Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that the Town of Berne wants to sell the Switzkill Farm property to Albany County for $150,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, town officials discussed turning the southern Albany County farm into a tourist spot. Instead, if the Albany County Legislature approves, they will own and maintain the 358-acre plot of woodlands, streams and several aging buildings, while allowing Berne to use it for events. Berne had more recently been considering logging the property. The county says it will stabilize a 5,000-square-foot lodge and a retreat house on the property, and reopen some trails by the spring. Berne's Supervisor Dennis Palow and Deputy Town Supervisor Anita Clayton did not return calls from the newspaper for comment. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that former Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver may have lost his bid for re-election, but outgoing County Executive William F.X. O’Neil on Nov. 20 appointed Pulver the next county comptroller. If the county legislator approves, the Republican will take over for Democrat Robin Lois, who is becoming deputy comptroller of Local Government and School Accountability in the New York State Comptroller’s Office in the new year. O'Neil did not run for reelection, and Republican Sue Serino was elected Dutchess County Executive, also taking on that role in the new year. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

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Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that the Fourth Judicial Department, a mid-level appellate court in New York, has reinstated a rule allowing the state Health Department to order someone to involuntarily isolate or quarantine to control a highly contagious disease. That overturns a 2022 decision by a state Supreme Court justice in Cattaraugus County who found the rule violates the constitutional requirement for a separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches when promulgating rules as severe as involuntary isolation. Republicans behind the lawsuit said they plan to appeal the decision to the state Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. The Nov. 17 ruling was on a technicality, as Republican officials filing the suit did not sufficiently establish why they were so severely harmed, and that the trial court failed to adequately rule on the merits of whether the petitioners had a right to bring the case in the first place. Assemblymember Chris Tague, who represents Greene and Schoharie counties, was one of the Republicans behind the lawsuit. The Republicans released a statement saying, “This has been a ‘David v. Goliath’ fight from the beginning on many levels, so it is not surprising that the state, with its limitless resources, has effectuated a win this round.... We will never stop fighting for New Yorkers against government overreach.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Katherine Doyle reports at NBC News that Rep Elise Stefanik is again working for former President Donald Trump, filing new documents to her judicial ethics complaint against the judge overseeing Trump's civil fraud trial in New York. She amended her complaint by attaching the mistrial motion filed by Trump's attorneys accusing Judge Arthur Engoron of bias. Engoron ruled against the motion. On Nov. 17 Stefanik said that motion was “wrongly denied” and that “A week ago, I filed an ethics complaint against Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron for his partisan antics, bias, and railroading of President Trump.... After my complaint, a New York appellate court smacked down Judge Engoron for his blatantly unconstitutional gag order. Today, I’m supplementing my ethics complaint against Judge Engoron with examples of even more of his egregious misconduct after he just wrongly dismissed President Trump’s motion for a mistrial.” Engoron said the arguments Trump's lawyers made in the motion were “utterly without merit.” Engoron is presiding over a $250 million civil lawsuit about fraud in the former president's business. He has already ruled that the fraud existed, and is now deciding how much to fine Trump and his business. Read more about this story at NBC News.

WNYT reports that the Hudson Police Department is now saying there was no attempted kidnapping last week, and that the incident they warned local citizens about was a misunderstanding. Police originally said a man in a white van asked a child walking home from school to get in the vehicle. But on Nov. 18, police found the driver and learned that a language barrier led to a misinterpretation of events. The driver, with a thick foreign accent, says he was telling the child about a dropped item, rather than directing them into the van. There were many posts and comments on social media about the incident last week after the police posted a warning. Read more about this story at WNYT.

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Larry Rulison reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have kept a state limousine safety task force she assembled operating. But while she ended the task force, Hochul is backing a slate of new limo safety bills recommended by the task force and passed back in January by the Senate. But the Assembly did not vote on any of the bills, including one that would ban stretch limos 10 years and older. So the legislative process starts over in January. Ronald Barton, a retired DOT motor carrier inspector who sat on the task force, said, “I’m just disappointed that she vetoed a well-deserved bill because there was so much unfinished business including the (IG and the NTSB) reports.” A major limo crash in Schoharie County in 2018 recently killed 20 and sparked interest in Albany in limo safety. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Kate Lisa reports in New York State of Politics that Gov. Kathy Hochul has many bills on her desk waiting to become laws if she signs them before the end of the year. One bill she could sign or veto would ban noncompete agreements. The bill would no longer restrict where a person can work after their employment ends. Assemblyperson LaToya Joyner said, "People should be able to go out and seek the best economic opportunity that's best for them.... They should be able to seek better wages, job mobility, change of careers [and] many have signed these agreements unknowingly." But business leaders, such as Paul Zuber, the Business Council of New York State's executive vice president, said, "We believe that it will have a very negative impact on the New York state economy, and that's our concern." The New York Business Council's nonprofit arm has spent $1 million urging Hochul to veto the legislation. Currently, California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma have banned non-compete agreements. Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Deer hunting season opened Nov. 18, and News10 in Albany reports that the Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating three separate hunting related incidents involving the shooting deaths of a dog in Franklin County on Nov. 16, a man in Wayne County on Nov. 18, and a fatality in Chenango County on Nov. 19. Big Game Biologist for the DEC, Brendan Quirion said that with so many hunters, "obviously that can create some safety concerns with that many people out in the woods and so we are encouraging everyone, regardless of if you are a hunter or not, to wear blaze orange.” Consider bright orange garments for pets too. The DEC says hunters should keep firearms pointed in a safe direction, treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, keep fingers off triggers until ready to shoot, and always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it while non-hunters should stay on designated trails, and wear blaze orange or something bright visible to hunters. Read the full story at News10 in Albany.

