Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County Public Health announced January 15, the department will no longer release daily statistics on the number of county residents under quarantine order. The change was made because the department does not have the staffing to handle the influx of positive COVID cases. “We can’t keep up with it,” Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said. “I think we’re not going to contact trace anymore. Actually nobody is. The state is dropping it and counties are stopping. There are just too many cases. We’re picking up 100 or 200 new positive cases sometimes per day. That’s impossible to contact trace. You just can’t do it. So actually the state has issued guidance that they’re dropping all of their efforts because they just can’t keep up with it.” Greene County recorded two new COVID-19 deaths on January 14, bringing the total number of deaths to 103 or 104, since the beginning of the pandemic, depending on what you read. The most recent people to die from the coronavirus included a woman in her 50s and a man in his late 70s with comorbidities at the time of his death, according to Groden. Neither were vaccinated for COVID-19 at the time of their passing. As of Fri., Jan. 14, the county reported 1,633 active COVID positive cases, with 45 people hospitalized due to COVID-related illness. More than 8,300 positive cases have been reported since the pandemic began in March 2020, with 107 new cases confirmed as of Friday. The percentage of positive tests countywide reached 26.7 percent as of January 11, with a rolling positive rate of 19.5 percent during the last week. As of January 13,, there were 73 active cases in the county’s correctional facilities, including nine newly diagnosed cases. COVID-testing clinics in Coxsackie will be held on January 18 and 20 at 370 Mansion Street. The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday. And Public Health will hold a vaccination clinic on February 8 at Fellows Cafe on Main Street in Hunter. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media newly elected Coeymans Town Clerk Laura Jane Barry quit her new job just two days after taking the oath of office. The town board then appointed Candace McHugh to the post, as of January 7. Candace previously served as confidential secretary to her brother-in-law, Town Supervisor George McHugh. “We were notified Monday of Laura’s resignation,” George McHugh said. “Time was of the essence and the town board and key staff felt that Candace was the best candidate to carry the town through the rest of 2022 until a new town clerk could be elected on Nov. 8, 2022, and take office Jan. 1, 2023.” McHugh abstained from the vote to appoint Candace. In her letter of resignation, Barry cited medical reasons for her departure, but declined to comment further. “Laura, I wish you the best of luck,” George McHugh said at the board's special meeting, January 7. “I know this is a very hard decision for you and emotional, but you have to do what is best for your health. I just wish you the very best going forward.” The new town clerk was appointed registrar of vital statistics for an annual stipend of $500, effective Jan. 8. She was also appointed freedom of information officer and records management officer. All three positions are commonly held by the town clerk. Former deputy town clerk Bonnie Keyer has agreed to return as part-time clerk to help train the Candace McHugh and the new deputy clerk, Sherle Slingerland. The board also appointed Carly Morrow to fill the position of confidential secretary to the supervisor, effective January 18. Read the full story at TheUpstater [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting Ulster County has established an Emergency Housing Action plan just as the state’s eviction moratorium is set to expire. Working in conjunction with the county sheriff’s office, county officials will coordinate with the Department of Social Services and other community partners to provide those evicted with emergency housing options. The county is also prepared in the event that emergency housing reaches capacity by contracting with additional hotels and establishing emergency shelters. “With the end of the eviction moratorium approaching, we are 100 percent committed to making sure no one in Ulster County is without a roof over their head,” said County Executive Pat Ryan. “...We are confident that with all the measures we have in place, we won’t see a surge in homelessness due to the end of the eviction moratorium.” The sheriff’s office and social services are able to connect residents served with a warrant of eviction to social services 14 days in advance of eviction to make sure they are offered emergency housing. Those in need will also be connected to Legal Services of the Hudson Valley for legal aid. The Ulster Co. DSS emergency housing hotline, 845-334-5360, is available for calls from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Family of Woodstock after-hours emergency hotline at 845-338-2370, is available evenings, weekends and holidays. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

