DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Mon., Jul. 3 (9:19). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Some of the stories that made the news from Fri., Jun. 30 through Sun., Jul. 2:

The Associated Press reported state police and local law enforcement are increasing patrols over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in a crackdown on drunken driving and other traffic infractions. Sobriety, speeding and seat-belt checkpoints will be set up at various locations through Tuesday. Troopers will also be looking for drivers using cell phones or failing to move over for stopped emergency vehicles. State police issued nearly 11,000 vehicle and traffic tickets during the Independence Day weekend last year. More than 200 people were arrested and charged with DWI and 756 crashes resulted in three deaths.

Kimberly Kindy reported in the Washington Post a medical malpractice bill limiting attorney fees and some patient damages for poor medical treatment was passed by the House last week on a vote of 218 to 210. While 19 Republicans voted against the bill, U.S. Rep. John Faso voted with the majority. Some conservative press outlets touted the so-called Protecting Access to Care Act, as Phase 3 of the GOP's effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. HR 1215 would limit medical malpractice damages for emotional suffering to $250,000 and implement a three-year statute of limitations on an individual's right to sue. Republicans who voted against the tort reform measure called it a massive expansion of federal authority.

The Columbia Paper reported Columbia Pathways To Recovery, in cooperation with Project Safe Point, will provide Free Narcan training Wed., Jul. 5, in Copake. The training is in response to the large number of overdoses in Columbia County during the past week. Anyone interested can sign up on the Columbia Pathways To Recovery Facebook page or simply show up the night of the training. No advanced registration is necessary. “We’ve learned there may have been as many as 15 overdoses and there were 2 that were fatalities. This training is open to all residents who want to know how to administer Narcan to potentially reverse an opiate overdose and everyone that participates will receive a Narcan kit they can take home with them,” Carl Quinn, president of Columbia Pathways To Recovery, said in a statement. The training will begin at 7 p.m., Wed., Jul. 5 at Copake Town Hall, 230 Mountainview Road.

Matthew Hamilton reported at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Fri., Jun. 30, the state of New York will not comply with the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity's voter-data request. The commission claims to be investigating voter fraud in all 50 states. "The electoral process is sacred and New York law has strong safeguards in place to prevent sharing of sensitive voter data and harassment against those who exercise their right to vote," Cuomo said in a statement. Prior to issuing the statement, Cuomo tweeted that the state would not comply, and linked to an NPR story that included a copy of a letter sent by the commission to the Alabama secretary of state seeking first and last names, middle names or initiations, addresses, dates of birth, political party affiliations, last four digits of Social Security numbers and voter history of all voters from 2006 onward. The commission was formed by President Donald Trump through executive order in May after he alleged for months there was widespread voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. Experts say that while voter fraud is generally uncommon, the few instances are usually connected to local elections.

Daniel Zuckerman reported for Columbia-Greene Media Athens residents unhappy about a tree-cutting job, which included the recent removal of an oak tree on South Franklin Street, brought their complaints to the village board Wed., Jun. 28. Mayor Peter Alberti said the action was taken after a village resident filed a complaint, saying the tree's falling limbs were causing damage to their property. If more damage were to occur, the village would be held liable, Alberti said. Alberti's opponent in the March mayoral race, Catherine Censor, took issue with the decision, saying she was concerned because the tree in question was planted by a descendant of General George Sylvester Nichols in the 1870s. The historic district of Athens, where the tree once stood, includes not only homes, but the sidewalks and trees, she said. “It’s very hard to replace a 200-year-old tree, I understand that,” Alberti said. “The gentlemen who took it down works for the county and he’s an arborist.” The board voted unanimously to form a tree committee, to be led by Village Trustee Gail Lasher.

Mid-Hudson News [dot] com reported Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro was presented with the first-ever Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Hudson Valley Vision Award, Sat., Jul. 1. The award was given by the Trustees of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, and honors those working to improve the future of the Hudson Valley for all residents, through engagement and inclusion. “I am honored to receive this recognition for Dutchess County’s effort to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ and change the hearts and minds of our residents about our neighbors of all abilities,” said Molinaro.

