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

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Cairo officials voted Mon., May 3, to engage an engineering firm to help with the protection of an important fossil forest located behind the Cairo Highway Department. The town board passed a resolution Mon., May 3, to bring in the Barton and Loguidice firm of Albany. “There is no cost to the town because they haven’t prepared anything,” Town Supervisor John Coyne said. “They are not getting paid a retainer to do anything. In the event we find some funding to protect the fossil forest, we will ask them to assist us with getting that funding.” A research team from Binghamton University discovered the root system of trees thought to be 385 million years old, dating back to the Devonian Age as they were sifting through fossil soils at a quarry in 2019. The site is believed to predate a fossilized forest in Gilboa, formerly labeled the world’s oldest forest, by 2 million to 3 million years. The town has recently had issues with trespassers on the property, Coyne said. “We’ve got to protect it,” he said. “We had kids up there on four wheelers and side by sides, and some large rocks surrounding the fossil forest were moved,” he said. Police were called to the scene but the trespassers were gone when they arrived, Coyne said. “Right now our main concern is keeping it safe and secure,” Town board member Jason Watts, who is a candidate for town supervisor, has proposed the town sell the property. “For the amount of money we would sell it for, we probably wouldn’t have to have land taxes in the town of Cairo if we managed the money properly,” Watts said. “We could build a community center, actually put a courthouse in. We would actually be able to do a lot more stuff.” Coyne said he does not think the property should be sold. Tim Powers, another board member, opposes selling the property, he said. “It needs to stay in the hands of the town of Cairo,” he said. “One board member would rather sell it. I think at this point, just selling it isn’t serving the will of the people. ... It is a piece of our history. ... We need to protect it and then develop it so the community can enjoy it.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Susan Arbetter is reporting for Capital Tonight the New York state Senate and Assembly passed a four-month extension of the state’s eviction moratorium that expired on May 1. If signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the moratorium will protect tenants through August 31. The law requires tenants who were negatively impacted by COVID-19 to file a hardship declaration. That would then give them time to apply for relief from the state’s rent relief fund. The bill sponsor is Senate Housing Chairman Brian Kavanagh. “The COVID-19 numbers in New York continue to be stubbornly high throughout the state and we need public health measures like the eviction and foreclosure moratorium to keep New Yorkers safe, and ultimately to get past this terrible pandemic as soon as possible,” Kavanagh said. Both the Assembly Republican conference and many landlord organizations expressed criticism of the moratorium extension. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said in a statement the vote to extend the moratorium was harmful to both landlords and tenants and severely limits the ability of already struggling small property owners to recover from the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "This unsustainable, short-sighted policy will lead to a drastic decline in affordable housing options as landlords face foreclosure or stop renting altogether,” Barclay said. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Porcupine Soup is reporting New York officials May 2, announced the availability of $15 million to help low-income residents who suffer from serious health issues aggravated by the heat to stay cool this summer. Administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the funding through the Home Energy Assistance Program provides an air conditioner to any eligible household with a family member who suffers from a medical condition that can be intensified by extreme heat. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria and income guidelines, which vary by household size. For example, a household of four can earn up to just over $60,000 a year, or roughly $5,000 a month, and still qualify for assistance. Households located in government-subsidized housing with heat included in their rent will continue to qualify for a cooling benefit, provided someone living there suffers from a medical condition that can be aggravated by extreme heat. Applications for cooling assistance are now being accepted at local departments of social services and will continue through August 30, or until funding runs out. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Greene County DSS can be reached at (518) 719-3700, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; Columbia County DSS is available at (518) 828-9411, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Read the full story at porcupine soup [dot] com.

Rebekah F. Ward reports in the Times Union that though cannabis is now legal in New York, it is not legal for all. “This law will not apply to federal employees, period,” said Scott DeLuca, a lawyer with Kavinoky Cook, who also claims that any jobs covered by federal safety regulations, such as pilots or long-haul truckers, are also bound by federal rules against cannabis use. “If there’s drug testing involved, then the federal law is the primary law that we follow,” said Peter Potter, the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center’s spokesperson. The newly passed Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act includes a provision preventing employers from disciplining or discriminating against their workers for using the drug on their personal time “off of the employer’s premises and without use of the employer’s equipment or property.” So New Yorkers can be fired for using cannabis on company time. Many colleges and universities also plan to continue to prohibit the drug on campus. Now that cannabis is being treated about the same as liquor by the state of New York, some hold contradictory opinions. “To me, it’s a no-brainer,” Tom Mungeer, president of the New York State Troopers PBA, told the Times Union, “we, as New York state troopers, cannot possess or use it.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Today's daily news update.

