Natasha Vaughn is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the city of Hudson will take delivery in late August of a new $1.3 million tower ladder truck. The new vehicle will replace a 20-year-old KME Aerial Cat truck the department currently uses. “All the guys are excited for the new apparatus coming in. We look forward to it serving the city for years to come,” Second Assistant Fire Chief Nick Pierro said. “We appreciate the city’s backing and all the help that they’ve given us and their help buying the new apparatus.” The new truck has a 100-foot aluminum ladder with a platform, a 600-horsepower engine, an eight-man cab, a 300-gallon water tank and lots of storage for ground ladders and tools. “It’s definitely exciting for our department,” Mayor Kamal Johnson said. The truck purchase was approved by the city in December 2019. Roughly $350,000 of the $1.3 million purchase price comes from the department's truck reserve fund. The remainder, Johnson said, is financed with a bond. The truck was commissioned through a local E-One dealer, Premier Fire Apparatus Inc., of Lake Katrine, and then built at E-One’s facility in Ocala, Florida. Pierro said a fire truck generally lasts 20 years. The fire department has four trucks and one is replaced every five years. Once the new tower ladder truck is completed, five members of the department will be trained how to operate it by an E-One representative. Note: Johnson is a volunteer WGXC on-air programmer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Sam Raudins is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Republican Jeff Holliday has been declared the winner of the Catskill Village Board special election held July 6. The former state trooper bested his Democratic opponent Michelle Williams on a final vote of 451 to 369. His win came after absentee ballots were counted on July 8. Holliday will fill the seat left vacant created by the resignation of Vincent Seeley in January. Williams, the founder of The Mermaid Cafe and Bittersweet Ice Cream Shop, took an early lead on election night, 315 to 252, with 265 absentee ballots yet to be counted. But, Greene County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Brent Bogardus said Holliday had 199 absentee votes to Williams’ 54. Williams said in a statement she was “disappointed with the final results but enjoyed the experience as a first-time candidate .... I look forward to running again in the future and want to thank all who voted for me no matter their party.” Holliday said he hopes to be seated for the next village board meeting on July 14, after the Board of Elections certifies the results. “I’m excited for the opportunity,” Holliday said. “I’m really appreciative of my supporters. I’m looking forward to get[ting] to work because we do have some things we need to get taken care of,..." Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Joshua Solomon and Emilie Munson are reporting for the Times Union newly released data shows that half the time police in New York used force it was wielded against a black person, a rate substantially disproportionate to the state's overall population, which is 18 percent black. In the Capital Region, some police departments, including Albany, Troy and Schenectady, reported that black people accounted for more than 60 percent of cases in which they used force. That force was defined as anything from chokeholds to deploying Taser-like devices and chemical agents to brandishing and shooting firearms. At least 10 people statewide died after police used force out of more about 7,000 use of force cases between July 2019 and October 2020, according to information reported by police agencies to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services and released last week. In the Capital Region, the Troy City Police Department had the sixth-highest number of use of force incidents among any police department statewide. Out of 131 people the Troy police used force on in the 15-month reporting window, 61 percent of the time the person was black. About 18 percent of Troy residents are black, according to the US Census Bureau. The Schenectady City Police Department had the ninth-highest tally of use of force cases. Out of the 102 people the department used force on, 62 percent of them were black. About 20 percent of city residents are black. And 31 of the 37 people the Albany City Police reported using force against were black, in a city with an overall population that is 29 percent Black. The statewide tally released does not include deaths that followed force used by the New York City Police Department, because the state's largest police department, refused to report such figures to the state. Release of the report was slowed by lawsuits and pushback from conservatives and some law enforcement officials. They argued that reporting the information would constrain officers' work and make the streets less safe. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman the Ulster County District Attorney's Office has experienced a series of at least 11 departures since David Clegg took over as DA in January 2020. The latest departure was that of Katherine Van Loan, the county's chief assistant DA. Van Loan was hired in 1999 and most recently served as the office's second-in-command. Her resignation is effective August 1, according to a press release from Clegg's office. The majority of the resignations were by attorneys who served under former District Attorney Holley Carnright. One assistant DA hired by Clegg was fired a short time later, and a second hire, Marco Caviglia, is leaving on Sept. 1. Four of the former DAs have moved over to the Ulster County Public Defender's Office. In an email, Clegg said, "Each of the persons who have left since I started involved different circumstances which I am not at liberty to discuss," because, he said, he "cannot speak about personnel matters." Clegg said he is currently looking to fill two vacancies. Democrat Clegg, a civil rights attorney from Woodstock, succeeded Republican Carnright, who chose not to run for re-election in 2019, after serving three four-year terms. During the 18 months of Clegg's tenure, there have been a number of missteps by prosecutors. Clegg said his office struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown that led to backlogs in the courts, the demands of the state's new criminal justice reforms, and a hiring freeze that he said prevented him from filling key positions Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that the federal trial of former Prattsville Town Supervisor Kory O’Hara and local businessman Stephen Baker for fraud has been delayed again, until October. O’Hara and Prattsville resident Baker were charged in November, 2019 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with fraud relating to grants to Prattsville to help the town recover from Hurricane Irene damage. O’Hara and Baker were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, and O’Hara is also charged with bank fraud and making false statements in a loan application. The trial has been delayed multiple times because of COVID-19, but this time attorneys asked for the “additional continuance of 90 days within which the parties may engage in plea negotiations, file motions, and prepare for trial.” The storms associated with Hurricane Irene devasted Prattsville in western Greene County in 2011. Both O’Hara and Baker are currently out on their own recognizance. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Sam Raudins reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Catskill senior center reopened July 6 with a new director. Jamie Story is now director of The Robert C. Antonelli Senior Center, which has been closed due to COVID-19 since March, 2020. The senior center is not completely reopen yet, with sit-down dining back on Aug. 2 with some new rules, including non-vaccinated attendees wearing masks, reservations made a day in advance, and physical distancing. Story says she is also looking to add services. “I’m open to ideas from the community and from the seniors working with funds from the town and fundraisers,” Story said. “I’m really excited to be here. I’ve been here about a week, and I have met many wonderful seniors, and I’m looking forward to meeting many more.” Edie Bentley, senior center patron, said it’s “fun” to be back. “I’m very happy to see that everybody got through the COVID OK.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Nicole Davis in the Times Union rounds up all the movie and television productions filming in the Hudson Valley this year. A new HBO Max series, “Pretty Little Liars,” will shoot in the area through next year, on location and at Upriver Studios in Saugerties. The Gilded Age,” also for HBO Max, has been shooting this year in Troy. Amy Schumer’s “Life & Beth” was shot locally for Hulu, and Mindy Kaling’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” filmed around Vassar for HBO Max. And “White House Plumbers,” starring Woody Harrelson, has also been filming in the Capital region and the Hudson Valley. “We’re north of $30 million halfway through the year, which is amazing,” said Hudson Valley Film Commission director, Laurent Rejto. There are also new film facilities coming to Orange County, and a new sound stage coming to the iPark campus in East Fishkill. Rejto reports the Hudson Valley in 2021 is on pace to surpass the $46 million the film industry spent locally in 2019. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily headlines.