Richard Moody reported for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Cause and Origin team is investigating a fire that destroyed a shed at 28 Rose Street, in Niverville, Thu., Jun. 29. “We had the fire out in about 10 minutes,” said Niverville Fire Chief Tim Stever. He said the fire melted the siding of the garage next to the shed, but it did not harm anyone. Stever said that because the property owners were not home at the time of the fire, Columbia County Cause and Origin was called to investigate.

Emilia Teasdale reported in The Columbia Paper the Chatham Town Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals held a joint public hearing last week on the application submitted by Flying Deer Nature Center to move its camp program from New Lebanon to a 164-acre property on Daley Road, one of the town's 57 unpaved, dirt roads. The town currently has in place a moratorium on new construction on dirt roads, but in April the town board granted Flying Deer a hardship waiver. The public hearing brought out Daley Road neighbors and Flying Deer program participants. Nearly all comments received were in support of Flying Deer and its programs, but neighbors had concerns about traffic and safety. The boards will meet separately to decide on the fate of the project application. The Chatham Planning Board will next meet 7 p.m., Tue., July 11. The ZBA's next meeting is 7 p.m., Thu., Jul. 27. Both meetings will be held at town hall, 488 Route 295, Chatham.

Amanda Purcell reported for Columbia-Greene Media the congregation of Endless Love Temple, lead by the Rev. Edward Cross, is hoping to take over the Masonic Lodge located at 241 Columbia Street in Hudson. The building, also known as Mt. Carmel Lodge, was officially foreclosed on by the city in April for nonpayment of back property taxes. Cross and his congregation have rented the space for the past eight years. It is not clear if the church will seek tax-exempt status for the property. Cross said he is still working on an agreement with the Common Council. The building is currently assessed at $135,000 and the total in back taxes owed is more than $34,000. Representatives of the local chapter of the Masonic Lodge could not be reached for comment.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Mostly sunny. High near 84. There is a chance of thunderstorms south of the Capital District Monday afternoon. Monday night, mostly clear. Low around 58.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 79. Tuesday night, mostly clear. Low around 57.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 81. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 61.

Sunrise today: 5:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:35 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 15:10 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the first Monday of the month.

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

CLERMONT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COEYMANS Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 18 Russell Ave., Ravena (756-6006).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature Alternatives to Incarceration Jail Sub-committee, 4 p.m. at 411 Main Street, Fourth Floor, Catskill (719-3200).
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., at Municipal building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
SCHOHARIE County Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m. at county office building, 284 Main St., Schoharie (295-8770).

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) 399-247 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.

Here's the week in the news for Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook), the District 19 Congressman for the WGXC listening area. Click here to download or play an audio version of this report.

• Kyle Hughes reports in The Daily Freeman that the war of words between New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) heated up June 26. Cuomo said that Faso's amendment to a bill in Washington D.C. that would cut taxes and healthcare to millions, “amounts to nothing more than a political Ponzi scheme." Faso's amendment would shift the cost of Medicare from New York counties to the state, with a promised tax cut for property owners. Cuomo has said that tax cut will be offset by the state having to hike taxes to cover the difference. "The Faso-Collins shell game cuts $2.3 billion in federal funding to New York and will force every resident of this state to pay a ‘Faso-Collins Federal Tax’ added onto local property taxes to make up the difference to avoid decimation of our healthcare system," Cuomo said. Faso answered back with his own press release, “While the Governor turns a blind eye to the repercussions of the property tax burden, Congressman Faso recognizes this burden is a critical factor in forcing many New Yorkers to flee our state.” Folks that do not own property get no tax cut, under the amendment, but will have access to less healthcare. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

• U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she was pleased June 27 when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pulled the Republican tax cut and health cut bill from a possible vote this week. “Health care in America should be a right, not a privilege. The decision to pull back a vote on the disastrous GOP health care bill was the right one. But make no mistake, just like the House of Representatives did after their initial failure, I take Majority Leader McConnell at his word that he will bring the bill back to the floor.... Obamacare is not perfect and it is far too expensive for many in our state. I stand ready to work in a bipartisan manner to make improvements to the law that would benefit New Yorkers. Specifically, I believe that all New Yorkers should be able to buy into Medicare at a price they can afford," Gillibrand's statement read.

