Mid-Hudson News reports that Ulster County-based Assemblyperson Sarahana Shrestha has introduced legislation aimed at Central Hudson to strengthen accountability measures against alleged wrongdoings by utilities. The Democrat Socialist from Esopus wants consumer utility protections during investigations that would prohibit gas, electric, telecommunications and water companies from charging late fees or terminating service when the utility is being investigated by the State Public Service Commission. Shrestha said, “It should not be up to them to decide when to suspend late fees when they are being investigated. We want to make sure that this is guaranteed, and we also want to make sure that this is clearly communicated to the customers.” Shrestha says with the legislature soon winding down that the bills won't be taken up until January. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

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Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that on June 1 a fuel spill was discovered in the Catskill Creek in Catskill. The Catskill Fire Company reported an approximate 500-foot sheen of fuel on the water near 119 Main Street along the creek in Catskill. A Department of Environmental Conservation spokesperson did not get back to the newspaper in time for their story. The day before the DEC did have a statement about a different mystery oil in the Hudson River May 28, saying it was, “an apparent petroleum spill causing a sheen on the Hudson River in/around Coxsackie.” Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that New York high school seniors will now receive automatic acceptance to community colleges, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on June 1. State University of New York Chancellor John King first outlined the plan during his state of the university address this week. Hochul said, "My administration remains committed to removing barriers and easing the pathway to higher education for all high school seniors - lifting up students to build a brighter future for themselves and New York." King said, "There is a place for every New Yorker at SUNY, and we are excited to make college an easy decision because our high school seniors and their parents understand their options." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Noah Zweifel reports in the Altamont Enterprise that Cornell University researchers found that many upstate New York residents don't believe upstate New York is getting a fair shake with the proliferation of solar facilities and is another example of upstaters shouldering the burden of downstaters’ needs. The study says, “Solar energy is usually described as a promising and clean technology and is often touted as a key response to the climate crisis.... But the growing trend of developing [utility-scale solar] sites in rural places highlights how solar can recreate energy production and consumption patterns between rural and urban society — patterns which historically have contributed to spatial inequalities.” The study also found the correlation between political affiliation and opposition to solar farms was insignificant. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.

Wave Farm's public Art Park begins opening Saturdays on June 3 for drop-in visits anytime between noon and 6 p.m. The Art Park is on Wave Farm's 29-acre campus in Acra, featuring 13 installations, the Study Center including a Research Library, the WGXC 90.7-FM Acra broadcast studio, and accommodations for Wave Farm's international artist Residency Program. Visitors to Wave Farm's Art Park receive a guided tour of the campus. Admission is free, and tours typically last between 60 and 90 minutes. The Art Park is available to see on other days through October through reservations at wavefarm.org.

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It does not happen often, but all four Hudson Valley Congressional representatives voted the same way on May 31, all voting for a bill to increase the United States' debt limit. Republicans Marc Molinaro and Elise Stefanik, and Democrats Pat Ryan and Paul Tonko, all voted for the bill. In past years, increasing the country's debt limit was routine, approved by both parties no matter who was in the majority. This year, though, Republicans have held the bill hostage, demanding spending cuts. President Joe Biden negotiated a settlement with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for this bill, which now heads to the Senate for approval.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the Department of Environmental Conservation said on May 31 that it still did not know what the source of an oil spill in the Hudson River that closed the Riverside Park boat launch on May 28. In a statement, the DEC described the situation as “an apparent petroleum spill causing a sheen on the Hudson River in/around Coxsackie.” The DEC also said of the oil, that “it had largely dissipated,” and “A source has not yet been identified.... DEC Spill Response and ECOs will continue to periodically monitor the river in the coming days. U.S. Coast Guard personnel are also continuing to monitor the situation in coordination with DEC.” The Coxsackie Riverside Park boat launch was reopened on May 29. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

Nancy Kern reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Lexington town board passed a resolution at its May 2 meeting to establish an ambulance district there, also serving the towns of Prattsville and Ashland. Lexington Supervisor JoEllen Schermerhorn said the ambulance district would be a separate line item on residents’ tax bills, just like the fire district. Schermerhorn also said the first tax bill would be 86 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value, so a $200,000 home would be charged $139. Councilperson Michael Barcone said, “For us it was about consolidation and bringing in multiple communities on the smaller side.... It was also about autonomy and the ability to have a say in the way in which our residents are served and taken care of.” Lexington, in Greene County, is far away from any hospitals 38.6 miles away Columbia Memorial Health in Hudson, and 44.3 miles from Cobleskill Regional in Cobleskill. 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.

Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union that Chatham schools are among a half-dozen school districts that have purchased 17 electric school buses with the help of a federal Environmental Protection Agency rebate program, part of the Infrastructure Law passed earlier this year in Congress. EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia on May 31 said, “Protecting our kids and tackling the climate crisis is a win-win. Transitioning away from dirty diesel and toward clean electric buses is a smart investment in our children’s future.” The Chatham Central School District is getting five buses. The EPA in April announced another round of the Clean School Bus grant program, so more electric buses could be on the way. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the city of Hudson wants a few volunteers for its new Public Works Board. The new commission would recommend an annual budget and schedule sidewalk construction or repairs in the Sidewalk Improvement District. The Common Council votes on those recommendations. The new board will also provide public oversight of the new Sidewalk Improvement District. Mayoral Aide Michael Hofmann said, “It’s important to have a new board like this to basically be responsible for public oversight for the work that happens in the city. We want to get the work done as quickly and efficiently as possible.” Two community members, one appointed by the Common Council and the other by Mayor Kamal Johnson, will be on the board, along with the Public Works Commissioner, the Americans with Disabilities Coordinator, and one member of the Common Council. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Nancy Kern reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Catskill Sprayground Committee will turn Elliott Park into a water park if the committee can raise enough money. The Catskill Sprayground Committee says it is one-third of the way to raising the funds necessary to build a new splashpad for water play at Elliott Park. Cultivate Catskill and the Fortnightly Club of Catskill members Brenda Vandermark, Teri Weiss, Lisa Leone-Beers, Michelle Pulver, and Robin Smith are raising the money. Cultivate Catskill member Pulver said, “We’d like to build this sprayground so it gives Catskill residents the opportunity to cool off and have some fun in the water.” The story and the social media page for the Catskill Sprayground Committee does not say exactly how much more the group has to raise. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

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Paul Kirby reports in the Daily Freeman that Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro said on May 30 that he will vote for a debt ceiling bill negotiated by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Molinaro said in a statement, “These negotiations resulted in a bipartisan agreement on the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I support the agreement..... The agreement raises the debt ceiling until January 2025 and makes historic cuts to the federal spending that is driving inflation.... It also makes bipartisan reforms to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), strengthens Social Security, protects Medicare and veterans benefits, and grows the economy.”’ The "reforms" Molinaro mentioned are adding more work requirements to receive food stamps and other emergency benefits. Molinaro lives in the 18th Congressional District, but represents the 19th Congressional District. Pat Ryan, a Democrat who represents the 18th Congressional District, says he is leaning toward supporting the bill, saying, “We both have to avoid catastrophic default and make sure we support our national security, our veterans, and our most vulnerable – kids and seniors in particular.... I’m encouraged by the bill, but still need to see the final text after the amendment process is complete.” Democrat Paul Tonko, who represents Albany County and the 20th Congressional District, has not yet said how he will vote on the bill. Republican Elise Stefanik, a Republican representing Rensselaer County and the 21st Congressional District, crowed about the bill on C-Span, saying, CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OR PLAY STEFANIK EXCERPT HERE. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Bobby Welber reports in the Hudson Valley Post that smoke from far-off Canadian wildfires is settling in the Hudson Valley. The National Weather Service warned on May 30 that, "A plume of Canadian wildfire smoke is forecast to drift over the area and could lead to decreased air quality." The National Weather Service warned that "widespread haze" is forecast for the Hudson Valley, as "Smoke from Nova Scotia wildfires is (moving) westward.... This smoke is being smelled at ground level. Be alert if you are planning to be outside later today/tonight. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your lungs and worsen respiratory illnesses." Officials warn anyone with respiratory ailments to limit outdoor activities this week. Read more about this story in the Hudson Valley Post.

Melanie Lekocevic reports for Capital Region Independent Media that the Town of Coeymans has proposed an amendment to the zoning code that would mean that properties that fall within several zoning districts would be required to adhere to the most restrictive zone. Officials from LafargeHolcim cement plant, one of the the town's largest landowners. spoke against the amendment at a public hearing on May 11. Attorney Javid Afzali, from the law firm Harris Beach, PLLC, said, on behalf of LafargeHolcim, “As you know, Lafarge is probably one of the largest property owners in the town, holding something over 3,300 acres comprised largely of one parcel that is 3,200 acres and that falls within several different zones, primarily and mostly in the industrial district, but there is a portion of the property, a small sliver, in an R1, a residential district.” Afzali objected to the cement plant having to follow residential rules. Town Supervisor George McHugh said, “Right now, if I have a 200-acre piece and 20 of those acres are industrial and 180 is residential, I can right now, with the code the way we have it, I can treat that entire 200 acres as industrial. That’s the problem.” McHugh suggested Local Law No. 4 will have some changes posted on the town's website before the the public hearing resumes at the town board’s June 22 meeting at 6 p.m. at town hall. Read more about this story at TheUpstater.com.