While the news of the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attempt to overthrow the United States government may seem far away from the Hudson Valley, there are many ripples here. MidHudson News reported this week that Roberto Minuta, the 37-year-old Newburgh tattoo parlor shop owner, on Jan. 13 was among over a dozen members of the Oath Keepers indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6 riot. Minuta, who now lists an address of Prosper, Texas as home, is charged with being among a group of Oath Keepers that forced their way into the U.S. Capitol building. The Oath Keepers are a right-wing group with many members of the military and police. And the group has ties to the Hudson Valley. This week on WGXC Columbia County resident Michael Richardson, one of the people behind the Hate Watch Report, explained that the Oath Keepers have ties to the Chatham area, a former Greene County Sheriff, and former Rep. John Faso from Kinderhook. Here is Richardson tracing some of the history of white power movements locally. CLICK HERE TO PLAY OR DOWNLOAD EXCERPT OF RICHARDSON INTERVIEW. The so-called "One America News Network" is one of the outlets groups such as the Oath Keepers use to spread propaganda. The One America Network got really bad news nationally, and good news locally this week. On Jan. 14 reports emerged that DirecTV, one of the largest U.S. pay-TV providers, will drop the One America News Network. That is very bad news for the network known for spreading misinformation and having a loyal fan in former President Donald Trump. DirecTV is its largest distributor, and losing its distribution means far fewer people will see their propaganda. The channel is still carried on Verizon FiOS but has never been carried by Comcast Corp., Charter Communications Inc., or Dish Network Corp. But OAN could announce new distribution this week, as Mid-Hudson Cable, based in Catskill, added the network and another from owner Herring Networks Inc., a lifestyle channel AWE that stands for “A Wealth of Entertainment.” Mid-Hudson Cable already carries Newsmax, another propaganda network masquerading as a news channel, and Fox News, where a judge ruled recently that Tucker Carlson's show could not be considered news. U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil's 2020 opinion, said, in part, that the "'general tenor' of the show should then inform a viewer that [Carlson] is not 'stating actual facts' about the topics he discusses and is instead engaging in 'exaggeration' and 'non-literal commentary.' "

The COVID-19 new case numbers are still mostly at record highs throughout the Hudson Valley. That has been true in Columbia County all week, with 108 new cases announced Jan. 14. And of all the current cases in Columbia County this week, 132 were discovered at the privately-owned Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Barnwell nursing home in Valatie. Testing there Jan. 10 showed 95 residents and 37 staff were infected in the 236-bed facility. Three residents -- two of them unvaccinated -- were in the hospital. Barnwell has been cited by the Department of Health four times during the pandemic for infection control violations, according to citation reports, with more infection control violations than any other nursing home in the state during the pandemic. Barnwell was also cited twice during the pandemic for improperly reporting COVID-19 data, according to the Department of Health. Barnwell has received 13.3 citations per 100 beds, well above the average nursing home in New York, which is 2.1 citations per 100 beds in the four years ending Nov. 30, according to the Department of Health. Meanwhile, across the Hudson River, Greene County officials have not reported any COVID-19 information in several days, but there were 119 new cases in Greene County announced Jan. 14 on the state's COVID-19 webtracker site. Elsewhere, there were 406 new coronavirus cases announced in Rensselaer County Jan. 14, 823 more in Albany County, 373 new cases in Ulster County, and 708 new cases in Dutchess County.

