Natasha Vaughn and Aliya Schneider are reporting for Columbia-Greene Media various elected officials from both major parties believe Gov. Andrew Cuomo should be held responsible for his actions and are calling for his resignation after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Aug. 3, the findings of an independent investigation into Cuomo's behavior toward multiple women. The report concluded that the governor sexually harassed 11 women, violating state and federal laws, from 2013 to 2020. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, released a joint statement in response to the AG’s announcement. “As we have said before, the reported actions of the governor were profoundly disturbing, inappropriate and completely unacceptable,” Schumer and Gillibrand said. “Today’s report ... substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories — and we commend the women for doing so.” Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees, said Democrat, U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, and he thanked the brave women who came forward. “Being the governor of the state of New York is a privilege. Withholding critical information from the public, combined with the growing allegations of threats, bullying and sexual harassment, reflects a culture of aggression that is unfit to lead. The governor must resign,” Delgado said. Republican state Assemblymember Chris Tague supports an Assembly investigation and impeachment proceeding. “I hope now that this report will come out that my fellow members in the Assembly and in the Senate will have a new call to get the impeachment proceedings started and remove the governor from office and let this play out,” Tague said. "...{T]he way this report is reading from the attorney general, it does not look good for Andrew Cuomo.” Republican state Sen. Daphne Jordan said the AG's report leads to one inescapable conclusion: Cuomo must resign. “...Cuomo is a serial sexual harasser that has brought disgrace upon his office and stained our state. For the good of New York, Cuomo must go,” Jordan said. Democratic Assemblymember Didi Barrett said she was devastated by the outcome of the investigation and called for the governor to step down. “That report has documented a pattern of demeaning and disrespectful behavior and a hostile working environment that has no place in the great State of New York,” Barrett said. "My heart goes out to the courageous women who stepped up to share their truths." Republican Assemblymember Jake Ashby echoed his colleagues. “It is our duty as state legislators to immediately bring forth the resolution to impeach Gov. Cuomo as no one should be empowered to lead our great state who habitually disregards basic decency and respect to the women he encounters,” Ashby said. Locally, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chair Matt Murell, a Republican, said, “If it’s true, the governor should resign.” Hudson Common Council President Thomas DePietro, a Democrat, also believes Cuomo should step down. “Without parsing every accusation — of which there are many in the report — I think the governor should resign,” he said. Note: DePietro is a WGXC volunteer on-air programmer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

The Daily Freeman is reporting a man from Plattsburgh has been accused of posing as a contractor and defrauding homeowners in the Hudson Valley of more than $10,000 in down payments for work never performed, according to the state police. Lionel L. Rushford Jr., 46, of Plattsburgh, was arrested July 30, and charged with the felonies of grand larceny and scheme to defraud. He allegedly took money from property owners for home improvement work, but subsequently ended communication and never showed up to do the work. A warrant for his arrest was issued by Cairo Town Court last month. Rushford was arraigned on the charges in Catskill Town Court and sent to Ulster County Jail without bail. State police are asking that anyone who thinks they were defrauded by Rushford to call them at (518) 622-8600 and reference SJS number 10250533. Read more in the Daily Freeman.

Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that a prisoner escaped from the Albany County jail Aug. 3. The unidentified prisoner scaled a perimeter fence and a secondary security fence around 10 a.m. and ran toward the Shaker Ridge Country Club. But corrections officers witnessed the escape, and caught the escapee on the golf course across Albany Shaker Road. The man was charged with felony escape and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment of injuries he received scaling one of the security fences. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup a newly adopted rescue dog ran off on August 1, from the New Baltimore rest area on the state Thruway, and the Johnston family from Princeton, New Jersey, is asking for the community's help. The family was on their way home from Vermont with Prudence, a Vizsla, and Clive, a Weimaraner, and stopped at the rest area. That was when Pru and Clive escaped. “They both took off running toward Interstate 87 and continued [to] chase as numerous motorists and bystanders rushed to catch the pair,” Johnston explained. Clive was recovered 45 minutes later, but Pru is still unaccounted for. A motorist last saw her on Kings Road behind the rest area, heading north. “Pru is scared of humans, cars, mowers, and tractors,” Johnston said.  “She may look for open barns and hiding places to take shelter. Please do not chase, do not call her name, just call to report [the] sighting and try to keep eyes on her. The family is utterly devastated and so scared for her wellbeing.” Anyone with information, or willing to help with the search, is asked to call 732-682-5013. The full story, along with photos of Prudence, can be found at porcupinesoup [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

