Today's audio daily news update.

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

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that after over a week of protests from students, parents, and community members, Catskill school officials still aren't explaining why they suspended their high school principal and a music teacher, but they are letting the principal come back to work. Catskill High School Principal Junait Shah will supposedly be back to work this week, while chorus teacher Michelle Storrs-Ryan remains suspended since February 28. Storrs-Ryan allegedly made a joke about getting out tape for mouthy students, and then one student mockingly put tape on their mouth. Shah, allegedly was suspended for not taking any action against the chorus teacher for the incident. Sara Pickens Verdon, president of the Catskill Music Parent-Student Association, claims Shah was reportedly under investigation for “inaction” and Storrs for “harming a child.” Hundreds of citizens turned out for multiple protests at the school last week, with some students allegedly boycotting classes. The Catskill Teachers Association put out a statement on March 9 saying, “The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.... We have been patient while the district has gone through their process hoping for a fair resolution.... We are deeply disappointed that the district has not returned our member to the classroom and that she is being prevented from guiding her students as they prepare for their upcoming performances.” The Catskill school board has said little, with this statement coming out last week: "Superintendent Dan Wilson promptly initiated an investigation to thoroughly examine the matter. The investigation process follows standard procedures established to ensure fairness and impartiality. These procedures include gathering evidence, conducting interviews with relevant parties, and adhering to legal and ethical guidelines. Throughout the investigation, confidentiality is maintained to protect the privacy and rights of all individuals involved.” Organizers of the protests are hoping for a large public turnout at the Catskill Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 at the high school. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that more than 200 people turned out on March 7 for a first public hearing about a proposed massive redevelopment plan at the former Blackhead Mountain Lodge and Country Club on Round Top. Though most of the crowd was skeptical of the plan, the story does not quote anyone against the proposal, only those in favor. The proposal would remove the resort's 18-hole golf course and add 87 new buildings with 127 hotel units, a 91,500-square-foot main lodge with a spa, restaurant, and bar, a second restaurant, multi-use barn, tennis courts, pool, helipad, and 288 parking spaces. A group has created a SaveRoundTop.com website and has also placed signs around town against the proposal. The California-based developers Henry Courtemanche and Donald Chick of RCBG JV Manager LLC acquired the property from the local Maassmann family last April. The public hearing about the proposal will remain open until the project is “sufficiently reviewed,” Planning Board Chairman Joseph Hasenkopf said. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Mid-Hudson News reports that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli warns of a looming “enrollment cliff” for the state’s public and private colleges because of a change in the state’s demographics in a new report. DiNapoli. said, “Declining enrollment over the last decade has already hurt the finances of several public and private institutions, forcing a few to downsize or close their doors." In December, the College of Saint Rose in Albany announced it would permanently close. DiNapoli said, “New York’s future depends on our institutions of higher education staying competitive by ensuring they are affordable, are diverse, and nurture a spirit of innovation and community in their students.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Hundreds of students, parents, and community members rallied on March 3 and March 4 in support of a suspended teacher and principal at Catskill High School. Some students began the protests on March 1, walking out of classes because they wanted Principal Junait Shah and chorus teacher and musical director Michelle Storrs-Ryan to be reinstated. To many in the community the issue is baffling. Last month, Storrs-Ryan teased students that if they did not get quiet, she was going to get out some tape. Then a student, as a joke, put tape on her own mouth for about 30 seconds. A student later complained to Shah about the incident, who saw no reason to take any action. But word of the incident got to those above Shah, and the teacher and principal were suspended. Sara Pickens Verdon, president of the Catskill Music Parent-Student Association, told Porcupine Soup that Shah and Storrs have also been asked to resign. Superintendent Dr. Dan Wilson would only say that, “any personnel matters are confidential and therefore the district is not at liberty to discuss the specifics of the investigation.” On March 3, hundreds of community members marched from the Greene County Office Building in Catskill to the school, fully covering the sidewalk on the Uncle Sam Bridge along the way. They surrounded the superintendent's office, holding hands, and chanting. PLAY OR DOWNLOAD BRIEF EXCERPT OF THE RALLY HERE. On March 4, more community members turned out as the school day began at 7 a.m., and many students remained on the lawn in front of the school for several hours, defiantly not attending class in support of their teacher and principal. Wilson attempted to address the crowd there, before the school day began. PLAY OR DOWNLOAD BRIEF EXCERPT OF WILSON SPEAKING HERE.