Former Rep. Chris Gibson writes an op-ed in The Poughkeepsie Journal that begins, "Things are definitely not OK." Gibson wrote, "in the aftermath of Charlottesville we needed President Trump to provide moral clarity. He needed to speak to the nation in clear terms that while Americans have freedom of thought and expression, we as a people categorically condemn neo-Nazi and Klansmen values and completely reject their racist schemes. President Trump’s appearance of defending the gathering of racist organizations, who only days earlier openly chanted anti-Semitic and Nazi verses as they marched with torches throughout Charlottesville, has emboldened them." Gibson closes, "without leadership, this will not get better. In fact, it’s likely to get worse, and possibly much so." Current Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) did not criticize President Trump at an event in Dutchess County Aug. 16, but did criticize the president in an email answer to a question from a reporter from The Daily Freeman. Gibson's full op-ed is in The Poughkeepsie Journal.

Richard Moody reports for Columbia-Greene Media that two local supervisors, from Gallatin and Hillsdale, believe the rural broadband bill Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is championing would not help Columbia County if passed. “The Committee welcomes all efforts by our elected representatives to add grant options for the broadband providers in our area,” Gallatin Town Supervisor John Reilly, chairman of the County Broadband Subcommittee, said. “Senator Gillibrand’s proposed legislation is still in the initial stages. On initial review, the legislation has substantially higher equity requirements by the local providers and the application guidelines may exclude a good part of Columbia County.” But F. Michael Tucker, president and CEO of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, said Gillibrand's bill would add to what New York State is already doing. “The states can’t do this alone. At this point it becomes very expensive,” Tucker said. “After the phase-three awards are distributed we can identify small remaining pockets of underserved areas.” Currently, Fairpoint Communications is getting $36.7 million in phase two of the New NY Broadband Program to expand access in Columbia County. John Lange, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) said that Faso will consider the bill, but has not taken a position on it yet. Reilly said Columbia County is discussing the bill with Gillibrand. “We will set up a teleconference with the senator’s office and the broadband committee in early fall when we better understand the results of phase three of the state’s program,” Reilly said. “Another tool to address the problem is always a good thing, especially if we can help make it a more workable tool in this county.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.

Audrey Matott in The Greenville Pioneer reports that Greenville Code Enforcement Officer Mark Overbaugh wants better cell phone service in the area. "Seeing as it is my department's job to look after the health and welfare of the community, I would like to put a request in to the board and the town attorney to somehow find better cell service here for the town because it is a safety issue. It is more important than anything we have talked about tonight," he said at the July 17 town meeting. Some municipalities install their own municipal cell service, but Overbaugh suggested talking to current providers. That sparked a discussion about how there would inevitably be opposition from neighbors and others. Supervisor Paul Macko said, "We can put a letter together to Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and other carriers and put some feelers out an see if there is some interest in coming to this area."

Here are some stories from the Hudson River this week. Click here to hear an audio version of this report.

• The Stevens Institute reports temperatures this week in the Hudson River at Schodack Island have been between 75 and 78 degrees.

• Peter T. Kramer reports in The Poughkeepsie Journal that traffic will begin to flow northbound on the new Tappan Zee Bridge in Rockland County on Aug. 25. The Hudson River crossing will be called the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, thanks to legislation championed by his son, the current governor, this past spring.

• On Aug. 12 the City of Hudson Wastewater Treatment Facility released 100,000 gallons of combined sewer overflow into the Hudson River.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Fri., Aug. 18 (7:41). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Anthony Fiducia is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the State Department of Agriculture Wed., Aug. 16, concluded the Cairo hog farm owned by Jason Watts does not pose a hazard to health or the environment. The department described the operation as “sound.” Watts presented the Cairo Town Board with a Sound Agricultural Practice letter that same day. The 12-page letter addresses concerns about odor and water quality and contains reviews based on numerous visits to the farm by state and town officials. “It should put the town to rest but it’s not going to,” Watts said Thursday. “They’ll probably still want a second opinion. They’re just prolonging it.” Town officials will now hold a special board meeting to discuss the hog farm and the litigation initiated by board member Doug Ostrander and others. The special meeting of the Cairo Town Board will be held 8 p.m., Mon., Aug. 28 at Cairo Town Hall, 512 Main Street, Cairo. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media town of Durham officials have identified "dozens of areas" where services could be combined and result in savings. Durham Town Supervisor William Carr Jr. and the board Tue., Aug. 15, identified 40 to 45 areas where services could be shared. Among the ideas proposed: IT work could be consolidated with the Cairo-Durham Central School District, and the Durham and Cairo town boards have agreed to jointly purchase a stone chipper. Town officials have also considered purchasing health insurance as a group with other towns countywide to save money. Under the state's shared services initiative, local and county governments statewide have been tasked to look at ways to consolidate services as a cost-savings measure. The Greene County Legislature must make a decision on a consolidation plan by Sept. 15. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee has passed a resolution to create a pilot bus route from Philmont to Columbia-Greene Community College. The route would include stops in several municipalities along the way. The bus will be run by Michael Johnston School Bus Company and cost passengers $1 each way. The service will provide four routes three times a week. The route to the college will leave the bus garage and stop at the Cumberland Farms in Philmont, the Claverack Post Office, the Mobil station at Route 9H and Route 66, the Stottville Post Office, the Route 9 Mobil and Subway, Joslen Motor Lodge, Aldi’s in Greenport, the Social Services building in Hudson, the Hudson Library, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce on Front Street, the gazebo at the Columbia County Courthouse, then out of the city to the college. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Trish Kilgannon reports in Spectrum News that there are confederate flags for sale this week at the Delaware County Fair. On Aug. 15, Leslie Kauffman took pictures of a booth selling confederate flag merchandise, and the fair director then called the sheriff's deputy. Kauffman and her family were removed and banned for life from the fair. The fair director refused to comment. The fair runs through Aug. 19. Read the full story in Spectrum News.

Leigh Hornbeck reports in the Albany Times Union that an African-American feminist author has quit regular appearances on National Public Radio-affliate WAMC over what she says is a lack of diversity. Barbara Smith had appeared on "The Roundtable" show, "but I could not continue to do so in opposition to my values," she said in a statement. “I have never willingly supported tokenism or racial segregation. As a matter of principle, I decided to leave." Albany Law School professor Donna E. Young, a black woman, was on the show Aug. 14 after she left, and host Joe Donahue said he wants to add more conservative voices to the program. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.

Ariél Zangla reports in The Daily Freeman that speaking to the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Aug. 16 Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) denounced racism, but did not mention President Donald Trump's claim that both sides were responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, Va., last weekend. But later, in an email, Faso wrote, “I unequivocally disagree with the president’s statements yesterday. Neo-Nazis and other hate groups have to be called out for what they are without attempting to draw some type of moral equivalence with others.” The president said that many of the people who showed up to protest Nazis and white supremacists were also to blame for the violence. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY : A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 7 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy. High near 76. Friday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog after 11 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. Low around 65.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
SATURDAY: A slight chance of showers before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and noon. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny. High near 83. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 62.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 81. Sunday night, mostly clear. Low around 61.

Sunrise today: 6:07 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:50 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 13:43 hrs.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Thursday, August 17 (2:09). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)