Today's daily news audio update.

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

Meg Britton-Mehlisch reports in The Berkshire Eagle that after a drought, floods, smoke, heat, and spongy moths this summer, Pittsfield has two documented cases of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in recent weeks. And members of the city’s Board of Health want to spray pesticides to reduce the population of mosquitoes, but the city council voted in 2021 to stop allowing truck-mounted spraying to control mosquitoes. Chris Horton, director of the Berkshire Mosquito Control Project, said the July flooding led to many more mosquitoes. Horton said, “We’re still doing larval control everywhere but when the [Housatonic] river flooded that was — we couldn’t even have access to the [area] and the mosquitoes were already coming off.... The water was too deep to even go through and put the larvicide in.” The Board of Health is now asking the Pittsfield City Council to meet on the mosquito issue. Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Brian Campbell reports at New York State of Politics that on Aug. 3 Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $12 million for scientific ideas on electric vehicles as New York transitions away from polluting fossil fuels. The money of for the development and demonstration of innovative, replicable solutions that advance electric vehicle adoption and the integration of electric vehicles with the electric grid and for better hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Hochul said, “As New York continues to advance toward a zero-emission future, it’s imperative that we continue to improve the affordability of clean transportation ownership as we scale up a resilient and reliable energy grid.... This $12 million initiative offers an innovative way to do both — exploring and supporting options for vehicle charging infrastructure that also provides energy back to the grid. We are committed to making it possible for both residents and companies to transition to owning and charging electric vehicles — building a greener future for all.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Ben Mitchell reports for News10 in Albany that New York's Department of Environmental Conservation hosts the 12th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count on August 5 at sites along the Hudson River Estuary. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “The annual fish count event provides a great opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors to get outdoors—or go online—and learn about the many fish species that live and thrive in the Hudson River.... With sites from New York Harbor to Cohoes, there are many places for young and old alike to participate in this year’s event.” Seine nets, minnow traps, rods, and reels are used to catch fish that are counted, and released. The state has set up the Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count website for more information. Read more about this story at News10 in Albany.

Today's audio daily news update.

Phillip Pantuso reports in the Times Union that Kingstons Common Council on Aug. 1 unanimously approved a new citywide zoning code changing how homeowners, developers, and pedestrians use land in the historical city during an affordable housing crisis. Kingston Mayor Steven Noble signed the new zoning code into law on Aug. 2. Noble predicted that the new code, "will encourage incremental growth and smart development across the city while preserving our open spaces. Crucially, this code reform will reduce barriers to the creation of new housing at every level and will help us combat the housing crisis,” and said it is “arguably the most significant land-use decision to be passed by the Common Council since the adoption of Kingston’s current zoning code in the 1960s.” The new code legalizes accessory dwelling units, such as backyard cottages and “in-law units;” and allows multi-family duplexes, townhouses, and live-work housing types. Bartek Starodaj, the city’s director of housing initiatives, said, “Kingston is pretty much built out.... So you need to have a zoning code that reflects the type of flexibility that you would need to actually build within established neighborhoods.” The entire state has an affordable housing crisis, and very few municipalities have passed laws or regulations to address the situation or build new housing. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Anthony Krolikowski reports for News10 in Albany that New York’s Department of Health says COVID-19 cases are increasing lately, and hospitalization rates are up too. The Department of Health reports that COVID-19 hospital admissions increased 22 percent as of August 2. Reported cases are up 55 percent, with an average of 824 people with COVID a day statewide. Pediatrician Dr. James Saperstone said, “We should be okay, but we still have to worry about people my age, over 70, and the very young and the people with underlying health conditions. We still haven’t got our hands around it. We saw a surge last summer, but here is a different ball game.” Officials recommend washing hands often, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated or boosted when eligible to prevent illness. Read more about this story at News10's website.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Crandell Theatre in Chatham is getting a major renovation, thanks to a $323,000 grant from the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. Chatham Film Club Executive Director Annie Brody said on Aug. 2, “This theater was built in 1926, and this is the first time it’s having a major renovation.... There were repairs made to the roof and to different things in the theater. I believe the marquee was last done in the 1940s or the 1960s.” The theatre is getting new auditorium seating, improved sound and lighting systems, a larger lobby, a streetside cafe-style concession area, a new HVAC system, and four handicapped- accessible restrooms. The theatre has not yet announced when the renovations will begin, which will close the theatre temporarily. One of the theatre's previous renovations came in 1929, when they added sound to the films. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Michael Ryan in the Mountain Eagle reports that Greene County Legislators said at a recent Finance Committee meeting that there is $1,531,124.80 left over from the construction of.a new county jail in Coxsackie. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden explained, "We had a five percent contingency. We only used 1.9 percent which is a credit to the construction manager.” The Greene County Legislature used $8.1 million from their restricted fund balance and will be paying off a $39 million for the next 30 years to replace the Catskill jail. Groden said, “This was the biggest financial decision this legislature will make in 100 years.” Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Steve Benen at MSNBC reports about Rep. Elise Stefanik's reaction to the news that former President Donald Trump is being indicted on a third matter. This time Trump is being indicted for his role in the attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2021. But Stefanik, now representing Rensselaer County, did not mention that. Instead she accused President Joe Biden of trying to “weaponize his corrupt Department of Justice against his leading political opponent,” even though Biden did not have anything to do with the Trump indictment. Last week, after more charges were added to a previous Trump indictment, The New Republic said Stefanik had the “stupidest” reaction in the classified documents case. Stefanik had said, “Our Republic is in peril, our justice system is broken.... The American people understand that Joe Biden and his administration are engulfed in one of the biggest political corruption scandals of all time." What scandal, exactly, Stefanik is referencing is unclear, but the legal peril the former president faces is becoming clearer every day. Read more about this story at MSNBC.

