antonio Delgado was among those attending a vigil for victims and families of the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings May 28 in Poughkeepsie. “When you marry hate to the access to weapons of war, you get calamity, you get the heinous reality that we are experiencing right now in America,” he said. “Then you factor in the way we have been detached from each other, social media, and the ways individuals can go down rabbit holes and struggle to find themselves and lose their wherewithal as a result, so the mental health peace is also a factor.” That vigil was sponsored by Moms Demand Action in the Hudson Valley and Hudson Valley Strong - Indivisible. The March For Our Lives group is planning anti-gun violence rallies around the country in June 11. Locally, so far there are marches planned that day in Saugerties, Peekskill, and in Western Massachusetts. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

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The Times Union is reporting tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer, Amtrak's newest train service, for travel between Pittsfield, Mass. and New York City. Service will begin July 8, and will run through the summer between Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield via Albany-Rensselaer, with several stops in between. Amtrak is offering the service in conjunction with the Massachusetts and New York departments of transportation. Tickets are available via Amtrak [dot] com, the Amtrak app, Amtrak ticket desks and kiosks, and by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. The Berkshire Flyer will leave New York Penn Station at 3:16 p.m. every Friday and arrive at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield, at 7:12 p.m. The train will make all the intermediate station stops as the typical Amtrak Empire Service train does, including Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany-Rensselaer. The Sunday return trip will depart Pittsfield at 3 p.m. and arrive in Manhattan at 7:05 p.m., making all the same  stops. The route will be evaluated to determine its feasibility and demand, including deciding on its schedule and identifying specific infrastructure improvements or service changes that may be needed, Amtrak said. Read more in the Times Union.

Lauren Stanforth is reporting for the Times Union that the state has unveiled four mobile response units for use in Albany, Monroe, Onondaga, and Westchester counties to bring services to families in crisis. The units will satisfy requirements in the Family First Prevention Services Act, a 2018 federal law that allows states to use certain funds for prevention services that would allow children in danger of being removed from their homes to stay with their parents, relatives or caregivers. “The time is long overdue for our child protection system to move from a reactive approach where supports and services are offered to families only after they’ve had contact with the system to new approaches that encourage parents to seek help and receive assistance when they need it,” state Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Sheila J. Poole said in a statement. The units resemble mobile command units on the outside, and a recreational vehicle inside, and are staffed with a licensed clinician, a behavioral health specialist, and a family and/or domestic violence advocate. The hope is that an explosive situation at home can be de-escalated before children enter the foster care system, or are moved to a different foster care placement. The state hopes to expand the program to additional counties in the future. Read the full story in the Times Union.

David Lee is reporting for The Columbia Paper the newly completed Columbia Columbia County training center has officially opened. On May 21, the P.J. Keeler Columbia Columbia County Emergency Services and Response Training Facility was dedicated. The facility is located at the end of 50 Grandinetti Drive off Bender Boulevard at the south end of the Columbia County Airport, inside the Gerald R. Simons Commerce Park. The facility was named in honor of EMS Coordinator Keeler, an active member of Claverack's A.B. Shaw Fire Company for 46 years, and a 42-year member of the Greenport Rescue Squad. Keeler is credited with leading the effort to create and implement a coordinated EMS system, the first of its kind in the state. He also developed a plan to fund the 2018 state law requiring volunteer firefighters to have insurance coverage for cancer-related illnesses. During the dedication ceremony, Keeler spoke of the importance of the work done by first responders. “What we do actually matters in people’s lives,” he said. “People remember our calm in the face of crisis.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

France 24 reports about civilians hiding in basement bomb shelters in besieged Ukrainian cities such as Lysychansk, where they rarely see the sun and mostly rely on the radio for information. And just what channel is tuned in makes all the difference. "The Russians on the radio just said that they have captured Bakhmut. Is that true?" Natalia Georgiyevna anxiously asked about a nearby city. "We do not really know anything," her neighbour Viktoria Viktorovna responds from a corner cot positioned just outside a beam of light that's the only brightness in the dank cellar. "I guess we still have the Ukrainians here, no?" she asks, as unidentified voices on the radio fade in and out. "The Russians are saying they are winning and the Ukrainians are saying they are," Natalia Georgiyevna said. "When we still had the internet, we could watch the news. But now... I have no idea who these voices are or where they come from."

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