Brendan J. Lyons in the Times Union claims that Gov. Kathy Hochul is now meddling in the personnel decisions of the State Police unit that protects her, in similar ways to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Hochul's office, the report says, recently pushed for the promotion of the newly appointed head of the Protective Services Unit. Before that her office had a member put back on the detail after they were removed at the recommendation of a staff inspector. Lyon's also cites confidential records and interviews with multiple people to back up his assertion. Lyon's writes, "A former high-ranking State Police official, who spoke to the Times Union on the condition of not being identified, said the requests by governors for someone to be promoted, reassigned or demoted were almost always made by a top aide, rather than a governor themselves." Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, said, “All personnel decisions at the New York State Police are made by the superintendent, and we are aware that acting Superintendent James has decided to make significant changes in top leadership positions.... Acting Superintendent James and the men and women of the New York State Police have Gov. Hochul’s full support.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Spectrum News reports that in New York, candidates begin collecting petition signatures on Feb. 27, even though the lines of those Congressional districts have not been agreed upon. After rejecting a new map from the Independent Redistricting Commission, Democrats now must come up with their own map and then approve it soon, before the June primary election. The Independent Redistricting Commission voted 9-to-1 earlier this month for a new map, after courts previously struck down several attempts to draw the Congressional lines since the 2020 census. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Ulster County Housing Action Fund opens its first application window on March 11 and will accept applications until May 10 at 3 p.m. The $15 million fund requires housing units to remain affordable for a minimum of 50 years, with priority given to projects that keep the housing permanently affordable. The fund was approved last August by the county legislature to create more affordable housing units. Ulster County hosts a webinar on at 6 p.m. on March 19 for information on the fund and application process with the address for the meeting on the WGXC Newsroom. (https://ulstercountyny.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcumvqD0vE9JYDjrbdmXmZ8yUSqTiqrmS. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Cassie Abel reports at HudsonValley360.com that Judge David Gandin of the Supreme Court in Ulster County on Feb. 15 dismissed the Article 78 petition former Athens county legislator and town supervisor Lee Palmateer filed seeking the nullification of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency’s approval last year of an application by New Athens Generating Company for a tax break. Palmateer had alleged that the Greene County Industrial Development Agency traded interests of the public to better themselves and its paying client. The lawsuit was also filed against New Athens Generating Company, Greene County, Catskill Central School District, and Town of Athens. Palmateer said, “The Court did not reach the merits of my claims, namely that the tax exemptions were improper.... I commend the Court and Judge Gandin for issuing a prompt decision. I have complete respect for the Court and see the wisdom of not spending judicial resources on the merits, having first concluded that I lacked standing.” The Greene County IDA gave the power plant a second tax exemption when it has been in Athens for years and was not likely to leave. The judge in the case wrote, “Petitioner’s [Palmateer] contention that he is harmed by the payment in lieu of taxes agreement because he will incur higher taxes to offset the resulting loss of annual property tax revenue to the town does not constitute an injury.... The Petitioner’s assertion that he has standing based on his common law taxpayer status also lacks merit.” Palmateer said he is considering an appeal.

The Daily Freeman reports that on Feb. 26 Democrats in the New York Legislature rejected a congressional map drawn by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission. Several courts and commissions have created congressional maps after the 2020 census, but courts and legislators continue to throw out those maps and start over. Now Democrats in the state Legislature will approve a new set of congressional lines, while Republicans are already threatening another legal challenge. Democrats complained that the commission’s map split up so-called communities of interest, but they also want to take back majority control of the House of Representatives, and New York's swing districts are considered necessary to win the legislative body. State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said Democrats were “poised to create their own gerrymandered maps in another shameful power grab.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Michael Ryan reports for the Mountain Eagle that someone vandalized the stone wall bordering the Windham Cemetery that is a landmark for anyone entering the town from the east on Route 23. Windham Town Supervisor Thomas Hoyt said, “Somebody spray-painted the beautiful stone wall bordering the Windham Cemetery, just below Mitchell Hollow Road." Stonemason Derek Barlow created the wall two decades ago. The graffiti includes the large initials “NAM” in black paint with squiggles and an angel halo over one of the letters. Hoyt said, “It’s unfortunate and annoying. Derek put his heart into this stone wall and it’s an important part of the town.... For whatever reason, somebody took it upon themselves to do this. Maybe it’s kids or something, but it upsets a lot of people.... We’re looking at cameras to see if we can recognize who did this or find somebody walking by who maybe noticed something,” Hoyt said that if they catch whoever was responsible they will consider pressing charges. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that a massive cyberattack on a national health care company last week has slowed thousands of New York pharmacists and other health care providers in processing prescription claims. Change Healthcare, a claims and payment division of the large health care conglomerate United Health, was has been offline since Feb. 21 and told the United States Securities and Exchange Commission that the company believed a “nation-state associated cybersecurity threat actor” was behind the attack. Hospital data often includes Social Security numbers and financial records, so health facilities can be common targets of nefarious hackers. The health care company did not say whether patient data was compromised, nor when the situation would be resolved. Heather Ferrarese, who owns the independent Bartle’s Pharmacy in Oxford, said, “For us, it’s been a minor inconvenience. For other pharmacies that are looking at day three of not being able to fill any prescriptions at all, it’s a complete disaster.... Because what’s happening is they’re continuing to receive prescriptions that they can’t process.” CVS spokesperson Shelly Bendit said the pharmaceutical chain can fill prescriptions but in certain cases has not been able to process insurance claims. Bendit said, “There is no indication that CVS Health’s systems have been compromised... We have business continuity plans in place to minimize disruption of service and apologize for any inconvenience our customers and members may experience.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that New York officials are expanding a grant program meant to boost local governments' cybersecurity defense and technology to stop malicious software attacks. Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration will announce New York's $6 million "Cybersecurity Grant Plan" later this week. The plan is to boost cybersecurity to stop ransomware attacks that pose threats to municipalities across New York. A report released by state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli in October found that between 2016 and 2022 attacks cost the state more than $775 million. The plan also requires New York hospitals to improve their cybersecurity infrastructure, to stop threats against patient and financial records. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

WNYT reports that two movie theaters in Albany have closed recently. Feb. 25 was the last day to see a movie at Madison Theatre, at least until new owners buy the building. "Madame Web" was the final showing at the Madison Ave. theater. The Spectrum Theater on Delaware Avenue in Albany also closed last week. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said that she is looking for new operators to run both theaters. Read more about this story at WNYT.

