Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics Republican state Senator Jim Tedisco is pressing the office of New York Inspector General Lucy Lang for an update on the investigation into the 2018 Schoharie limousine crash that killed 20 people. Tedisco urged the office to provide more details into the probe so lawmakers and a limousine safety commission could possibly craft further legislation and regulation if needed. "We're talking about a new administration, new transparency," Tedisco said. "I'd like the inspector general to tell me did you complete that investigation? Did you not complete that investigation? Who was responsible for this? Was DOT responsible for this in some sense? Do we need more regulations?" The probe into the state's handling, oversight and potential responsibility for the crash has been underway for at least one year. Lang became inspector general in late 2021. Lee Park, a spokesman for Lang said, "The matter is under review." Tedisco had requested the inquiry in 2021 after the National Transportation Safety Board found the state Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles shared blame along with the owners of Prestige Limousine for not removing the vehicle from the road. "We have to get to the bottom of this and figure out whose culpable and who caused this disaster," Tedisco said. Read more at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

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This weekend there were pro-peace, anti-war rallies focused on Ukraine in Hudson, Albany, and Woodstock, and around the country. WNYT reported that hundreds of citizens turned out for a candlelight vigil in Hudson March 6. The Rev. Janusz Jedrychowski, of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hudson was at the vigil and talked with the television station. Click here to download or play short excerpt. In Albany, the March 5 rally at Townsend Park was sponsored by the Green Party along with Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. There, Peter Lavenia of New York's Green Party spoke, recorded by our partner station WOOC. Click here to download or play short excerpt. Photographs in The Daily Freeman also showed dozens rallying for peace in Ukraine on March 6.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that seven members of New York's congressional delegation are endorsing tuition assistance for people in prison. But Reps. Antonio Delgado and Paul Tonko, who represent citizens locally, are not on the list to end a decades-long ban on tuition for prisoners. Reps. Ritchie Torres, Nydia Velazquez, Greg Meeks, Jamaal Bowman, Grace Meng, Hakeem Jeffries, Carolyn Maloney, and Mondaire Jones, are backing Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to extend higher education courses for people in New York prisons. Proponents argue that re-establishing access for people in prison to the Tuition Assistance Program would reduce recidivism, increase the job opportunities out of prison, and help narrow a racial inequality gap. "Allowing incarcerated students to benefit from TAP is a long overdue and straightforward action that builds opportunity, promotes equity, strengthens democracy, and affirms our commitment to racial justice in New York state," said the lawmakers in a letter they all signed. Nationally, Congress has already lifted a ban on Pell Grant eligibility for people in prison after a 25-year ban. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Sarah Trafton reports for Porcupine Soup that the first 30 seconds of a song on The Lumineers album features a 30-second solo from the Palenville Firehouse siren. Palenville Fire Department President Blake Garrison recently got a call from management for folk rock band The Lumineers, asking for permission to use a recording of the fire house siren on the song "Remington" on the band’s new album, “Brightside.” “Wesley [Schultz] was walking by our firehouse one day and the fire siren goes off at 12 noon, as it has every day for the last 70 years,” Garrison said of the Lumineers’ founding member and lead vocalist who has a home in the Catskills. “He thought it had a really cool sound to it, so he recorded it with his iPhone.” The song's lyrics also reference the sound. “I awoke from the sleep of a hundred days. To the fire station bells,” in included in the song. producer and Palenville resident Simone Felice, well known locally as a member of The Felice Brothers and a Palenville resident, produced the album. “The Catskill Mountains and the wild ghosts of Rip Van Winkle and Henry Hudson’s crew were definitely infused into the spirit of this album,” he said in a statement. Here are the first 30 seconds of The Lumineer's "Remington" including the Palenville Firehouse siren. Click here to download or play the first 30 seconds of "Remington. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

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

Here is this week's WGXC Congressional Report, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives and candidates for the 19th and 20th Congressional seats in New York. Current Democrat Reps. Antonio Delgado and Paul Tonko vote with the positions of President Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, according to the fivethirtyeight.com website. Click here to listen to this report.

On March 2, Rep. Antonio Delgado held a Tele-Town Hall meeting, answering questions from constituents over the phone. Here is an excerpt of the questioning. Click here to download or play an excerpt of Delgado's town hall meeting.

