Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Cairo Town Board member Daniel Joyce was charged with driving while intoxicated after causing an accident on Election Day evening, Tue., Nov. 5, state police said Wednesday. Joyce, 72, was driving north on Route 32 just after 5 p.m. in a 2008 Ford Ranger when he attempted to make a left in front of a 2013 Lincoln MKZ, according to state police. Joyce was transported to Albany Medical Center by helicopter and a blood test was performed at the hospital to determine his blood-alcohol content. Joyce was charged with driving while intoxicated, and a right-of-way violation. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital by Cairo Ambulance. Both Joyce and the other driver suffered non-life threatening injuries, state police Public Information Officer Steven Nevel said. Joyce is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 10. His current term on the town board will end December 31, 2020. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Steve Barnes is reporting for the Times Union on the indoor aquaculture operation in Greenport called Hudson Valley Fisheries. The business sells farm-grown steelhead trout and is housed in the warehouse located on Route 9, which was formerly home to the local fish farm, Local Ocean. The Local Ocean business collapsed and the building was sold at auction in 2013. In 2015, Hudson Valley Fisheries began producing the steelhead trout, a saltwater cousin of the rainbow trout. The steelhead takes about 18 months to grow to a harvest weight of 4 to 8 pounds, but it has limited local availability — the closest place to buy the fish seems to be the Kingston Farmers Market, Barnes writes, and the company does not offer online ordering. The trout is currently offered on the menu at Fish & Game, chef Zak Pelaccio's Hudson restaurant, and at Gaskins in Germantown, on occasion. Hudson Valley Fisheries produces roughly 40,000 pounds of steelhead trout each week. Each steelhead is hatched, raised, harvested and processed in Hudson. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Click above to download or play the audio version of the local news for Thu., Nov. 7. Produced by Philip Grant.

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

Mid-Hudson News reports that just three votes separate the candidates for Ulster County District Attorney, after the first round of vote-counting Nov. 5. Republican Michael Kavanagh leads Democrat David Clegg by three votes. Clegg’s campaign said Nov. 6 that with, “thousands of absentee ballots still remaining to be counted, [he] is not conceding the closely contested race.” There were eight write-in votes for other candidates, besides the nearly 50,000 cast for Kavanagh and Clegg. Clegg lost a Democratic primary election last year for the Congressional seat Antonio Delgado eventually won. In Catskill, just two votes separate Republican Dale S. Finch and incumbent Doreen Davis, a Democrat, in their election for Town Supervisor. Typically, it takes more than a week for election officials to count absentee ballots. Read more about this story in the Mid-Hudson News.

Cayla Harris in the Times Union rounds up New York politicians reactions to President Donald Trump formally telling the United Nations Nov. 4 that the United States will pull out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. New York Senator Chuck Schumer wrote, "Future generations will look back on President Trump’s decision as a dramatic step backward in the fight to address the climate crisis that will hurt our planet, our economy, and our national security for decades to come. Senate Democrats continue to stand with the vast majority of Americans who are demanding their elected officials stop kowtowing to corporate polluters and take action to address the mounting threat posed by climate change.” Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from Amsterdam who represents Albany County and the 20th Congressional District, said, “While the Trump Administration wastes precious time denying the scientific realities of climate change, Americans are fleeing its devastating effects in the form of wildfires, flooding and storms unlike anything we have seen before. Decades of science-based evidence have made clear that bold action is necessary to prevent the deadliest and most costly effects of climate change." Gov. Andrew Cuomo chimed in, saying, "New York and states across the country are witnessing first-hand the effects of climate change as we struggle to combat extreme weather and devastating wildfires." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that State Senator James Seward, who represents Schoharie and Delaware counties and the 51st Senate District, is taking more time off after the cancer he had in 2016 has recurred, his office announced on Nov. 6. "My physicians have recommended a series of treatments over the next several weeks that will limit my availability and curtail my normal, active district schedule,” Seward said. “While I will be taking some time to concentrate on getting better, my offices will remain open and my capable staff will continue to assist constituents with their state-related needs.” Seward is a Republican with a large district stretching across central New York. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency chairperson is complaining about a new state law that gives the public better access to IDA meetings. “We have a new requirement that we have to figure out how to do the livestreaming and videotaping of our all of our meetings going forward,” Randall Leverette said. He says the Ulster County IDA is paying "like $2,000 a meeting" with companies interested in making more taxpayer money by providing livestreams and recordings of public meetings. WGXC works with the Town of Catskill and City of Hudson to provide webstreams of meetings at no cost. The new law requires industrial development agencies to show regular meetings and public hearings "in real time," and archive videos of meetings and hearings on their websites within five business days. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Click above to download or play the audio version of the local news update for Wed., Nov. 6. (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media election results in Columbia County have been delayed due to a "reporting error," according to the county board of elections, so results are still coming in following the November 5 general election.

