Mid-Hudson News reports that Christopher Douglas Finney, 32, of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, was arrested on Feb. 8 on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his part in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Finney also faces misdemeanor charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Finney recorded himself that day, saying, “We’re gonna be going up to, where they’re – what’s the building where they’re doing the counting at?” Someone off camera replied, “the Capitol,” and Finney continued, “We’re going up to the Capitol, eventually. We’re gonna storm the Capitol. They’re not gonna keep us outta there. We’re gonna make sure that this is done correct and that Donald Trump is still our president.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Molly Burke reports for the Times Union that the New York Civil Liberties Union sued New York's State Commission of Correction on Feb. 2 in the state Supreme Court in Albany after appealing their Freedom of Information Law request seeking records of investigation into physical and sexual assault complaints in New York county jails. The NYCLU wants the public records of how the commission handles incidents in county jails and the New York City Department of Correction that involve physical assaults or sexual abuse by facilities’ staff. The group filed a Freedom of Information Law request with the commission in July 2022 for the records. The Commission of Correction partially granted the request in September 2022, replying with a ten-page document called “Processing of Reportable Incidents,” which came with redactions due to exemptions cited by the commission from the Freedom of Information Law. But the NYCLU claims that the commission did not provide “further elaboration” on why portions were redacted. The NYCLU is also suing to get the disciplinary records of dozens of law enforcement agencies, including the State Police, dating back two decades. Antony Gemmell, the NYCLU director of detention litigation, said that the commission “is required to investigate reports of staff violence against people behind bars in jails across New York.... Yet the agency’s pattern of secrecy leaves New Yorkers largely in the dark about what, if anything, results from those reports.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Patrick Tine reports in the Times Union that as much as a foot of snow could fall Monday night into Tuesday in the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Six to eight inches of snow is expected in the Capital Region, and accumulations may approach a foot across an area from Ulster to Columbia counties. Daytime temperatures on Feb. 13 are expected to be slightly above normal, so the roads might not be in as bad shape then if it were colder. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for HudsonValley360.com that the Darrow School’s parents and alumni have raised enough money to keep the New Lebanon school open through next year. The school with a four-to-one teacher-to-student ratio has just over 100 students. Over the last five years, the school spent about $2.5 million improving the schools infrastructure, including replacing roofs on buildings and fixing the water system. Andrew Vadnais, head of schools at the Darrow School, said, “The upkeep is significant, and that’s really what hurt us." On Nov. 17 the Darrow School Board of Trustees announced that the school would need between $5 million and $7 million to remain open for the next school year, and an about $25 million to continue operating over the next three years. So far they have received $4.1 million in donations and another $1 million is pledged for next year for the high school. Vadnais said, “Once people learned of the situation, they really rallied for the school.“ Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Kevin Frey reports for New York State of Politics that on Super Bowl weekend, Rep. Paul Tonko was again railing against sports betting. Tonko said, “We need to avoid a potential crisis here." Tonko, who represents Albany County and the rest of the 20th Congressional District, has a to outlaw gambling ads on TV, radio, and the internet, just like a 1970 law restricted ads for cigarettes. In the 2022-2023 budget year, New York collected about $727.4 million in taxes from mobile sports betting, and in 2022 the state also saw a 26 percent increase in problem gambling-related calls to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Tonko said, “Yes, those are dollars into the state.... But how many dollars are going to be required of these states to address yet another illness of addiction?” Chris Cylke, a senior vice president of the American Gaming Association, said that “any such effort [to outlaw ads] only serves to reduce awareness for legal options to the benefit of illegal, offshore operators and the detriment of consumers and communities.... Congress should instead focus its attention on combatting the predatory and pervasive offshore illegal market that offers no responsible gaming measures, age verification or problem gambling resources.” Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

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Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union that Amtrak is bring back on March 4 its early and late train service between the Albany-Rensselaer station and New York City’s Penn Station. A 5:10 a.m. train leaving Albany had not run since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 10:45 p.m. train from Penn to Albany-Rensselaer is also returning. Steve Strauss, executive director of the Empire State Passengers Association, said of the early train, “If one has a lower Manhattan early morning meeting or something like that, it is a bit easier to arrive on time. And people catch Amtrak trains to Philly or other places off these early trains, too." The 10:45 p.m. train is now the last out of Manhattan. Both trains stop in Hudson. Now Amtrak's Train 288, a Sunday afternoon-only route from Niagara Falls to Penn Station, is the only route closed by COVID-19 that has not reopened. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties is looking for a new home after flooding they say was due to climate change. Kathy Sevens, the sanctuary’s founder and executive director, said on Feb. 6 that, “We are heartsick over this.... We love this place. It’s a very special place.” The 22-year-old sanctuary official says that local storms are intensifying. Sevens said, “We need to move 200 animals to a place that is not a valley.... Everything comes downhill. … We have done everything possible (but) we need to leave before disaster strikes.” She says, though, that she won't sell the property to a developer or “anyone who exploits animals.” Sevens also said, “We are going to move heaven and earth to secure a new place and get it ready for the animals." Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

