MidHudson News reports that swastikas and racially charged graffiti have been turning up in Hyde Park, in Dutchess County. Last week in the Pine Brook Estates neighborhood swastikas were spray-painted on the streets, street signs were damaged, and other signs stolen, according to Dutchess County Legislator Ben Geller. A Hyde Park Police Department detective in investigating, and police patrols in the area have been increased. "Hate has no home in Hyde Park. I’m beyond disgusted at the bigotry and repeat vandalism in this neighborhood,” Geller said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hyde Park Police Department at 845-229-9340 or email them to HydeParkPoliceTips@hydeparkny.us. Read more about this story at MidHudson News.

Today's daily news update.

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Voters statewide go the polls May 17, to cast their ballots in the annual school board elections and district budget votes. Andrea Macko reports that in Greene County, all six school districts have proposed spending plans for the 2022-23 school year that fall below their state tax caps. If any budget is rejected by the voters, the district can resubmit the original spending plan or submit a revised proposal to voters on June 21. If that budget is also rejected, the district must adopt a contingency budget with a 0 percent tax levy increase.

Greene County
The Cairo-Durham School District is proposing a $35.18 million annual budget that carries a tax levy increase of 2.9 percent. The district is also looking for voters to approve three additional propositions: the purchase of six school buses at a cost not to exceed $686,000; the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund; and an $848 increase to the annual appropriation for the Cairo Public Library. Voters will select candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education each carrying three-year terms. Information at CairoDurham [dot] org.
The Catskill School District is proposing a budget of $48.6 million that carries a projected tax levy increase of 1.85 percent. The Board of Education has also proposed a separate proposition that would allow the district to bond up to $400,000 over a five-year period to replace aging maintenance and grounds equipment, as well as purchase a 16-passenger school bus. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at CatskillCSD [dot] org.
The Greenville School District is proposing a budget of $33.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.25 percent. Voters will be asked to decide on a $700 increase for the Greenville Public Library and a $563 increase for the Rensselaerville Library. There will be a proposition to authorize the district to bond up to $1.2 million to purchase eight new buses and two vans as part of its fleet replacement plan. And, voters will be asked to approve the district to create a new capital reserve fund to be capped at $2 million. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at Greenville [dot] K12 [dot] NY [dot] us.
The Coxsackie-Athens School District is proposing a budget of $34.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.92 percent. Voters will elect candidates to fill three seats on the Board of Education that carry three-year terms. Information at CACSD [dot] org.
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District is proposing a budget of $13.26 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.76 percent. Voters will also decide on a capital project not to exceed $5,655,000. Voters will be selecting one Board of Education member to five-year terms. Information at WAJCS [dot] org.
The Hunter-Tannersville School District is proposing a budget of $14.7 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.36 percent. Voters will be asked to authorize the district to acquire school buses at a maximum cost of $73,000 from the Bus and Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund, and to authorize the acquisition of a transportation vehicle at a maximum cost of $39,000, also from the Bus and Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund. Voters will be asked to select one Board of Education member to fill five-year terms. Information at HTCSD [dot] org.

Columbia County
Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham School Board is proposing a budget of $33.62 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.75 percent. The board also adopted a separate proposition that would create a Capital Reserve Fund allowing the district to set aside up to $5 million over a 10-year period to fund future improvements to the district’s facilities. Voters will be asked to select four Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at ChathamCentralSchools [dot] com.
The Germantown School Board is proposing a budget of $16.9 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.69 percent. Voters will also be asked to select two Board of Education members to fill four-year terms. Information at GermantownCSD [dot] org.
The Hudson School District is proposing a budget of $54.13 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2 percent. Voters will be asked to select five Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at HudsonCSD [dot] org.
The Ichabod Crane School District is proposing a budget of $46.6 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.3 percent. The board is also asking for the approval of a $444,000 bus proposition, providing for the purchase of three new 72-passenger buses and one new 29-passenger bus. There is also a proposition to continue having a student non-voting member on the board. Voters will be asked to select three Board of Education members to serve three-year terms. Information at IchabodCrane [dot] org.
The New Lebanon School Board is proposing a budget of $12.9 million with a projected tax levy increase of 2.3 percent. There is also a proposition on the ballot for the purchase of two 66-passenger buses at a cost not to exceed $251,000. Voters will also be asked to select three Board of Education members. Information at New LebanonCSD [dot] org.
The Taconic Hills School District is proposing a budget of $39.68 million budget with a projected tax levy increase of 1 percent. There are also propositions on the ballot for purchasing three school buses at a maximum cost of $393,500 and authorizing the board to reconstruct various district buildings and sites with incidental costs of $691,000. Voters will be asked to select four Board of Education members to serve terms of various duration. Information at TaconicHills [dot] K12 [dot] NY [dot] US.

