Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia County health officials reported on Sept. 2, the county's 98th death attributed to COVID-19. "We had another death overnight,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said. “It was a gentleman under 40, he was unvaccinated. That bothers me. That bothers me a lot.” The man was a resident of the Hudson-Greenport area, Mabb said. “He had been in the hospital and been intubated, and just lost the fight,” Mabb said. There are currently nine county residents hospitalized because of the virus. Only one of those nine people had been vaccinated, and that individual is an older person with comorbidities. This week the Department of Health announced that more than 70 percent of people 12 and older in Columbia County were fully vaccinated. "This is fully vaccinated, so it's both shots," Mabb said. In Greene County, 58.2 percent of all people 12 and older are fully vaccinated. Mabb has said about 25 percent of the counties’ newly diagnosed are breakthrough cases, which are positive cases found in fully vaccinated people. The county DOH will conduct a vaccination pod at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 15, and vaccinates people at their offices in Hudson every Tuesday. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district is finalizing its reopening plan for the 2021-22 school year. Students and staff are preparing to return after a year of hybrid instruction, rotating students between virtual and in-person learning, designed to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. In the upcoming school year, RCS students will return to the classroom full-time. “We have been strategizing how we will provide quality instruction while keeping our students and staff safe,” district Superintendent Brian Bailey said in a letter to families on Aug. 23. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Aug. 24 mandated face masks indoors while on school grounds and buses, regardless of vaccination status, and face coverings outdoors are currently optional. Physical distancing will continue to be practiced in the district as the new school year begins, but recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been reduced from six feet to three feet. “The updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control has identified that social distancing at three feet will be acceptable in most situations,” Bailey said in the letter. “This will be helpful as we set up our classrooms. Day-to-day logistics such as arrival, dismissal, lunches, travel between classes, and the use or sharing of materials are being examined so that our schools may operate smoothly while maintaining a sense of community and normalcy." Students will return to their usual buildings when school begins September 8. Bus transportation will return to full capacity for the 2021-22 school year and masks must be worn at all times by everyone on the bus, according to the district. Windows will be opened, weather permitting, to increase air circulation and to discourage the potential spread of the coronavirus. Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.

Larry Rulison is reporting for the Times Union following repeated delays, Nauman Hussain [NOW-man Hoo-SANE] Sept. 2, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide charges. The plea was the first time the operator of Prestige Limousine admitted that his failure to maintain his stretch limousine led to the Oct. 6, 2018, crash that killed 20 people, the 18 in the vehicle as well as two pedestrians. The crash remains the nation’s deadliest transportation disaster in more than 10 years. Under the terms of the plea deal, Hussain will serve no prison time. The agreement was negotiated by his attorney, Lee Kindlon, and Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery. Hussain agreed to plead guilty to 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide in exchange for five years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service that will include public speaking appearances. And he will be barred from working in the transportation industry. During the proceedings, one by one, the victims' names were read out by Judge George Bartlett III as he asked Hussain if he caused each death. "Yes," Hussain answered 20 times. People could be heard sobbing. One woman said, "He killed 20 people — f__ this" before court officials prompted her to leave. The hearing was held at a local school to accommodate the huge crowd of family and friends of the victims of the crash. The 31-year-old Hussain is likely to be the only person to ever face criminal charges in the case. The limousine was rented to take its passengers to a birthday celebration in Cooperstown. Hussain allegedly ignored warnings from the state Department of Transportation that the Excursion he was renting out was dangerous. It repeatedly failed safety inspections and lacked state and federal certifications. Read the full story in the Times Union.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County voted 4-1 Sept. 1 to not allow cannabis retail sales there. While Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia claimed she was in favor of selling cannabis there, she voted against selling cannabis there. “I’m pro-dispensaries but I don’t know what I’m buying into,” she said. “I want to see … what the laws look like.” The laws are similar to Massachusetts and other states where legalization has already happened. Kemble does not quote any board members about why they voted against taking in the tax money from retail sales. Board member Josh Pulver was the lone vote in favor of cannabis sales in Rhinebeck. “I think it is here, cannabis is legalized, and I just think it’s a lot of legislation to get out (then) to get back in,” he said. Towns have until Dec. 31 to opt-out of recreational cannabis sales under the legalization law passed five months ago in New York. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, long opposed to legalization, did not nominate anyone for the regulatory boards setting cannabis selling rules. But on Sept. 1, new Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated Christopher Alexander to head the Office of Cannabis Management and Tremaine Wright to chair the State’s Cannabis Control Board. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily news update.