New York State of Politics reports that on Feb. 13 voters on Long Island in New York will decide who replaces the lying Republican George Santos in a special election that might help predict the elections in New York's other Congressional swing districts this fall. Running on Tuesday are former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who represented the district for three terms before quitting to run a losing campaign for governor, against Republican nominee Mazi Pilip, a county legislator. Santos was expelled from the District 3 House seat late last year after getting charged with multiple counts of fraud and stealing from donors, and being exposed for many lies. Larry Levy, dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University on Long Island, said, “It’s a bellwether for the rest of the country, in that candidates and political operatives are looking at the strategies and tactics and the messaging to see how it’ll play out in their swing suburbs.... February 13 is really about November 5, and swing suburban districts all over the country.” A Republican loss would cut into their slim majority lead in the House of Representatives. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics..

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Liz Montgomery reports for Porcupine Soup that Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. officials expect to have customers in Greene County back to monthly meter reading schedules by this summer. Central Hudson President and CEO Christopher Capone said, “The practice of issuing bills with bi-monthly estimates has become a pain point for many of our customers.... We have heard their concerns and believe monthly meter reads will provide confidence that a customer’s bill aligns with their actual usage on a monthly basis. We feel this is a critical step in restoring trust in Central Hudson." In 2021, Central Hudson began getting criticized for its estimated monthly meter readings, which were sometimes off by a lot. Currently, the New York State Public Service Commission is investigating problems with Central Hudson's billing system, and their request for a rate hike. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Cassie Abel reports in HudsonValley360.com that Greene County Legislature voted 13-0 Feb. 7, with Legislator Matt Luvera absent, to spend almost $1.04 million on a shoreline restoration project at Catskill Point. CD Perry & Sons Inc., of Troy, won the contract with the lowest bid. Luvera said, “I’m looking forward to the start of this project.... It’s long overdue to help sustain the future of the Historic Catskill Point. Greene County has made many investments to the property over the years as it’s the only official county park.” Officials hope the renovation of the existing shoreline structures, wooden deck, and docking facilities. and installation of a sheet-pile bulkhead, will be done before Memorial Day weekend. Greene County administrator Shaun Groden said. “Memorial Day weekend is when the barn starts to be rented out for weddings.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Kate Lisa reports for Spectrum News that the heads of SUNY, and CUNY schools are asking the state legislature for more funding in the new budget. SUNY Chancellor John King said, "We need to have, in this budget, a path forward that addresses the deficit," SUNY will currently amass a $1 billion deficit over the next decade across its 64 campuses unless the legislature makes a change. Last year's state budget included $163 million in operating aid for SUNY and Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget for this year is at only $54 million. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup about the two-year effort by the Greene County Animal Alliance to open an animal shelter in Greene County. GCAA President Mark Gorelick said, “It became apparent that existing shelters in neighboring counties just did not have the capacity to deal with the growing needs of our community.... Our plan is to mirror the best of all of the animal care groups that have helped us through the years." Last week the group held a pancake breakfast at the Old Factory Brewing Company in Cairo with 270 supporters showing up for the cause. Gorelick said, “The need has always existed.... But if you read the headlines, you see that many shelters have become overwhelmed just dealing with their own local problems and are no longer able to extend a helping hand to the communities that surround them.” The last Greene County shelter, the Athens Division of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, was located on State Route 385 and closed in 1998. Gorelick said, "This is the continuing story of Greene County.... There used to be a college here, too. It is now Columbia-Greene Community College―located in Columbia County. There used to be a hospital in Catskill―now located in Columbia County. The GCAA thinks it is time for Greene County to show the rest of New York State what we have to offer.” Read more about this news at Porcupine Soup.

The Troy Record reports that anyone can go fishing in New York without a license on Feb. 17 and 18 as part of the state's Free Fishing Days. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “The Free Fishing Days program provides a great opportunity for aspiring anglers to try freshwater fishing for the first time or former anglers to reconnect with one of America’s favorite pastimes.... New York is blessed with an abundance of freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, allowing for memorable fishing experiences that increase tourism and benefit the economy.” The other license-free fishing days will be June 29 and 30, Sept. 28, and Nov. 11. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.

Sara Rizzo reports for News10 that a new HGTV show called “Small Town Potential" will be filmed in the Hudson Valley and will premiere on March 3. In the eight-episode season, real estate agent and designer Davina Thomasula and her life partner and contractor Kristin Leitheuser, who live in Kingston, help renovate houses. Thomasula said, “So many people are moving here because each town has a lot to offer and so much potential. I’m a real estate agent and designer who finds these upstate newcomers just the house they’re looking for.” In the first episode they renovate an 1800s-era farmhouse in Marlboro. The couple are the only two queer-identifying female hosts on an HGTV series, and also own a bar in Poughkeepsie called Goodnight Kenny. Read more about this story at News10.

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