Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media that the Coeymans planning and zoning board of appeals on June 1 granted an appeal filed by Town Supervisor George McHugh over a proposed series of music events at Magic Forest Farm. The board’s decision likely means the full concert series will not take place, but the farm’s operator is hoping to stage one of the events slated to take place in August with 250 people booked to attend. McHugh filed the appeal on April 12, requesting that the property owner be required to apply for a use variance rather than a special-use permit for the full series, which would include on-site camping at the farm located on Bucks Ranch Road. The farm’s operator, Jason Ball, and property owner, Joan Mahony, had applied to the town for a special-use permit to hold five concerts beginning in mid-June and continuing through October. This is the first time the farm owner and operator have applied to the planning and zoning board of appeals for a special-use permit for such an event. Ball asked if they would be allowed to hold the smallest concert. “The big guys, they are able to go and get another venue easily, but the 250-person event where it’s the band throwing it, it’s very difficult for them and they will be out $5,000 or $6,000,” Ball said. “I am asking if I move forward with one event and abide by the sound ordinance, do I pay a fine or will the event be shut down? What can I do to proceed with one August event?” The town attorney and code enforcement officer agreed to meet with Ball and Mahony to review the code and see what would be permissible under town law. Read more at TheUpStater [dot] com.

Inside Radio guesses at what will become this year's song of the summer, the song endlessly heard on radios at street parties, around pools, and on vacations. Currently, Harry Styles' “As It Was” and Lizzo's “About Damn Time” are the song's most likely to become the song of the summer of 2022, according to radio industry experts. But the 2022 song of the summer might come from a previous year, "As catalog music has shown an increase in streaming since COVID, accounting for 70 percent of listening according to Luminate, streaming of current titles has fallen another 3.5 percent in 2022 to date," the story reports. Two songs of last year's summer, Dua Lipa's “Levitating” and Olivia Rodrigo's “Good 4 U,” rank number 24 and number 29, respectively, on the current Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart. “A combination of older streamers tuning in, younger listeners discovering decades-old hits through the explosion of social-video platforms like TikTok, and listeners turning to familiar tunes for comfort during the pandemic lockdowns all led to a rise in such nostalgia listening,” The Wall Street Journal's Anne Steele writes. So Billboard's Gary Trust says, “It’s hard for any one song or one sound to dominate streaming like it used to be.” Read more about this story at Inside Radio.

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Andrew Waite reports for the Daily Gazette that Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik made a rare appearance at a press conference about milk in Albany May 31. It was the first time Stefanik faced reporters since 19 children and two adults were murdered at an elementary school in Texas. “I do not support gun control. But there is work that we need to do, and that is increasing mental health funding,” Stefanik said. “We need to increase school resource officers and make sure that we’re working with our county sheriffs to protect our schools that are most vulnerable.” Matt Castelli, who is one of two Democrats, pointed out Stefanik was not addressing her constituents, which will not include all Rensselaer County residents, because of redistricting. “She’s not in her district. She’s in Albany talking about something that is not related to the job of representing the 21st Congressional District,” said Castelli. “There should be no more compelling issue facing our country right now than addressing the insecurity that our parents and our kids and our teachers are facing with this threat of gun violence in our schools.” Stefanik did say she supported the Fix NICS Act, which strengthened the federal background check system – the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. But Castelli pointed out Stefanik voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. “I would just highlight that she has been in Congress for (nearly) eight years and hasn’t been able to solve this problem,” Castelli said. “It’s not surprising to hear Congresswoman Stefanik’s remarks. She’s got a pattern of behavior where every one of her actions is all about service to herself. In this instance, it’s about putting the needs of her special-interest donors and her gun [advocating] husband above the lives of our kids and the safety of our communities.” Last week, the Times Union reported that Stefanik’s husband, Matthew Manda, manages the public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, based in Newtown, Conn. Read more about this story in the Daily Gazette.

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.