• Paul Kirby is reporting in the Daily Freeman Woodstock-based attorney David Clegg is the eighth Democrat to eye the 19th Congressional District seat. The trial lawyer, church deacon and former public defender will formally announce his intention to challenge first-term Republican U.S. Rep. John Faso at an event July 9 in Kingston. “I believe that we are fighting for the soul of our country,” Clegg said in a phone interview Mon., Jun. 26. “The Republican agenda is going to hurt a tremendous amount of people in our community.” Clegg said the health care bill currently before the Senate is “a tax break for the rich. It is sacrificing people who are vulnerable,” he said. “... It is going to harm a catastrophic number of people.” Clegg is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and the University of Buffalo Law School, where he was an editor of the Law Review. After law school, he served as a VISTA volunteer representing Native Americans in western Nebraska and South Dakota. Clegg served as an assistant Ulster County public defender for nine years in the 1980s and 1990s. He is currently chairman of the Ulster County Human Rights Commission. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) voted June 29 to punish Hudson, Kingston, and other so-called "sanctuary cities" in his district by voting for H.R. 3003. The bill passed 228-195 and would require cities to work closer with federal immigrant enforcement officials, and allows federal law enforcement funds to be withheld from cities that do not comply. Locally, Hudson, New Paltz, Newburgh, Bethlehem, and Kingston are some of the towns that have adopted resolutions saying they will not support efforts to deport local workers. CNN predicts the bill may not pass in the Senate.

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 72 and 76 degrees.

• The Mid-Hudson News Network reports in The Daily Freeman that on June 28 in Poughkeepsie the Environmental Protect Agency held the first of two public hearings, explaining why they are not cleaning up all the PCB's General Electric dumped in the Hudson River last century. “The PCBs are spread out in a huge area of 200 miles,” Gary Klawinski, the EPA’s field office director for the Hudson River, explained. “It’s not feasible to take all those PCBs out, unfortunately.” Instead, in 15 years, people will only be able to eat one fish meal from the Hudson River every two months, according to health recommendations. It will take more than 55 years before all local species of fish from the Hudson RIver are safe enough for some people to eat once a week. Representatives of Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, and local government officials weren't happy about that. “General Electric has conducted an extensive cleanup in the upper Hudson, but they left thousands of pounds of PCBs behind, Superfund caliber contaminants, meaning the most hazardous waste in the country. Those are still in the upper Hudson and they are flowing over the Troy dam and contaminating the lower Hudson,” Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said. “Our fish are not safe to eat, our drinking water is threatened; our air is unsafe. It’s time for a complete and comprehensive cleanup.” The EPA holds a second public hearing at 6 p.m. Wed., July 19 at the The Saratoga Hilton, 534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

• Matt Coyne at lohud.com reports that the Coast Guard has called off, for now, an attempt to create ten anchorage sites on the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Yonkers for large barges. The Coast Guard said it would, "suspend future rulemaking decisions" on the proposal that was supported by the commercial shipping industry and opposed by environmental groups and most local elected officials. In recent days the legislature in Albany passed a bill blocking the anchorages, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo had not signed that bill at the time of the Coast Guard's announcement. Cuomo has not said whether he will sign the legislation or not. Read the full story at lohud.com.

• Heavy rains led to a 17-hour discharge from the City of Hudson Wastewater Treatment Facility June 27 into the Hudson River at the Broad Street Boat Launch.

