Some of the stories that made the news from Fri., Jun. 9, through Sun., Jun. 11:

Anthony Fiducia reported in the Register-Star Chatham Police Chief Peter Volkmann has declared himself a candidate for Columbia County sheriff. Volkmann will run on the Democratic line, challenging Republican incumbent David Bartlett, who is seeking re-election in November. A four-year veteran of the Chatham department, Volkmann is best known countywide for the implementation of the Chatham Cares 4 U program as a response to the opioid epidemic. "We need to go towards saving lives," Volkmann said. "This issue can’t be solved with arrest. This is a public health crisis that we need to focus on. It’s greatly affecting families and communities." If elected, Volkmann said he would expand the program countywide. Bartlett is a critic of the program. Volkmann also said another priority, if elected, would be a focus on regular training for law enforcement officers. "I believe in training, it’s what makes you better." he said. Before heading up the Chatham department, Volkmann, 53, served as the officer in charge of the Stockport Police Department for five years. He is retired from the Ossining Police Department in Westchester County.

In other local political news, Amanda Purcell reported in the Register-Star Hudson Fourth Ward resident Steve Dunn has announced his candidacy for president of the city Common Council. Dunn joins fellow Democrat Thomas DePietro in the race. Dunn, an attorney, moved to Hudson three years ago with his partner, Dan, an artist, but has lived most of his life in California. If elected, Dunn said he will focus on replacing sidewalks, creating a more open and transparent city budget process and income-based affordable housing, and rewriting the city’s zoning laws. He has served on the city Zoning Board for approximately 18 months, and was also one of the chief architects of the Fair and Equal campaign, which ultimately led to the city redrawing its ward boundaries. Dunn also intends to make sure Hudson gets its fair share of sales tax revenue. "Hudson is not getting its fair share of sales tax revenue," Dunn said. "If Hudson keeps all its sales tax revenue, or three-fourths rather than just half, that’s hundreds of more money for Hudson which would help to fund some of these initiatives without raising taxes. Hudson has a very high tax rate of 3.5 percent." NOTE: DePietro is an active WGXC programmer.

The Times Union reported the Schenectady-based grocery chain Price Chopper and Market 32 has issued a voluntary recall of High Liner Foods fish sticks. According to the company, the fish sticks may contain milk but the package labels did not include milk as a possible ingredient. Customers who do not have a milk allergy face no health risk from eating the product. Customers who have an affected product may return it to their local Price Chopper/Market 32 for a full refund. Anyone with questions is urged to go online to www [dot] Price Chopper [dot] com, or call 1-800-666-7667.

The Associated Press reported the New York Legislature last week overturned a state law allowing 14-year-olds to legally wed. The action paves the way to end child marriage in the state. The Democratic-led Assembly passed a bill that would increase the age of marriage to 17, and the Republican-led Senate followed suit. New York is one of three states that allows children as young as 14 to marry with parental and judicial consent. The other two are Alaska and North Carolina. Health department data shows that between 2000 and 2010, 3,853 minors were married in New York. Eighty-four percent of those minors were girls married to adult men. The legislation now goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signature. Cuomo designated the proposal a top priority in February and praised the Senate and Assembly last week for passing legislation to end the “intolerable practice.”

Emilia Teasdale reported in The Columbia Paper local farmer Eric Suquet told the Chatham Town Board last week that someone has mailed a flier to his neighbors accusing his farm of polluting the East Chatham water supply. Suquet strongly denied the charges. “All of this is false,” Suquet told the board during a public meeting, June 1. He and his wife Martha are the owners of Graylight Farm and they raise pigs and grow vegetables. “We are happy to talk to anybody about our practices,” he said. He added he and his wife are sensitive to environmental issues and that fencing is going up on the farm to keep the pigs away from any shared water sources. In a statement about the flier on the Graylight Farm Facebook page, the Suquets said, "...The health of the land is as important to us as the health of our animals and our neighbors. We do not take any of these responsibilities lightly. We love our new home in East Chatham/Canaan and have felt very welcome until now.” The Suquets have no idea who is making the anonymous accusations. The paper reported the letter suggests that problems with pig farms, including water pollution and health hazards to humans, exist at Graylight Farms. The anonymous writer also insists that having the farm in East Chatham could lower property values.