Today's daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that about two dozen people attended a vigil Jan.13 for Jason Jones, the 29-year-old Catskill man who died after being shot with a Taser by village police. Jones burst into flames after the Taser shot, and after a long stay in the burn unit of a Syracuse hospital died. The vigil was held in front of the Catskill Police Station, with organizers and attendees calling for police accountability and improved mental health services within the community. A video was released of the police incident last week, showing Jones dousing himself with hand sanitizer in the Catskill Village police station, then one of three officers fires the Taser shot, Jones bursts into flames, and the officers flee the scene rather than directing aid toward the injured man. The incident happened in the early hours of Oct. 31, and Jones died Dec. 15. The New York State Attorney General’s Office is now investigating the incident. Here is a short excerpt of the vigil through the Catskill streets, recorded on a live WGXC webstream by volunteer programmer Neva Wartell. CLICK HERE to download or play the excerpt. The “Justice for Jason” was organized by Catskill native Thomas Kearney, who said Jones was a “man in distress” who needed “compassion and empathy.” Jones’ biological mother Mary Jo Snyder attended the vigil. “Jason had his issues, but everyone loved him,” Snyder said. “I wish I could have spent more time with him.” An anonymous woman who said she was friends with Jones said, “While it’s too late for Jason, going forward my hope is that the police will be properly trained and these three men will be reprimanded, not just for Jason but also to prove to this community that there is accountability and that nothing like this ever happens again.” The names of the three Catskill Village police seen in the video have not yet been released, and the attorney general's office investigation continues. WGXC volunteer programmer Neva Wartell attended the vigil and made a recording that can be heard in the WGXC Audio Archives. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

MidHudson News reports that Roberto Minuta, the 37-year-old Newburgh tattoo parlor shop owner, on Jan. 13 was among over a dozen members of the Oath Keepers indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6, 2021 attempted coup of the U.S. government. Minuta, who now lists an address of Prosper, Texas, is charged with being among a group of Oath Keepers that forced their way into the U.S. Capitol building. A seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The Oath Keepers are a right-wing group with many members of the military and police. Former Rep. John Faso, a Republican, spoke at one of their Hudson Valley events a few years ago. Read more about this story at MidHudson News.

Shaniece Holmes-Brown reports in the Times Union that Albany County Executive Dan McCoy reported the most new COVID-19 cases in his counties history on Jan. 14, with 1,586. And he says this latest wave has not peaked locally yet. “While New York as a whole is showing signs of statewide COVID-19 infections possibly hitting their peak, that is clearly not the case for Albany County as we report nearly 1,600 new positive cases in a single day, the highest increase we’ve ever experienced since the pandemic started nearly two years ago,” McCoy said. He also announced two more deaths, a woman in her 40s and another in her 90s. There are also 113 Albany County resident hospitalized with coronavirus, which is actually down by 12 from the day before. Of those patients, 18 are in the intensive care unit. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily headlines.

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

Shaniece Holmes-Brown reports in the Times Union that Albany County tied the largest number of people in intensive care with COVID-19 Jan. 13, with 19. That matches the number in the ICU last Jan. 7, back when vaccines were just starting to be distributed. There are 125 people in Albany County hospitalized with coronavirus right now. Albany County also announced Jan. 13 two more residents dead from COVID-19 – a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s. "This is why we need to continue to prevent the spread of the virus and protect our most vulnerable from the worst illnesses caused by it through vaccinations, boosters, mask wearing. and social distancing,” Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Danny Jin is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle CSX Corp., the owner of tracks on the proposed Berkshire Flyer route in Berkshire County, Mass., has agreed to allow Amtrak to operate New York City-to-Pittsfield passenger service this summer. CSX will also meet six other conditions that Amtrak requested as part of the company’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways, which co-owns the Hoosac Tunnel. The railroad agreed to the conditions in a January 12 filing with the federal Surface Transportation Board, a day before the board began a hearing for the transaction. Amtrak previously said it would oppose the deal if CSX did not agree to its conditions. State Sen. Adam Hinds called the agreement an exciting development, adding that the Berkshire Flyer is “ready to start” in the summer and will play a part in the regional passenger rail resurgence that lawmakers are looking for. Hinds said he previously was concerned over CSX’s “lack of cooperation” in passenger rail discussions, but he now supports the deal. Passenger rail service between Berkshire County and New York City could begin this summer. Amtrak already runs daily passenger service between the Albany-Rensselaer Station and New York’s Penn Station. The Berkshire Flyer adds Friday and Sunday continuations between Albany-Rensselaer and Pittsfield’s Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center. While the 2022 pilot plans to bring summer tourists for weekend trips, Hinds has said he would like to see the project evolve into daily and year-round service. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media in celebration of its 150th anniversary this year, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, or FASNY, will replace the word “Firemen” with "Firefighter" in its title. The change is being made as a gesture of inclusion, a way to recognize the diversity of everyone working in the industry. “We felt it was certainly the time to move forward,” FASNY President John Farrell said. In the last decade, the organization voted twice to update its name, but the measure never passed. “We did not make this change lightly,” said FASNY First Vice President Edward Tasse. “We know and respect the great history of our association. We also know that our name must represent today’s volunteer fire service.” The change was finally approved by the FASNY board in December. Laurie M. Hance, one of two women on the board, initially voted against the name change. Hance said she never had a problem with the original name and felt a sense of historical reverence toward the title of fireman since her father was a chief of the Hannawa Falls Fire Department in St. Lawrence County. Women have served as firefighters since about 1815, when a black woman named Molly Williams started working with Oceanus Engine Company No. 11 in lower Manhattan. Generally, the role of firefighter was seen as being too dangerous for women. “Until five years ago, FASNY felt like a boys club,” said Hance, who added it took about two years for the men she worked with to fully accept her. “Some of the older members took longer, but FASNY can’t be labeled a boys club anymore,” she said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics that New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced January 12, that property tax increases at the school district level will be capped at two percent this year as inflation has increased over the last year. The move will impact 676 school districts and 10 cities with fiscal years that began July 1. The cap limits the amount a municipality or school district can raise its property tax levy. The amount the cap is raised or lowered is largely tied to inflation. This is the first time the cap has been set at two percent since 2019 after a decade of largely flat inflation. “School district and municipal officials must remain fiscally cautious to stay under the cap as they prepare their budgets,” DiNapoli said. “Even with significant funding from the state and federal governments, school and local communities are faced with the rapid increase in inflation, pandemic surge, and trying to retain and recruit employees.” School boards can override the cap if 60 percent of voters approve a budget that includes a higher tax levy increase. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

