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

Protests continued July 1 in Chatham, Ghent, Kingston, Saratoga, and Troy, and July 2 in Saugerties, and online. Criminal justice reform advocates and a few state lawmakers held an online rally complaining about the changes to New York’s bail reform laws that took effect July 2. While state legislators recently passed a few police reform bills, they previously rolled back bail reforms passed last year that these advocates say will send more people to jail. In their online protest they also discussed enacting elder parole, a fair and timely parole act, halting solitary confinement, repealing provisions commonly known as “Walking While Trans,” and adding a protect our courts act. There are more in-person protests planned July 3 in Peekskill, Potsdam, and Newburgh. On July 4 there are more events in Colonie, Carmel, and New Paltz. There is also a protest planned in Kingston on July 4, but it is very different from these other racial justice demonstrations. A libertarian who has been guest-hosting the conspiracy theory "Alex Jones Show" on infowars.com, Gerald Celente, is hosting something he calls "Occupy Peace" where he asserts that people should not have to wear masks to stop the spread of coronavirus. Here is Celente explaining why people should attend his event. CLICK HERE TO HEAR AN EXCERPT OF CELENTE PROMOTING THE EVENT.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a corrections officer at Coxsackie Correctional Facility in Greene County, is being treated at Albany Medical Center for a fractured skull and a broken sternum after he was attacked by a man incarcerated at the facility. The officer’s condition was not immediately known. The attack is alleged to have occurred June 29, according to James Miller, communication specialist for New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association. Miller said the CO was escorting the man to the showers and took the mechanical restraints off his wrists when the attack was alleged to have taken place. The 22-year-old man was eventually placed in a special housing unit, Miller said. The incident has been reported to the state police. “The day before the attack, a fellow union member sent a memo to supervisors at Coxsackie expressing concerns about staffing levels not being adequate to run the inmate showers safely,” Michael Mazzella, the union's Mid-Hudson Region vice president said. “The following day his concerns came to fruition in this vicious attack.” On June 15, a corrections officer at Greene Correctional also locate in Coxsackie, was attacked and beaten by a man incarcerated at that facility. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Robert Gavin is reporting for the Times Union the anticipated prolonged absentee ballot count in the Democratic primary for Albany County district attorney may not take so long after all. The campaigns of DA David Soares and challenger Matthew Toporowski have now agreed to let high-speed ballot-counting machines record the nearly 20,000 ballots remaining. The process of counting the ballots should now be complete no later than early next week, officials said. By the end of the day July 1, Soares led Toporowski 9,211 to 8,020 votes. Soares, 50, of Glenmont, is a four-term incumbent seeking a fifth four-year term. Toporowski, 34, of Albany, is an attorney in private practice and one-time prosecutor for Soares. The count is being overseen by Democratic county elections commissioner Matthew Clyne and Republican county elections commissioner Rachel Bledi. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a documentary with the working title "Trumpland" is scheduled to film at various locations in the village of Catskill sometime during the next two weeks. The village board received the proposal about two weeks ago via email, Village President Vincent Seeley said. The board found the proposal "agreeable," but a formal vote on the plan was not required, he said. Catskill Town Supervisor Dale Finch learned about the film July 1 from the Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Department. The documentary will be produced by The Front and is about politics in local communities. A five-person crew will conduct interviews with Catskill residents on Main Street, Bridge Street, Broome Street, and West Main Street. Finch said the filming focuses more on the village than the town, but he voiced some concern about the content of the show. Referencing the proposed title, he said, “I don’t know if this is a good way to categorize the town or village of Catskill.” A representative from The Front, based in Brooklyn, declined to comment on the production. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

The Daily Freeman is reporting what is open and what is closed for the Independence Day holiday this weekend. While Saturday is the Fourth of July, some offices and services will have schedule changes on Fri., July 2.

Amtrak: Holiday schedule Friday and Saturday.
Banks: Open Friday, closed Saturday.
County offices: Closed Friday.
Federal offices: Closed Friday.
Financial markets: Closed Friday.
Greene County Transit: No service Friday.
Mail: No delivery Saturday.
Metro-North: Normal schedules Friday and Saturday.
State offices: Closed Friday.