Aliya Schneider is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Working Families Party case was dismissed late last week, along with its 13 consolidated cases. Judge Scott DelConte, a justice of the Supreme Court, 5th Judicial District in New York, from Oswego County, presided over the case following consolidation. DelConte ruled that the petitioners lacked sufficient evidence to support the claims that the Working Families Party certificates of authorization were invalid or fraudulent because they lacked original signatures. The certificate of authorization, also called the Wilson-Pakula authorization, allows candidates from other parties to run on the Working Families Party line. About 30 candidates are listed on the certificate in Columbia County. The petitioners argued the Working Families Party’s certificates of authorization are invalid because signatures were cut and pasted electronically and that the certificates were scanned, so local boards of elections did not receive original documents with authentic signatures. Attorneys for the respondents, including the boards of elections, Working Families Party and candidates, argued the signatures were done legally and that the documents complied with election law and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.7. Ghent Republican Committee member Christopher Cornell and Hudson 2nd Ward Supervisor Abdus Miah, a Democrat, challenged four local Working Families Party candidates’ certificate of authorization in Columbia County Court earlier this month and later consolidated. Both men were represented by attorney John Ciampoli of Sayville, Suffolk County. Cornell challenged Ghent town board candidates Mallory Mort, Laurie Johnson and Carl Quinn; Miah challenged his challenger in the 2nd Ward Supervisor race, 2nd Ward Alderwoman and Majority Leader Tiffany Garriga. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Emilie Munson reports in the Times Union that on May 4 the National Republican Campaign Committee added Rep. Paul Tonko to its list of Democratic Congressional representatives it is targeting to flip in the 2022 elections. Tonko, who represents Albany County and other Capital Region areas, was first elected to the 20th Congressional District in 2009. Republican Liz Joy, who lost to Tonko in 2020, has already announced she will attempt to unseat him again in 2022. Joy attended the protest at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, but says she stayed "like three football fields away" from the riotous attempted coup. “I think what happened yesterday at the Capitol has taken away from the hopes of people who came out (to Washington) to express their honest concerns about election integrity,” Joy said in January. “Those were extremists. Ninety-nine percent of the hundreds of thousands there were there out of true concern for election integrity.” There were not nearly "hundreds of thousands" of people at the protest or the riot Jan. 6, as Joy claims. Besides Tonko, the National Republican Campaign Committee already announced it is targeting Hudson Valley Reps. Antonio Delgado and Sean Maloney in 2022. Redistricting will change the make up of all those districts, so until the new boundaries are announced it will be difficult to gauge if Republicans can take back any of the Hudson Valley districts. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Stephen Williams reports in the Daily Gazette that Republican Assemblyperson Chris Tague, and the Republican committees for Greene, Columbia, and Schoharie counties announced May 3 they are backing Lee Zeldin for governor. Zeldin is a Long Island-based Congressperson who April 30 said he has the support of more than half the population-weighted GOP county chairs in the state. If he gets the nomination Zeldin will likely challenge Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking a fourth term amid many allegations of sexual and governmental misconduct. “New York needs a champion for working people and families now more than ever, and I am confident Lee Zeldin is the best person to defeat Andrew Cuomo and bring common sense back to Albany,” Tague said. “For years now, Andrew Cuomo has worsened our business climate, driven families and businesses out of the state, stood up for criminals and against law enforcement and public safety, and ignored our constitutional rights.” Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, former Westchester County executive Rob Astorino, and Congressperson Elise Stefanik have also been discussed as possible Republican candidates for governor, but Zeldin appears to have consolidated the most support ahead of the 2022 election. Read more about this story in the Daily Gazette.

Today's daily headlines.