Tom Brune reports in Newsday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo said June 30 that New York will not turn over voter data to the voter integrity commission created by President Donald Trump to investigate what he says were millions of fraudulent voters in the 2016 election. “New York refuses to perpetuate the myth voter fraud played a role in our election,” Cuomo said in a statement. Many federal agencies have warned about Russian hacking in the election, and Cuomo named another issue: "I encourage the Election Commission to work on issues of vital importance to voters, including ballot access, rather than focus on debunked theories of voter fraud,” he said. Trump's commission wants voter names, addresses, dates of birth, party affiliations, voting histories back to 2006, active or inactive status, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, felony convictions, and military status from state election offices. California, Virginia, and Kentucky are among the other states refusing the commission's request so far. Read the full story in Newsday.

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) voted June 29 to punish Hudson, Kingston, and other so-called "sanctuary cities" in his district by voting for H.R. 3003. The bill passed 228-195 and would require cities to work closer with federal immigrant enforcement officials, and allows federal law enforcement funds to be withheld from cities that do not comply. Locally, Hudson, New Paltz, Newburgh, Bethlehem, and Kingston are some of the towns that have adopted resolutions saying they will not support efforts to deport local workers. CNN predicts the bill may not pass in the Senate.

Matthew Hamilton reports in Capitol Confidential that the New York State Senate passed, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed June 29, the omnibus bill created in the Assembly the day before in the legislature's special session. Lawmakers adjourned last week without extending county taxes upstate and mayoral control of schools in New York City. The bill signed by Cuomo corrected those overlooked issues, and also renamed the Tappan Zee Bridge after Cuomo’s father, Mario. As governor, Mario Cuomo tried to name the Tappan Zee Bridge after Gov. Malcolm Wilson. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that the Saugerties beach on the Esopus Creek got more than $300,000 worth of improvements for summer visitors to enjoy. The New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program aids communities hit by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011, and funded the installation of two new docks and a new section of sand. “These improvements will help make Saugerties stronger," said village of Saugerties Mayor William Murphy. “They will add to our quality of life and appeal of our community to visitors, which helps support this local economy.” Saugerties will see other planned improvements including a bulkhead replacement at Tina Chorvas Park, replacing 127-year-old pilings at the Saugerties Lighthouse, dredging at the Saugerties Reservoir in Blue Mountain, and making improvements to the water treatment plant. The Saugerties Beach, 43 Partition St., opened June 30 with lifeguards. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

H. Rose Schneider reports in The Altamont Enterprise that the Knox Planning Board on June 22 denied the application to Community 2.0 to build a solar array on property owned by Peter Young Housing. The application got seven months of review, and the final meeting included a town board member voting against his own motion. The plan was first floated in Altamont by U.S. Solutions, but when they were denied there, they moved to Knox, in southern Albany County, and property owned by Vesta Community Housing to build an almost two-megawatt array with over 300 30x12-foot solar units on 32 acres behind a black vinyl-covered chain-link fence. The company failed to comply with several requests of the board, and failed to notify 40 percent of the required neighbors about the April public hearing on the matter. Last year, the board unanimously approved a different solar farm on a nearby property, and board members said the two cases were very different. “It’s like pulling teeth,” said board member Betty Ketchum, of getting information from Community 2.0. Robert Gwin, one of two board members who voted against denying the application, said he wanted to give the company one more chance to provide needed information. Read the full story in The Altamont Enterprise.

WCAA-LP 107.3-FM begins broadcasting in Albany July 1. The station is in the Grand Street Community Arts Center, 68 Grand St in downtown Albany with a phone number of (518) 290-0038, and a Twitter account at @wcaalp. The low-power station should only be heard in Albany.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: There is a 60 percent of showers or a thunderstorm Saturday, with a high near 79, and a low around 65.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SUNDAY: There is a 30 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81, and a low around 62.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Fri., Jun. 30 (3:53). (Produced by Neva Wartell.)