Kenneth C. Crowe II reports for the Times Union that the Republican-controlled Rensselaer County legislature holds a special meeting Oct. 19 to confirm Henry Zwack, a retired state justice and former county executive, as Republican elections commissioner. Recently Jason T. Schofield resigned from the position before he pleaded guilty in January to federal voter fraud charges and Corine Sheldon is leaving as acting commissioner effective Oct. 31 as a grand jury investigates her handling of ballots. Zwack was acquitted in 2001 of felony charges in a no-show job scandal and in 2002 he was acquitted of 34 charges — 27 misdemeanors and seven felony counts — in an alleged patronage job-for-votes trade case. County Republican Chair Chuck Peter said, “Henry Zwack has an outstanding record of public service to Rensselaer County and New York state and brings considerable experience and ability to this important position. We look forward to Henry serving as Republican Elections Commissioner and helping guide the BOE through the upcoming elections and beyond." Zwack will take over in the middle of an election, as voting begins Oct. 28 this year, and concludes on Nov. 7. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's audio daily news update.

Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that there is an “Interfaith Rally for Peace in Support of Israel” in Catskill Oct. 18 and a "Free Palestine Rally" in Hudson on Oct. 20. The first requires showing a photo identification at Temple Israel of Catskill at 7 p.m. The other is organized by the Hudson Muslim Youth at 6 p.m. at Promenade Hill Center in Hudson. Rabbi Zoe B. Zak said of the Oct. 18 event, “My friends, you are invited and it’s important that we come together. It’s important we find out how we can help. It’s important to be there for one another." The Hudson Muslim Youth said, “It is our responsibility to resist violence in our country, and abroad… We must stand and defend the right of Palestinians, and all colonized people to resist occupation and fight for freedom by any means necessary." The Hamas group attacked Israel last week, and since then the region has been engulfed in bloodshed and chaos. President Joe Biden, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Senator Chuck Schumer all made visits to Israel this week. Rep. Marc Molinaro requested that sheriffs across New York’s 19th Congressional District remain vigilant about any potential unlawful activities targeting Jewish centers, synagogues, and the Jewish community, saying this, “as Khaled Meshaa, the former chief of the terrorist organization Hamas, called for global protests and for other countries to join the war against Israel.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Ryan Whalen reports for New York State of Politics that a gas company and contractors' associations hired lawyers to file a lawsuit against essentially banning natural gas appliances in most new buildings in a few years. Those lawyers are arguing New York State cannot ban the natural gas appliances because that would preempt the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. And they are pointing to a California court ruling that said that federal law preempted a city ordinance banning gas piping. Attorney and legal analyst Jared Cook said, "The argument here is since this law would ban these products, that it encroaches onto Congress' authority to regulate these products." Now New York has 30 days to respond to the complaint. Cook said, "I imagine it's almost certainly going to taken up by the United States Supreme Court.... You can't always say for sure but it seems pretty likely when you have competing Courts of Appeals decisions on the issue.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Sara Rizzo reports for News10 that in just three school districts in Albany County over 6,100 tickets have been issued this year to drivers who passed a stopped school bus. The South Colonie Central School District, Bethlehem Central School District, and Guilderland Central School District have buses with stop-arm cameras. They issued 667 tickets just in September. The rules are that drivers should always stop for school buses when the red lights are flashing and the stop sign is out even if they are on the opposite side of divided highways, on multiple-lane roadways, in parking lots, or on school grounds. And the Department of Motor Vehicles sets a minimum of $250 fine for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years. Read more about this stoory at the News10 website.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

The New York Times reports that Reps. Elise Stefanik and Marc Molinaro both backed Jim Jordan on Oct. 17 in his first attempt to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Stefanik even nominated Jordan, but his effort failed with 20 Republicans voting for other candidates. Both Hudson Valley Democrats, Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan, voted for Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, who got 12 more votes than Jordan. New York's Lee Zeldin, who does not currently hold any office and lost to Gov. Kathy Hochul last November, got three votes to become Speaker of the House. Read more about this story in The New York Times.

Noah Zweifel reports in the Altamont Enterprise that for the first time since 2017 the Rensselaerville town board election has a contested race. Incumbent Brian Wood is seeking re-election, backed by both the Republican and Democratic parties against former highway superintendent and town board member Randall Bates, who is backed by the Republican Party; and Patricia Byrnes, a sociologist and political newcomer endorsed by the Democratic Party. Wood and Bates are also running on the Conservative line. The Albany County Board of Elections reports that Rensselaerville currently has 1,455 enrolled voters and of those, 595 are Democrats, 373 are Republicans, 63 count themselves as Conservatives, six signed up for the Working Families Party, and three are Green Party members. The remaining 415 are not registered with any party. The story quotes each candidate about their views on local issues ahead of voting, which takes place between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7 this fall. Read the full story in the Altamont Enterprise.