Heather Bellow is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the Housatonic Water Works Co. in Great Barrington, Mass., to present by April 4 a proposal for reducing levels of a disinfectant byproduct linked to cancer in its drinking water. If the company fails to meet the deadline or secure an extension, legal action, “including, but not limited to, criminal prosecution, court-imposed civil penalties, or civil administrative penalties,” could follow, according to a March 3 notice from Deirdre Doherty, with the Western Regional office of the DEP. The utility could also be added to the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s list of water systems that have not fixed problems requiring action. In the last half of 2021, the company reported elevated levels of haloacetic acid, a chlorine byproduct also known as HAA5, and neglected to notify the public of some of the test results within the required 30 days. In addition, the company was late with some reports to the DEP. Waterworks co-owner and Treasurer James Mercer said the company plans to fix the problem. “All we’re looking to do is follow the science on this and get the levels under control,” he said. “We fully intend to meet all the requirements.” Customers have complained of periodic bouts of discolored water and sediment for the past 10 years. Pressed by residents, town officials are considering a takeover of the company, and residents are asking top state officials for help. Read more in The Berkshire Eagle.

Valerie White is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Greene County Sheriff’s Office is looking to reopen its shooting range in Cairo. The facility has been closed for four years, but officials are hoping to see it open again so members can train locally. The range is located on approximately 50 acres of county-owned land near the Emergency Services Center. At the March 2 meeting of the Greene County Legislature Public Safety Committee, representatives of the department spoke with lawmakers on plans for the range. The work required would include the recovery of lead that accumulated over years of shooting, as the shooting range was closed without properly cleaning the environment. Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said the agency is in talks with remediation companies in search of the best solutions. Sergeant Shawn Marriott suggested that a range services firm would be able to remove lead from the hillside. Once the lead is removed, Marriott said, the rear embankment could be reshaped and reangled. In the future, the county could install special boxes to catch the lead. “I think DEC would like that better,” said County Administrator Shawn Groden. “...But if boxes cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, the budget may not allow us to do something like that." Legislator Harry Lennon, who represents Cairo said he has not received any complaints about the range returning. He said in the past there were complaints of excessive noise when outside agencies used the range. If it were to reopen, Lennon said, he would like to see the range used only by the county sheriff's office. Kusminsky said, “We have to have firearms training somewhere, so we are trying to accommodate those needs. The department is looking for the most cost-effective way to do this.” Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that the Hudson Industrial Development Agency unanimously agreed last week to pay the Columbia Economic Development Corporation 10 percent of each potential project fee, a maximum of $10,000 per project, to help with administrative costs. This is different from a previous agreement where the IDA paid only $10,000 in total to the CEDC per year. “The economics of the new deal is far more equitable. We are effectively ensuring a fairer deal helping us bring greater projects to Hudson,” said Third Ward Alderperson and IDA chair Ryan Wallace. The IDA says it promotes, encourages, attracts and develops job opportunities, commerce and industry in Hudson. The CEDC’s stated goal is to attract economic growth to Columbia County. The original purpose of the recent IDA meeting was to review a proposal for a new hotel at N. 4th and Warren streets. However, the Galvan Foundation, the organization funding the project, needed more time to prepare. The foundation submitted a site plan application to the Hudson Planning Board in January, and that board is expected to discuss the project on March 8. The IDA will hear presentations from representatives of two hotels at its meeting in April. F. Michael Tucker, CEO and president of the CEDC, said depending on what the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals decides, the group behind the potential conversion of the former Elks Lodge at 601 Union Street into a 30-room hotel may also give a presentation. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