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The village of Coxsackie lifted its State of Emergency at 8:30 p.m. July 8, 24 hours after a major storm blew through, according to a post on the village Facebook page. Five roads remained blocked at that time due to tree removal and Central Hudson's work restoring power. Access to the eastern part of the village, where much of the storm damage is located, is restricted to residents only. Hazardous conditions include hanging wires and unstable trees or limbs. As of Thursday afternoon crews from five surrounding towns and Greene County, using chipper machines and equipment, assisted in the recovery effort. Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans said, "The goal right now is to make roads passable." Central Hudson estimated that a majority of the village would have power returned by late Thursday night. Evans reported that the National Weather Service toured the village Thursday, and determined the devastation was caused by a straight-line wind event, not a tornado. The National Weather Service estimated winds neared 100 mph, according to Evans. And because of all the rain, there were 264,000 gallons of untreated sewage released into the Hudson River in Coxsackie on July 8. Storms also downed trees in Stuyvesant and Kinderhook on July 7, and on July 9 the remnants of Hurricane Elsa are expected to pass through the area. News10 [dot] com is reporting that residents in need of food or supplies can call Coxsackie Police Department at (518)-731-8122, (518) 731-8121 or the Village Hall at (518)-731-2718. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the entire Hudson Valley, and Coxsackie could receive between 1.5 and three inches of rain by Friday afternoon. "With this continued bad weather it just further complicates the repairs and clean up," Evans wrote.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Durham Town Board has tentative scheduled a public hearing on a controversial housing development in Cornwallville. On July 6, the board discussed holding the hearing August 31, to receive public comment on the Bosque Development. The location, time, and details for the hearing still need to be "ironed out," Supervisor Shawn Marriott said. “I don’t think we are going to be able to have a board meeting and public hearing on the same night,” Marriott said. “I don’t foresee that happening.” Marriott said he believes there will be "quite a few people" in attendance, and a second public hearing is likely. Bosque Development, LLC of Hudson, submitted in November its proposal to subdivide 95 acres near Strong and Cornwallville roads. The project calls for the construction of 12 new high-end homes and a farming operation. Durham does not have a planning board so the town board serves in that capacity. Public comment has been largely against the development. Dozens of “No Subdivision” lawn signs are posted throughout the town. Community members have various concerns, ranging from environmental and traffic impact to the effect the development will have on the historic character of the hamlet. Marriott said because town hall will not be large enough to accommodate everyone for the public hearing, possible alternative locations include the town highway garage or a Cairo-Durham school. The board is also considering a time limit on comments, ways to webcast the hearing, and having engineers present to address concerns as they come up. Documents submitted on the project can be found on the town’s website. Read more about this story at porcupine soup [dot] com.

