DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Wed., May 24 (8:40). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail the integrated power company NRG's peddling permit has been revoked by the village of Coxsackie. Beginning in early May, Mayor Mark Evans began receiving calls about representatives of the Princeton New Jersey-based company going door-to-door claiming to be working with the village as part of their pitch to potential customers. Evans issued a public statement telling residents NRG had "nothing to do with the village in any way, shape or form," and told company representatives to stop claiming otherwise. NRG salespeople not only repeated the message, they also told potential customers that Evans and the village trustees had signed on with the company, according to reports. Village officials have alerted residents to the situation, and instructed them to call the police if anyone from NRG shows up at on their doorstep. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential a majority of voters say they are prepared to re-elect Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in 2018, according to a new poll. The Siena College poll released early Wed., May 23, shows Cuomo's favorability numbers at a second-term high, at 61 percent. His overall job performance has also flipped from 47 percent in April to a 51 percent rating in May. However, when asked about eight specific issues, Cuomo is "under water" on six of them, according to the Siena survey. While he did not score high on the economy, infrastructure and taxes, Cuomo rated well on higher education and human rights among the 770 registered voters surveyed. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Hudson Police Commissioner Martha Harvey Issued an order Mon., May 22, suspending alternate side of the street parking through the summer and early fall. Beginning at midnight, Sat., May 27 through 8 a.m., Sun., Oct. 1, the alternate side parking rules will not be enforced overnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Harvey's order was posted on Facebook by Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton.

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) released a statement after President Donald Trump's staff released a federal budget proposal for 2018. “President Trump’s 2018 budget plan makes some notable, and welcome, recommendations such as balancing the budget in 10 years and boosting our national defense readiness," Faso's statement read. "Deep cuts to domestic programs, however, would threaten Upstate New Yorkers at a time when a still-struggling regional economy and fragile jobs market have left many families concerned about the future. As a member of the Budget Committee, I intend to thoroughly review the details of this suggested budget plan and offer my support for policies and programs that thoughtfully reform federal spending and protect programs critical to our communities.”

The Village of Coxsackie suffered another water main break on May 23. The water main on Plank Road caused problems for residents on Bailey Street, Industrial Parkway, Kings Road, Stacy Road, and Sunset Boulevard, and sent students in Coxsackie schools home at 11:10 a.m. The Village of Coxsackie Facebook page said the problem was fixed by 12:45 p.m.

Debby Mayer reports in The Columbia Paper that the Germantown Planning Board holds a Public Hearing May 25 to get comments on a proposal to move a diner from Grand Gorge to Route 9G and Sharpes Landing Road. Michael and Vicki Lueck of Red Hook bought the circa-1955 diner last year to move to Germantown. Before that, the diner was moved from a field in Gilboa in 2008 to Grand Gorge in Delaware County. The Luecks have owned Charlie O’s Hometown Bar and Grill in Red Hook since 2010, and Michael Lueck is the brother of Martin Lueck and a part owner of Central House hotel. Lueck would like the 62-seat restaurant to serve locally sourced diner food. The board’s, “primary considerations was the height of the structure,” because the town’s scenic view overlay, looking west to the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, applies to the site. The diner needs “upwards of 20” parking spaces. Primax Properties, who want to put a Dollar General retail store on Route 9G, will not be at the May 25 meeting as its Draft Environmental Impact Statement is still incomplete. A proposal for a coffee shop/wine bar at 212 Main Street will also be before the Planning Board at the 7 p.m. May 25 meeting at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Rosa Acheson reports in the Register-Star that Fourth Ward resident Fred Starke says he is running for mayor in Hudson. Starke, 41, is registered as a Republican, but claims he is running as an independent. He has has lived in Hudson for 22 years and operates his own moving company, Starke Moves, but has no government experience. He says, housing, homelessness, and unemployment are the main issues of his campaign. He says he will turn over his mayoral salary, if elected, to residents who are homeless or unemployed. The county Board of Elections limits mayoral candidates to collecting petition signatures between June 6 and July 13, with a primary in September and full election in November. So far, Harry “Rick” Rector, a Democratic 1st Ward Alderperson, has also announced a campaign for mayor. Read the full story in the Register-Star

The Mid-Hudson News Network reports in The Daily Freeman that an $8.4 million project will turn a candle factory at 41 Cross St. in Hudson into a hotel called The Wick this fall. The former factory will become a 55-room Starwood/Marriott Tribute Collection hotel with a restaurant, rooftop patio, and meeting space. Tom Rossi, the principal at Redburn Development, explained who might stay at the hotel: “Midweek, businesses and professionals. And the rest of the season, to tourism, and companies and businesses down in Manhattan that want to come up and have conferences and support the wedding venues around the city,” Rossi said. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Partly sunny. High near 72. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 52.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
THURSDAY: Periods of rain. High near 60. Thursday night, rain likely with areas of drizzle before 8 p.m., then showers likely with areas of drizzle between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., then showers likely after 1 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 52.
FRIDAY: Showers likely, mainly before 5 p.m. Cloudy. High near 64. Friday night, scattered showers, mainly before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. Low around 51.

Sunrise today: 5:25 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:19 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 14:53 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the fourth Wednesday of the month.

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

ATHENS Town Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at community center, 2 First Street, Athens (945-1052).
CHATHAM Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
CHATHAM Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-1651).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors Airport Sub-committee meeting, 4 p.m.; Public Works Committee meeting, 5 p.m., both at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Town Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727)
HUDSON Common Council Public Works Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Legal Committee meeting, 6:15 p.m.; both at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

POLITICAL EVENTS
Weekly event:
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.

Inside Radio has a large, three-part series on the state of pirate radio in the United States that says little. The biggest news in the story may be how little the new Donald Trump-dominated Federal Communications Commission is doing about the scourge of illegal broadcasting on the nation's airwaves. So far field agents have issued only 20 official warnings to pirate radio operators in 2017 according to the FCC. Roughly four pirates per month, or one a week, are getting letters from the FCC since Donald Trump became president. But there is a statement from the new FCC chief Ajit Pai: “Chairman Pai has made clear that confronting pirate radio is an enforcement priority for the agency,” an FCC spokesperson said in an email to the magazine. “The chairman has asked the Bureau to review its policies related to pirate radio and work to find ways to further bolster the Commission’s capabilities on this front. The chairman and Bureau leadership have also worked closely with the FCC field office staff to reaffirm that essential part of the Commission’s enforcement mission.” Despite the lack of evidence, the broadcast industry lobby feels like the new administration is taking action. “They are definitely more interested in stopping pirate radio,” said Florida Association of Broadcasters president Pat Roberts. And in New York: “We’ve seen a real significant change in attitude at the FCC. There is now a real desire to try to eradicate this problem,” New York State Broadcasters Association president David Donovan said. “What I see is a determination by the Commission to go after this issue, which we have not seen for decades.” And, like the president, these lobbyists know how to talk both sides of the same issue. “Our estimates are there are hundreds of pirates in New York City alone and that number will increase dramatically during the summer,” Donovan said. And, writing letters to one illegal broadcaster per week should take care of that problem in no time.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Tuesday, May 23 (3:19). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)