Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge reports for Columbia-Greene Media that on Aug. 23 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scored Columbia County at a high level of community transmission for COVID-19. “I think our numbers were a lot higher last winter, but this is certainly the first time we’ve been there with delta,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said of the new, more contagious strain of coronavirus. “I think I see us well into September, well into the start of school, seeing this level of community spread." School sports are not supposed to continue in areas with a high level of community transmission, and football practices start this week. “So the question was asked do we allow our athletes to practice, and we decided, yes, we will allow our athletes to practice,” Mabb said. "The schools are testing and interestingly enough several school districts in the Capital Region are requiring their athletes to be vaccinated. I think it’s a worthy conversation to have among our school superintendents to see where they’re at. I don’t think they’re ready to go there but on Wednesday we’ll have that conversation.” Columbia, Greene, and Rensselaer counties have all reported new COVID-19 deaths in the past several days. There has also been several new COVID-related cancellations this week as Basilica Hudson canceled their Soundscape festival next month at P.S. 21 in Chatham, and organizers in Albany have put off Lark Fest for another year. "One of our SoundScape artists, William Basinski, has recently decided to cancel his entire fall tour due to increasing health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19," organizers wrote on the Basilica Hudson website, also citing rising local COVID-19 case counts. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

The Times Union reports that Andrew Cuomo quit his job as governor as of Aug. 24, and lost his Emmy award. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences stripped Cuomo of the special Emmy award he received last year for his daily COVID-19 briefings."His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward," the organization stated, citing his serial sexual harassment. Last November, the academy announced the award because, "The Governor’s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure,” the Academy's President & CEO Bruce L. Paisner said last year. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Troy Record reports that Albany County is sending all voters who request an absentee ballot a postage-paid envelope beginning with the November elections. “Recent elections have shown there is greater interest in absentee voting. There are several advantages for the voters. They increase voter participation and encourage the voter to study the ballot longer. Prepaid postage will guarantee the return of the ballots,” said Albany County Legislature Deputy Chair Wanda Willingham. Registered voters can receive an absentee ballot for several reasons including if they are unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability, which includes fear of contracting COVID-19. Voters can apply for an absentee ballot by mail; through the absentee portal on the New York State Board of Elections website; in person at the Albany County Board of Elections offices at 260 South Pearl St. in Albany; or they can assign someone to bring the application in-person to the BOE and receive the ballot. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by October 18 or 15 days before the general election. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.

