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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Lana Bellamy reports in the Times Union that the state Office of Renewable Energy Siting rejected the Shepherd’s Run solar project application on Feb. 6, about a month after a group of farmers bought a portion of land slated for the solar panels. The Hecate company wanted to put a solar array on about 220 acres of an 880-acre footprint along and around routes 23 and 7 in Craryville that would have provided 60 megawatts of power to a nearby New York State Electric & Gas substation. That would have been enough to power 15,000 homes annually without fossil fuel emissions. Copake Supervisor Richard Wolf said, “This is a welcome decision, but it’s certainly not the end of the story,” The decision dismissed the Hecate application without prejudice, so the company can still submit a new proposal for the site. Wolf said, “As I’ve been saying all along, we are not in any way opposed to renewable energy, we just think that the way this was sited — the location of the site and the fact that it was too big for our little town — so the question becomes how can we make this like a win-win?” Town officials, and many members of the community, opposed the project, worried about home values dropping nearby, and using environmental arguments against the renewable energy project. Linda Senk, a member of an opposition group called Sensible Solar for Rural New York, said, “From the outset, the proposed project went against local ordinances and the wishes of the community.... The pivotal loss of a 60-acre parcel from the project was Hecate’s responsibility alone. We agree with ORES Executive Director Houtan Moaveni that Hecate Energy LLC failed to act transparently at a critical point in the process.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports for HudsonValley360 that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Feb. 7 that New Lebanon will get part of $650 million in state funding to build more housing as one of 20 state Pro-Housing Communities. Municipalities receiving the pro-housing designation will get priority consideration for up to $650 million in state discretionary funding. Hochul said in a statement. “The only way to solve the housing crisis is to build hundreds of thousands of new homes, and through the Pro-Housing Communities program, my administration is continuing to put its full-fledged support, including up to $650 million, behind communities that are serious about housing growth.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.

Ashley Clemens reports for WNYT that a train derailed in the Village of Valley Falls in Rensselaer County on Feb. 7. Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson said there was no immediate danger to the public and no one, including two train engineers onboard, were injured. Ten of the Norfolk Southern Railway cargo trains 94 cars derailed, and one, carrying plastic pellets, fell into the Hoosic River. One car carried an equivalent to a vegetable oil had a slight leak, but the leak was not in the river. Hoosic Valley Fire Chief Mark Sheline said, “We just want to stress that there’s no danger, there’s no harm to the public. This area is a bit congested for the time being and moving forward for the next couple weeks.” Read more about this story at WNYT.

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On Feb. 6, the Hudson Valley representatives in Congress split their votes to impeach Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security. The vote failed 214-to-216, with local Republicans Marc Molinaro and Elise Stefanik voting to impeach, and Democrats Paul Tonko and Pat Ryan voting against. Three Republicans, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher, and California Rep. Tom McClintock, joined the Democrats to block the resolution. The high crimes and misdemeanors Mayorkas is accused of are unclear, though Republicans are clearly unhappy with the current immigration situation. They had a deal for immigration legislation, but scuttled it earlier this week because former President Donald Trump wants to campaign on the immigration issue.

Michael Ryan reports for the Mountain Eagle that Bear Pen Sports Mountain will host a the USA Luge Challenge in Prattsville this weekend. Luge is a sled-like Olympic event in which America has never won a gold medal. Host Patrick delRosario said, “This is your chance to try luge at Bear Pen for free. This program was started to introduce to many people what may be an unusual sport. Not many kids we know say they want to do luge, but the word luge means 'sled' in French and how many kids go sledding?” Training begins at 10 a.m. on Feb. 10 for anyone at least nine-years-old. Luge races begin at 2 p.m. between boys, girls, men, and women, riding plastic replicas of steel sleds. Bear Pen Sports Mountain is at 1491 County Route 2, outside of Prattsville. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon reports at HudsonValley360.com that the Main St Goodness cafe in Chatham is closing on Feb. 11 after seven years. Owner Christopher Knable said he made a sudden decision to close the cafe. He said, “It was one of those crazy things that happen in life.... Someone called me and offered me a job I couldn’t refuse.... It seemed like a good point to turn the page and start a new adventure.” Knable is moving to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to be a property manager. He said, “I really enjoyed being part of the community [in Chatham].... I’ve lived all over the world, and this is my favorite place in the world.” Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

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Joshua Solomon reports for the Times Union that on Feb. 5 a state Supreme Court justice in Albany dismissed a Republican petition to block New York’s law allowing registered voters to cast their ballots by mail before the final day of voting in person. Rep. Elise Stefanik and other Republicans filed the petition in September against Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Board of Elections for making it easier to vote by mail. Stefanik said, “We look forward to appealing on behalf of hardworking New Yorkers who deserve legal and valid elections." Voting by mail became easier and more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Democrats in Albany have tried to keep it easy and widespread since then. Hochul said on Jan. 5, “Despite the best efforts of its opponents, democracy has once again prevailed in New York" and that voting by mail is a “critical initiative that will improve citizen participation and expand access to the ballot box for all eligible voters.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Cairo's Bavarian Manor is back on the market, less than a year after the historic Victorian inn and restaurant on Mountain Ave. was sold by its longtime owners. Win Morrison Realty is listing the property at $5.5 million for current owner Garrett Doyle, who also owns Five Furlongs Tavern on State Route 145 in Durham. Doyle did not return a request for comment about the sale. The property includes an 80-seat restaurant, that formerly served German food. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

WNYT reports that Massachusetts State Rep. William Pignatelli, from Berkshire County, is not seeking re-election. Pignatelli, from Lenox, represents the Third District in Berkshire County. He posted on social media that, “it’s been an honor to serve with some amazing people making our commonwealth special" and the 64-year-old said he was starting a new chapter of his life. Read more about this story at WNYT.

Today's audio daily news update.

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