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

Columbia County reached 50 percent of its population with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on May 3, according to the state vaccine tracker website. Across the Hudson River, Greene County is at 44.1 percent vaccinated. Albany County leads locally, with 54.3 of adults 16 and over with at least one vaccine dose. Ulster County is at 53.3 percent; Rensselaer County at 49.1; Dutchess County at 48 percent; Schoharie County is at 39.1 percent; and Delaware County has 38.4 percent of its adult population vaccinated. The Daily Freeman reports that those growing vaccination numbers are helping to shrink the COVID-19 case numbers locally. "Ulster County's number of active COVID-19 cases is now 85 percent lower than when it peaked in January, while the Dutchess County total has dropped by just over 80 percent," Paul Kirby writes. To get an appoint for a vaccine, go to the link on the WGXC Newsroom, or call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. That number again is 1-833-697-4829.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that a second overdose spike alert in one week was issued in Greene County on May 3. Having two alerts in one week is unusual, Greener Pathways Program Director Carl Quinn said. Both Columbia and Greene counties have had more spikes than usual this year, with Greene at three spikes and Columbia at four. An overdose alert is issued when two or more overdoses are reported within 24 hours. The cause behind this year’s increase is unclear, Quinn said. “As of right now we’ve had four since Saturday,” Quinn said. “Three of the four were within the village of Catskill. The fourth one, we are working to confirm the location.” All four overdoses were reversed with Narcan, Quinn said. “Some of the four were heroin, some were oxycodone,” he said. The alert last week was triggered by two overdoses within 45 minutes of each other, one in Durham and one in Coxsackie. “It’s very unusual to have two [spike alerts] in one week,” Quinn said. “It’s possible that they purchased from the same contaminated supply but we have no way of knowing that for sure.” Columbia County has seen a 64 percent increase in overdoses in 2021, compared to the previous year, and a 150 percent increase in fatal overdoses. The preliminary numbers for Greene County indicate a decrease, but Quinn said the county reports overdoses differently. “In Greene County, the 911 center gives that information to an investigator, who follows through on whether or not it was an overdose before they enter it in the system,” he said. In Columbia County, the 911 center reports the suspected overdose immediately. Residents in need of Narcan can text NARCANKIT to 21000 to request a kit. The texting service should never be used in place of 911 if an overdose occurs, Quinn said. Greener Pathways can be reached at 518-291-4500 or 518-822-7437. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Cloey Callahan is reporting for the Times Union that an analysis of 29 million address changes reported by the U.S. Postal Service in 2020, showed an increase in move-outs in nearly all urban centers. In New York state, that meant the Hudson Valley and upstate were prime destinations for New York City residents looking for better places to live. Of all Hudson Valley counties, Columbia and Ulster saw the highest year-over-year change in people moving there from New York, Queens, Kings and Bronx counties from 2019 to 2020. While 412 people changed their address from New York City to Columbia County in 2019, the data shows a 204 percent increase in 2020, with 1,254 people moving there. In Ulster, 951 people moved from New York City to the county in 2019, and in 2020, that number grew to 2,647 people, a 180 percent surge. The New York Times, using the same data set, reported that Hudson and Kingston are the top two metro spots nationwide seeing the biggest change in net relocations. While the upstate metros are highlighted, more rural areas, such as Phoenicia and Copake, have also seen considerable shifts in net migration from the city since 2019. Bloomberg reports that 197 people moved to the Hudson area during the pandemic for every 100 who moved out — the largest increase in the country for a metro area in the nationwide analysis. But while the data shows big changes in residency, it does not capture whether newcomers are contributing to the local economy. An address change alone does not necessarily assure that new residents are shopping locally instead of ordering goods from major nationwide retailers like Amazon, if they are sending their kids to local school districts, or if they are patronizing local restaurants. Other data indicate that transplants are spending locally although the address-changers may have been part-time locals all along. “We had approximately 4,200 second home-owners to begin with who generally use their homes for seasonal weekends or a long vacation,” said F. Michael Tucker, president, and CEO of Columbia Economic Development Corporation. “A portion of the people who changed their mailing address may have already owned homes here.” Read the full story in the Times Union.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media motorists using Route 23A between Catskill and Palenville during the month of May can expect delays while a paving project takes place, Bryan Viggiani, public information officer for Region 1, of the state Department of Transportation, said May 3. Nearly six miles of road is slated to be repaved between Whites Road in Catskill and Under Hill Road in Palenville, Viggiani said. Drivers will be routed via alternating single lanes of traffic, controlled by flaggers, throughout the work zone. The paving is now underway and is expected to continue through the end of the month. Crews are scheduled to work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, weather permitting, Viggiani said. Motorists are asked to slow down in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Viggiani is reminding drivers to obey flaggers’ directions. Move over a lane, if safely possible, or slow down whenever encountering roadside vehicles displaying red, white, blue, amber or green lights, including maintenance and construction vehicles in work zones. Up-to-date travel information is available by dialing 511 or visiting www [dot] 511NY [dot] org. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Brian Lee reports in the Daily Gazette that local Congressional representatives Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko, and Elise Stefanik are all crowing about the direct relief available from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Republican Stefanik is attempting to take credit for the bill, even though she voted against the measure that was included in the American Rescue Plan. Stefanik's Tweet about the program received more than 5,600 responses online, most pointing out that she did not vote for the program. Delgado and Tonko promoted the fact that as of May 3, restaurants hurt by the pandemic can apply for the $28.6 billion included in the plan. “Upstate New York’s independent restaurants are cornerstones of our community, where we gather with friends and family and mark special occasions in our lives,” Delgado said in a statement. “I’m proud that we passed direct relief for our small businesses and the people they employ as part of the American Rescue Plan. The comeback of our restaurant and hospitality businesses is an important key to a full recovery.” Tonko echoed that statement, saying, “Our Capital Region’s independent restaurants are cornerstones of our communities, yet they are among the businesses hit hardest by this pandemic and most in need of financial help." The funding available does not have to be repaid, provided that the funds are put toward eligible uses by March 11, 2023. Restaurants can apply through the U.S. Small Business Administration at https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/, a link available on the WGXC Newsroom. Read more about this story in the Daily Gazette.

