Austin Jefferson reports in the Daily Freeman that Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger called claims of the politicization of the Ulster County Human Rights Commission by three former human rights commissioners after they resigned were “fundamentally dishonest.” Former commissioners, Bruce Ginsberg, Martin Dunkley and Carl Brown, said Metzger’s actions, including her appointment of Esi Lewis as interim commissioner and reshaping the commission’s membership, made their work difficult. They claimed Lewis mishandled a county employee’s racial discrimination complaint. Metzger said accusations of executive-level interference were without merit in the case of Bethany Daley, the county employee who the former commissioners said had her case mishandled by Lewis. Metzger also said that, “Former Commissioner Wilson’s insensitive comments about Asians, Jews, LGBTQIA+ people, single mothers, and other groups are a matter of public record and clearly disqualified him from serving as Human Rights Commissioner.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

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Colin Mixson reported in the New York Daily News that at least one person died in massive Hudson Valley flooding after a storm dumped several inches of rain on already-damp ground July 9 and 10. Rep. Pat Ryan Tweeted, "We are still assessing the full extent of the storm's impacts but tragically, we have one confirmed fatality and severe flood damage across the Hudson Valley, especially in Highland Falls, West Point, Cornwall, and parts of Rockland and Putnam counties." Gov. Hochul issued a state of emergency for Orange County for what she described as “life-threatening flooding.” State police warned motorists away from the Palisades Interstate Parkway, Long Mountain Circle, Route 6, and the Bear Mountain Bridge due to major flooding. In Dutchess County, the Times Union reported that the Taconic State Parkway was closed in the northbound directions near exit 45 in LaGrange, Dutchess County. State Route 82 was closed in both directions at Emans Road in LaGrange, and State Route 343 is closed in both directions at Old Route 22 in Washington. Amtrak also canceled its Empire Service train between New York City and Albany due to a washout on the tracks. Rensselaer County officials reported that sections of County Route 121, or River Road, in Schaghticoke were closed because of damage from the storm. Rainfall totals were between 2-4 inches in most of our immediate area, with over seven inches in the southern Hudson Valley. Read more about this story in the New York Daily News.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Dr. Dan Wilson has been interim superintendent of Catskill schools twice this year, and now takes over in a permanent role. The Catskill Central School District Board of Education voted July 5 appointed Wilson as superintendent with a multi-year contract effective July 1. The school did not release the details of the contract. Wilson commented on the board action, saying, “I am very excited to become Catskill’s superintendent because I have grown to know and love this district over the past two years I have been here." Wilson was appointed interim superintendent effective January 1 after the resignation of then-Interim Superintendent Thomas Bongiovi until February 12 when the BOE appointed Melissa Barrow as superintendent. But Barrow resigned on May 17 and again Wilson was made interim superintendent. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Chris Lisinski reports in The Berkshire Eagle that with about three weeks until the Aug. 2 deadline to file a 2024 initiative petition in Massachusetts, a group is working to create a ballot question there that could decriminalize psychedelic drugs such as certain types of mushrooms. The group Massachusetts for Mental Health Options committee has filed paperwork with state campaign finance regulators signaling plans to get a ballot question on the ballot. Seven years ago Massachusetts voters legalized recreational marijuana. The committee wrote in its submission with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance that it wants "to expand mental health treatment options in Massachusetts by providing new pathways to access natural psychedelic medicine therapy." Ben Unger, who works for the group New Approach that helped pass psychedelic therapy ballot questions in Colorado and Oregon, is working in Massachusetts now and says efforts there are "still very much in the exploratory phase.... The coalition is still forming and the policy is still going through a process of being vetted, discussed and finalized." Southwick Republican Rep. Nicholas Boldyga is on board, saying, "It's been said an idea whose time has arrived cannot be stopped ... I believe that time is now for these life-saving plant medicines as a new paradigm in how we view, and understand, and treat mental health is upon us." Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