The Columbia County races too close to call on election night included the contest for Claverack Town Board. In that four-way competition for two seats, Republican/Conservative/Independence candidates George Duntz and Lisa Bowe appeared to have bested Democrats Katy Cashen and Ian Solomon, according to results posted by the board of elections, November 6.

In the contested races in the town of Athens, Republicans swept the races for town justice, town board and town clerk. In the town board race, Republicans Michael Ragaini and Shannon Spinner defeated Democrats Michael Pirrone and Phylisann Dinkelacker. Republicans Robert Butler and John Farrell ran uncontested races for the positions of town supervisor and highway superintendent, respectively.

In the tight Jewett Town Board race, Republicans Carol Muth and Michael McCrary beat out Democrats Marvin Seligman and Marianne Romito. In Prattsville, Democrat Bonita Chase and Republican Joyce Peckham prevailed over Republican Kenneth Aurigema and Democrat Chrystal Soule Cornell in that town board race.

The numbers reported election night for the Windham Town Supervisor race between Democrat Nick Bove and Republican Thomas Hoyt reflected the number of ballots cast during early voting. The full total, as reported by the Times Union, put Hoyt on top, with 398 votes to Bove's 272.

Back in Columbia County, in Kinderhook, Patsy Leader defeated Peter Bujanow by more than 550 votes, according to the board of elections unofficial results. Leader was a candidate on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines; Bujanow ran on the Democrat, Working Families and Greene parties lines. Philip Bickerton and Timothy Ooms, both Republicans, took the two open seats on the Kinderhook Town Board, as well.

The Columbia Paper is reporting that poll results provided by the Chatham town Democrats indicate the slate endorsed by the town Republicans won by a landslide. According to those results, Donal Collins was the winner of the town supervisor race, beating Maria Lull on a vote of 915 to 496. Town board candidates Abi Mesick won her seat with 921 votes as did Vance Pitkin, with 930. Neither Collins or Mesick are registered Republicans, but they both ran on the GOP line.

The vote tallies provided do not include early voter or absentee ballots.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and County Clerk Brad Kendall were both reelected November 5. Both men are Republicans. Molinaro beat challenger Democrat Joseph Ruggiero, the former executive director of the New York State Bridge Authority, by more than 1,600 votes. Kendall bested Democrat Kenya Gadsden by 6,300 votes. In Ulster County, Democrat Pat Ryan defeated Republican Jack Hayes in the county executive race, in a rematch of their special election contest in June. Ryan defeated Hayes again by a large margin. Democrat March Gallagher became the first woman to be elected comptroller in Ulster County when she defeated Republican Lisa Cutten. Read both stories at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Annalise Knudson is reporting for the Staten Island Advance, the state Board of Regents has appointed Shannon Tahoe acting commissioner of education, effective Nov. 16. The appointment comes less than a month after the departure of the interim education commissioner, and only a few months after former Commissioner MaryEllen Elia stepped down. Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said of Tahoe, "...Shannon brings vast expertise in education matters and experience in leadership that will serve the Board and Department well in her new role as Acting Commissioner while the Board identifies an interim candidate to lead the Department.” Tahoe has served in the education department since 2006. In addition to continuing in her current role as acting counsel and deputy commissioner for legal affairs, she will now assume the responsibilities of acting education commissioner and president of the University of the State of New York. Read the full story at SILive [dot] com.