Richard Moody reported in The Daily Mail the billion-dollar cuts to education and key programs proposed by the Trump administration are worrying local school officials. The president's current budget proposal would slash federal support to education by $9.2 billion. But representatives in Washington, including U.S. Rep. John Faso say the plan will not pass as is. "Historically, the president proposes cuts to domestic spending but what [Trump] proposes goes beyond what is wise. Most of what the president proposes to cut will not pass," Faso said. He said the reduction in funding for Title I is unlike to go through. Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides financial assistance to districts and schools with a high percentages of children from low-income families. The program is intended to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Districts throughout Greene and Columbia counties greatly rely on Title I funding. "I like that Trump wants to balance the budget in 10 years. That is fiscally responsible," Faso said. "But he is focusing his cuts on only 17 percent of the budget and that’s really what the issue is."

The Daily Freeman reported state police in Catskill are asking for help in locating a New Baltimore woman who was last seen on Mon., Jun. 5. Police said 66-year-old Marcia Eckl was last seen walking in the parking lot of the Tops Market supermarket on state Route 32 in Greenville. Eckl is described as a white female with short brown hair that is graying on the sides, approximately 5-foot-4 with a medium build. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a light blue sweatshirt. Anyone with information on Eckl’s whereabouts is asked to contact state police Catskill at (518) 622-8600.

Today is Day 6 of the WGXC Radios in Motion 2017 Spring Pledge Drive. WGXC programmers, volunteers and staff must raise $20,000 to keep WGXC Hands-on Radio on the air, live and local during the coming months. Your support will make all the difference. Call (518) 697-7400 or go online to wgxc.org [slash] donate. Thank you for supporting creative community radio in New York's Greene and Columbia counties.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Sunny. High near 92. Monday night, partly cloudy. Low around 67.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
TUESDAY: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny. High near 88. Tuesday night, scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 61.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 78 Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 51.

Sunrise today: 5:18 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:32 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 15:13 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the second Monday of the month.

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

ASHLAND Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland (734-3636).
CANAAN Town Board budget workshop at 6:30 p.m.; full board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 Co. Rte. 5, Canaan (781-3144).
COPAKE Environmental Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE County Legislature Economic Development and Tourism Workshop, 4:30 p.m. (Planning Dept. Conference Room) County Services and Public Works committee meetings, 6 p.m. (Caucus Room) at 411 Main Street, Catskill (719-3270).
GREENVILLE Central Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m., middle school/high school library, 4982 State Route 81, Greenville (966-5070).
HUDSON Common Council Informal meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Village Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 7955 Main St., Hudson (263-4020).
NEW BALTIMORE Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 3809 Rt. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
PHILMONT Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
PRATTSVILLE Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).
TAGHKANIC public hearing on the 2017 preliminary town budget followed by the regular Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).

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.

Rally for Voting Rights, 11:30 a.m., June 13 at West Capitol Park, Albany. Rally calling for five reforms to voting laws including early voting, automatic voter registration, restoration of parolee voting rights and more. Hosted by Citizen Action of New York.
Sentencing Rally for Albany Bus Incident Defendants, 9 a.m., June 16, at Albany County Judicial Center, 6 Lodge Street, Albany. Hosted by Indefensible.
Training in Non-violent Direct Action, 10 a.m., June 17 at 680 Central Avenue, Albany. Participants will learn about action and support roles, handling aggression, legalities and group decision-making. Hosted by PAUSE.

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.

• Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) is scheduled to march in the Hudson Flag Day parade Sat., June 10. Faso's website schedule does not list the public appearance, as his posted schedule lately omits many events and only posts others hours before the events begin. Hudon's Flag Day website, though, lists Faso among the parade's lineup. The parade lines up at 12:30 p.m. and goes down Warren Street to the Hudson River. Faso has been met with protesters whenever he does make public appearances since taking office in January.