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Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that spongy moths are all over the area this year, and the invasive species can be bad for local trees. Previously known as gypsy moths, they don't eat much, but lay eggs that become caterpillars which decimate trees. Sandra Linnell, community horticulture program coordinator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, said, “We have received a lot of phone calls about this pest.... We just created an informational page on our website." The U.S. Department of Agriculture says one spongy moth caterpillar can eat up to a square foot of leaves each day. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties says, “The caterpillars feed on leaves of the forest, shade, ornamental and fruit trees, and shrubs. A single defoliation can kill some evergreens, but usually, two or more defoliations are needed to kill hardwoods." The moths, reported in swarms locally, will only live about two weeks, so will be gone soon. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

The Times Union reports that the State Police are raising the maximum age to join their ranks from 29 to 34. Other businesses and governments are also having trouble hiring enough employees. Some, like the state of New York, are also changing their rules to attract new employees, as New York announced last week it is waiving fees for all civil service examinations through December 2025. With the State Police, Gov. Kathy Hochul approved their request to also increase the number of academy classes from two to four, with a $66 million budget allocation. Acting State Police Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, "This change will allow us to recruit the most diverse and skilled group of candidates possible.... There are many qualified candidates from the military or other careers who decide that they want to transition to the State Police, but because of the previous age requirement, some were not eligible. ... By raising the age, we are ensuring that we have the best and most qualified candidates possible to carry on that legacy and serve and protect the people of New York." The State Police are also trying to attract more female and minority employees, and has redesigned its recruitment program. The governor's office said that effort includes "meeting with leaders in communities that are underrepresented within law enforcement, with the goal of building positive long-term relationships." To find out more about jobs with the State Police go to joinstatepolice.ny.gov. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that construction began on a section of Fish and Game Club Road July 5, and continues through Aug. 4 with the road closed to traffic. A culvert is being replaced just to the west of Tishauser Road in Claverack. To get around the Columbia County construction, drivers are detoured onto state Route 217, state Route 23, and state Route 9H. Columbia County Public Works Commissioner Ray Jurkowski said, “Previously, there’s an existing water course that goes underneath the roadway that was carried under the road by three service culvert pipes, and those pipes were slightly undersized, but also they were problematic and prone to clogging and cleaning out periodically.... The work that is taking place because of the closure is replacing those three pipes with a larger precast concrete box culvert. It’s a larger structure.” Jurkowski notes that climate change is causing larger storms locally, so the larger culvert is needed. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Here is this week's WGXC Congressional Report, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives and candidates for the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st Congressional seats in New York. Democrat Pat Ryan is representing the 18th Congressional District, Republican Marc Molinaro represents the 19th Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Paul Tonko represents the 20th District, and Republican Elise Stefanik represents the 21st District. Click here to listen to this report.

Luke Parsnow reports in New York State of Politics that the Hudson Valley will be featured prominently nationally during the Congressional elections next year, as Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2022 by flipping several Hudson Valley districts from Democrats. On July 5, one former representative, Mondaire Jones, announced he will try an unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York's 17th Congressional District. Jones said on social media, “I’ve never been Washington’s choice. It’s because I stand up to corruption.... I battle with Republicans trying to overthrow our democracy and ban abortion, even as I push my party to fight harder for working people. I’m running to finish the work I began.” Jones was elected to the former 17th District in 2020. But after redistricting, Democrat Sean Maloney switched from the 18th to the 17th District, which he lost, and Jones ran in the 10th District, losing the Democratic primary to Dan Goldman. In a statement, a spokesperson for Lawler criticized Jones with the same attacks that won Republicans elections in 2022, saying Jones "supports the defund the police movement and New York's disastrous cashless bail law, and voted for the reckless spending that saddled us with record high inflation." Read more about this story in New York State of Politics.