Today's daily news update.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro's decision to co-host next week a virtual town hall-style meeting on race, is being criticized by County Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias. “A Listening Town Hall: People of Color Sharing their Experiences in Dutchess County” is will take place July 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will be co-hosted by Molinaro, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights, and the Northern Dutchess NAACP. Llaverias, an Afro-Latino lawmaker who represents District 1, says that Molinaro is hosting the event because of national events taking place rather than based on a true sense of caring. “I am not upset that the forum is happening, I am upset because of the intent,” said Llaverias. He said Molinaro is perpetuating racial tension in Dutchess County by failing to address police brutality and focusing on providing services to those in need only when they are in the county jail. “Why must we be felonized, demonized, and ostracized for us to get the help we desperately need? These concerns are nothing new to the county executive or the Human Rights Commission. This forum does not save his seat nor does it have us forgetting all the damage he is doing and already has done. He has had since 2011 to do right and create legislation, but all he is doing is saving his face so that the community can’t say that he wasn’t ‘proactive.’ He is spitting in our face with this ignorance; he’s always been aware of our problems," Llaverias said. Molinaro said the town hall meetings are one of the steps needed for change in policies. He also cited plans in response to a new police policy put in place by the governor. “Governor Cuomo signed an executive order requiring local police agencies to develop a plan to rethink police strategies and programs. Here in Dutchess County, a collaborative effort is already underway ... This is precisely the time to listen to and learn from one another,” Molinaro said. A link to register for the town hall meeting is available on the WGXC Newsroom page and at dutchessny [dot] gov. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Columbia-Greene Media is reporting former 19th Congressional District representative Chris Gibson is officially now the12th president of Siena College, college spokeswoman Lisa Witkowski said. In a message sent to faculty, administrators and staff July 1, Gibson said he is very conscious of the significant challenges Siena faces as it moves to safely reopen for the fall semester. “As we go forward to overcome our current existential threats and help lead our country to higher planes of justice, including racial justice, we take inspiration from the Franciscan traditions on which Siena was founded,” Gibson said. Margaret E. Madden, who has been serving as interim president since July 2019, has been named to the newly created position of provost/senior vice president. The deans of the college’s Business, Liberal Arts and Science schools, as well as the vice presidents for student life and enrollment management, and other academic and student services administrators, will report to Madden. Gibson and Madden have been co-leading the college’s coronavirus recovery and re-opening efforts since the spring, Witkowski said. To help address health and safety concerns, classes at Siena will start early, on August 24, and end right before Thanksgiving. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Charlotte Mac Kay is reporting for Hudson Valley Magazine on where residents and visitors can see fireworks over the July 4 holiday weekend.

Thu., July 2
Catskill’s 4th of July Celebration will be held at Dutchman's Landing in the village from 7 p.m. until dusk. Guilty Pleasure kicks off the event with a performance at 7 p.m., with fireworks to follow at dusk. Social distancing procedures are in place, with masks required when six feet of separation is not possible.

Fri., July 3
Keeping with its annual tradition, the Accord Speedway in Accord, Ulster County, hosts its annual fireworks spectacular. Social distancing is required.

Sat., July 4
Most of the town of Cornwall's annual Independence Day celebration will take place in a modified format this year by blending virtual and traditional events. A live broadcast of local performers accompanying a drive through parade of emergency vehicles is the highlight of the evening. Information at cornwall4th [dot] org.

Ellenville’s Fourth of July parade gathers at Liberty Square around 11:30 a.m., Saturday. Everyone participating must observe social distancing. Later in the day, fireworks light up the sky from Joseph Y. Resnick Airport at 9:30 p.m.

Jericho Drive-In in Glenmont celebrates the holiday Saturday with its annual fireworks extravaganza and movie beginning at 7:30 p.m. Information at jerichodrive-in [dot] com.

