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.

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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.

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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.

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Kate Lisa reports for New York State of Politics that in January Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed building 800,000 new units across New York to address the affordable housing crisis. But the legislature did not go along with her plan. Instead, Hochul announced on Aug. 1 a plan to build 800 affordable housing units in and around New York City. Hochul said, "Opening up more housing, all levels of housing – low income, affordable, mixed use market rate, it doesn't matter; we have such demand for housing in this state.... if we don't provide the availability of all these options - and government has a role to play with the private sector and the community – if we don't do our job there, then that's going to be a reason people leave." Hochul is spending $406 million to build 800 units of affordable housing in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Suffolk and Westchester counties, but not upstate. Hochul also spoke about the legislators who blocked her original proposal for 800,000 units, saying, "Change is hard.... It takes time, but I think what's important is that legislators hear from the people who live in these communities. ... People need a safe, affordable place to live. And we have a responsibility. And I'm not going to sit by and let time march on without doing something because this is a crisis." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics

Raga Justin reports in the Times Union that a Black former corrections officer, Vitolio Jeune, is suing his former co-workers and high-ranking members of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, alleging racial harassment and that he was beaten by other officers at a Washington County prison. He also claims he was fired after filing a complaint about the incident. Jeune's lawsuit says of white corrections officers, that, “they do not like Black correction officers being assigned to Great Meadow because, according to them, Black workers are slackers and lazy.” He says he also heard physical threats, name-calling, and taunts about his Haitian accent from other officers in a complaint filed in state Supreme Court in Albany County. “This attack was perpetrated by individuals senior to plaintiff and considered to be plaintiff’s superiors and was witnessed by correction officers who failed to intervene,” the lawsuit states. Officials with New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union which represents correction officers, declined to comment, and state department of corrections officials did not respond to a request for comment. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Club Helsinki, a music venue in Hudson, has been sold. The club, which mostly hosted oldies acts rather than new bands, closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened. The old owners did not say why it closed, and the new owners, the Galvan Foundation, aren't revealing much either. Galvan Vice President of Initiatives Dan Kent said, “We do not have any comment at this time, but I will be sure to reach out once we are ready to announce our plans.” The story does not say anything about the financial deal. The Galvan Foundation owns many of Hudson's buildings, more than any other single landlord. A few local bands performed at Club Helsinki when it was open, but most acts were aimed at baby boomers. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

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Kevin Frey at New York State of Politics reports that Reps. Marc Molinaro and Elise Stefanik, the Republicans representing local Congressional distritcs, are considering voting to impeach President Joe Biden. Stefanik, who chairs the House GOP Conference, talked about wanting to impeach the Democrat president on Fox Business last week, saying, “I’m in conversations with Speaker McCarthy and all of our members." Molinaro, who represents the 19th Congressional District said, "Having served every day of my adult life in New York state politics, I can smell corruption. And frankly, the administration would be well served to answer the questions, be transparent and provide their response to the committees that are inquiring.” Republicans have not exactly said why they would impeach Biden, but it seems to have something to do with financial issues with his son Hunter. Another Hudson Valley Republican Congressperson, Mike Lawler, who represents the 17th District, said, “Are the [investigations] producing enough facts and evidence that warrant taking it to the next step? I don’t think it’s there at the moment.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that workers at least five upstate New York farms have voted to join the United Farm Workers union, but the farms are trying to stop them. The New York Farm Bureau and owners at the farms where the unions have formed say temporary workers with H-2A visas cannot organize or bargain collectively. Now New York’s Public Employment Relations Board will decide, using the 2019 changes to the state’s farm labor laws as a partial guide. Their decision, which will affect nearly 10,000 temporary visa workers, may be appealed to the courts. The Legal Aid Society, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a brief with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board saying, “This could carry the effect of introducing a subclass of workers subjected to diminished working standards and would lead to the depreciation of market wages for agricultural workers across the board, the exact outcome the H-2A regulations attempt to avoid." Read more about this story in the Times Union.