Edward McKinley is reporting for the Times Union. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said May 3, the state will completely lift capacity limits on bars and restaurants, hair salons, gyms, offices, retail stores, museums, entertainment centers, theaters and others on May 19. “We are at a point now where we are going to take a major step forward on reopening," Cuomo said at a news conference in New York City. The reopening will be coordinated with New Jersey and Connecticut, he said. Although the capacity limits will be gone, businesses will still be required to enforce the six-foot social distancing rule as long as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends it. However, that requirement creates an effective capacity limit for businesses depending on how much space they have. The state will update that rule if the CDC changes its six-foot rule, the governor said. For events that require a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination to attend, the six-foot rule does not have to be enforced. Cuomo said that he and his top advisors hope more events will require inoculation to attend, thereby creating more of an incentive to get vaccinated over time. Outdoor bars and restaurants will have their curfews lifted on May 17; curfews for indoor venues will be lifted at the end of May. The reopening is motivated by declining trends in COVID-19 positivity and hospitalization rates, Cuomo said. The state reported a 1.94 percent positivity rate May 3, a flat number of hospitalizations and 37 deaths. The Capital Region's positivity rate was 1.43 percent, among the lowest in the state. There have been 15.7 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered statewide to date, with 7 million fully inoculated and 9 million receiving a first dose. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting the body of a 36-year-old Yonkers man was found in the water at the base of Kaaterskill Falls, state police said Mon., May 3. Police said Jesse Ritholz apparently died from head injuries suffered when he fell onto rocks. Family members told state troopers that Ritholz was supposed to come to their home for a visit on April 24, but never showed up. His mother and father went to his apartment on April 27 and reported that everything appeared normal, police said. Investigators then learned Ritholz had rented a vehicle on April 22, and troopers found the vehicle in the Laurel House Road parking lot near the falls on April 30. State police used helicopters, divers and dogs to search for Ritholz, eventually discovering his body at the falls that same day. Kaaterskil Falls in the town of Hunter has been the site of numerous injuries and several deaths over the years. The state Department of Environmental Conservation recently has undertaken several safety and public-access improvements in an attempt to minimize the risks. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Andrea Macko is reporting for Porcupine Soup the Town of Durham has released its first annual report and a communitywide meeting to hear feedback from residents will be held in June. The report contains a summary of town business from the past year as well as a rundown of future goals from Town Supervisor Shawn Marriott, Highway Superintendent Joe van Holsteyn, and town board member Joan Breslin, who serves as the chair of Durham Connect. Marriott said the pandemic affected the town's day-to-day activities, mostly for the public. He said, “The biggest change was in the way we conducted our twice-monthly public meetings. Initially we used a free telephone-based conference software... Later, we moved to a video conferencing service which is part of a Microsoft package that town employees were already using.” Marriott said while he prefers in-person meetings, the virtual meetings allowed the town to attract as many as 50 or 60 people to a virtual meeting. Marriott also discussed broadband, property sales and new residents moving to town, as well as GlaxoSmithKline’s PILOT agreement coming to an end. van Holsteyn explained that due to the initial COVID regulations, only 50 percent of the highway department crew could work at a time. “There were also problems with supplies during the early part of COVID — a lot of little stuff that meant that a simple project that normally would take one or two days would take a week,” van Holsteyn said. Breslin explained that Durham Connect is an initiative of the town board following the adoption of the comprehensive plan in June of last year. “Its purpose is to help implement the plan’s recommendations,” she said. The initiative led to the the publication of the first issue of the twice-a-year town newsletter, the Durham Courier. It was mailed in November to 1,800 town property owners. The report will be presented to the full community at 10:30 a.m., Sat., Jun. 5 in Brandow Park. Residents are encouraged to provide their feedback on the report. Read the full story at porcupine soup [dot] com.