Ulster County offers its community fireworks show at TechCity in Kingston, Saturday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendees must stay near their vehicles, and no alcohol is permitted. There are no bathrooms or food stands onsite.

The town of Windham will hold its annual Independence Day celebration and fireworks from 7 p.m. until dusk this year. The parade steps off at 7 p.m. from Route 296 to Main Street. Fireworks go off at Windham Mountain at dusk. Social distancing protocol is in place, with masks required for instances when six feet of space is not possible.

Cairo’s 4th of July celebration at Angelo Canna Park will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. until dusk. Social distancing and masks are required. Fireworks at dusk.

Dutchess County hosts three free, socially distant fireworks displays for local residents. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Saturday. Dutchess Stadium in Wappinger, Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, and Silo Ridge Field Club Equestrian Center in Amenia open their gates to locals for firework displays at 9:30 p.m.

Sun., July 5
The holiday weekend draws to a close with a drive-by motorcade parade in the village of Saugerties. The vehicle-only parade was designed to ensure social distance is upheld. There will be no Saugerties fireworks by The Lion Club this year.

Instead of a traditional Fourth of July celebration, the city of Kingston salutes essential workers for their efforts during a pandemic with a socially distant motorcade. Lineup begins at 3:30 p.m., and the parade will be led by the Kingston Fire Department and Kingston Police Department. Decorating vehicles is encouraged, and anyone who would like to participate should register in advance.

Today's daily news.