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Jon Campbell and Tiffany Cusaac-Smith report in the Democrat and Chronicle that New York now has its first female governor. Kathy Hochul went from Lt. Governor to the state's leader at midnight Aug. 24, after Andrew Cuomo resigned in the wake of 11 allegations of sexual harassment and an assortment of ethical failures. New York's 57th governor was sworn in during a private ceremony at the state Capitol, with Janet DiFiore, the state's chief judge, administering the oath of office. Hochul served in Congress for 18 months from 2011 to 2013, and was Erie County clerk from 2007 to 2011 after serving on the Hamburg town board and as a congressional aide. Hochul named Karen Persichilli Keogh, a former aide to then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, as secretary to the governor, a post regarded by some as the most powerful nonelected position in state government. The new governor also appointed Elizabeth Fine as counsel to the governor. Fine most recently served as executive vice president and general counsel at Empire State Development, which runs the state's economic-development plan. Cuomo, meanwhile, released a final video as governor to the public on Aug. 23, and instead of an apology continued to attack political opponents. But he did release a statement saying running for office again was not in his future. But Carl Heastie, the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, unilaterally ended the impeachment efforts recently, so Cuomo can legally run for the same office again next year. Read more about this story in the Democrat and Chronicle.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaving office with an $18 million campaign war chest. However, the former governor is limited in what he can do with that money, the good-government organization Reinvent Albany said. Cuomo does not plan to run for elected office again, but he can use the money for legal defense. He currently faces multiple investigations, including one by Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple over allegations that he inappropriately touched a woman at the Executive Mansion and a federal inquiry into his administration's reporting of nursing home deaths. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing. He can also use the money for campaign-related services like car repair and rent for office space being used by a campaign. And the funds can be paid out for meals, country club admission and sporting events. At the same time, campaign money cannot be used for paying fees or fines or state ethics or criminal violations. Nor can he use it to pay non-campaign staff or to pay a residential mortgage. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul became the first woman governor of New York at midnight when Cuomo's resignation became official. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting that the Greene County Sheriff’s Office recently announced it has joined the nationwide OffenderWatch sex offender registry network. The program makes it possible to collaborate on investigations and to share critical information involving registered sex offenders with more than 4,000 other law enforcement agencies across the country. County residents can also use the sheriff’s website to search for sex offenders residing in their neighborhood and subscribe to receive email alerts from the sheriff’s office. County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said, “OffenderWatch builds a history of the data we have on file, and this facilitates registry staff, investigators and others working together. So, our deputies can be more proactive in offender management and keeping the community aware.” OffenderWatch has its own free app, for both Android and iPhone smartphone devices. After downloading, residents will be able to see registered sex offenders located near them or their family members. They will also receive free alerts when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood. Read more at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Sam Raudins is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Union Street Brewing Company has applied to the Hudson Planning Board for approval of a proposal to locate a microbrewery at its 716 Union Street location in the city. Brewery representatives presented the proposal at the planning board's Aug. 10 meeting. “We are looking to be a destination for beer geeks, a local watering hole, as well as a community meeting place,” according to the application. The unfinished warehouse will become a 5,000-square-foot microbrewery and tap room and have an entrance on Cherry Alley. The property is located next door to Governor’s Tavern in a commercial zone. Paul and Emma O’Donnell of SPE Ventures are the applicants. “It looks pretty bad, but we are hoping to make it really beautiful and really kind of re-energize these two lots,” Emma O’Donnell said. Planning Board Chair Steve Steim said the board has scheduled a public hearing for the project at its September 14 meeting. At the hearing, the O’Donnells will present more information about the project, and the board will hear from residents. The O’Donnells said in their application they do not intend to have amplified music past 11 p.m. and will fully comply with the city’s noise ordinance; however, they might offer live music indoors or in the beer garden, on occasion. If the project is approved the O’Donnells plan to begin construction in the winter of 2022. Maximum occupancy of the finished space will be 160 indoors and outdoors. The brewery expects to employ 10 workers during the first year of operation and will initially be open Thursday through Sunday. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Helen Branswell reports at Stat News that on Aug. 23 the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials hope that will persuade some of the vaccine hesitant to get the shot. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. “Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.” The FDA gave full approval of the Phizer vaccine for those 16 and older, while it continues studying the vaccine for 12-15 year-olds, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The approval “affirms the efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine at a time when it is urgently needed,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “I am hopeful this approval will help increase confidence in our vaccine, as vaccination remains the best tool we have to help protect lives and achieve herd immunity.” Read more about this story at Stat News.

Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's dog, Captain, is looking for a new home. Cuomo, resigning Aug. 24 after 11 allegations of sexual harassment and other ethical scandals, has been staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County in the final days of his third term. He recently asked staff members at the Executive Mansion if anyone would like to keep his dog, according to anonymous sources. Captain first stayed at the state-owned residence after the governor moved out last week, then was taken in by a staff member. But that staffer brought Captain back, deciding he was too much to handle, according to the newspaper. Captain is a high-strung mix of shepherd, Siberian, and malamute. Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser and spokesperson for the governor, said Cuomo is planning a vacation, so he can't keep the dog now. "Captain is part of the governor's family and for your nameless ill-informed source to imply they've been trying to give him away is untrue," Azzopardi said Aug. 21. "Someone offered to watch him for a few days while the transition was ongoing but for that to be weaponized and morph from a game of telephone into the pages of your paper is absurd — now excuse us we're preparing for a major storm." An anonymous state police source claimed the dog had nipped at "several State Police members" as well as staff members, "and the governor would just laugh. ... The dog remains at the mansion." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mike Goodwin reports in the Times Union that the storms associated with Tropical Storm Henri caused minor flooding along the Schoharie Creek, but otherwise the upper Hudson Valley was spared from major destruction. Tannersville, a Greene County mountain town, received four inches of rain from the storm, while 3.2 inches fell in Middleburgh in Schoharie County, South Berne in southern Albany County received 2.25 inches of rain, and Spencertown in Columbia County got 2.16 inches. Downstate, some towns received up to eight inches of water. "Thankfully, we were spared that much," said Tom Wasula, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Albany office. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Mike Goodwin and Pete DeMola report in the Times Union that Tropical Storm Henri, formerly a hurricane, hit the Hudson Valley and Capital Region with several inches of rain Aug. 22, with more expected. More than 100,000 power outages were reported throughout New England and a flood watch for the WGXC listening area remains in effect through 8 p.m. Aug. 23. President Joe Biden approved New York's declaration of a state of emergency. That will make it easier for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief and work with local governments, the state, and tribes. Water was the biggest problem, with five inches expected in many places, while winds weren't as strong after the hurricane landed in Rhode Island. The already-saturated ground is expected to lead to more water runoff and more downed trees, that might take out power lines. Henri was downgraded to a Tropical Depression during the evening Aug. 22. The storm comes on the final day of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's tenure as governor, as Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to take over at midnight after his resignation announced two weeks ago. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Kate Lisa is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media parents and guardians of children enrolled in the Coxsackie-Athens School District spent hours sharing their suggestions and grievances with school officials on Aug. 19, about the proposed reorganization of grades pre-K through four. The district August 3, held the first of several forums to discuss its plan which would send all students in pre-K through second grade to E.J. Arthur Elementary School in Athens and all third and fourth graders to Coxsackie Elementary School. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade currently attend classes in the school building located in the community where they live. Dozens of parents spoke for several hours at the board of education meeting last week about the proposed reconfiguration. The expressed concerns that the pandemic caused enrollment numbers to increase so class sizes will be impacted to the degree that one-on-one instruction would suffer; about young children riding the school bus for a greater distance and a longer period of time and more. Board of Education President Michael Donahue said school officials will continue to listen to parents and community members with their questions, comments and concerns, and conduct additional forums throughout the year to make an informed decision, The changes proposed would not be implemented during the current school year. “We’re going through the information-gathering stage,” Donahue said. The district is looking to reorganize its elementary buildings because of declining enrollment, the addition of a pre-K program and teachers' desire to have the same grade level under the same roof. The next reconfiguration forum will be held in late September. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the former Freehold House at the corner of State Route 32 and County Route 67 in the hamlet of Freehold was sold August 10, by the Internal Revenue Service. IRS spokesperson Michael Devine said five bidders attended the public auction. “The property sold for more than $175,000,” Devine said. The minimum starting bid was $73,192. The identity of the new owner has not been disclosed. “We would need to get the buyer’s permission to release their name,” Devine said. As of late last week, the documents relating to the sale had not yet been filed with the Greene County Clerk’s Office. The property was auctioned off after the Santa Ana, CA-based owner of the property, Bounty America Pharm New York, allegedly failed to pay federal taxes. The sale included two parcels, the property located at 3645 County Road 67, and the parking lot across the street. Built in 1791, the large white structure with columns in the front was once a stagecoach stop; it is listed on the Greene County Historic Register. The main house originally served as an inn and has served as the location of various restaurants over the years. Read the full story at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

MidHudson News is reporting that Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian Anderson announced that nearly 1,400 applications to take the upcoming police officer/deputy sheriff exam have been submitted, an increase of more than 56 percent over the number received in 2017, the last time the exam was offered. The increase is being attributed to community outreach by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and the Dutchess County Department of Human Resources, as well as local police agencies, to encourage a diverse applicant pool for the exam. The outreach effort included waiving exam fees for applicants; expanded recruitment efforts, extended outreach via social media, posters, flyers and media interviews; and the availability of free preparation courses to help interested candidates prepare for the written exam and the physical agilities test. The county is reporting a 105 percent increase in African American applicants, a 203 percent increase in Hispanic applicants, an 89 percent increase in Asian applicants and a 98 percent increase in female applicants. The police exam will be administered on Sept. 18. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

The National Weather Service in Albany has updated the storm status to a Flood Advisory for the WGXC listening area until 9:15 p.m. Aug. 22. Several of inches of rain is expected before then, as the storms associated with Hurricane Henri impact the area.