• CBS6 TV in Albany reports on reactions from local representatives to the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence June 8. Senator Chuck Schumer, on the Senate floor, called on President Donald Trump to release any recordings he may have of the conversations he's had with James Comey. "After hearing Mr. Comey's testimony today, America is stunned," Sen. Schumer said. "The cloud hanging over this administration has just gotten a whole lot darker." U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement that read, “It was stunning to hear the former FBI Director testify under oath today that President Trump ‘defamed’ him and the Bureau and told lies about them, and that Director Comey began writing contemporaneous memos after their first meeting because he was concerned the President may lie about the interaction. Even more shocking was his testimony that President Trump didn’t have any conversations with him about how a foreign government interfered in our election at a time when Russia ‘is coming after America.’" Congressman John Faso (R-Kinderhook) also issued a statement, and his called the testimony "troubling.... This is why the investigation of the Russia matter by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is most important. The American people deserve to know the truth about any Russian interference in the 2016 election."

•
Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) voted with most Republicans June 8 to pass H.R. 10, the Financial Choice Act of 2017 231-188. The bill takes apart the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that reined in banks after the 2008 financial collapse. The Senate takes up the measure next, where it will be more difficult to pass.

• Mark Hensch reports at The Hill that Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) does not like the president's tweeting. “I think the tweeting is very ill-advised,” he said on MSNBC. “I would hope the president would rethink this.... Look, he’s going to do what he wants to do.... I would urge caution on the president. Obviously it’s good for him to be able to reach out to the American people.... But I think on certain things it goes into areas that are perhaps not beneficial to the nation and especially not beneficial to our international relationships.” Read the full story at The Hill.

• Matthew Hamilton reports in Capitol Confidential Pat Ryan, a 35-year-old man who lives in New York City, is the seventh candidate to file to run as a Democrat in the 19th Congressional District. Ryan, a two-tour Iraq War veteran, says he will soon move to Ulster County. But he announced his run while living outside the district. Hamilton writes that Ryan grew up in the Hudson Valley, but is not exact about that location. After his military career, Ryan started a business providing technologies to soldiers on the front lines. Ryan joins Antonio Delgado of Dutchess County, Brian Flynn of Greene County, Steven Brisee of Ulster County, Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County, Sue Sullivan of Ulster County, and Jeffrey Beals of Ulster County trying to unseat Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook).

• Daniel Zuckerman reports in The Daily Mail that Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) spoke to Greene County Republicans June 4. While Congressperson Faso sometimes does not announce public appearances until a few hours before he makes them, and has not held traditional town hall meetings like Democratic and Republican predecessors Scott Murphy and Chris Gibson, he did mingle with the Greene County Republican Committee at 25th annual Joe Garland Memorial Family Picnic in Freehold. Faso claimed a tax bill and passing the American Health Care Act are on his agenda for the next two weeks. Faso also claimed to be open to holding town meetings but then said, “What we’ve seen around the country is these town halls, so to speak, that are used as really just a means to wave signs and shout.... That’s not something conducive for constituents to be able to ask a question and hear an answer.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

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 below Poughkeepsie have been between 63 and 66 degrees, up slightly from last week.

• U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand claimed credit June 8 for the Environmental Protection Agency extending the public comment period on the Agency’s second five-year review of the Hudson River polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Superfund Site. The original comment period was going to close on June 30, and Gillibrand lobbied for an additional 90-days for local residents and public officials the opportunity to make comments about the Hudson River cleanup. “It is vital that local residents, community and environmental organizations, business leaders, state and federal agencies, as well as the Hudson River Natural Resource Trustees, and representatives from the Community Advisory Group have the opportunity to review and evaluate the results and make their voices heard,” Senator Gillibrand wrote in a letter to the EPA. “It is essential that those who are most directly impacted have a sufficient opportunity to review and respond to the EPA report.” The EPA's report said the river was far from clean, but that no more dredging was needed. The EPA will hold public meetings for folks to make comments June 28 in Poughkeepsie and July 19 in Saratoga Springs. Written comments should be sent to EPA no later than September 1, 2017. Comments can be sent by mail or email to:
Gary Klawinski, Director
EPA Region 2, Hudson River Office
187 Wolf Road, Suite 303
Albany, NY 12205
Email: epahrfo@outlook.com

