DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Fri., Jun. 2 (9:14). (Produced by Phil Grant.)

Amanda Purcell is reporting in The Daily Mail on the retirement of Guy Apicella and Allan Kovler, the two men responsible for bringing a variety of cultural events to Columbia-Greene Community College, beginning in 1980. "They partnered to develop a vast array of performing arts programs that attracted thousands of residents to the college," college President James Campion said. Apicella, an associate for special programs in the College’s Office of Community Services, and Kovler, the school's public relations manager, created what is now known as the Gemini series. The list of artists they brought to the college includes Rick Danko, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, Levon Helm, Doc Watson and Delbert McClinton. Apicella, a Greenport resident, began his career working in the maintenance department and as a disc jockey on the college radio station. Kovler, is a poet, novelist and songwriter, and lives in Catskill. In retirement, Apicella will work at the college part-time, continue his service as deputy town supervisor in Greenport, teach ballroom dancing part-time and work on his model train design in his basement. Kovler will continue to write music and novels under his pseudonym, Allen Shadow. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Department of Motor Vehicles warned Thu., Jun. 1, of an email traffic ticket scam that could cause users to download a computer virus. The DMV said phony emails that claim to have been sent from the department are being circulated directing users to pay a ticket within 48 hours or face license revocation. The emails contain links to a malicious download that could expose the user’s computer to a virus. The department is telling people to immediately delete any email that fits that description, and then notify the state or local police. “The Department of Motor Vehicles does not send emails urging motorists to pay traffic tickets within 48 hours or lose your license,” DMV Deputy Executive Commissioner Terri Egan said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that people use our agency’s name to target innocent consumers...." Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Thu., Jun. 1, affirmed New York's climate goals following President Donald Trump's announcement that the United State will withdraw from the Paris Accord. Cuomo's office announced late Thursday that he, along with Govs. Jerry Brown of California and Jay Inslee of Washington, will now form a United State Climate Alliance, which will convene states that want to uphold provisions of the two-year-old environmental pact. “The White House’s reckless decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord has devastating repercussions not only for the United States, but for our planet,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This administration is abdicating its leadership and taking a backseat to other countries in the global fight against climate change...." Cuomo and 11 other governors previously penned a letter to Trump urging him not to pull out of the Paris Accord. New York under Cuomo has committed to requiring that 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2030. In January, the governor announced that the state is committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. The state has also banned the process of hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, and has committed to phasing out outdated coal plants. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that strawberry picking resumes in a few weeks at Ancramdale's Thompson-Finch Farm, and may continue for years to come thanks to a deal with the Columbia Land Conservancy. Donald and Marnie MacLean, who have farmed the land for 35 years, were about to lose the property. But the couple took out a short-term loan of $1.5 million from Equity Trust for the land and made a deal with the Columbia Land Conservancy to help pay the loan back. The MacLeans, Equity Trust and CLC formed the Thompson-Finch Farm Collaborative, and the CLC will ultimately own the land, not the MacLeans, with the Dutchess Land Conservancy holding the conservation easement. “We wanted to do it differently; we did not want to own the land only to sell it later. We wanted to save it in perpetuity for other farmers who want to farm in Columbia County,” said Marnie MacLean. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Matthew Hamilton reports in The Albany Times Union that Jeffrey Beals, an Ulster County high school teacher and former U.S. diplomat, filed paperwork earlier this month to seek the 19th district seat now held by Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook). Antonio Delgado of Dutchess County, Brian Flynn of Greene County, Steven Brisee of Ulster County, Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County, and Sue Sullivan of Ulster County have also filed paperwork to run in the Hudson Valley district that covers 11 counties including Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Dutchess, and others. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein says he will announced whether or not he's running in July. Beals teaches history and civics at the Woodstock Day School, and used to be a U.S. diplomat in Iraq. "I grew up as part of a generation that believes democracy is something you fight for overseas," Beals said. "I've come to believe increasingly that it's something you have to defend here at home, it's arguably even more important to defend it here at home." Read the full story in The Albany Times Union.

The Daily Freeman reports that the Environmental Protection Agency released a review of the six-year, $1.7 billion Hudson River cleanup June 1, and the agency said it will take decades to get the waterway healthy again. But Catherine McCabe, Acting Regional Administrator for EPA's Region 2, says neither data, science nor law supports requiring General Electric to do more dredging. Between roughly 1947 and 1977, GE released between around 1,000,000 pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River. General Electric removed 2.75 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson during the six-year cleanup. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Tweeted, "Clean air and water shouldn't be up for debate for New York’s families. This decision is awful news for the Capital Region and Hudson Valley." The report says fish in the river could be safe to eat again once a week in "55 years or more," although river data collected by EPA during the last year are "not sufficient" to project that timetable more precisely. The Daily Freeman reports

Rick Karlin reports in The Albany Times Union that Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple showed off the county's new DJI Inspire 1 radio-controlled drone at Thacher State Park May 31. That's a common drone among hobbyists at less than $2,000, but Apple explained the sheriff's office has specialized chemical sensors, high-resolution or infrared cameras, and other add-ons for police work. No weapons, though, just surveillance from this drone. Apple spoke about the rights of the surveilled. "Case law is going to determine that down the road,'' Apple said. "There are a lot of legal grounds that will have to be tested in years to come." Read the full story in The Albany Times Union.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY Isolated showers after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 70. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 46.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 70. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 48.
SUNDAY: Rain likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 69. Sunday night, rain likely. Cloudy. Low around 56.

Sunrise today: 5:20 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:26 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 15:05 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) 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.

Faso Friday Kingston Meet-up, 10 a.m., June 2 at Broadway Lights Diner, 718 Broadway, Kingston. Participants are asked to meet at diner for a 45 minute focus on calls-to-action, followed by an informal visit to John Faso’s office. All interested are asked to contact kathy.adin@gmail.com.
Hudson Women's Town Hall: Speak Out Against Violence, 11 a.m., June 3 at Hudson Area Library, Fifth and State streets, Hudson. The women of the 19th Congressional District have invited U.S. Rep. John Faso to meet and hear firsthand the ways that violence has impacted their lives. Hosted by the National Organization for Women New York and the Columbia County Democratic Committee.
Indivisible Rensselaer County meeting, 6 p.m., June 5 at East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush. Planning and organizational meeting for all group members. New people welcome!

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Thursday, June 1 (4:05). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)