Today's daily news audio update.

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

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that state Inspector General Lucy Lang’s office released a report on Nov. 30 that says the state’s prison agency used unreliable drug screening tests that produced false positive results. More than 2,000 inmates received disciplinary sanctions because of those false positive results. Corrections officials blamed unclear and misleading instructions with the tests for the large number of false positives. Prison officials would often not wait to confirm the results through a laboratory, which the company explicitly recommended, but used the initial results to punish inmates. The report said, “The consequences stemming from the deficiencies in Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions’ Contraband Testing Program may be far-reaching.... [and the punishments included] solitary confinement in a Special Housing Unit (SHU); cell confinement (keeplock); delays in parole eligibility; loss of privileges including commissary, telephone, and receipt of packages; loss of access to prison rehabilitation programs, loss of ‘good time’ parole credit and family visitation rights, missed parole interviews, and other adverse effects on Board of Parole decisions.” Of more than 2,220 “guilty” charges for drug possession, nearly 70 percent were later modified because they came from the “Sirchie NARK II” field tests. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Jack Arpey reports in New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law on NOv. 30 that bars long-term care facilities and from discriminating against any resident because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or HIV status. Hochul said, "New York's seniors should be able to live their lives with the dignity and respect they deserve, free from discrimination of every kind.... LGBTQIA + and HIV-positive seniors are among our most vulnerable populations, and today we are taking steps to ensure that all New Yorkers - regardless of who they are, who they love or their HIV status - find safety and support in places where they need it the most. Hate will never have a place in New York.” Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day. Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Bard College’s pre-professional graduate orchestra, The Orchestra Now, appears in the new Netflix film "Maestro," starring Bradley Cooper as the renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. They perform Beethoven’s 8th Symphony in the film, recreating a 1989 Tanglewood performance by Bernstein with a youth orchestra. The Orchestra Now Executive Director Kristin Roca said, “We arrived in Tanglewood to shoot our performance.... After going through hair and makeup, the students headed onto the stage, where they worked for several hours with the Metropolitan Opera’s Music Director Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, rehearsing and recording Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8.” The "Maestro" is in some theaters now and will be streaming on Netflix on Dec. 20. Read more about this story in Mid-Hudson News.

Today's audio daily news update.

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that Common Cause New York, is suing the state Board of Elections in state Supreme Court in Albany County over its approval of a specific voting machine. The election reform organization wants the court to overturn the board’s August vote to buy the ExpressVote XL digital voting machine ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The board approved the machine on the conditions that the company would fix potential security issues with the source code of the software and ensure that all audits are completed by hand. One issue with the machines is that state law requires the voter to have the ability to check their ballot before submission to know it is accurate. These machines are touch screen, with voters choosing candidates, and then getting a print out with their choices. The printout has a barcode that the computer can read, but the voter cannot. Common Cause contends that makes the machine not compliant with state law. The group also pointed to a recent election in Northampton, Pa., where an ExpressVote XL machine printed ballots with errors in two races. A ExpressVote spokesperson said that was a “clerical labeling error.” The Common Cause court petition also said, “Use of the barcode can (and predictability will) provide fodder for those who peddle in election voter-fraud fearmongering and conspiracy theories about 'rigged elections' to reduce public confidence that votes are accurately cast and counted." Former New York Gov. David Paterson championed the touch screen machines as an improvement to the “voting experience for people with disabilities.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Germantown will receive $240,340 community forest conservation grant to protect forest resources. That will allow Germantown to acquire 23 acres adjacent to the town’s Palatine Park and historic First Reform Church of Germantown parsonage. The grant will also expand a trail network, and create better access to nearby parking areas. Read more about this story in Mid-Hudson News.

Columbia-Greene Media reports that on Nov. 29 New Lebanon Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling announced a $500,000 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation for improvements at Shatford Memorial Park. The grant will mean a new playground; a senior fitness equipment area and fitness walking loop; new benches and shade trees; and new pathways. Shatford Memorial Park's 19.75 acres already has two Little League fields, one softball field, tennis courts, and a basketball court. 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.