Noah Zweifel reports for the Altamont Enterprise that the only healthcare provider in the Albany County hilltowns, Hilltown Healthcare, is adding Nurse Practitioner Savannah Wagoner. Clinic founder and Nurse Practitioner Jill Martin said doubling the medical staff means many more people can get medical service. And Wagoner is local, a graduate of Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School. Martin said, “Savannah has practiced as a registered nurse in many areas of medicine including family medicine, pediatrics, and women's health, and she is thrilled to be taking on a new role as a nurse practitioner in the field of family medicine.” Hilltown Healthcare opened in December of 2019, after Community Care Physicians closed, leaving the area without a healthcare provider. Read more about this story at the Altamont Enterprise.

Today's audio daily news update.

Michael Ryan in the Mountain Eagle looks at Windham Mountain's new master plan, and while he doesn't quote anything in the plan about climate change, clearly the winter resort is thinking about warming. A multi-use amphitheater is included in the plan, part of what Kate Sullivan, the director of marketing and communications for the resort, says is, “our increased focus on year-round activities.” In recent years, Windham Mountain has seen some heavy snow, but also warmer winter temperatures that hinder snow-making. The plan also proposes a new hotel, and 58 new townhouses and 16 new single-family homes. All of it must be approved by Windham Planning Board, and several other agencies, so the plan is very tentative, but the resort would like to begin building in 2024. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the town of New Lebanon last week applied for a $500,000 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to improve Shatford Memorial Park. If the town wins the grant, a walking trail system that is compliant with the American Disability Act, as well as a new ADA-compliant playground will be installed. Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling said, “The playground equipment is from the 1970s.... It’s very outdated. The town needs assistance with these larger projects to ensure that we are an inclusive town and that all of our residents have access to the park. COVID has shown us that outdoor access to exercise and coming together as a community are really important, and Shatford Park is such a great template for that. We have the land and we need to put amenities in that are accessible to everyone. It’ll excite people to come and enjoy the beauty of the park.” New Lebanon recently added a skate park, and are also going to add a new splash pad to cool off in the summer. They should hear about the grant in December. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Spectrum News reports that second fiscal quarter sales tax collections in New York were up three percent, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office said Aug. 2. Gas tax collections decreased by 19 percent, though, in the second quarter, caused by "a steep drop in gas prices, which were 21 percent lower in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022," according to the report. All told, local government sales tax collections topped $5.7 billion from April to June this year. While the state's total grew, Albany County's collections fell by 6.1 percent in the second quarter. Read the full story at New York State of Politics.

Today's daily news audio update.

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