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the new Congressional maps approved by the governor and the state legislature last week, should help Democrats in the 18th and 19th Congressional Districts locally. Democrat Pat Ryan of Gardiner is the incumbent in the 18th District, who lost some of his Ulster County territory to the 19th District, but now finds his map slightly more Democratic. Ryan is facing Republican Alison Esposito, a former NYPD Captain and the Lieutenant Governor candidate in 2022. The Cook Political Report rates the District as “lean Democrat.” In the 19th Congressional District, Republican Marc Molinaro of Leeds also sees a new district that has slightly more Democrats. Josh Riley., who lost to Molinaro by 1.6 percent in 2022, is trying to beat him again. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a “toss-up.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the Town of Cairo Planning Board public hearing on massive redevelopment plans at the former Blackhead Mountain Lodge and Country Club has been moved from town hall to the Cairo-Durham Elementary School cafeteria to accommodate an expected large crowd. The redevelopment proposal from RCBG JV Manager, LLC of San Francisco, CA, and real estate and hotel developers Donald Chick and R Henry Courtemanche of California, includes 126 units spread throughout the property with a 91,500 square foot main lodge, tennis courts, pools, a restaurant, bar, helipad, and 288 proposed parking spaces. Some local residents have started a website, SaveRoundTop.com, in opposition to the project. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Brian Hubert reports in the Daily Freeman that Bartek Starodaj, Kingston's director of housing initiatives, said on Feb. 29 that 90 new housing units of all types have been approved in six months under the city’s new form-based zoning code. Very little affordable housing has been built anywhere in the Hudson Valley recently, although many officials are discussing the housing crisis. Kingston Mayor Steve Noble has a goal of approving 1,000 housing units in the city by 2029. Starodaj said, “Based on the projects coming together we will meet that 1000 new homes by 2029 goal and possibly before it." The 1,000 number, he said, is not just randomly chosen. He said, “It’s about a three percent growth rate annually, and we think that’s attainable." Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that a developer wants to put a manufactured home park for 360 homes in the village of Coxsackie. For nearly two decades UMH Properties has proposed different version of this proposal. The village has long resisted the plans for Mountainview Estates, but court-approved consent decree may expedite the approval process. UMH Properties sued the village in October 2018 under the Fair Housing Act, claiming racial and familial discrimination against the likely residents of the park. In its lawsuit, UMH Properties said, "residents of the Village of Coxsackie mounted a full-scale campaign in opposition to the development. Village officials bowed to that." The consent decree required the village to pay UMH $275,000, and said that the lawsuit would be reopened if the village denies any part of the plan "for reasons other than UMH's inability to comply with a requirement contained in any law." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Cassie Abel reports in HudsonValley360.com that representatives for Catskill Grid, the company proposing a battery energy storage facility on Route 9W, did not turn out for the public hearing with the Town of Catskill Planning Board Feb. 27. Instead, the hearing will continue next month. Catskill resident Barbara Naylor said, “I was here at the last meeting and, in a way, I’m kind of glad they’re (Catskill Grid) not here.... Greene County Fire Service Director John Farrell is the highest ranking fire personnel in the county and he made a comment that there is no plan or they’re still in the learning process of how to fight a possible fire, which is my major concern because I live right across the street from where the site is.” At a Feb. 7 Greene County Legislature meeting, Farrell said, “during those two years, we would continue emergency service to review and continue to update the emergency plan including management plan, evacuation plan, structure plans and hazardous materials.” The proposed facility would store lithium iron phosphate battery cells under 24-hour monitoring. Planning Board Chair Teresa Golden said the board is waiting for more information from Catskill Grid. Golden said, “Greene County also asked for 30 days to come back with their concerns and they haven’t come back yet.” Read more about this story in HudsonValley360.com.