Click above to download or play the audio version of the local news for Wed., Nov. 6. Produced by Philip Grant.

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

Kamal Johnson was elected the first African-American mayor in Hudson, New York on Nov. 5. Johnson won with 70 percent of the votes, 926, to incumbent Rick Rector, who lost a Democratic primary to Johnson and then abandoned a campaign on the Republican, Conservative, and Independance lines, but still got 395 votes. Johnson spoke at his campaign headquarters at 704 Columbia Street just after finding out the results. PLAY EXCERPT HERE. Also in Hudson, Democrat Tom DePietro, the incumbent, beat Republican Rob Bujan 763-to-480 votes. In Hudson's Second Ward Abdus Miah, running on Democrat, Republican, Conservative, and Independence lines, beat Willette "Shell" Jones on the Working Families line 124-to-73. In the Fourth Ward, Democrats Malachi Walker and John Rosenthal won with 161 and 141 votes, with Republican Rich "Trixie" Volo at 81 votes.

There were two countywide elections of interest. In Greene County, Republican Peter Kusminsky got just under 72 percent of the vote for sheriff, 6,401 to Independence candidate Diana Benoit, who received 2,505 votes out of almost 9.000 cast. In Columbia County, incumbent Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, a Republican, once again held off Democrat Eugene Keeler, leading by a wide margin with some votes still left to count.

Odd-year town elections, though, are often decided by just a few votes. In Catskill incumbent Town Supervisor Doreen Davis, a Democrat, lost by two votes, 1,292-to-1,290, to Republican Dale S. Finch. Absentee ballots could determine that contest. Also in Catskill, Republicans got the most votes for two town council seats. Patrick A. McCulloch got 1,831, and Paul H. Vosburgh, Jr. received 1,581, beating Democrat Mark A. Vian with 901 votes. Three Republicans in Catskill were also unopposed: Elizabeth C. Izzo for town clerk; Shawn W. Beers for highway superintendent; and Sam Aldi for tax collector.

In Cairo, Republican John Coyne won the battle of the former town supervisors. Coyne, with 636 votes, beat independent Sherry B. True with 549 votes, Democrat Ted Banta with 440, and current supervisor Dan Benoit, who said he was not running after being put on the Conservative line, received 84 votes. Republicans took two seats on the town board in Cairo, with Stephen L. Kralovich, with 962 votes, and Timothy Powers, with 897 votes, beating Democrats Lewis M. O'Connor, with 679 votes, and William F. Scheriff with 506. Republican Arthur J. Evans III got 1,125 to Democrat Michael C. Maderic, who received 517 votes for highway supervisor. Republicans Kayla L. Warner and Susan B. Hilgendorff were unopposed in Cairo for town clerk and tax collector.

In Windham just 29 votes were cast, 17 for Democrat Nicholas P. Bove and 12 for Republican Thomas F. Hoyt in an election where the town's Democrat party chairperson attempted to keep the eventual winner off the ballot. The town council race might not be settled yet with Republican Kurt T. Goettsche at 17 votes, Democrat Natasha I. Shuster at 16 votes, and Republican Stephen J. Walker at 14 votes. Republican Maureen P. McCarthy was unopposed for town justice; as was Republican Bonnie L. Poehmel for town clerk; and Republican Katherine Murray for tax collector.