Randy J. Stine at Radio World breaks down the results from the TechSurvey from Jacobs Media showing the COVID-19 pandemic lowering the amount of radio listening. The 12 percent drop in radio listening in the past year is mainly due, the survey reports, to less time spent in cars. “Since COVID, listening less in the car and lifestyle changes are the top reasons people are listening less to the radio,” said Fred Jacobs, president of Jacobs Media. Many people now work from home, who did not before, and others have changed jobs or professions since the pandemic began. While some are listening to the radio less, others surveyed said they now had a stronger bond with their favorite local station. “In a strange sort of way, some radio stations have actually benefitted from COVID in terms of making that closer connection to their audience when they needed it most,” Jacobs said. Folks surveyed felt a stronger bond, mostly, to local stations. “Overall, the local piece turns out to be a very important factor here,” Jacobs says. Read more about this story at Radio World.

Today's daily news update.

Michelle Del Rey reports in the Times Union Rep. Elise Stefanik, a North Country Republican, used the same replacement theory in Facebook ads last fall that the racist Buffalo mass-shooter allegedly cited numerous times in his online screed. Several media descriptions of the shooter's post say he believed in the discredited theory that white Americans are being replaced by foreign migrants. Stefanik's ad said, "Radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a PERMANENT ELECTION INSURRECTION. Their plan to grant amnesty to 11 MILLION illegal immigrants will overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington." Even though the language in Stefanik's ad was nearly identical to racist replacement theory chatter online and on Tucker Carlson's Fox TV show, her spokesperson denied the link. "We've never been in favor of 'replacement theory,' " said Alex deGrasse, Stefanik's spokesperson. He added that the congresswoman, "has never advocated for any racist position or made a racist statement." According to the National Immigration Forum, the replacement theory, "states that welcoming immigration policies — particularly those impacting nonwhite immigrants — are part of a plot designed to undermine or 'replace' the political power and culture of white people living in Western countries." The New York shooter traveled from the Binghamton area to a predominately Black area of Buffalo where he shot 11 Black and two white citizens, killing ten. America has welcomed migrants since forming in 1776, and only Native Americans would be here without immigration. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

MidHudson News reports that scammers often attempt to take advantage of tragedies, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. On May 15, James issued a warning to New Yorkers to watch out for potentially fraudulent charities created in the wake of the racist terror attack in Buffalo. James suggests that anyone who wants to make a donation to assist victims of the shooting should first consult the office’s charitable giving tips before donating. “In the wake of tragedies, like the horrific shooting in Buffalo, scammers often take advantage of acts of kindness for personal gain,” said James. “As New Yorkers from every corner of the state show their support and solidarity with the Buffalo community, I urge them to be careful of sham charities and make sure they give to trustworthy organizations and groups. I join the whole Buffalo community and the entire state of New York in mourning this senseless, hate-filled act of terror.” The attorney general’s website, charitiesnys.com includes financial reports of legitimate charities. Anyone who believes an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, should contact the Charities Bureau at charities.complaints@ag.ny.gov. Read more about this story at MidHudson News.

Emily Brown and Rebecca McCray report in New York Focus that New York prisoners are losing their right to regularly receive care packages by mail or in person from family and friends. The new policy right now is for eight prisons, but is a pilot program meant to expand to all New York prisons. Family and friends will not be allowed anymore to bring loved ones packages of food when they come to visit or to send them through the mail. And they also can’t send more than two non-food packages per year. And everything else must be purchased and sent through private companies willing to ship to prisons. “Am I going to be prevented from getting winter clothes if I get a book from my mom in the summer?” asked Jeremy Zielinski, who is currently incarcerated at Attica. Acting Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Anthony Annucci said in a memo that the new policy is a response to, “an increase in violence and overdoses due to the introduction of contraband through the package room, specifically, illicit drugs and weapons.” Contraband, though, gets to inmates in multiple ways, and limiting mail won't do anything to stop corrections officers from bringing drugs, weapons, and other contraband into prisons and jails. While many cases of corrections officers smuggling contraband for prisoners are in the public record, an investigation into the similar limiting of mail by Texas corrections officials in 2020 showed no impact on the amount of drugs circulating in that state's prisons. In 2018, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo halted a similar policy called the “Secure Vendor Package Program,” which limited packages to coming from vendors with limited selections with prices as much as 130 percent higher than on the outside. “I did 12 years in prison. My whole time in prison, I’ve never received a package from a vendor,” says Michael Capers, who was incarcerated at Upstate, Franklin, and Fishkill Correctional Facilities. “And the reason being is because it’s too expensive. So my family, I told them I’d rather have nothing than to make them pay extra money.” The new policy will end one program from a Germantown farm. Jalal Sabur, founder of Sweet Freedom Farm in Germantown, set up farm stands at the Fishkill and Attica prisons, where they hand out fresh food for visitors to give to inmates. “Now, no one can actually bring those packages in,” Sabur said. “So that whole program that we’ve been doing, we can’t do anymore.” Read more about this story in New York Focus.