Emilia Teasdale reports in The Upstater that in Chatham this fall the election pits incumbent Town Supervisor Donal Collins on the Republican and Chatham For All ballot lines against Christopher W. Spencer on the Democratic and Chatham Neighbors lines. Whoever wins is supervisor for the next four years. In the same election there are two town board seats, with Vance Pitkin and Timothy Mackerer on the Republican and Chatham For All ballot lines and John Wapner and Angus Eaton on Democratic and Chatham Neighbors lines. Those town board seats are also for four year terms. Voting this fall takes place from Oct. 28 until Nov. 7. The story also includes quotes and positions from the candidates. Read more about this story in The Upstater.

Ben Mitchell reports for News10 that state police are offering free child car seat checks on October 21 in Hudson. The checks on child car seats is from 4 to 7 p.m., Sat., Oct. 21 at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. For more information, contact Sergeant Larry Edelman at (518) 828-3388 or larry.edelman@hudsonpoliceny.org. See more about this story at the News10 website.

The New York Times reports that on Oct. 9 Canadian Broadcasting stopped airing the daily so-called "long dash." Since 1939 CBC Radio in Canada had broadcast a message familiar to generations of Canadians. “The beginning of the long dash indicates exactly 1 o’clock Eastern Standard Time” is how it went in its most recent iteration. People literally synchronized their watches to the daily tone from the CBC. But no more. The CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster, said that accuracy issues were a key reason for dropping the message. People still listen to the radio over the air — but also on satellite and online, and those broadcasts can be delayed for several seconds or more. For many listeners, the moment they hear the long dash time might not be “exactly 1 o’clock Eastern Standard Time,” but 1:00:04 or so.

Today's audio daily news update.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the owners of the decommissioned Indian Point nuclear power plant have transferred all 3,998 spent nuclear fuel assemblies to dry cask storage. The spent fuel rods were being stored in densely packed fuel cooling pools since the facility was closed permanently in 2021. Now the spent fuel rods are stored in 127 reinforced concrete and steel casks on the site’s spent fuel storage installations. Holtec, the company that owns the decommissioned Indian Point nuclear power plant along the Hudson River in Westchester County, wanted to release radioactive water into the Hudson River, but the state blocked those efforts this summer. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union that efforts to build a wind tower factory at the Port of Albany, and to fully develop other wind-power facilities a few miles south at the Port of Coeymans, could be impacted by the state Public Service Commission announcement last week that it wouldn’t allow higher wholesale rates for New York’s emerging offshore wind projects. The Albany project could create an estimated 300 jobs, with an estimated 870 jobs generated in Coeymans. David Hardy, CEO for Orsted Wind’s U.S. division, said, “Sunrise Wind’s viability and therefore ability to be constructed are extremely challenged without this adjustment. We will evaluate our next steps and communicate the status of the project as soon as possible.” Building the Albany wind tower plant is also getting more costly, as port officials say costs have ballooned from $350 million to $604 million. Meanwhile, there is talk about building a third site for offshore renewable wind projects called the New York State Offshore Wind Port, an undeveloped 112-acre spot on the east side of the Hudson River in East Greenbush across from the Port of Albany. Companies are waiting on a delayed announcement from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to award new bids for other projects. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Republican assemblymember who represents Greene County wants an assemblymember representing Ulster County removed from office because of speech by others. Writing on social media, Republican Chris Tague said, “I also call on the [Assembly] Majority to remove or condemn members of their conference who voice support for Hamas or Democratic Socialists of America. This is not a time to stand idly watching events unfold, it’s time to act and prevent the destruction from leaking into our nation.” Sarahana Shrestha, a Democrat in Ulster County is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. The New York City chapter of the group recently voiced support with the Palestinian people, which has irritated some, including, apparently, Tague. Shrestha responded to Tague’s attack, posting her own social media message that said, “Here’s Republican Assemblymember Chris Tague equating Hamas with DSA and calling for my removal. Join DSA! We have a world to win!” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Lauren Stanforth reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul will travel to Israel on Oct. 17, just as that country goes to war with Hamas. Hochul explained why the governor of New York should visit a foreign war zone, saying, “During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever for New York to show up in support of Israel.... I’ll be traveling to Israel for a solidarity mission where I plan to meet with diplomatic leaders and communities who have been devastated by the horrific Hamas attacks. New York will show the world that we stand with Israel — today, tomorrow and forever.” Hochul won't return to New York until Oct. 20. New York Senator Chuck Schumer was also in Tel Aviv over the weekend, and was forced to take shelter amid bomb sirens during his visit. President Joe Biden will also go to Israel on Oct. 18. While the politicians visit, more than one million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected Israeli army invasion. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman reports that former president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Jeffrey Hunt, was sentenced on Oc.t 16, to 1 2/3 to 5 years in state prison for taking more than $45,000 from the organization. On July 13 Hunt pleaded guilty to grand larceny, a felony, before Judge Jonathan D. Nichols. He was arrested in 2021, charged with stealing $46,868.95 from the Chamber’s credit and debit accounts from Nov. 11, 2016 to Nov. 10, 2020. So far he has paid back $12,000 of the stolen money. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.