Today's daily news audio update.

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

Aina de Lapparent Alvarez reports in The Berkshire Eagle that the TriTown Connector public transit service has been running between Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and Egremont since May 1. Anne Fribourg, of Egremont, said, “It’s wonderful.... I use it a lot because I don’t have a car at the moment. I hope they expand to Lenox and Sheffield, which I frequently go to.” The service runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, charging residents $2 to travel within a town and $3.50 to travel between them, with anyone over 60 getting reduced fares. Tate Coleman, the program director at the TriTown Connector, said, “The goal of this service isn’t really to maximize efficiency (riders per hour) relative to other fixed-route alternatives, but to provide a greater quality of service to our residents, especially seniors and individuals with disabilities.” Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Maria M. Silva reports in the Times Union that it is difficult enough for most people to find an apartment locally, but it is much harder if one has a pet. About 30 percent of renters in Ulster County are paying almost half of their income in rent. In New Paltz, 70 percent of households are rentals, and the average rent increased by 11 percent from 2019 to 2020 during the pandemic. Gina Edinger-Carbonari, executive director of the Ulster County SPCA, said she has seen people making housing decisions based on pets. “Folks who are struggling and have pets, they’re having to make decisions sometimes of ‘Do I feed my pet, or do I feed myself? ’ ‘Am I going to live out of my car with my pet or am I going to go into a shelter? Because the shelter is not going to take my pet.... So it really puts them in a really difficult position because we’re telling them, ‘You have to give up your family member.’” And if one cannot find a home but has a pet they are out of luck too. Currently, no homeless shelters in the Hudson Valley accept people and pets together, said Christine Kim, founder of My Dog Is My Home, a national nonprofit that works to increase access to shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness and their pets. So finding any place for people and pets to live together is difficult and costly. “It’s pretty defeating,” said Emma, who asked that her last name not be used. “There just needs to be a lot more compassion and understanding and a lot less of this capitalist mindset of like, ‘Oh, there’s demand, let’s hike the prices up $500 more’ because nobody that lives around here works around here anymore.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Assemblymember Karines Reyes and state Sen. Michael Gianaris, both Democrats, are proposing allowing all New Yorkers to vote by mail. In 2021 voters rejected a constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse absentee balloting. Gianaris is persisting, saying, “Voting is a fundamental right and the easier we make it to vote, the healthier our democracy will be.... I am proud the State Senate continues to build on its important work of expanding access to the ballot box for all New Yorkers.” In the recent past, Republican and Conservative Party leaders in New York have objected to efforts to expand voting options. Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar questioned how many votes election officials could handle, saying, "That should be of a great concern to the electoral franchise so we do not believe the boards of elections have shown themselves to be able to handle this type of voting at mass volume." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Today's audio daily news update.

Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans said an apparent petroleum spill in the Hudson River May 28 that shut down a beach, boat launch and docks there may not have been oil. A press release from the Department if Environmental Conservation on May 29 said, “On May 28, DEC was notified of an apparent petroleum spill causing a sheen on the Hudson River in and around Coxsackie.... DEC Spill Response experts and Environmental Conservation Police Officers responded to the scene and worked to trace the source of the spill as part of the investigation. DEC spill responders and ECOs continued to investigate and assess the extent of the oil sheen on Monday and found it had largely dissipated. 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 boat launch at Coxsackie Riverside Park reopened Sunday evening.” But Evans said on May 29 that, “The first report that went out said that it was an oil spill, but it wasn’t oil.... It was some other substance." Even though there was something in the Hudson River, Evans just suggested those who wanted to get in the water could do so nearby. He said, “We lost a little business, but the people who couldn’t use the boat launch were mostly local and they knew they could go to Athens and Catskill.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union that the Capital Region could get a third offshore wind hub in East Greenbush to go along with others at the Port of Albany and Port of Coeymans. Vestas, a Danish wind power company, took an option in March to purchase a 112-acre Wind Port location, which is just south of the border with Rensselaer across from the Hudson River in East Greenbush. Officials from Vestas did not comment to the newspaper about their plans to build a new port at the site. But the option to purchase the East Greenbush land came from Vestas Blades American, so they may want the port for a blade-making facility. New York law mandates by 2030 getting 70 percent of its energy from renewable sources such as solar or wind, and a zero-emission power grid by 2040. So much renewable infrastructure needs to be built, and large windmills need to travel on barges to be put in place offshore. This summer, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is expected to announce the winners in their third solicitation to develop offshore wind, so more about the new site might be known then. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Democrat Pat Ryan is leaning toward voting for the bill to raise the nation’s debt limit hashed out by President Joe Biden and Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Usually, bills to raise the debt limit and avoid default pass without note in Congress. But this year, McCarthy held the debt limit hostage, demanding spending cuts for passage. Ryan, who represents the 18th Congressional District, is leaning toward supporting it. Ryan said, “I read the whole bill; it’s 99 pages, so I am reviewing it now. We’ve both got to divert default, but also make sure we support our national security, our veterans and we don’t hurt vulnerable people – kids and seniors in particular." Another local Congressional representative, Republican Elise Stefanik, will definitely vote for the bill. She said, “This is a historic Republican victory.... It will cut spending year over year.”