In Athens, Republicans Shannon A. Spinner, with 566 votes, and Michael J. Ragaini, with 556 votes, beat Democrats Michael N. Pirrone, with 494 votes, and Phyllisann Dinkelacker, with 407 votes. Republican Robert F. Butler, Jr. was unopposed for town supervisor but still had 31 write-in votes for other candidates. Republican Timothy G. Mercer beat Democrat David G. Cole 559-top-488 for town justice. Republican Linda M. Stacey beat Conservative candidate Cheryl L. Alberti 741-to-159. And John J. Farrell was unopposed for Athens Highway Supervisor.

Republican Marilyn Farrell was unopposed for Greene County Clerk, and Republicans Richard E. Vigilo and Paul R. Seney, Jr. won Greene County Coroner positions. In Hunter, the resolution passed 483-to-245.

Click above to download or play the audio version of the local news update for Tue., Nov. 5. (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper Chatham officials have proposed a preliminary 2020 town budget totaling $3.1 million, including a 5.41 percent decrease in taxes. The spending plan includes the general budget, as well as the Highway Department. There are also funds for fire protection paid to several fire companies, lighting districts, and funds for the library and North Chatham Fire District, which brings the total proposal to roughly $3.6 million. The Chatham Town Board accepted the preliminary budget at its October 17 meeting and it is expected to hold a public hearing on the plan November 7. Town board member Michael Richardson said the tax rate increases included in 2017, 2018 and 2019 budgets were under the state-mandated tax cap and were necessary in order to cover the town's $227,000 deficit from 2016, and to build up the reserves. Richardson said the board has now replenished the reserves and this year there was a surplus fund balance. In the preliminary spending plan, the board designated approximately $160,000 from the fund balance be used to lower the tax rate. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Columbia-Greene Media is reporting Andrew Vadnais [VAD-naze] was officially installed as the 12th Head of The Darrow School. The investiture ceremony was conducted on the 365-acre Darrow campus in New Lebanon. Vadnais is a native of the Berkshire region and a graduate of Williams College. He previously served as a teacher at The Darrow School for seven years, beginning in 1983. He later served as head of school at South Kent School Connecticut for 15 years. Vadnais rejoined the Darrow community in November 2018 and began his tenure as head of The Darrow School on July 1. In a statement, Vadnais said, “I am returning home to the Mountainside with the hope of helping The Darrow School move confidently into its next chapter. ...” Read the full press release at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman a federal appeals court has reinstated a racial discrimination lawsuit brought against Ulster County by five current and former corrections officers at the county jail, ruling there was enough evidence to allow the case to go to trial. The decision reverses a dismissal of the case by a lower court. The appellate court did uphold the lower court's decision to dismiss the claims against individual corrections officers, as well as the former county Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum. The employment discrimination lawsuit was filed in August 2016, on behalf of four men and one woman, all of whom are black. The plaintiffs claimed they were repeatedly subjected to or witnessed overt racial hostility, including being subjected to racial slurs and epithets. They also alleged they were passed over for promotion, which were instead given to white officers with less seniority. In reinstating the action, the appeals court found there existed significant evidence of racially derogatory language from co-workers and supervisors. The slurs used were egregious and made frequently, the court said. In a joint statement, attorneys for the plaintiffs said they look forward to presenting the case to a federal jury. "This decision reminds us that racism has no place in a public facility," they said. "... The racial harassment at the Ulster County Jail was extensive." Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Thomas Cole National Historic Site was among 16 historic organizations or sites in the Hudson Valley to receive grant funding from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, November 4. Thomas Cole will receive a $5,000 gift to be used for "improving the visitor experience" at its Catskill location. “We’re thrilled to receive this support for an exciting new installation on the second floor of the Main House,” Thomas Cole Executive Director Betsy Jacks said. “The $5,000 is helping us conduct new research about the content of the interactive exhibits that will open in 2020.” Other local recipients included the FASNY Museum of Firefighting in Hudson, the village of Kinderhook and the Friends of Clermont. The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area awards grants twice every year. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.