Jeff Coltin reports in City and State that Democrat Josh Riley announced on July 6 that his campaign for the 19th Congressional District nomination raised over $775,000 in the first fundraising quarter. Riley lost to Republican Marc Molinaro in the 2022 election for the Congressional seat, one of the districts in New York where Republicans flipped control from Democrats. Riley released his fundraising totals ahead of the July 15 federal filing deadline. Earlier in the year, from January to March, Molinaro raised $494,000 and transferred in another $145,000. Much of Molinaro's fundraising came from corporate political action committees such as MetLife, Honeywell, and Pepsi, while Riley is not taking donations from corporate PACs. The New York Post first reported that at least two political action committees have sent fundraising emails from former Senator Al Franken, asking for donations to Riley’s campaign. And while Riley raised money with Franken's help, so did Molinaro, sending out a letter asking for donations because, “We can’t allow disgraced Hollywood elites like Al Franken to interfere in our elections.” In the 2022 election Riley outraised Molinaro $4.2 million to $2.5 million, with another $3 million in outside spending, split roughly evenly between the two candidates. Read more about this story in City and State.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Ulster County is getting new voting machines. The Ulster County Board of Elections will buy the machines from Hart Intercivic. The board of elections released a statement saying, “Hart Intercivic stands out as an all-American made voting solution with a forward-thinking vision to make our elections more accessible and accountable. Their commitment to innovation, security, and voter satisfaction aligns seamlessly with our goals of maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process in Ulster County.” And while Republicans across the country have denigrated the integrity of voting machines by several different companies, Republican Commissioner John Quigley is in favor of the Hart Intercivic machines, saying, “Their proven track record and dedication to producing cutting-edge voting solutions give us the confidence that we have made the right choice for the voters of Ulster County.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Today's audio daily news update.

Nancy Kern reports in Columbia-Greene Media that Catskill school board member Ryan Osswald said recently that board members are not allowed to speak to anyone, including the press, regarding board business. The New York state School Boards Association recommends school boards not reply to public comments, but acknowledges that replying is allowed. At a Catskill school board meeting on July 5 Second-grade teacher and Catskill parent April Ormerod said, “I regularly attend these board meetings, and yet so many things still come as a surprise to me....I learned recently that we’ve lost our special education director. This is the 11th director we’ve dealt with as parents of a child in this school district. Our daughter is only entering ninth grade. It’s concerning, and we have to ask why. There’s never any ability for discourse. How can I, how can the community, become part of the discussion? How can the board represent our students, our families and community members when there doesn’t seem to be a chance for that? I’d like the Board to consider how to begin to allow the community to be heard. How can the taxpayers and the parents and employees communicate with the board? Often, I’ve heard members say that they wish they knew or how they can find out, and my question is how can we open that up? How can we engage the community so that you have a picture from the staff, the parents and the community about the concerns going on?” The Greenville school board, by contrast, recently had a parent oppose a library book, and the board held a moderated session of open discussion groups where parents could openly voice their concerns through dialogue. So, locally, it is possible for school board's to respond to the concerns of the community. Greenville School Board President Tracy Young said, “We were happy to host the discussion groups. They were very well-attended. The people shared from their hearts very respectfully and allowed the board to view things from many perspectives. All of the information was captured, and we had a mechanism that allowed us to capture feelings and sentiments that maybe weren’t addressed by the specific questions that were on people’s minds.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com