Today's daily news audio update.

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

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Columbia County Board of Supervisors wants to extend a tax hike, asking the state Legislature to keep giving an extra 1 percent to the county and keep the county sales tax rate at 4 percent. Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chair Matt Murell, a Republican from Stockport, explained that, “The county originally passed this in 1995, and every two years we have to renew it.... and that’s what we’re doing.... The tax percentage will stay the same. It’s not an increase. We currently get 4 percent. If we didn’t do this 1 percent increase we will be at 3 percent.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Vice President Kamala Harris addressed graduates of the West Point Class of 2023 on May 28, telling them that there is “no more noble work that a person can do than to serve our nation in uniform.” Harris also said that, “It is clear you graduate in an increasingly unsettled world where longstanding principals are at risk.... In Ukraine, Russia’s aggression is an attack on the lives and freedoms of the Ukrainian people and an attack on international rules and norms that have served as the foundation of international security and prosperity for generations.” Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

Jammel Cutler reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Misty McGee, the Hudson Development Corporation executive director, announced on May 23 that she is resigning, saying, “I’m stepping down because after two decades in corporate America and this brief and profound period in service with the HDC, it’s time to honor my entrepreneurial calling. It’s in my DNA.” McGee seemed to imply that she would be starting her own business, saying, “Both my grandmother and my mom had or have their own businesses; I grew up watching them take those risks by giving back to the community, so it’s my turn, it feels right, and I’m honoring that entrepreneur calling.” Hudson Development Corporation Board President Christine Jones said McGee only stayed in the job for a few months, but that, "She’s parting from us with no ill feelings. This is the perfect time for her to pursue her own personal business goal." Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in the Times Union about the exhibition at the Mission House Museum in Stockbridge through November on Mohican history and culture from the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. They Mohicans were driven away from this area centuries ago, and are now based in Wisconsin. “We’re hoping people have an opportunity to come. It’s a tribal-produced exhibit here in our homeland,” said Bonney Hartley, tribal historic preservation manager for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of the Mohican Indians, another way the tribe is called. The exhibition is called, “Our Lands, Our Home, Our Heart/Nda'keenã , Weekeyaak , Nda'anã.” During the show the museum will hosts talks from Maggie Bennett, on “Mohican Travels through Storymapping,” on Saturday, Sept. 23, Kim Hoffman, on “Healing Within the Community,” on Monday, Oct. 9, Lucy Grignon, on “Honoring Our Traditional Seed Relatives,” on Saturday, Oct. 21, Dr. Sandee Barton, on “What is Indigenous Education,” Saturday, Nov. 4 and Misty Cook, about “Tribal Medicines,” Monday, Nov. 18. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