Today's daily news update.

Updated @12:55 p.m.

These schools have announced schedule changes for Mon., May 16, in anticipation of forecasted inclement weather:
Cairo-Durham Central School District | Open. No afternoon activities; no after-school events.
Germantown Central School District | Closing early at 1:30 p.m. No after-school program. No afternoon BOCES. No afternoon or evening events. No after-school events.
Greenville Central School District | Open. No after-school program. No after-school events. No late bus.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District | Closing at 1:15 p.m. Elementary at 1:30 p.m. No after-school program.
Ichabod Crane Central School District | Open. Regular dismissal. No after-school program. No after-school activities. No after-school events.
Onteora Central School District | Open. No after-school program. No after-school events.
Pine Plains Central School District | Closing at 12 p.m.; elementary school at 1:15 p.m. No afternoon BOCES. No afternoon activities. Art show rescheduled to Wed., May 18.
Rondout Valley Central School District | District closing at 1 p.m.; elementary at 2 p.m.; middle school, high school at 1 p.m. No after-school program.
Saugerties Central School District | District closing at 1 p.m. Elementary at 2:15 and 2:45 p.m.; junior/senior high school at 1 p.m.
Taconic Hills Central School District | Open. No after-school program. No afternoon activities. No after-school events.

Click above to download or play today's "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics that on May 15 Gov. Kathy Hochul called for limiting the spread of hate and white supremacy online in the wake of the mass shooting in Buffalo the day before that killed 10 people and injured three. “It’s spreading like a virus now,” she said on ABC's "This Week." Police believe the alleged shooter was motivated in part by racist conspiracy theories such as the so-called replacement of white people by immigrants. Hochul said she is worried that copycat crimes could happen. It's not clear what action the Hochul administration or state lawmakers may take in response. In her State of the State address, Hochul called for efforts to better scrutinize social media postings to identify potential hate crimes before they occur. The governor voiced support for strengthening the State Police's Social Media Analysis Unit to perform a daily review of publicly available social media activity. The proposal was focused on monitoring school violence threats, gang activity and illegal firearms. Hochul on May 15 indicated the alleged shooter Payton Gendron was not known to law enforcement, but according to reporting by the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin, a law enforcement official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said that as a student, Gendron threatened to attack his own high school in Conklin, Broome County. The threat was reviewed by state authorities last year and resulted in a referral for a mental health evaluation. In another interview on National Public Radio, Hochul said the weapon allegedly used in the shooting was purchased legally in New York, but the high-capacity magazine is barred under state law. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Josh Conner reports for Spectrum News that hundreds of people rallied for abortion rights in Hudson May 14. The "Bans Off Our Bodies" rallies were also held locally in Albany and Kingston, and across the country. “It’s important for people to take notice that women’s voices matter,” Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood CEO Chelly Hegan said at the rally near the group's Hudson location. “And trans voices matter. We are being pushed off to be second class citizens once again in this country and that is not OK.” A leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion two weeks ago revealed the Roe vs. Wade ruling will be overturned this summer. New York's abortion laws will remain in place, but millions of women around the country will have limited health choices. Assemblymember Didi Barrett was among the speakers at the event. Click here to download or play a short excerpt of Barrett speaking May 14 in Hudson. Read more about this story at the Spectrum News website.