The local COVID-19 news remains grim. HudsonValley360.com reported two more coronavirus-related deaths in Greene County Jan. 12. Greene County officials also announced a new single day new case count: 282 on Jan. 12. That beat the 208 cases announced on Jan. 5. "We have not reached our peak yet," said Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden. He said that getting the virus locally was inevitable. "You're going to get this thing and by getting vaxxed you can have somewhat normalcy. You don't have to worry as much with where you're going with crowds indoors or family affairs," said Groden, who is not a doctor or scientist. Columbia County, meanwhile, also reported another COVID-19 death on Jan. 12, and 230 more cases.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that New York's prison population got considerably smaller and older, according to a report released Jan. 13 by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The number of older people incarcerated increased slightly from 7,511 people to 7,586 people in New York between 2008 and 2021, the time frame of the study. Since the overall population in prison fell, the percentage of the state's prison population over 50 doubled during that time from 12 percent to 24.3 percent. “Since our initial 2017 report detailing the rise in the number of aging incarcerated individuals, we found that despite reductions in the overall size of the population, the share of older prisoners is increasing. In the months ahead, policymakers should examine opportunities to reduce the population of incarcerated individuals 50 and over where public safety would not be compromised," DiNapoli said in a statement announcing the report. Overall, New York's prison population is at its lowest since the mid-1980s, with four prisons scheduled to close in March. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

The Times Union named Catskill's junior basketball player Janay Brantley Girls' Athlete of the Week for the period of Jan. 3-9. can hardly be called a player living alone on her offensive accolades. Last week, Brantley had three triple-doubles in three victories: 32 points, 13 rebounds, 11 steals, and five assists in a 61-17 win against Onteora; 41 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and seven steals in an 86-19 verdict over Albany Leadership; and 42 points, 11 rebounds, 11 steals, and six assists in a victory over Coxsackie-Athens 89-38. "What is amazing to me is she always makes the right play," Catskill coach Chris Quinn said. "She always looks to make the great pass, whether or not it gets finished, it is just so instinctual for her to do the right thing." Brantley claimed surprise about the triple-doubles. "I did because I am just going out there playing my game," Brantley said. "It is a little surprising at the end when I find out." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily headlines.