WNYT reports that New York's Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand want a federal disaster declaration from the Department of Agriculture after a late frost last week hurt local vineyards, farms, and orchards. Apple and grape crops were hit hard by a late-season frost last week. One farming expert told the newspaper that 30-35 percent of the region’s apple crop was lost in the frost. Michael Migliore, president of the Hudson Valley Wine and Grape Association, said of local growers, “The last time they saw a frost this late that caused this much damage was 60 years ago.” Migliore's Ulster County vineyard lost between 50-60 percent of its grapes, while his Columbia County vineyard only lost about five percent of its grapes because its location on the east bank of the Hudson River was warmer. His Greene County vineyard was “100 percent wiped out.” If the U.S. Department of Agriculture declares a federal disaster, farmers would be eligible to receive funds for their losses. Migliore said, “Is it going to make up for what happened? No. Will it possibly give you a lifeline to keep you afloat and in business? Maybe.” Read the full story in WNYT.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that there are battle lines drawn in New York politics on the migrant relocation issue. While members of both parties have made statements against governors of southern states or the mayor of New York City busing migrants around the country, that's where the agreement ends. Democrats have largely backed Gov. Kathy Hochul's push to allow migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. the opportunity to work on a more expedited basis. Republicans, generally, don't want migrants housed in upstate New York. Democratic state Assemblyperson Pat Fahy is among the Democrats calling for President Joe Biden to change rules stopping new migrants from working right away. Fahy said, "Having someone wait 180 days, you’re almost inviting problems and I think that’s fueling some of the resistance.... I’ve been dismayed to see some of the comments. We’re New York. We have a history of being a welcoming state." Rep. Marc Molinaro is not as welcoming, introducing what he calls the Schools Not Shelters Act on May 26, a bill that would block Governor Kathy Hochul from using schools to shelter migrants. Hochul is discussing the possibility of housing migrants in SUNY college dorms in Upstate New York this summer. Molinaro said, "Upstate New York taxpayers pay thousands of dollars to support our public education system. SUNY college students pay thousands of dollars for room and board. Our schools are not shelters.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, many public buildings were used in different ways to respond to the health crisis. Republican Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt blamed Washington politicians who have not updated migration policy in decades. Ortt said, "I don’t think anyone can argue that it’s the failure of the border policy that has partly led – partly – to this crisis to begin with." Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Coxsackie Mayor Mark Evans posted on social media that there was an oil spill in the Hudson River on May 28, The boat launch at Riverside Park in Coxsackie was closed because of the spill, with Evans calling it a “major hazmat” situation. Evans said, “The spill extends well beyond Coxsackie and the source it not known at this time.” Evans said that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Response team is in charge of the incident. Evans said, “Currently they have ordered the boat launch, beach, and docks closed until further notice." Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that correction officers and other employees of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision make up only 15 percent of the state workforce. But a report released this week by New York Inspector General Lucy Lang found that they make up 44 percent of the workers’ compensation fraud cases since 2010 in the state. The report concluded that workers' compensation benefits for correction officers created incentives for fraud. Currently corrections officers get up to six months of medical leave at 100 percent pay for on-the-job injuries. According to the report, the benefit “provides a monetary incentive to DOCCS correction officers across the State to abuse the workers’ compensation system.” The report found that one day last December, eight correctional facilities had at least 10 percent of their entire security staff out on workers' compensation leave. NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association spokesperson James Miller said the union "hasn't had the opportunity to fully review the report, so we're reserving comment at this time." Read more about this story in the Times Union.

New York State of Politics reports that 13,000 petition signatures were delivered to the New York Capitol this week urging passage of a packaging reduction bill. The “Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act" is sponsored by the chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committees in both houses — state Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Sen. Pete Harckham. The bills (A5322/S4246) would require companies to reduce packaging by 50 percent over the next 12 years. Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and current President of Beyond Plastics Judith Enck is backing the measure, saying it is incremental change that companies can handle, with a 10 percent reduction in packaging in year three, a 20 percent reduction in year five, and the 50 percent reduction after 12 years. Enck said, “If there are problems, you can course correct.” And the law only applies to companies with more than $1 million in sales. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.