Shaniece Holmes-Brown is reporting for the Times Union that three regional hospitals are warning that longer than usual waits should be expected when using their emergency rooms. The reason is a large increase in the number of patients going to the ER for mild COVID-19 symptoms, Albany Medical Center, Ellis Medicine, and St. Peter’s Health Partners said in a combined advisory. Hospital officials advise that patients seeking non-emergency care are likely to have shorter waits by contacting their primary care physician or being seen at an urgent care sites. "Between our current inpatient numbers and the surge in COVID-19 cases, all of our area's emergency departments are reporting longer wait times for patients seeking care,” said Dr. Steven Hanks, chief clinical officer, chief operating officer, and Acting CEO for St. Peter's Health Partners in the statement. "We understand that people are frustrated with the longer wait times and ask for their patience and respect for our health care providers." In the past week, state Health Department data show the Capital Region has the second-highest level of COVID-19 cases statewide, with hospitalizations also rising. The region is seeing 55 people per 100,000 test positive daily for coronavirus on a seven-day average. In Hudson, Columbia Memorial Hospital is not warning of long waits at the ER or that it has any plans to divert patients due to higher than usual wait times. Read the full story in the Times Union.

MidHudson News is reporting that Governor Kathy Hochul on May 13 announced the distribution of $28 million in federal pandemic funding to help New Yorkers with children cover expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families on Public Assistance with a child 17 or younger in their household will this month receive $250 to help pay for housing expenses, bills, and other critical needs. The payments are administered through the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The one-time payment is intended to help families pay past-due bills or other household expenses. Approximately 112,000 households will receive the payments, which will help more than 216,000 children. OTDA will issue the payments directly to the household’s Electronic Benefit Transfer account. Eligible households will receive written notification from OTDA. The Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund was created as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. According to federal guidelines, the funding must be used for issuing non-recurring benefits to impacted households with children to deal with a specific short-term situation or need. Read more at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

On May 15, Swiss voters approved a four percent tax levy on international streaming services there, to be invested in local film production, with 58.42 percent of voters favoring the measure. Switzerland is the latest European country to support local TV and film production and boost locally-produced content by taxing the international streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others. "This result underlines the cultural importance of film-making in Switzerland," Swiss Interior Minister Alain Berset told a press conference on May 15. The international companies can buy locally-made shows, make programmes themselves in the country, or put the money into an investment fund. "We believe that good stories can come from anywhere, and we have already invested in content from Switzerland in the past," a Netflix spokesperson said. Portugal already passed a similar law, with streaming service providers paying one percent of their income to the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisuals. France and Italy also already make streaming services invest a proportion of their revenues in European content in local languages, while Denmark and Spain are considering similar proposals, Reuters reports.

Here is this week's Hudson Valley Congressional Report from WGXC, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives of the Hudson Valley in Congress and the candidates who want to replace them. Current Democrat Reps. Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko, and Sean Maloney vote with the positions of President Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, according to the fivethirtyeight.com website. Republican Elise Stefanik voted with Biden's positions 18 percent of the time. Click here to listen to this report.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Democratic Chairwoman Kelleigh McKenzie said the committee to fill vacancies for the 19th Congressional District filed a “certificate of substitution” for Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan with the state Board of Elections on May 9. The move will allow Ryan to replace Rep. Antonio Delgado on the ballot for the NY-19 Congressional District. Delgado was just named Lieutenant Governor by Gov. Kathy Hochul, but has not officially resigned, and has not said exactly when he will leave that office. Delgado, a Democrat, was going to face Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro this November. Ryan’s filing gives him the right to replace Delgado on the ballot. Daniel Torres, a spokesperson for the Democrat said, “Today papers were filed in Albany as part of a technical procedure to ensure that County Executive Ryan has as many options as possible as he continues to discuss with his family and neighbors about a potential candidacy for Congress.” Torres also said Ryan “has received support from residents all over upstate New York who are inspired by his record of service and who are fearful of Washington extremism taking over this seat.” Ryan is expected to announce a decision later this week. Saugerties-based state Senator Michelle Hinchey said last week that she is not running for the Congressional seat, but for re-election. What the 19th Congressional District is remains up in the air, as a court threw out redistricting maps Democrats in Albany drew as gerrymandered. Read more about this story at the Daily Freeman.