Local activist Mary Finneran announced on social media that she is running for state Assembly District 102 as a Democrat. Republican Chris Tague is currently the incumbent in the district that covers all of Greene and Schoharie counties. Finneran says she is not taking any money, "from corporations and lobbyists" during the campaign. In 2021 Finneran spoke about cryptocurrency mining in front of an Assembly environmental committee that included Tague.

Taliesin Thomas in Hyperallegeric recommends ten exhibitions to see in the Hudson Valley in March, including several locally. Thomas recommends two September Gallery shows in Kinderhook. One is by United Kingdom-based Nell Brookfield, and the other is a group show on paper, paintings, fabric works, and video from ten women artists, including Sarah Lee and Allyson Mellberg-Taylor. The story also has a preview of the Kevin Ford and Daniel Herwitt show and Mark Joshua Epstein exhibition at Turley Gallery in Hudson. And the documentary-style color photographs by Sean Hemmerle in the show "HOOPS at Front Room Gallery in Hudson is also featured here. Read more about this story in Hyperallegeric

Cassie Abel reports for HudsonValley360 that the Catskill Village Board of Trustees holds a public hearing Feb. 28 to consider updating its short-term rental zoning law. The number of short-term rentals mean there are fewer apartments for residents to rent, making the affordable housing crisis worse. Catskill Village Trustee Natasha Law said, “After a period of implementing and assessing the effectiveness of the existing regulations, we have identified areas where the registration and monitoring processes for rentals could be enhanced for improved efficiency.... While no significant changes are being proposed, we believe that these adjustments will streamline the procedures and benefit all stakeholders involved.” In 2021. Catskill required short-term rental owners to obtain a permit and meet certain standards to operate in the village. Currently, a permit application to rent short-term in Catskill costs $500 and the annual renewal is $200. The public hearing is at 6:30 p.m. at the Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, 15 Academy St. in Catskill. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that Democrats have a new Congressional map to propose for New York, after the Democrat-led state Legislature rejected the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission map on Feb. 26. A new map was supposed to be drawn after the 2020 census, but court challenges have kept the district lines changing, and candidates have now begun to petition to get on the ballot for districts that are currently unknown. Locally, the latest proposed map for the 18th Congressional District would add the towns of Ulster and Kingston, Saugerties, and Woodstock, while Rosendale, Marbletown, the town of Rochester, Shawangunk, the southwestern portion of Gardiner, and a portion of Wawarsing would move to the 19th Congressional District. Currently, a Democrat, Pat Ryan, represents the 18th District, while a Republican, Marc Molinaro, represents the 19th District. Ryan said, “No matter where the district lines fall, no matter which Trump-picked extremist they run against me, the choice this fall is clear: I’m running on a positive vision for the future of the Hudson Valley – to deliver economic relief, to protect and expand our fundamental American freedoms, and to actually fix the problems facing our country." The new proposal keeps all of Columbia and Greene counties in the 19th District, but removes all of Tioga County. The district also gains most of Rensselaer County, all of Otsego County, and loses a portion of Cortland, but retains all of Delaware, Sullivan, Broome, Tompkins, and Chenango counties. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that after a fire closed Dollar General store in Cairo last year, construction is planned soon to reopen the store. The company reported on Feb. 27, “At this time, we are currently finalizing our due diligence phase to rebuild our store at 29 Main Street.... Based on our current timeline, we anticipate to break ground in the coming weeks." The 9,300-square-foot store has been closed since last April. The store originally opened in 2014. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Brendan J. Lyons in the Times Union claims that Gov. Kathy Hochul is now meddling in the personnel decisions of the State Police unit that protects her, in similar ways to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Hochul's office, the report says, recently pushed for the promotion of the newly appointed head of the Protective Services Unit. Before that her office had a member put back on the detail after they were removed at the recommendation of a staff inspector. Lyon's also cites confidential records and interviews with multiple people to back up his assertion. Lyon's writes, "A former high-ranking State Police official, who spoke to the Times Union on the condition of not being identified, said the requests by governors for someone to be promoted, reassigned or demoted were almost always made by a top aide, rather than a governor themselves." Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, said, “All personnel decisions at the New York State Police are made by the superintendent, and we are aware that acting Superintendent James has decided to make significant changes in top leadership positions.... Acting Superintendent James and the men and women of the New York State Police have Gov. Hochul’s full support.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Spectrum News reports that in New York, candidates begin collecting petition signatures on Feb. 27, even though the lines of those Congressional districts have not been agreed upon. After rejecting a new map from the Independent Redistricting Commission, Democrats now must come up with their own map and then approve it soon, before the June primary election. The Independent Redistricting Commission voted 9-to-1 earlier this month for a new map, after courts previously struck down several attempts to draw the Congressional lines since the 2020 census. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Ulster County Housing Action Fund opens its first application window on March 11 and will accept applications until May 10 at 3 p.m. The $15 million fund requires housing units to remain affordable for a minimum of 50 years, with priority given to projects that keep the housing permanently affordable. The fund was approved last August by the county legislature to create more affordable housing units. Ulster County hosts a webinar on at 6 p.m. on March 19 for information on the fund and application process with the address for the meeting on the WGXC Newsroom. (https://ulstercountyny.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcumvqD0vE9JYDjrbdmXmZ8yUSqTiqrmS. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Cassie Abel reports at HudsonValley360.com that Judge David Gandin of the Supreme Court in Ulster County on Feb. 15 dismissed the Article 78 petition former Athens county legislator and town supervisor Lee Palmateer filed seeking the nullification of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency’s approval last year of an application by New Athens Generating Company for a tax break. Palmateer had alleged that the Greene County Industrial Development Agency traded interests of the public to better themselves and its paying client. The lawsuit was also filed against New Athens Generating Company, Greene County, Catskill Central School District, and Town of Athens. Palmateer said, “The Court did not reach the merits of my claims, namely that the tax exemptions were improper.... I commend the Court and Judge Gandin for issuing a prompt decision. I have complete respect for the Court and see the wisdom of not spending judicial resources on the merits, having first concluded that I lacked standing.” The Greene County IDA gave the power plant a second tax exemption when it has been in Athens for years and was not likely to leave. The judge in the case wrote, “Petitioner’s [Palmateer] contention that he is harmed by the payment in lieu of taxes agreement because he will incur higher taxes to offset the resulting loss of annual property tax revenue to the town does not constitute an injury.... The Petitioner’s assertion that he has standing based on his common law taxpayer status also lacks merit.” Palmateer said he is considering an appeal.