The Times Union reports that the remnants of a hurricane, for the second time in ten days, dumped a lot of water over the Hudson Valley. Much of the damage and more problems were farther south, around New York City and New Jersey, but this area saw plenty of rain too. The Esopus Creek in Ulster County, for instance, was under a flood warning during the storm and crested at 21.5' on Sept. 2. The Columbia County Fair in Chatham was shut down early Sept. 1 due to all the water. "Torrential rainfall has resulted in flash flooding, power outages, travel disruptions and damage in impacted areas posing a threat to public health and safety," Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sept. 2, declaring a state of emergency that included Dutchess and Ulster counties. "I am directing state agencies, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, and others to take appropriate and immediate action to help respond and recover from this disaster." Dutchess County's Office of Emergency Management reported at least 35 roads were closed in the county due to flooding or downed trees or power lines. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mychael Schnell reports in The Hill that the New York legislature voted Sept. 1 to extend the state’s eviction moratorium during a special session. Residential and commercial evictions and foreclosures for individuals facing financial hardships stemming from COVID-19 are suspended now until Jan. 15. Republicans voted against, wanting more protections for landlords. COVID-19 disrupted jobs, and created expenses and mental hardships for many New Yorkers, and the current spread of the Delta variant has given the pandemic a longer life. “By extending the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums for those suffering financial hardship, we will give New Yorkers the peace of mind that they can stay in their homes while they go through the process of getting rental assistance — either through ERAP or the State Supplemental Rental Assistance Fund,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in a statement. Read more about this story in The Hill.

HudsonUP announced Sept. 1 it will be offering 50 more Hudson residents guaranteed monthly payments of $500 each for five years, on top of the 25 residents currently in the universal basic income program. So while the program is not universal, over one percent of the city’s population will be receiving basic income. All residents of the city of Hudson who are over the age of 18 and earn less than the annual median income of $39,364 are eligible for the lottery. Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson said, "The HudsonUp Pilot was launched as an investment in the community. I'm extremely excited that this investment will benefit more of our community at a time when people really need a helping hand." Residents can register for the lottery through Sept. 30 at www.hudsonup.org. Selected residents will be notified by October 6.

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Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced more appointments Sept. 1: Kathryn Garcia as the director of state operations, and Neysa Alsina as the special advisor on pandemic relief. Garcia was the commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation, and just finished second in the Democratic primary election for New York City mayor. Alsina was chief counsel for New York City Comptroller Scott A. Stringer, and previously senior policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Valzquez and counsel to the New York City Bar Association. "Kathryn Garcia and Neysa Alsina are tremendously accomplished and dedicated public servants," Hochul said in a statement. "They know how to run effective and professional operations, and they will be instrumental in making our state government work better for New Yorkers and restoring trust in government." Also on Sept. 1, Hochul nominated Christopher Alexander to head the Office of Cannabis Management and Tremaine Wright to chair the State’s Cannabis Control Board. Both of those nominations need legislature approval, which is expected during the current special session in Albany. Cannabis has been legal in New York for five months, but former Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not nominate anyone to lead the regulatory bodies, so recreational sales are still at least a year away in the state. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup at a meeting of the Cairo Town Board, Greene County officials this week announced five joint projects with the town of Cairo. The most significant undertaking will be the extension of water lines to the north side of State Route 23. The project is aimed at attracting business, namely industrial and manufacturing, and is what Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden is calling “Coxsackie II.” The county previously partnered with Coxsackie in a similar way, investing roughly $3 million in infrastructure along State Route 9W, Groden said. “The county would partner with the town [of Cairo] and create new infrastructure that would allow for development within this community and of course, jobs,” said Groden. Groden attended the meeting, along with Legislature Chair Pat Linger and Cairo representative Harry Lennon. Groden estimates that Coxsackie's so-called industrial corridor furnishes between 500 and 600 jobs and his hope is that “Coxsackie II” will provide high-paying jobs and give local students a reason to stay in Greene County. The plan would involve extending town water and sewer lines from the area of Hannaford on Main Street to the area around McDonald's and then under State Route 23. The cost of the project will be somewhere around $750,000 and likely be paid for by American Rescue Plan Act money, Groden said. The other projects announced include paving the parking lot at the soccer field on Mountain Avenue and adding new lighting and paving at Angelo Canna Town Park; as well as Wi-Fi in the park pavilion. Work on most of the projects is expected to begin next year. Read more at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Coxsackie's Riverside Park is scheduled to close September 7, to make way for a state improvement project, but the details are limited at this time. The state Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department is expected to make an announcement about the plan within days, Coxsackie Village Mayor Mark Evans said on August 31. The state owns the property, but the village maintains the park under an agreement with the state. Public Information Officer Dan Keefe from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation declined to reveal details of what to expect, saying the announcement was being finalized. No village funds will be used for the renovations; the state will foot the bill, Evans said. “It is all good stuff and a great project for the park, but it is the state’s project and they get to make the announcement,” he said. Signs have been posted indicating it will close Sept. 7, and remain closed indefinitely. The Coxsackie Farmers Market is held in the park every Wednesday through September 29, and will have to be relocated for the next couple of weeks after the park closes. Evans said the market will move to somewhere near Village Hall for the remainder of the season. The last substantial improvement project at Riverside Park was in 2008. That year the village was awarded $20,000 for the construction of a children’s playground. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting the state Department of Environmental Conservation has adopted new rules for deer and bear hunting in New York. The rule changes include extending hunting hours and dress code requirements when afield to improve hunter safety. DEC announced the proposed changes in June, after adopting the updated State Deer Management Plan. The adopted changes include establishing a nine-day season for antler-less deer in mid-September (September 11 to 19, 2021); restoring an antler-less harvest during the early muzzleloader season; extending the hunting hours for deer and bear to include the full period of ambient light from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; require anyone hunting big game with a firearm, or accompanying someone hunting big game with a firearm, to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat, vest, or jacket; and more. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