Joshua Solomon in the Times Union asks when Rep. Antonio Delgado will resign and become lieutenant governor. He does not get an answer. Gov. Kathy Hochul tapped the current 19th Congressional District representative as her second-in-command May 3, saying she would announce the exact date he would assume the role "in the near future," adding it would be "sometime this month." If Delgado resigns now, or later in June, it would trigger a special election to fill the seat. But if Delgado resigns between May 25 to June 4, that special election could be held on the same day as the state's congressional and state Senate primaries, Aug. 23. "If there was a plan, say it," said Marc Molinaro, the Republican seeking the Congressional seat. "We assume their plan is to maximize their political benefit.... I think it's in the best interest of all us to have a special election to fill the seat." Actually, it would be in the best interest of taxpayers to have the elections on the same day, and the story says unnamed political observers believe Republicans prefer lower voter turnout, which would happen with a one-race, special election. Democrat Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has hinted he will run to fill Delgado's seat. Delgado is not commenting, nor is his staff, and Hochul's office says they are "working with the lieutenant governor-designate's team on the transition." Further complicating the election to replace Delgado, is that no one know's where the district will represent, as the redistricting process is still tied up in court after the Democrats gerrymandered maps were thrown out. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Times Union is reporting U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko on May 6 stopped by the Port of Albany to promote a plan to make the Capital Region into a hub of offshore wind development. The federal lawmakers announced a bill that would deploy offshore wind energy, create 77,000 jobs and cut carbon emissions. The Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act would reverse a Trump-era ban on offshore wind leasing. Gillibrand said in a news release the legislation would "open the gates to innovation in clean energy." President Joe Biden has set the goal to generate 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.  In January, the administration also announced it would auction off leases to an area of ocean called the New York Bight off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. State lobbying records show that General Electric Co. has recently been meeting with state and local officials about building an offshore wind manufacturing facility in the region. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics state health officials Fri., May 13, recommended indoor mask-wearing for New Yorkers in high-risk counties for COVID-19 as case counts have increased over the last several weeks. There are now 45 counties in the state deemed to be high risk for COVID transmission, an increase from 36 counties a week ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Greene. Columbia, Ulster, Albany, Rensselaer and Dutchess counties are all now deemed to be at high risk. Sixteen counties are designated as being at medium risk, according to the CDC. Mask-wearing indoors is also recommended for people who are personally at high risk for the virus. The seven-day average of cases per 100,000 residents stands at 49.26, an increase from 34.5 cases per 100,000 on April 28. State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said, “In accordance with guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we recommend that all New Yorkers in high-risk COVID-19 counties and all New Yorkers at-risk of severe disease wear a mask in public indoor places, regardless of vaccination status. These public health measures, as well as ensuring proper air ventilation when gathering, will help reduce COVID-19 transmission in communities and lower the risk of serious illness and hospitalization for individuals. We will continue to work with local partners and make every tool at our disposal widely available to New Yorkers, as we move forward through the pandemic.” While statewide indoor mask requirements for businesses, schools, and other public gathering spaces have been dropped, they remain in place for mass transit, jails and health care settings as well as homeless shelters. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the union representing workers at Columbia Memorial Health announced May 13, it had reached an agreement with CMH to increase pay rates for registered nurses, patient care assistants, and respiratory therapists. The agreement was reached following a meeting this week between the union and hospital representatives. Local 1199 of the Service Employee International Union represents all workers at Columbia Memorial, except physicians. Beginning May 16, the base rate for registered nurses and respiratory therapists will increase by $5 per hour, according to union representatives. Patient care assistants will receive a $2.50 per hour raise, making their new base rate $16 per hour. Mindy H. Berman, the union’s regional communications director, said first-year registered nurses will make $33.20 per hour, and nurses who have been working for 10 years will make $45.45 per hour. More senior patient care assistants will be paid about $18 per hour. “This is a win, but it is not over,” said Greg Speller, executive vice president of the Hudson Valley region for 1199 Service Employee International Union, United Healthcare Workers East. “It is a very sad fact that the 1199 members and their community allies were dragged by the hospital over the staffing crisis — we haven’t had to do that with other hospitals we’ve dealt with.” Approximately 660 CMH employees are members of 1199, down from 850 members two years ago. The Hudson Common Council unanimously voted April 19 to support the health care workers in the contract fight. Hospital staff, during a public meeting on April 11, described working conditions, low pay and understaffing at CMH. Speller said even with the higher wages getting by will be hard for the hospital’s workers. The union has provided three more dates for meetings to discuss pay increases for other health care workers at CMH. “It is about other folks who play really essential roles at the hospital like mental health assistants, the emergency department, licensed radiology technicians, and more,” Speller said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.