Raymond Pignone reports in Columbia-Greene Media that former Greene County legislator and Athens town supervisor Lee Palmateer says he has filed an Article 78 lawsuit with state Supreme Court in Ulster County to nullify the Greene County Industrial Development Agency’s approval of an application by New Athens Generating Company for a tax break. Greene County was not trying to lure the power plant to Greene County, it was giving the private company another 20 years of property tax exemptions on top of the 20-year agreement it previously had. Palmateer said in court papers, “This case is about the Greene County Industrial Development Agency trading the interests of the public for the enrichment of itself and its paying client.... [The IDA] stood to reap a $332,000 ‘transaction fee’ and 20 annual ‘monetized power payments’ of up to $285,714 each from [Athens Gen] contingent upon approval of the application.” The lawsuit names New Athens Generating Company, Greene County, the Catskill Central School District, and the Town of Athens as respondents. The lawsuit aims to eliminate the power plant's tax break, require a formal appraisal of the property by the Town of Athens, and enforce the Greene County Code of Ethics. Greene County IDA counsel Paul Goldman said on Nov. 29 that he has not been served with the petition and that, “It’s difficult to comment on a document without having seen any of it..... I’ll have further comment when we’re served with the papers.” Many members of the public spoke out against the tax break at public hearings before it was approved earlier this year. But Greene County Legislator Ed Bloomer was just about the only local official to oppose the project, even though he did not. While he voted no, he said he personally favored the tax break. Bloomer said he voted with the public opinion rather than his own opinion that the tax break is good, saying, “There is a significant volume of people in Athens who disagree with that―people I respect, being far more learned than I am. I want to honor their voice. I vote a reluctant no.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Joseph Konig and Kevin Frey reports in New York State of Politics that Congress is expected on Dec. 1 to vote to expel Rep. George Santos, the lying Long Island Republican under indictment for fraud. Santos faces 23 federal charges including for wire fraud, identity theft, lying to federal election officials, money laundering and stealing thousands of dollars from donors. Previously, a vote to expel Santos failed, as most Republicans said they were waiting for an investigation report. Local Rep. Marc Molinaro, a Republican, and Democrats Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan voted to expel Santos then, while Republican Elise Stefanik did not. Stefanik, a senior member of House Republican leadership, said on Nov. 29 that she still had concerns “about not respecting due process and I share many of my colleagues' concerns about that. I've always said we should let this play out and there's prosecution that's currently happening." Even without Stefanik, there appear to be enough votes to make Santos the sixth House member in U.S. history to be removed from office. Currently, Republicans hold a five-seat majority in the House of Representatives, and if Santos is expelled Gov. Kathy Hochul will call a special election that a Democrat is likely to win. Santos says the vote for his removal comes after another special day for him, saying, "It's also my 2-year wedding anniversary on Thursday. So it's kind of not cool.... So you know, I'm gonna try to just stick to our dinner reservation.” Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Jack Arpey reports for New York State of Politics that New York's presidential primary election runs from March 23 through April 2 next year, and at this point is not expected to be a competitive vote. Democrats will most likely back incumbent Joe Biden, and most Republicans are behind Donald Trump, who attempted to overturn the fair results of the 2020 presidential election. Only Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary, and only Republicans can voted in theirs, in New York's closed system. Requests to change party affiliation must be received by February 14. Voters must be registered with the state Board of Elections by March 23 to vote, the same day that all absentee applications must be received by the board. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Today's audio daily news update.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Hudson Catskill Housing Coalition has not a new home yet after a large rate increase is forcing them out of Catskill Dec. 31. The group, which works to help the local affordable housing crisis, was a victim of the cause it works for, as landlord Foreland raised the rent on their second-floor office 135 percent, from $400 a month to $950 a month. Elliott Matos, director of operations for the HCHC, said, “We had someone offer us one spot, but unfortunately the building was sold, and so that option was off the table as quickly as it was put on the table.... We’re being displaced, and it’s sad that we’re not going to have a presence in Greene County.” Matos said he has not spoken with Stef Halmos, founder and executive director of Foreland, but last got an email in August. Matos said, “She has not tried to reach out to us in any sort of way.... She never came to me, she never wrote an email, she never said to anyone in our organization, ‘Hey, I’m sorry,’ but what can we do? We can’t do anything. We’re not in that position of power.” Rich Azzopardi, the spokesperson for Foreland, said, “For years Foreland provided HCHC a subsidized rent to the tune of $25,000 and gave them roughly eight months notice that there needed to be a change. In exchange for these efforts, including donating a free event space solely for HCHC’s fundraising efforts, HCHC resorted to personal attacks and selectively released private correspondence in order to portray a unilateral rent increase devoid of years of kindnesses and preemptive efforts made by Foreland. In the wake of such a breach of trust and relentless attacks, Foreland decided to part ways in perpetuity with HCHC. We wish them — and certainly whomever they will be renting from — all the best." Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that the Correctional Association of New York gave mixed reviews in audits to two state prisons in Naponoch, in Ulster County, with allegations of abuse and inmates reporting spotty access to essential services. The group talked with the prison population and staff members, and observed prison conditions. One-third of inmates said they had witnessed or experienced some form of physical or verbal abuse, although positive reports of staff treatment were higher than in other similar prisons. There were 10 reports of Ulster County prison staff using the “n-word” while addressing inmates. Jennifer Scaife, the association’s executive director. Jennifer Scaife, the the Correctional Association of New York's executive director, said, “Our visits to Ulster and Eastern (state prisons) highlighted many promising practices and programs that should be replicated in facilities across the state.... Nevertheless, a number of (the associaton's) findings related to the provision of basic services highlight the persistent challenges faced by (the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision), challenges that are hardly unique to Ulster and Eastern.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

WNYT reports that the Columbia-Greene Humane Society is waiving adoption fees in December. An anonymous donor is covering all adoption fees. That includes cats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Read more about this story at WNYT.

Today's daily news audio update.

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