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Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that voters in in the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District will decide on a $29.4 million capital improvement project in a special Dec. 12 election. The district is holding a second information session about the vote at 6 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the high school. The new spending is for renovations at the middle and high school. Proposed projects include include science classroom renovations, enlarging the fitness center, creating a new wellness suite, and air conditioning improvements. Outside, there would be a new multi-purpose synthetic turf field and new softball field, and a reconstructed west side middle school parking lot. And security would be upgraded on all three of the district's campuses with card access added to select exterior doors, and the elementary knob door hardware would be swapped out for levers. Voting takes place on from noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday, December 12 at both elementary schools. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Chris Lisinski reports in the Berkshire Eagle that as of Dec. 1 anyone incarcerated in Massachusetts can make unlimited no-cost phone calls. On Nov. 16 Gov. Maura Healey signed the bill making Massachusetts the fifth state in the country to allow incarcerated individuals to make unlimited phone calls free of charge. Massachusetts, though, is the first state in the country to extend the free call rule to county jails. William Ragland, chair of the African American Coalition Committee of men incarcerated at MCI-Norfolk, said, "Black and brown people — many in poverty — make up 21 percent of the Massachusetts population but roughly 60 percent of its prison and jail population. It is a monstrosity and repugnant. It's not surprising then that Black and brown people spend the most on phone calls, video calls, and e-messages with their incarcerated loved ones, to the tune of $25 million annually.... Given our low prison wages, our families are often left with the bill, deciding whether to put money on their loved ones' phone accounts or pay their rent, put gas in their cars, or put food on their tables. This is all while prisons, jails, and their telecom vendors rake in profits." Healey said, "Ensuring that individuals in state and county prisons can keep in contact with their loved ones is key to enhancing rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and improving community safety.... I'm proud to sign this important legislation and grateful to the Legislature and advocates for their partnership." Read more about this story in the Berkshire Eagle.

On Nov. 19, state Senator Michelle Hinchey named WGXC programmer the Rev. Kim L. Singletary a "Woman of Distinction" in the 41st district. Previously Hinchey named Minerva Solla (2022), and Evelyn J. Clarke (2021) for the same honor. Singletary hosts "There's a Bright Side Somewhere" every Sunday at 8 a.m. on WGXC, and co-hosts the "WGXC Afternoon Show" every other Tuesday with Randall Martin. Hinchey's press release said, "Pastor Kim L. Singletary is a woman who builds community and offers a hand to every person who needs it – a thread that carries through every endeavor she champions." Singletary has been Pastor at the African Methodist Episcopal Churches in Chatham and Rockville Center, the first woman Chaplain at the Berkshire Farm Center’s Burnham Chapel, and founder of Overcomers Ministries International in Hudson. WGXC's Kimberley Erwin interviewed Singletary about the award. Click here to download or play the brief excerpt.

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Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that last week Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the Clean Slate Act, expanding the sealing of certain criminal records. The law will help thousands of formerly incarcerated New Yorkers return to society after a stint in prison. Hochul said, “You only get this if you’ve turned your life around,.... The good news is millions of people have.” Getting a job, renting or buying an apartment or house, and earning financial aid for higher education will all be easier for the formerly incarcerated under the new law. Under the new law anyone who committed misdemeanors, has to wait at least three years after serving their sentence and completing their parole or supervision for the law to seal their records. For certain felony crimes, the wrongdoer has to wait at least eight years after that point. Most Republicans, though, opposed the legislation. State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said in a statement, “There should be no question in the minds of New Yorkers: Albany Democrats will always prioritize criminals over victims and law-abiding citizens.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Spectrum News reports that in a new Siena Research Institute poll almost three-quarters of New Yorkers said antisemitism has increased since the October 7 Hamas attacks. And also in the poll 59 percent of respondents say Muslims in the state are experiencing increased Islamophobia. Almost six of every 10 people surveyed said the Hamas attacks should be condemned without explanation or hesitation. The poll also has President Joe Biden leading Republican frontrunner and former president Donald Trump by 10 points in the state. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.

Porcupine Soup reports that David Proper has beeen appointed interim principal at Catskill Middle School following the retirement of Kerry Overbaugh. Proper said, “I hope to provide a great experience for everybody here at Catskill Middle School.... I’m very excited to accept this appointment because middle school education is a passion of mine.” Proper is coming back out of retirement for Catskill; last year he served as interim principal at Cairo-Durham High School. Before that, at the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, for 13 years he was the middle school principal and, prior to that, 11 years as the assistant principal for the high school and middle school, and also was the athletic director. Proper’s new appointment in Catskill is is through June 30, 2024. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.