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

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that during a political battle over Gov. Kathy Hochul's initial nomination of a new chief judge of the Court of Appeals, a loophole in lobbying laws was exposed. But now Hochul has vetoed bipartisan legislation intended to close that loophole. After Hochul nominated Justice Hector D. LaSalle as the top jurist on the state’s highest court a gap in state law was revealed that allowed unregistered lobbying in judicial nominations and other top state offices. The law Hochul struck down would have put lobbying of judicial nominees in line with other attempts to influence state government and elections. Democrats and Republicans supported the bill. Hochul’s memo explaining her veto of the bill said it “would broadly expand the definition of reportable lobbying to include the nomination of a person to state office or their confirmation by the state Senate.... This bill would impose significant new reporting requirements on people who might not already be reporters, retroactive to (Jan. 1). Additionally, this would impose implementation costs not already accounted for in the state financial plan.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

While the valleys near the Hudson River got a lot of rain, higher elevations did get snow for the first time on Dec. 11. After some school children who were delayed two hours or missed school on Monday, local ski resorts were probably the happiest to see the flakes falling. The ski resorts hope for snow on Thanksgiving weekend every year, but have had to wait until mid-December this time for any measurable amounts. Windham Mountain reported eight inches fell there during the storm, and that they currently have a base depth from 12"-to-24" of real and manufactured snow. Hunter Mountain reported six inches of snow from the storm, and an 18" base depth. Catamount Ski in Columbia County has not updated its website since the storm, and has not opened for the season.

Carina Dominguez reports for News10 that the season's first winter storm was also a first test for the new New York State Weather Risk Communication Center at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. Trey Ryan, one of the three meteorologists working for the new center, said, "First things first we went through and saw what happened.... So snowfalls, wind gusts, rain totals. We compared a few different sites from the MESONET and the National Weather Service and we tried to compile it into our briefing for emergency managers so they can refer to it for their actions.” Nick Bassill, the director of the center, said this storm was typical of the kind this area sees when it gets warmer. He said, “It’s a really wet kind of snow, and that’s a signal that scientists have said that we should expect more of as we continue with climate change. We’re gonna have more of those kinds of mixed precipitation, wet-snow, rain-snow challenges.” Read more about this story at News10.

Today's audio daily news update.

Maria M. Silva reports for the Times Union that the Ulster County Legislature approved a $411.9 million budget for next year on Dec. 6. That budget includes a $30 million spending increase, while keeping property taxes flat and reserving 20 percent of operating expenditures for a rainy day fund. There is a little funding for the affordable housing crisis in the budget, with Ulster County’s Housing Action Fund getting 25 percent of the county’s $1.5 million motel and short-term rental tax revenues. Meanwhile, there is $20 million in the budget for road and bridge improvements. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The owners of Talbott and Arding posted on social media on Dec. 10 that their Hudson grocery store was vandalized. The post from Mona Talbott and Kate Arding said, "We love our community and were heartbroken to find our shop hit with graffiti this morning. ⁠We will not be posting a photo of it. ⁠We send love to all those hurting during this difficult time.⁠"

Tara Suter reports for News10 that the American Civil Liberties Union is fighting in court for the National Rifle Association in a free speech case against New York’s Department of Financial Services. The ACLU said in a social media post on Dec. 9 that, “We’re representing the NRA at the Supreme Court in their case against New York’s Department of Financial Services for abusing its regulatory power to violate the NRA’s First Amendment rights... The government can’t blacklist an advocacy group because of its viewpoint.” The ACLU also said, it does not “support the NRA’s mission or its viewpoints on gun rights, and we don’t agree with their goals, strategies, or tactics.... But we both know that government officials can’t punish organizations because they disapprove of their views.” The case is about Maria Vullo, the former superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, who urged banks and insurers to consider the “reputational risks” of collaborating with the NRA after the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. The NRA claimed it was "blacklisted" and “suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages.” Read more about this story at News10.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Spectrum New reports that on Dec. 9 former President Donald Trump spoke before the New York Young Republicans in Manhattan. The group has previously hosted far-right operative Jack Posobiec, members of an Austrian political party founded by a Nazi SS officer, and a number of U.S. and European right-wing activists, commentators, and politicians. Trump, who faces 91 felony counts from four separate state and federal probes, continued to say he will take revenge on his political enemies if he is elected president again. Trump said, "The press refuses to say. They act like these indictments are legit. They are not legit. And with that, [President Joe Biden] has opened up a Pandora's box that may never let our country be the same. That is a very bad thing that they did to me." Previously Trump joked that he would only be a dictator on day one of his next administration. Read more about this story at Spectrum New.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that the Public Service Commission won't decide on Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.’s request for a double-digit hike in electricity and gas rates until next year. Commission spokesperson James Denn said a decision is not likely until the second quarter of next year. Whatever the rates decided for electricity and gas will take effect on July 1, 2024. Central Hudson is asking the New York Public Service Commission to increase electric rates by 16 percent and natural gas rates by 19 percent. The Public Service Commission has recently criticized the utility’s billing practices, citing negligence, defects, and mismanagement. Denn said, “As to investigation and enforcement matters, staff is reviewing and analyzing all information and evidence; there is no timeline for such discretionary enforcement matters." Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Sara Rizzo reports for News10 that the Spotlight Theater of Hudson held a grand opening this past weekend. The movie theater on Fairpoint Ave. in Greenport used to be called the Spotlight Cinemas Hudson/Movieplex 8 with different owners. Now it has been renovated. The new owners also run theaters in New York in theaters in Corning, Hornell, and Warsaw. Read more about this story at the News10 website.

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

Today's audio daily news update.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Mental Health Center is the latest local organization experiencing staffing issues. Greene County Mental Health Center Director Jason Fredenberg told the Greene County Legislature’s Health Services Committee on Dec. 6 that, “We were short-staffed for a while, we enjoyed several months of actually being fully staffed for a few months.... It was really nice, but we are once again short-staffed.” Fredenberg said that 10 people are currently waiting to be assigned to a doctor at the center, and 50 adults and 13 children are need their first intake appointment. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said they are working on ways to lure more help here. Groden said, “One of the items on the table is the elevation of the grade levels for these licensed clinical physicians to move up a step and try to get more people, because it’s not like we’re getting bad applicants, we’re getting no applicants.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Dutchess County Legislature voted themselves large raises, adopting the $601 million 2024 county budget by a vote of 15-9 on Dec. 7. Members of the Conservative Party objected to the 68 percent pay raises put forth by Republicans days after the last election, at the farthest point from the next election. County Executive-Elect Sue Serino, a Republican, claims she is against the pay hikes, but won't take office in time to veto the budget that includes the large pay raises passed by her fellow Republicans. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Hudson's Public Square is getting $500,000 for renovations from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Rep. Marc Molinaro made the announcement at his Leeds office, saying, “The Public Square is a beacon for the Hudson community, but unfortunately has been in a state of disrepair for decades.... I was proud to help advocate for repairs so this park can reach its full potential and be fully enjoyed by residents and families in Hudson.” The Public Square is where folks in Hudson gather to start parades, protest issues, and shop at a farmer's market. The funds will be used to repair the park’s cracked foundation, sidewalks, and benches, and improve the lighting. Dorothy Heyl, who co-chairs Friends of Public Square, said, “Friends of Public Square is grateful to Rep. Molinaro for supporting the grant from New York State Parks.... The grant will serve as a springboard for a comprehensive restoration of the Public Square, which will include a new fountain in addition to the basic improvements it covers.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Today's daily news audio update.

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