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.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Catskill Town Board voted on Dec. 5 to settle with Walmart over a tax dispute. Walmart wanted to lower their real estate tax assessment, and in the settlement the town agreed, reducing the assessed value of the Catskill store from $10.5 million to $8.8 million in 2024. The vote to settle was 3-to-2, with Dawn Scannapieco and Paul Vosburgh, Jr. voting against the settlement. Scannapieco said, “I feel like big businesses like Walmart receive so many breaks as it is, and a lot of small businesses could benefit more.... The revenue needs to be made up somewhere, and it’s going to be our hardworking citizens that have to make it up.” The story does not say just how much less the Walmart tax bill will now be. Catskill Town Assessor Audrey Higbee said, “It’s a pattern for them to file every three years against small towns.... It’s an opportunity for them to reduce their property values.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media that citizens in Athens can go solar now that the Village of Athens is partnering with Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Solstice Solar on a community solar farm. The company has six solar farms that serve Central Hudson customers in the area. Residents participating in the program use energy generated by the solar farms to lower electric bills, as much as a 10 percent decrease in electricity bills. Village Trustee Josh Lipsman said, “It’s a win-win-win situation.... It’s good for the environment, and good for residents because they get a 10 percent reduction in their energy bill, and a sign on bonus.” The program also gets Athens closer to a clean energy community designation from New York State's Energy Research and Development Authority. Only so many Athens residents can fit in the program, so anyone interested should contact the village soon. Lipsman said, “It’s not limited to the number of people, but the kilowatt capacity of the farm.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Paul Kirby reports for the Daily Freeman that Rep. Marc Molinaro and state Assemblyperson Chris Tague are complaining about a shortage of milk cartons. Molinaro, a Republican who represents the 19th Congressional District, said, “supply chain problems at one of the two major manufacturers of milk cartons in the United States.... has caused schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions in Upstate New York to forgo serving milk.” Molinaro wrote to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, asking him to use “any means at his disposal to swiftly provide relief and prevent a disruption like this from happening again.” Molinaro also said, “We saw how disruptive the baby formula shortage was.... If this supply chain disruption persists, it’s going to cause real harm for young people and local farmers.” Tague, a Republican who represents Greene and Schoharie counties, said, “There are obvious solutions like opting for recyclable plastic bottles or dispensers and cups, but the anti-milk Democrats aren’t even attempting to implement these options. How we handle this shortage will set a precedent for the availability of milk in schools, and right now, it is not going in the right direction.” No Democrats have come out against milk. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily news audio update.