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Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for the Capital Region Independent Media the Coeymans Town Board met Fri., Mar. 4, for a special meeting called for the purpose of making various personnel changes. On the agenda: the appointment of a new police chief, and the resignation of Deputy Town Supervisor Daniel Baker, who is expected to soon step into the position of highway superintendent following the retirement of Highway Superintendent Scott Searles. Marc Tryon, a veteran of more than 30 years with the New York State Police, was appointed police chief. He replaces Douglas Keyer, who resigned abruptly from the office on February 11. Keyer did not provide a reason for stepping down, but the announcement came during a budget battle between the town board and the police officers’ union. Tryon served 32 years as a state trooper, until his retirement in 2013, reaching the ranks of sergeant, zone sergeant and first sergeant, Town Supervisor George McHugh said. Tryon's appointment is effective March 7 and he will be paid a salary of $80,000 a year. Tryon is the brother of Coeymans resident William Tryon, who pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol . William Tryon was sentenced in January to 50 days in jail, along with a $1,000 fine and $500 in restitution for damages caused to the Capitol building during the riot. McHugh said Marc Tryon’s brother did not factor into the board’s decision. “Marc’s resume and distinguished career speaks for itself,. The town board and I believe that each person should be judged on their own individual acts and merits.” Baker submitted his resignation from the town board and he will be named special assistant to the highway superintendent. Searles' retirement, after 30 years of service, is effective March 31. Assemblymember Chris Tague was on hand to present Searles with a citation from the state Assembly honoring his service to Coeymans. McHugh said that Baker will undergo some on-the-job training for the next three weeks and "...then it is my belief that the town board will appoint him superintendent after Scott retires.” Read the full story at TheUpStater [dot] com.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden is calling on the New York State Public Service Commission for answers about Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp’s recent billing practices. In a letter sent March 4, to Rory Christian, PSC chair, Groden said county lawmakers have received a “substantial number of complaints” from residents about the Poughkeepsie-based utility. “The extreme increase in the cost of electricity by itself is more than enough to upset our constituents, but that is not their only complaint,” Groden wrote. “Citizens are complaining about Central Hudson’s ‘approximate’ billing, resulting in huge bills, plus others are not getting billed for several months, only to receive four or five enormous bills in a single day.” County residents have taken to social media, voicing frustration with electric bills that in some cases have gone from what would normally be hundreds of dollars per month to thousands. The utility advised the public last month that increases in supply prices for both electricity and natural gas as the region navigates a colder than average winter, and global energy factors, were causing an increase in the demand and price for energy. And while Central Hudson projected an average increase of 46 percent for electric customers, some have reported bills as much as 10 times higher than usual. Last week, Central Hudson warned that global events and strong demand for energy worldwide continue to press energy prices upward. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan this week also submitted a letter to the PSC calling for an official investigation into Central Hudson’s billing practices and related price surges. According to Ryan, at least 11,000 Central Hudson electricity customers have experienced billing problems since September. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Rick Karlin is reporting for the Times Union Cohoes Mayor William Keeler is blasting the Norlite aggregate plant and hazardous waste incinerator for a letter the company released claiming that the neighboring Saratoga Sites housing complex was not being evacuated because of dust from the facility. “That’s completely not true,” Keeler said March 4, referring to Norlite's denial that people were being moved from the complex due to dust. Residents of the complex have for some time complained of dust blowing from the rock and slag piles at Norlite, where shale is processed into aggregate for use in road building and construction. “The residents are not being moved because of the presence nearby of our Norlite facility,” reads part of the letter, dubbed “We Hear You, Cohoes, and We’d Like to Invest.” The letter can be found at NorliteCommunity [dot] com. The company is looking to purchase the housing complex, after the residents move out, and then turn it into a “research facility to investigate new ways to reduce the creation of waste and to safely dispose of it.” Keeler, in an email to the head of Tradebe, the Spanish firm that owns Norlite, said the Saratoga Sites complex is being emptied precisely because of the dust from Norlite and its potential health threats. Keeler wrote, “I assure you, the only reason I have been advocating for the relocation of 70 families from their homes in Saratoga Sites is because of Norlite’s uncontrolled fugitive dust, and chronic violations of regulations governing the company’s incineration of hazardous waste adjacent to this much-needed housing.” The Cohoes Housing Authority is currently moving to relocate the families who live in the apartment complex. Once that process is complete, the Housing Authority is looking to sell the land to the city. Keeler said he does not want to see Norlite closed down, and he did not totally dismiss the idea of selling the land to Norlite, but only if it can operate within regulations. Read more in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul said March 3 that New York is ready to welcome any refugees from the war in Ukraine. Department of Homeland Security officials earlier in the day approved special refugee status for nationals leaving the country amid the Russian invasion. New York state is already home to the largest Ukrainian community in the United States, including a small group in Jewett, in Greene County. Now, more than a million people are leaving Ukraine to escape Russian troops. "Russia's unjustified and unprovoked attack on the sovereign and democratic country of Ukraine has led to human rights abuses, senseless violence against innocent civilians and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has created more than one million refugees in only a week," Hochul said. "As I've said before, with the Statue of Liberty standing tall in our harbor, New York stands ready to open our arms and provide a safe haven to all Ukrainians." Afghan refugees have already been moving into the Hudson Valley, after the collapse of the government there and the takeover by the Taliban. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Steve Hughes reports for the Times Union that Albany County redistricting commission is beginning its process with the first of four public meetings on March 8. The commission needs to draw new maps for the 39 legislative districts. "The more we can get people aware and interested, the better off we'll be," Commission member Thomas Clingan said. The last three Albany County redistricting efforts led to federal lawsuits, that claimed the maps discriminated against minority neighborhoods in the city of Albany under the Voting Rights Act. Albany County lost all three lawsuits, as the maps were deemed discriminatory and taxpayers were forced to shell out $1.7 million. Legislator William Clay, head of the Legislative Black Caucus, said of the latest redistricting, "We're watching that process but we're watching from a distance." Read more about the story in the Times Union.

The Upstater.com prints a copy of LafargeHolcim's application for a Mined Land permit renewal. The Ravena cement plant is proposing to modify the currently approved Reclamation Plan with different reclamation grading for the 12-acre “life-of-mine” area. The plan says LafargeHolcim would "return the area to natural meadow vegetation" that is next to Route 9W. Public comments on the proposal must be submitted in writing by April 1 to: Patricia M. Gabriel, NYSDEC, 1130 N Westcott Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306. Find more information about the application at The Upstater.com.

Today's daily news update.