Chris Bragg reports in the Times Union that three Republican state ethics commissioners want to get information about a Gov. Andrew Cuomo scandal that precedes the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent allegations of sexual harassment. Last week, Joint Commission on Public Ethics Commissioner Jim Yates publicly stated for the first time that Cuomo had complained about Yates’ vote following a 2019 meeting. Now three state ethics commissioners want an investigation reopened into who illegally leaked that vote information from a confidential meeting to Cuomo, committing a misdemeanor under state law. Yates and Julie Garcia reported the leak to the state inspector general’s office. Three Senate Republican appointees to JCOPE, Gary Lavine, David McNamara, and George Weissman, now want the state inspector general’s office to reopen its investigation into the leak. “The speaker’s acknowledgement that the leak actually occurred is incontrovertible evidence that there was a cover-up by the office of the inspector general,” the JCOPE commissioners said. “Now, with the departure of Spencer Freedman from the office of inspector general, the office should immediately reopen an investigation into the leak and conduct a thorough inquiry. The failure of the inspector general to reopen the investigation will simply be a cover-up of a cover-up.” The inspector general’s office investigated the matter in 2019, but could not confirm the allegation of an illegal leak, in part because the allegation was based on hearsay. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Allegra Czerwinski is reporting for the Times Union that the personal finance website WalletHub has ranked all 50 states based on affordability, economy, education and health, quality of life, and safety. New York ranked third behind New Jersey (first) and Massachusetts (second) in the overall rankings. Some of WalletHub's "key indicators of livability" ranged from the cost of housing,  income growth, education rate, and the quality of hospitals. Filling out the top 10: Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah, New Hampshire, Iowa and Pennsylvania. New York ranked first in quality of life nationwide. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.

Aliya Schneider reports for Columbia-Greene Media that even though the state now mandates in person public meetings the Hudson Development Corporation continues to meet only virtually. “After June 24, 2021, the city of Hudson will no longer be able to conduct virtual meetings pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 202.1,” the city wrote in a statement on its website. “Any meeting of a public body conducted after June 24, 2021, may only be conducted pursuant to the New York State Open Meetings Law. Specifically, the public must be allowed to attend meetings of public bodies in person.” But HDC President Robert Rasner said July 6 that the board won't allow the public to attend its meetings because the air conditioner in its 1 North Front St. meeting space is broken. The city has many other spaces where the Hudson Development Corporation could meet. Rasner says he has not decided whether not allowing citizens to attend a public meeting is legal. “We have not determined that as of now,” Rasner said. “That question will be resolved prior to our July board meeting in order that we are in compliance.” The next Hudson Development Corporation meeting is July 27. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Melanie Lekocevic from Capital Region Independent Media reports in the Greenville Pioneer that most incumbents were nominated again at the Greenville Republican caucus, except Jessica Lewis was picked for Town Clerk/Tax Collector over incumbent Jackie Park. “I am elated over the support I received tonight and I appreciate everyone coming out,” Lewis said. “I look forward to working with you all during this election and I would be honored to be your town clerk.” Incumbent Town Supervisor Paul Macko was chosen over Peter Liquari, and incumbent Town Councilperson Richard Bear was picked over Clifton “Kip” Drollette. Incumbent Town Councilman Travis Richards and incumbent High Superintendent Michael Dudley were unopposed. Read more about this story in the Greenville Pioneer.

Pete DeMola reports for the Times Union that The Thruway Authority announced on July 7 that the $450 million project to remodel the New York State Thruway service areas begins this month, and the state is adding national chain restaurants. The New Baltimore service areas, south and northbound, in Greene County will be among the ten service areas closing on July 29 for the first phase of work. Electric vehicle charging stations will be added during the construction. Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, Panera, and Popeyes are among the chain restaurants being added at some locations. “This expansive project will modernize the buildings and amenities, provide diverse and healthy food options with new restaurants and Taste NY products, and enhance the amenities for the commercial trucking industry,” said New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll in a statement. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily headlines.

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