The Times Union reports about more COVID-19 deaths in Albany and Rensselaer counties, and how 23 percent of active COVID-19 cases in Greene County reported on Aug. 30 were "breakthrough" cases infecting fully vaccinated residents. A 25-year-old man with underlying medical conditions died Aug. 30 in Rensselaer County, and a woman in her 50s died in Albany County. Three Albany County residents died from COVID-19 over the weekend, and the region is now averaging more than two coronavirus deaths a day, the highest amount since April. County Executive Dan McCoy said, “Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. There are breakthrough cases but in general, the symptoms are less severe. Of the 27 people currently hospitalized, the hospital reports us that 44 percent are fully vaccinated, 4 percent are partially vaccinated and 52 percent are not vaccinated.” In Greene County there were 83 active cases Aug. 30, and 19 of those were fully vaccinated. Greene County has the lowest vaccination rates in the Hudson Valley, the health department reports. Read more about these stories in the Times Union.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge reports for Columbia-Greene Media that with the Delta variant of COVID-19 driving up case counts and deaths locally and nationally, Chatham students are being forced back into classrooms Sept. 9 without a remote learning option. “Our focus this year is on in-person learning,” Chatham Superintendent Salvatore DeAngelo said. “We are prepared to make temporary shifts to remote instruction should the situation require us to do so. All of tonight’s information and our plan was created in accordance with the recommendations and guidance from the New York State Education Department and the American Academy of Paediatrics as well as most recently the New York State Department of Health and certainly the CDC.” Columbia County announced 15 new COVID-19 cases Aug. 30, with 76 active cases. But while students in Chatham schools have no remote option to avoid infection, school officials sometimes don't want students in the building. “The bottom line is if your child is ill, running a fever or obviously having any of the COVID-related symptoms, the best course of action is to keep them home so that they can be properly evaluated and not run the risk of exposing them to other students,” DeAngelo said. “We are really relying on our parents to, in a lot of ways, provide a good-faith effort to keep their children home when they’re ill.” And Chatham schools are not following all CDC recommendations. “In our county we are not recognizing the CDC recommendation to test out early from a quarantine situation,” DeAngelo said. “So if a student is positive then they would have to serve the entire 10-day quarantine period.” They are also not following the CDC and letting high-risk athletes in football, volleyball, and cheerleading to continue against the health agency's recommendation. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Ryan Whalen reports at New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her plan to combat COVID-19 in a speech Aug. 31 in Buffalo. She wants to rely more on local health departments and less on state mandates. "I saw firsthand the frustration that they had when they said we have health care professionals who are trained for this. We have done this before. We've done Zika. We've done Ebola. We know how to do measles shots. We've done flu shots. They know what to do. This is just one example of how my administration is going to govern. I'm going to empower the people who are supposed to be doing this. It's not about the ego of the state or the state government or the state governor. It's about empowering local governments to do what they do best,” she said. Hochul announced $65 million for counties to administer booster shots beginning Sept. 20. Hochul also said she would soon mandate schools must have everyone wearing masks, and teachers and staff must be fully vaccinated or be tested weekly, which may mean negotiating collective bargaining agreements. "I'm prepared to have those conversations about what it's going to take," she said. "If more time off is needed for people to do this, makes sense to me. They should get the time off, but this is all subject to immediate negotiations and we're having those conversations right now." A vaccine mandate at state-run and state-licensed facilities will follow after a review committee approves it. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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