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

On July 1 President Donald Trump said that painting the phrase "Black Lives Matter" on New York's Fifth Avenue would be "a symbol of hate." The Village of Catskill Trustees, the day before, agreed the phrase was not right for their Main Street with a vote against such a display. Elsewhere in Greene County, Azraelle Story said she got push back initially from the Town of Greenville, as she is organizing an "Equality Protest in support of Black Lives Matter" there July 18. She spoke with WGXC this week about the town's reaction to her protest. CLICK HERE TO PLAY BRIEF EXCERPT OF THE INTERVIEW. On June 30 the Town of Rosendale put out a letter about how they were going to take action on police reform after a recent protest in the Ulster County town. The town says they will commit to "[beginning] the process of forming a committee... This Committee will work closely with our Town Board and Police Commission to actively review and revise our law enforcement policies." What the letter does not say is that this is mandated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent executive order. The "New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative" Executive Order requires New York cities, towns, and villages to develop plans that reinvent and modernize police strategies and programs by April 1, 2021. In Hudson, officials are working out how they will cut 10 percent of the police budget there, after Mayor Kamal Johnson's June 15 executive order. Johnson said the budget cuts will be worked out after he soon names members of the Reconciliation and Advisory Commission. Sgt. Christopher Filli, president of the Hudson police officers’ union, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Council 82, Local 3979, would only say that the budget cuts will be detrimental, even though what is being cut has not been announced. “Defunding the police also means reinvesting in programs for the mentally ill, for senior care programs that have been slashed, the youth program, social programs and housing,” said Michael Hofmann, from the group Hudson for Social Justice. Meanwhile, 4th Ward Alderperson Malachi Walker and 2nd Ward Alderperson Tiffany Garriga want a 20 percent police budget cut. Hudson Police Chief L. Edward Moore said he wants the force to remain the same size. “The size of the department is not something we pull out of thin air,” Moore said. “We are at a capacity to handle what is placed on our doorstep.” Protests continue July 2 in Saugerties with a 5 p.m. "Together as One" event at Cantine Field.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media longtime Greene County Highway Superintendent Robert Van Valkenburg has retired. Van Valkenburg announced his retirement on June 8 and finished his last day of work on June 29. He will be replaced by Deputy Highway Superintendent Scott Templeton. “I’m planning to enjoy a much lower stress lifestyle,” Van Valkenburg said. “Play a lot of golf, work around my house and spend some time with my bride.” Van Valkenburg had planned to retire in April but the pandemic delayed his plans. He said he feels confident leaving the department in Templeton’s hands. Templeton has served as deputy superintendent since October 2018. Van Valkenburg served as deputy superintendent under Gary Harvey for 16 years. Together they ran the highway department during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, a tornado in 2003, and a fire at the Catskill transfer station in 2005. “On our watch, we had a lot of different catastrophes,” Harvey said. “I wish him a long, healthy and happy retirement,” Harvey said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Benjamin Fearnow is reporting for Newsweek the U.S. Labor Department said a technicality may cause many Americans to have their $600 of weekly unemployment benefits cut off a week earlier than expected. Distribution of the unemployment benefits stipulated in the CARES Act is scheduled to end Fri., July 31. For many of the 33 million Americans collecting some form of unemployment benefits, including residents of New York, the final day to receive the extra $600 will be the week ending July 25, or July 26. The Labor Department has cautioned the final payment may come a week earlier than the calendar suggests. Following those final July dates, unemployment benefits will revert back to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. Just under 1.5 million workers filed new state unemployment claims last week, marking the 14th week in a row in which the number of claims filed has surpassed one million. An additional 728,000 Americans filed for benefits from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which covers self-employed and independent contractors. In the U.S. currently, 1-in-5 workers has either received or recently applied to receive unemployment benefits as the pandemic pushes into late summer. Congressional lawmakers do not have any plans for additional federal unemployment benefits beyond July 31. Read the full story at Newsweek [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the State University of New York will temporarily suspend SAT and ACT testing requirements for the 2021-22 cycles, as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the traditional school schedule for students. The Board of Regents has also moved to expand the public college and university system application fee waiver to include active military, their spouses, and their dependents. SUNY campuses will not require SAT and ACT standardized testing for rising high school seniors enrolling in bachelor degree-granting campuses. The move will apply to the spring 2021, fall 2021, and spring 2022 cycles only. SUNY campuses will still consider scores for students who have taken the examinations as part of their review. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Nora Mishanec is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the town of Chatham is polling residents on broadband access in an effort to locate the areas of the town that lack coverage. Surveying the public is one of few ways to map broadband service, as the two area providers are hesitant to reveal where they operate, said town board member Vance Pitkin. Pitkin is leading Chatham’s newly formed broadband committee. Charter Communications, or Spectrum, and Consolidated Communications are the two internet providers that serve Chatham. They are in competition with one another and reluctant to say where their fiber optic cables are located, or where they plan to build next, Pitkin said. The survey can be found on the front page of the town website at chathamnewyork [dot] us. Residents with and without adequate internet coverage are being asked to participate. The town is hoping to receive at least 100 replies. Pitkin said it appears that approximately 75 percent of Chatham is covered by broadband. He said some residents may be unaware that they are in the areas where broadband is available. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

The Times Union is reporting Rensselaer County Court Judge Debra Young returned to the bench June 30, to preside over the first criminal case in the county courthouse in three months where all involved were present in the courtroom instead connecting remotely. The courtroom has now been transformed to deal with the social distancing required in handling the coronavirus pandemic. There was hand sanitizer for the judge, public, at the prosecutor’s table and on the defense table. Seating was limited and larger tables for the parties had been installed. Everyone present wore masks. Young presided over the county’s last criminal matter before the courts shut down due to the pandemic. Weighing the status of an ill juror and other jurors' concerns over COVID-19, Young declared a mistrial in the case April 1. That retrial will likely happening the fall. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The Bumpy's Polar Freeze saga continues. Pete DeMola is reporting for The Daily Gazette Bumpy's owner, David Elmendorf, 35, was arrested late June 30, after he allegedly pointed a weapon at demonstrators protesting in front of his business. Elmendorf was charged with two misdemeanors after police found him following a traffic stop with a weapon described as a pellet gun. Elmendorf’s attorney said his client was in Connecticut that day for a mental health break following days of protests outside of his Schenectady business. “He was in Connecticut but I guess he came back," the attorney said. The protests began after allegations of racism surfaced with the appearance of text messages alleged to have come from Elmendorf saying he does not hire black people. Read the full story in The Daily Gazette.