The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan group that analyzes elections, on July 7 moved the 19th Congressional District from a "Lean Republican" to a "Toss Up." The report says of incumbent John Faso (R-Kinderhook): "Despite his long tenure in Upstate politics, Faso was one of just 15 Republicans to win by single digits in 2016 - and he did so against a very liberal, carpetbagging Democrat. Now he's facing a deluge of opponents. Democrats are perhaps most high on West Point graduate and Iraq veteran Pat Ryan, but the dynamic could change if 2016 nominee Zephyr Teachout or Ulster County Executive Mike Hein get in."

The Daily Freeman reports that Assemblyperson Didi Barrett (D-Hudson) announced some state funding for Hudson and Claverack libraries in her Assembly district, the 106th. She announced $88,793 for the Claverack Free Library to expand the new library being developed in a repurposed fire station. And $5,2,59 is going to the Hudson Area Association Library to renovate its History Room and administrative offices. The entire Mid-Hudson Library System also was awarded $20,000 for summer reading programs at 16 public libraries in the 106th Assembly District. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Fri., Jul. 7 (7:59). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a resolution that would have authorized the issuance of $4.5 million in serial bonds to fund capital improvements at Columbia-Greene Community College was tabled by a committee of the Greene County Legislature, Wed., Jul. 5. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said the proposal will be discussed again by the County Resources Committee at its August meeting. “I didn’t anticipate it being approved,” Groden said. “You can’t say it was defeated last night at all.” The college is looking to replace the roof on the main academic building and to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Half of the project funding will come from the state; the remaining 50 percent would be split by Greene and Columbia counties, Groden said. The total cost of the project is $18 million. A unanimous vote by each county is required for the project to go forward. College president Jim Campion agreed with the lawmakers' decision to table the resolution for now, and is encouraging them to ask more questions. Campion said he will attend the committee's August meeting. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Diane Valden is reporting in The Columbia Paper a bill approved by the state legislature would provide cancer coverage to volunteer firefighters statewide, including the members of volunteer fire companies and departments in Columbia and Greene counties. “This bill should have been passed by the Legislature a long time ago,” Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Association President Mike Cesternino said. Cesternino said a similar law is already in effect for paid firefighters, but a bill for volunteers previously failed to make it through the legislative process several times. The measure would require a lump sum payment of $25,000 for any volunteer firefighter diagnosed with specific cancers; 36 months of disability benefits; and, a $50,000 death benefit. The bill now awaits Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's signature. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Bloomberg News is reporting Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been sued by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York and 16 other states and the District of Columbia over the decision to delay implementation of regulations designed to protect student borrowers. In a complaint filed Thu., Jul. 6, in federal court, the coalition alleges the Education Department improperly delayed portions of the Borrower Defense Rule. The measure was adopted in November and was set to take effect July 1. The complaint asks the court to declare the delay unlawful and to order the rule be implemented promptly. The Borrower Defense Rule was created in the wake of revelations that some for-profit colleges enticed students to enroll in colleges with promises of employment in a given field. In reality, many of the certifications from those schools were not recognized by the prospective employers, leaving graduates unemployed and saddled with student loan debt. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced July 6 $27.8 million for state road repair projects across the Capital Region this summer and fall. In Columbia and Greene counties, the following paving and repair work will take place on the following roads:
• 4 miles on Route 22 from Spencer Road to the I-90 interchange in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia County ($300,000)
• 22 miles on Route 295 from the Chatham village line to the Massachusetts state line in the towns of Chatham and Canaan, Columbia County ($1.5 million)
• 1 mile on Route 23A from west of Route 32A through Palenville in the towns of Catskill and Hunter, Greene County ($340,000)
• 15 miles on Route 23 between the Bowery Creek in South Durham and High Peak Road in East Windham in the towns of Cairo and Durham, Greene County ($1.9 million). This paving work on Route 23 begins next week.

William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that Saugerties town leaders showed little interest in luring tourists in electric cars to their town with charging stations. “Why should the community subsidize electric cars when they don’t give you gas when you come to town?” Village Board member Terry Parisian said July 3. “I’m coming to town, give me five dollars worth of gas.” Village Special Projects Coordinator Alex Wade said, “I did ... research and discovered that [New York state] residents bought just 20,000 EV’s over the past seven years.... Over 90 percent [were] Tesla and in NYC. The surrounding states have a combined total of about 26,000.” Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Greg Klein reports in The Daily Star that on July 5 the Otsego County Board of Representatives shelved a resolution backing Rep. John Faso's amendment in the American Health Care Act that shifts Medicaid costs from counties to the state. A standing-room-only crowd spoke for an hour against the non-binding resolution, eventually causing the bill sponsor, administrative committee chair Craig Gelbsman, a Republican, to pull the resolution. In the current version of the Republican tax cut plan that cuts health care coverage in Washington D.C., Faso, from Kinderhook, and other New York Republicans have successfully attached an amendment that would essentially raise taxes on renters, as homeowners get a tax break, and everyone else gets a tax hike when the state has to cover the cost of the shift in Medicaid costs. Edwin J. Frazier Jr., another Republican on the board, objected to pulling the resolution. Read the full story in The Daily Star.

Rick Karlin reports in The Albany Times Union that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and 28 other attorneys general sent a letter July 3 to the Federal Communications Commission asking for them to end robocalls. "Not only are unwanted robocalls a nuisance, they are a vehicle for fraudsters to carry-out scams," Schneiderman said July 5 in a statement. "It's a no-brainer that the federal government should make it easier to protect consumers against these practices." The FCC estimates that about 2.4 billion robocalls are made each month across the country. Read the full story in The Albany Times Union.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY : A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 78. Friday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 64.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
SATURDAY: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Partly sunny. High near 80. Saturday night, mostly clear. Low around 56.
SUNDAY: Sunny. High near 80. Sunday night, partly cloudy. Low around 57.

Sunrise today: 5:27 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:33 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 15:06 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the first Friday of the month.

WGXC is unaware of any recurring public meetings scheduled for today.

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 Paltz 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 headlines for Thu., Jul. 6 (8:45). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Legislature's Subcommittee on Alternatives to Incarceration took action Wed., Jul. 5, that will extend the deadline to report its findings from September to December. The subcommittee is chaired by Legislator Lori Torgersen, Democrat from Windham, and it is looking at the viable sentencing alternatives available to the judiciary that would also benefit the convicted. The subcommittee will determine if certain court-imposed sentences, particularly those that are drug-related, or related to mental illness, require jail time, Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said. “With Lori [Torgersen] and her committee they’re looking at whether or not the jail population could be reduced,” Groden said. Many residents of the existing jail are serving time for drug-related offenses, Groden said. Eight percent are incarcerated for multiple driving while intoxicated convictions, 26 percent have violated probation, 27 percent have sold or purchased drugs, 12 percent committed a property crime to purchase drugs and 12 percent have committed violent crimes to obtain drugs, he said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media work to replace the aging Cauterskill Road bridge in Catskill has begun. The historic span over the Kaaterskill Creek is located west of the New York State Thruway overpass. Greene County Highway Superintendent Robert Van Valkenburg said in recent years the bridge began to show signs of wear and deficiencies were increasingly evident, but repairs were not possible. The new bridge will have a steel truss and a concrete deck. Plus some adjustments to the substructure at both ends of the bridge are also needed. The price tag for the new bridge is roughly $1.3 million, with 80 percent of the cost coming from the federal government. Of the remaining 20 percent, 15 percent is state funded and 5 percent will come from the county, Van Valkenburg said. The county’s $65,000 share was approved as part of the annual budget. The project is expected to be completed by late September. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.