• The City of Hudson Wastewater Treatment Facility had a 31-hour "permitted CSO discharge" into the Hudson River June 4 and 5 because of heavy rain.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Fri., Jun. 8 (3:22). (Produced by Tom Roe, Neva Wartell, and Phil Grant.)

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) is scheduled to march in the Hudson Flag Day parade Sat., June 10. Faso's website schedule does not list the public appearance, as his posted schedule lately omits many events and only posts others hours before the events begin. Hudon's Flag Day website, though, lists Faso among the parade's lineup. The parade lines up at 12:30 p.m. and goes down Warren Street to the Hudson River. Faso has been met with protesters whenever he does make public appearances since taking office in January.

CBS6 TV in Albany reports on reactions from local representatives to the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence June 8. Senator Chuck Schumer, on the Senate floor, called on President Donald Trump to release any recordings he may have of the conversations he's had with James Comey. "After hearing Mr. Comey's testimony today, America is stunned," Sen. Schumer said. "The cloud hanging over this administration has just gotten a whole lot darker." U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a statement that read, “It was stunning to hear the former FBI Director testify under oath today that President Trump ‘defamed’ him and the Bureau and told lies about them, and that Director Comey began writing contemporaneous memos after their first meeting because he was concerned the President may lie about the interaction. Even more shocking was his testimony that President Trump didn’t have any conversations with him about how a foreign government interfered in our election at a time when Russia ‘is coming after America.’" Congressman John Faso (R-Kinderhook) also issued a statement, and his called the testimony "troubling.... This is why the investigation of the Russia matter by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is most important. The American people deserve to know the truth about any Russian interference in the 2016 election."

Matthew Hamilton reports for Capitol Confidential that Assembly bill 7241 would require state prisons have visiting hours each day. Backers of the bill cite a Minnesota Department of Corrections study that found inmates who got visits in prison were 13 percent less likely to re-offend after release than inmates who did not have visitors. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget earlier this year cut maximum security visitations to three days a week to save $2.6 million. But the governor later pulled that proposal. The new bill does not yet have a senate sponsor. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail the Greene County Jail has been cited by the state Commission of Corrections for unsafe and unsanitary conditions. A letter dated May 25 from Commission Chairman Thomas A. Beilein and Commissioner Thomas J. Loughren to county Sheriff Greg Seeley cited an incident in April 2016 when posts within the jail were abandoned in order to transport people to another facility. Commission officials further allege the Greene County Sheriff's Office has demonstrated a lack of willingness to address the problems at the facility. The letter was sent after jail officials repeatedly failed to correct the violations found during an evaluation in 2016. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden took issue with the state's allegations. "We don’t pull a correctional officer from his post to drive inmates to another county," Groden said. Seeley, Greene County Legislature Chairman Kevin Lewis and other county officials have been summoned to a hearing in Albany on July 12, to provide reasons for why the existing jail should not close. Groden said the state's letter provides a reason to jump start the new jail project. "I think the state is sending us a pretty clear message," he said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Today is Day 4 of the WGXC Radios in Motion 2017 Spring Pledge Drive. During the coming days, WGXC programmers, volunteers and staff must raise $20,000 to keep WGXC Hands-on Radio on the air, live and local during the coming months. Your support will make all the difference. Call (518) 697-7400 or go online to wgxc.org [slash] donate. Thank you for supporting creative community radio in New York's Greene and Columbia counties.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Partly sunny, with a 30 percent chance of a passing shower, and a high near 78.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SUNDAY: Sunny, with a high near 89, and a low around 64.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Fri., Jun. 9 (2:55). (Produced by Neva Wartell.)