The Times Union reports that over two years after New York legalized cannabis, just the second Capital Region retail cannabis store opened July 7 in Rensselaer County. The Stage One Dispensary is in the town of Rensselaer on the first floor of a former bank building where the vaults have been kept in their original condition and are being used to store inventory. The store is owned by Nathaniel Innes, Galina German-Innes, Sugey Mirsky, and Joshua Mirsky, who has run a recording studio in Albany for more than a decade. Another cannabis store opens July 8 in Broome County. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “With these new dispensaries opening in New York, we are providing safer product to New Yorkers, while furthering our ambitious goals for equity in New York’s cannabis laws.” But New York has been criticized for the slow rollout of retail sales, with no stores open yet in Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Albany, or Dutchess counties, and few opened anywhere in the state. Hochul has not yet signed a bill that would allow New York’s more than 200 licensed growers to temporarily sell their crops to tribal nations across the state, because the stores that were supposed to be open are not. Assemblyperson Donna A. Lupardo, a Broome County Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, said, “After months of uncertainty surrounding New York’s adult-use cannabis market rollout, desperation is building amongst the state’s cannabis farmers.... They have been stranded with 250,000 pounds of unsold cannabis products from the 2022 season. The current pace of new retail openings will not resolve this issue, and this product is losing value every day we wait.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that, as of July 6, the New York State Department of Labor no longer allows employers to impose mandatory overtime for nurses. Mandatory overtime for nurses is now only allowed in a healthcare disaster, a declaration of emergency, or when required for safe patient care such as during an unforeseen emergency or an ongoing medical or surgical procedure. New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "This new law prevents burnout and empowers these essential workers to continue providing exceptional care to New York families statewide.” Employers must notify the Department of Labor if they do impose mandatory overtime because of an emergency situation. Read the full story at Mid-Hudson News.

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that Columbia County Sheriff Don Krapf says the corrections officers he oversees can cooperate with federal immigration agents, but the law enforcement officers he oversees cannot. Krapf sent the Times Union a lengthy statement on his conflicting policy after an incident last month when two members of the board of supervisors and Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson waited outside the sheriff’s office for a man who did not emerge from the building at his release time. Johnson and Hudson Third Ward Supervisor Michael Chameides were eventually told he was no longer there, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers had taken him away. Krapf had previously announced a non-cooperation policy with ICE, but now his officers were cooperating. But Krapf claims he was only cooperating partially, saying, “The extent to which DCJS shares data with federal authorities is unknown to me, but I can state confidently that my office did not notify ICE of this individual’s presence in the Columbia County Corrections Facility.” So now Krapf is saying that the non-cooperation policy does not apply to his office’s corrections division, only the deputies he oversees. Supervisor Chameides said, “The interpretation that the policy only applies to part of the sheriff’s office is a surprise to me and it’s confusing.... If you look at the policy itself, it says the sheriff’s office. … If you look through the document it was part of, it defines the CCSO as having multiple divisions, and it describes the policy as being CCSO policy, so I haven’t seen any prior information implying the policy was only geared toward the Law Enforcement Division.” Krapf's written policy says, “the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has a welcoming and inclusive policy towards immigrants in Columbia County” and “the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office does not actively participate in immigration enforcement.” Columbia County Sanctuary Movement co-founder Bryan MacCormack said, “The policy very clearly states it’s for the Columbia County sheriff’s office.... It does not specify it’s for a … particular subset of employees.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman reports that the Mellon Foundation is giving a $2 million grant to support Tania El Khoury, a commissioned artist and guest co-curator at the Fisher Center, and a Distinguished Artist in Residence at Bard’s Theater & Performance Program. A press release from the local college said, “El Khoury’s live art engages the audience in close encounters with narratives drawn from the political realities of borders, displacement, and state violence.... The grant will support her live art production and touring, her scholarly and artistic research, and her curatorial work at the Fisher Center.” El Khoury said in the press release that, “The grant will allow me to further pursue my artistic and curatorial practices, deepen my experimentation with new models of collaboration and institution-building, and reflect on my trajectory as an artist working at the intersection of politics and research.” Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Liz Montgomery reports for Porcupine Soup that a few members of the public can get a rare glimpse at the world’s oldest fossil forest in Cairo next week. On July 15 Dr. Robert Titus leads a lecture on the origin story of Cairo's Fossil Forest at the Cairo Public Library, followed by a visit to the nearby site. Titus is a professor of geology at Hartwick College. In 2019 by a research team led by faculty at Binghamton University and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom identified as the site as the world’s oldest fossil forest. The site is owned by the Town of Cairo, with a small fence guarding it. The lecture and tour is presented by the Cairo Historical Society and limited to 99 people. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.