DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Wed., Jul. 19 (9:15). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media work on the Jefferson Heights sewer project is expected to be finished this month. Once construction has ended, an indefinite period of testing will begin. Delaware Engineering Designer Travis Smigel said recently the ongoing sewer mains testing will be conducted by the contractor. “This will go through rigorous testing before we go live with folks actually connecting their laterals,” Catskill Town Supervisor Doreen Davis said. “We want to make sure we get it wrapped up as quickly as we can.” Residents in the new district will begin the connection process once the contractor gives the go-ahead. The project necessitated the installation of 9 miles of pipe and the replacement of sewers on side streets in Jefferson Heights and Leeds, as well as the full length of Main Street in Leeds and Route 23B in Jefferson Heights. The restoration of private property around the construction area is currently underway, but it could be delayed because of recent rainy weather. The total cost of the project is just over $12.5 million. The estimated cost for individual property owners is between $800 and $900 per year. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting in The Columbia Paper the town of Kinderhook is once again looking for a web designer to upgrade its website. The Kinderhook Town Board okayed the issuance of a new request for proposals last week. The board agreed in April to award the contract to Wisconsin-baesd Town Web Designs, but negotiations fell through over payments. Former board member Peter Bujanow said the company wanted the town to pay upfront costs, which Bujanow said was a not permissible under state rules. The plan is to have a new vendor hired by September. A community member asked during the public comment period if the board planned to post the RFP on the town's existing website. Bujanow said contact information would be provided on the site so that people could pick up a copy of the RFP in person, but he said the document was “voluminous” and there would be addenda. He said the town would also like to know who is looking at the RFP. The only way to keep track of that would be to have the public contact the office. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting in the Times Union the state Education Department Mon., Jul. 17, released a revised schools accountability proposal. The plan lays out the state's intention to use out-of-school suspensions as a measure of school quality and student success beginning in the 2018-19 school year; to decrease math and English language arts testing requirements from three days to two for students in grades 3 through 8; and to revise benchmarks for schools educating English language learners. The proposal was also revised to more explicitly spell out concerns about the implementation of the new state law that raises the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, and the resulting impact on educational services as minors transition from incarceration. The plan is scheduled to be adopted in September. Read the full story in the Times Union.

James Nani reports in the Times Herald-Record that two Democrats running for the Congressional seat currently held by John Faso (R-Kinderhook) raised more money than the incumbent in the last quarter filing period. Greene County Democrat Antonio Delgado of Dutchess County raised $350,950.21 from April 1 to June 30, and now has $590,319.30 in his campaign account. Brian Flynn, 47, of Hunter, raised $573,680.77, during the second quarter, but most of that came from $500,000 Flynn loaned his own campaign. Faso raised $337,096.16 more than the $276,105.58 he raised in the first quarter. Faso spent $110,908.75 during the second quarter, with a $495,875.08 campaign balance, according to Federal Election Commission records. Patrick Ryan raised $213,291.60 and has $205,416.93 on hand. Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County raised $134,962.78 with $125,258.76 in his campaign coffers. Sue Sullivan of Ulster County raised $54,519.77 in the quarter and has $39,882.24 in her account. Steven Brisee of Ulster County raised $6,494.25 with $1,093.01 in his account. Jeffrey Beals of Ulster County has no report filed on FEC website. Dave Clegg of Ulster County filed to run for office after the federal deadline.

Chris McKenna reports at The Fray about state representatives campaign fundraising in the April-June filing period. State Sen. James Seward (R-Milford) raised $162,983 during the spring, and spent $65,800, keeping on hand $376,330. State Sen. George Amedore (R-Rotterdam) raised $92,881 and spent $37,520 with $92,298 on hand. Assemblyperson Peter Lopez (R-Schoharie) raised $10,540 from April to June, and spent $12,940 with $9,065 in his campaign account. And Assemblymember Didi Barrett from the 106th District, raised $10,365.36, spent $16,114.41 with $26,644.68 in her account. Read the full story at The Fray.

Rick Karlin reports in Capitol Confidential that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, leading a coalition of sixteen Attorneys General, filed a new amicus brief July 17 in the Hawaii travel ban case, opposing the Trump administration’s application to stay last week’s district court order that the ban should not prevent grandparents and other close relatives of United States residents from entering the country. “Grandparents are family – and the courts agreed,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “Attorneys General will continue to do what it takes to protect those we serve – and ensure that families are not torn apart by President Trump’s unconstitutional, unlawful, and un-American ban.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Claire Hughes reports in the Albany Times Union two Saratoga County residents have been hospitalized for rare tick-borne Powassan virus, and one has died. A third person may be infected, according to the state Health Department. Before this year, only 24 cases of the virus had been reported in New York since 2000, with five deaths. Ticks are being collected and tested for Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and the Powassan virus with results expected by mid-August. Powassan virus can infect a person within 15 minutes of a tick bite, and 15 percent of those infected die. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY : Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 89. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 65.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 88. Thursday night, isolated showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 65.
FRIDAY: Isolated showers before 2 p.m. Mostly sunny. High near 87. Friday night, a chance of showers after 8 p.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 66.

Sunrise today: 5:36 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:26 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 14:49 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the third Wednesday of the month.

WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

CATSKILL Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. at high school, 341 Main Street, Catskill (943-4696).
CATSKILL Town Board Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature County Resources Committee workshop meeting with high school guidance counselors at 5 p.m.; public hearing on Local Law No. 1 of 2017 (to levy 911 wireless surcharge), 6:15 p.m.; public hearing on Community Development Block Grant process, 6:20 p.m.; public hearing on Community Development Block Grant program, 6:25 p.m.; Planning Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.; full Legislature meeting, 6:30 p.m. All at the County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Zoning Board of Appeals public hearings on application for an area variance at 39 South Fifth Street, Hudson; and an application for an area variance for off-street parking for spaces in municipal parking lots for 51 North Fifth Street, Hudson, 6 p.m. Regular meeting is tentative. (828-1030).
STUYVESANT Zoning Revision Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).

POLITICAL EVENTS
Weekly events:
Citizen Action HV Action Night, 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday at 7 Grand Street, Kingston. Information at hudsonvalley@citizenactionny.org, or facebook.com/HVCitizenActionNY.
New Waltz Climate Action Coalition, 5 p.m., every Thursday at New Paltz Village Hall, 23 Plattekill Ave., New Paltz. Information at (845) 419-3786 or newpaltzclimateaction@gmail.com.
Faso Friday, 12 p.m., every Friday at U.S. Rep. John Faso's District Office, 2 Hudson Street, Kinderhook. Information at erinpersists@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Tuesday, July 18 (4:40). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)