On Aug. 3 New York Attorney General Letitia ("LA-teesh-uh") James released her office's report on the allegations of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Her office's investigation ”reveal[ed] a deeply disturbing clear picture of sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of .. laws.” Click here to hear an excerpt of James speaking on Aug. 3. Less than two hours after James spoke, Cuomo put out a live webstream, but took no questions. Click here to hear an excerpt of Cuomo responding to the report. The AG report did not take a position on whether Cuomo should be subject to criminal prosecution for the alleged groping at the Executive Mansion. But James made clear that she believed the women accusers. Click here to hear a second excerpt of James speaking about the allegations. Many prominent Democrats and Republicans in New York had previously called on Cuomo to resign when the allegations emerged publicly earlier in the year, and an impeachment process began in the legislature. On Aug. 3, after the Attorney General's report, a few centrists such as Albany Assemblymember John T. McDonald released statements. “If the Governor does not resign, I as a member of the NYS Assembly, am prepared to vote in favor of moving forward with the impeachment proceedings,” McDonald said. In addition, all New York congressional Democrats have now called on Cuomo to resign. “No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign," read a joint statement from New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Didi Barrett, the Democrat who represents Columbia and Dutchess counties in the State Assembly, is one of the few local Democrats who has not yet called for Cuomo to resign. Albany County District Attorney David Soares said his office has an "ongoing criminal investigation" of Cuomo.

Today's daily headlines.

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Morgan McKay is reporting for State of Politics the New York Attorney General’s office will extend until late December, its contracts with two outside firms currently investigating sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The contracts were originally set to expire on September 6. The request to extend the contracts does not necessarily mean a report will be released later in the year, but more because there is a chance that investigators could be assisting in a separate probe by the State Assembly. Cuomo is facing allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior by both former and current employees. Cuomo authorized the AG’s investigation in late February, after three women accused him of inappropriate behavior. Later, several other women then came forward, including one unnamed woman who accused Cuomo of sexual assault at the governor’s mansion. Attorney General Letitia [la-TISH-ah] James in early March chose Joon Kim, a former federal prosecutor, and Anne Clark, an employment lawyer, to lead the investigation. The lawyers have so far spent almost five months interviewing the women involved, as well as numerous top advisors to the governor. The findings of this investigation are expected to be released in a public report. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Bill Williams Is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson Police Department continues to investigate the most recent incident of shots fired in the city. The incident occurred Fri., Jul. 30, and is the fifth shooting to take place in Hudson since April and so far police have failed to make an arrest. HPD Chief L. Edward Moore said he believes all five clashes are connected. At about 6:45 p.m. on Friday, law enforcement responded to the 200 block of Prison Alley, which runs parallel to Warren Street on the city's north side, following multiple reports of gunshots in the area. Despite the recovery of only four shell casings, Moore opined that more than four shots were fired. One building was struck, but no cars were hit, and no injuries were reported, Moore said. Police focused their attention on an area between N. 3rd and N. 2nd streets.In addition to the Hudson police. The state police responded to the scene, as did the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office with its tracking dog. The first of the five shootings this year occurred on Robinson Street in April. Less than two weeks later, a shooting near N. 3rd Street and Long Alley resulted in a 20-year-old Hudson man being rushed to Albany Medical Center. During an afternoon in June, between six and 10 shots were fired on N. 5th Street. No people were struck, but there was property damage. Less than 24 hours later, an unidentified man was shot in the pelvis while standing outside of Building 13 at the Hudson Terrace Apartments on Front Street. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Rebecca C. Lewis reports for City and State that it has been a little over four months since New York legalized cannabis, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo has done virtually nothing to start retail sales. "The lawmakers and advocates who pushed for the law have been criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo for dragging his feet on setting up marijuana sales and cultivation regulations," Lewis writes. Native American tribes will likely beat the rest of the state to the first retail recreational cannabis sales in New York. That's because sovereign tribes were already free to legalize cannabis within their territories, but now that New York has officially made it legal throughout the state, it is easier for Native American tribes. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, on the Canadian border, is on pace to start sales soon. The tribe does not need to wait for Cuomo to set up the Cannabis Control Board, as it has already established an entire regulatory structure within its jurisdiction to award licenses to tribal members and tribal businesses. The Shinnecock Indian Nation on Long Island has broken ground on a medical marijuana cultivation facility and is building a dispensary and wellness center, and expects to starts sales before the end of the year. The Onondaga Nation near Syracuse is reportedly not planning any cannabis business, and Western New York’s Seneca Nation of Indians has not publicly announced any plans. But the other tribes may have recreational sales in New York later this year. Read more about this story in City and State.