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Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for HudsonValley360.com that, after renovations, the city of Hudson is soon moving back into its City Hall offices at 520 Warren St. Hudson Mayoral Aide Michael Hofmann said, “We’re aiming for March 4 or 5, pending any delays with the asbestos removal.” Since March 2023, Hudson's city offices moved to the Hudson Fire Department Central Station, 77 N. 7th St. Mostly, the renovation are to get city hall in compliance with the Amercians with Disabilities Act, after a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Three unidentified Hudson residents filed a lawsuit in October 2019 alleging that there was no accessible entrance to City Hall. Hofmann said, “There’s now an accessible parking space in front of City Hall, and the entire sidewalk was redone to accommodate for the ramp..... People need to be able to enter City Hall and do business." He said the cost of renovations was about $800,000. Hudson will continue to hold meetings in person and streaming online on Microsoft Teams and through a WGXC webstream. Hofmann said. “Nothing will change in terms of how meetings are held, they’ll just be back at City Hall." Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Michael Mahar reports for News10 that the Department of Labor has ordered the Zoom Flume Water Park in Durham to pay $38,010 after an investigation found the park employed 35 15-year-old lifeguards at the top of elevated, power-driven water slides between July 2021 and July 2022. The investigation was conducted by the Albany District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour division, and Zoom Flume Water Park LLC was ordered to pay $1,086 per child worker. Zoom Flume has appealed the findings and penalties. Regional Solicitor Jeffrey S. Rogoff in New York said, “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to fighting child labor violations and will aggressively litigate in order to hold violators accountable." Locally, the water park employs many young people. Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Patrick DeForest in Albany, New York, said, “Child labor laws protect minors and help ensure young workers enjoy positive workplace experiences without jeopardizing their well-being or education. Identifying, correcting and preventing child labor violations are priorities of the U.S. Department of Labor." Read more about this story at News10.

Ayana Harry reports for New York State of Politics that after an Alabama court ruling last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants New York state to become a safe place for patients seeking fertility treatment. On Feb. 23, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled frozen embryos are children and protected under the state’s wrongful death of a minor act. Hochul said she wants people, “To be able to bring their embryos to the state of New York or have in vitro fertilization in the state of New York that they will still be protected." Hochul also said, “If there’s any changes in the law that need to happen, I will make sure that happens." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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Patrick Tine reports in the Times Union that on Feb. 21 a state attorney general's report found that former Saratoga mayor Meg Kelly, former Saratoga public safety commissioner Robin Dalton, and former Saratoga police chief Shane Crooks engaged in an "unconstitutional official policy" of retaliation against members of the Saratoga Black Lives Matter group in the summer of 2021. Saratoga Black Lives Matter leader Lexis Figuereo said the group would be filing a lawsuit against the city of Saratoga for actions the report says were "conceived of and approved by the highest decision makers in city government." Figuereo also said he would be seeking charges against the former mayor, Kelly, who, the report says, told the police to initiate an unfounded child protective services investigation against him. Figuereo described the visit from child protective services to his home, saying, "(CPS was) searching through our house, talking to my kids, making them talk to strangers during COVID, asking them 'do your parents feed you enough? Do we beat you? Do we sell drugs? What do we do for a living? Do we have guns in the house?... That is the worst part of the report to me. It isn't what happened to me. It's what happened to my children and my chosen outlook in life." Current Saratoga Mayor John Safford said that city officials were reviewing the report and "learning from its content and proceeding with the development and implementation of policies, procedures and practices to address the recommendations made by the Attorney General's Office." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Brian Hubert reports in the Daily Freeman that Kingston Mayor Steve Noble met virtually with Mayor Vasyl Kozak from Sokyryany (pronounced sokɪˈrʲɑnɪ), Ukraine on Feb. 22, to sign a “Sister City” agreement between the two municipalities. They posted on social media, “With this pact, Sokyryany and Kingston pledge to work toward mutually beneficial exchanges that will strengthen our culture, society, and economies and, as partners, will make every effort to promote peace and international understanding.” About 1,700 residents from Sokyryany are currently fighting in the war against Russia and the city of about 8,000 has lost 97 lives so far. The social media post also said, “The city of Kingston stands ready to assist and support Sokyryany in its war recovery and future endeavors,." The Sister Cities International’s website at sistercities.org, says the group seeks, “to promote peace and understanding through exchanges that focus on arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community development.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

The Local, a new performance space in Saugerties that opened last September in a former 1870s Dutch chapel, has been raising money to add a stage to the venue that has featured Spanish flamenco and tango music and West African Highlife, jazz, and other styles. Their fundraising pitch says, "As intimate and cozy as The Local is, it’s nearly impossible to see the artists perform and we are hoping to change that by purchasing a modular stage that will enable concert goers to see the artists better and add to the audience’s experience!" As of Feb. 23, 87 donors have raised $13,454 of a $12,500 goal towards the new stage.

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