MidHudson News is reporting demand for hangar space for aircraft based at New York Stewart International Airport is so high that the Port Authority is looking for developers to build additional space. Currently, there is no space available and Stewart Business Development Director Michael Torelli said more would be a plus for the airport and the region. “...It is one thing to utilize the airport, but it is another thing to have them based at an airport because basing an aircraft at an airport brings extra jobs, extra investment and more activity,” Torelli said. Signature Aviation is scheduled to build a new facility that will include offices and hangar space. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that as the Delta variant spreads like wildfire throughout the state and more COVID-19 cases are being reported, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stopped short of calling for a statewide mask mandate on Aug. 2. Instead, he urged private businesses to mandate vaccinations for customers and employees and warned that soon private health care workers, teachers, and nursing home workers may also face vaccination mandates. "I don't believe a mask policy will be enough," Cuomo said at a news conference Aug. 2. "I think we will have to talk about a vaccination policy." Locally, Greene, Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer counties have all surpassed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention threshold for encouraging mask wearing indoors, regardless of vaccination status. "If the numbers don't come down, I think you have to consider mandatory vaccines for nursing home workers," Cuomo said, adding the same may be true for teachers and front-facing health care workers. "These are the places where one person can infect literally dozens in the course of a day," he said. And things could get worse. "I worry that even more dangerous variants — including vaccine-resistant ones — could emerge if uncontrolled spread continues," tweeted Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the CDC and commissioner of the New York City health department. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Joseph Spector reports in the Democrat and Chronicle about the infrastructure bill that may pass in the U.S. Senate this week and what it means for New York. There is $1,480,000 for upgrades at the Columbia County airport in the bill, part of $1 billion being spent at airports across the state. If passed, Amtrak would get $66 billion for an expansion and overhaul nationally, and New York Senator Chuck Schumer said $24 billion would go to the Northeast corridor modernization plan. Amtrak also wants to provide new service from Albany to Boston with money from the bill. New York's roads and bridges would get $2 billion extra above the $11.5 billion annual federal infrastructure spending. "It has been decades since Congress passed such a significant, stand-alone investment," Schumer said late Aug. 1 on the Senate floor. "In order for our economy, workers and businesses to succeed in the 21st Century, we cannot have infrastructure that’s stuck in the last century." Read more about this story in the Democrat and Chronicle.

The Daily Freeman reports that New York's Department of Environmental Conservation is looking for pool owners to participate in its Asian Longhorned Beetle Swimming Pool Survey. “The best opportunity to eradicate and limit the spread of invasive species is by finding infestations early, when populations are low,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement. “Swimming pool monitoring is a simple, economical approach to surveying for these pests and gives New Yorkers the chance to take an active role in protecting their communities.” Asian long-horned beetles are invasive pests that cause serious damage to the state’s trees. So the DEC is asking pool owners to periodically check their filters for insects that resemble the beetles and report suspects either by emailing photos to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov or mailing insects to the DEC’s Forest Health Diagnostics Lab, 108 Game Farm Road, Delmar, N.Y. 12054, Attn.: Liam Somers. The invasive pest is:
• Is about 1.5 inches long, black with white spots, with black and white antennae.
• Leaves perfectly round exit holes about the size of a dime in branches and trunks of host trees.
• Creates sawdust-like material called frass that collects on branches and around the bases of trees.
The wood-boring beetles attack hardwood trees, including maples, birches and willows, among others, and have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of trees across the country, the DEC said. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily headlines.

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Pete DeMola and Lauren Stanforth report in the Times Union that last week Greene was the only local county to have so many COVID-19 cases to reach the CDC level recommending indoor mask use. Now Columbia, Albany, Rensselaer, and Schoharie counties are added to that list. Most local counties now have reached the "substantial" level of community spread that requires wearing masks indoors again as the Delta variant of COVID-19 is much more contagious and dangerous. The CDC now says, "to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission." Local officials say that everyone getting vaccinated is the only way out of the pandemic. “Data continues to show vaccination decreases the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death," Albany County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen said. "We encourage people to follow the CDC guidelines and we will continue to evaluate the data and respond appropriately.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper representatives of National Grid were in attendance at the in-person Kinderhook Village Board meeting on July 14, to explain the utility's plans for the electric power transformer bank recently installed on a pole on Hudson Street as well as upgrading the voltage in some parts of the village. More than half of the people at the meeting were impacted by the platform-mounted transformer bank that was attached on poles located in front of the home of former U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson and Mary Gibson; the Gibsons were present at the board meeting. National Grid’s Hudson engineer, Serena Hazzard, along with two other company representatives, explained the reason for the large transformer platform in its current location and the plan to have it eventually moved. They said the company will add more transformers further down Hudson Street just outside of the village, spoke about upgrading the primary voltage in the village and making all the feeders in the village the same voltage class. Hazzard explained that the work needed has been made a priority. Chris Gibson requested Hazzard provide a letter assuring him that the transformer is being moved and explaining her logic. He explained that he was asking for a letter from the representatives present at the meeting, saying that he would take the issue as high as it needs to go. He said the residents of Kinderhook have not been "communicated to," and said they want to get to a place of trust with the corporation. Other residents noted that National Grid had turned up to do work and never notified the community, including the village board. Hazzard stressed several times the project was about reliability and better service. If the transformer on Hudson Street is taken out now it will mean that when there is an outage it will take longer for service to come back on some streets in the village, she said. After the National Grid representatives left the meeting, the board voted to approve the option to move the transformer bank on Hudson and Kinderhook streets to a location outside of the village. Read more about this story in The Columbia Paper.