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 near Schodack Island have been between 56 and 59 degrees.

• The Albany Times Union reported that on May 4 a Hudson River fisherman discovered a woman's body tangled in a branch along the Hudson River shore near Cohoes.

• The city of Hudson and village of Catskill on Sun., Apr. 30, following heavy rains, released sewage into the Hudson River and Catskill Creek, respectively. The Village of Catskill Wastewater Treatment Plant said in a report released Monday, the untreated discharge was released into Catskill Creek at the rate of 50 gallons per minute, over a two-hour period, for a total overflow of 6,000 gallons. The report warned of the potential impact on fishing in the creek. The City of Hudson Wastewater Treatment Facility reported it discharged 100,000 gallons of disinfected primary effluent, or wastewater, into the Hudson River, in the city's North Bay, for nearly an hour on Sunday. State law requires that all discharges of untreated and partially treated sewage discharges be reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation within two hours of discovery, and within four hours of discovery to the public and adjoining municipalities. There have been several other sewage releases along the Hudson in recent days with heavy rains, and more rain forecast.

• On May 2, a year since the City of Newburgh’s drinking water was determined to be polluted, the Riverkeeper activist group called on the Department of Defense to stop the flow of polluted water from the Stewart Air National Guard Base. On May 2, 2016, Newburgh City Manager Michael Ciaravino declared a state of emergency there, as test results showed levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, or PFOS, in the city’s primary drinking water reservoir, Lake Washington. The PFOS measured above advisory levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. United States Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said: “Since the PFOS-contamination of Newburgh’s water was revealed, I have repeatedly called on the Department of Defense to stop the contamination at its source and immediately remediate all pollution with all due speed. While we have made progress in stopping local residents’ exposure to the tainted water, DOD and the Air Force have not moved fast enough or comprehensively enough to get the job done. I will continue to work with community leaders and groups like Riverkeeper to keep the pressure on the Air Force and DOD to finalize a plan and take the actions now that can stem current pollution and clean up the mess they made over the years in and around Stewart Air Force base.”

• May 6 is Riverkeeper's 6th Annual Hudson River clean-up. Locally, there are these clean-up locations:
GREENE COUNTY
Coxsackie: Riverside Park Shoreline Cleanup
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Hudson: Greenport Conservation Area Cleanup
Hudson: North Bay Cleanup
Germantown: Hudson River Shoreline Cleanup by Land from Ernest R. Lasher Memorial Park
Stuyvesant: Stuyvesant Landing Cleanup, Swyer Preserve, Nutten Hook Cleanup
Stuyvesant: Stuyvesant Falls and Sandbar Park Cleanup

Click here (9:29) to listen to WGXC's Congressional report, a look back at the week in news for Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook).

Three Democratic candidates -- Steven Mitchell Brisee, Brian Flynn, and Antonio Delgado -- have previously filed paperwork to run for New York’s 19th Congressional District against incumbent John Faso (R-Kinderhook). On April 28, six Democrats turned out to talk about their early campaigns for the Democratic nomination at the Greene County Democrats' "16th Annual Salute to FDR" at the Pegasus Restaurant in Coxsackie. Mostly, though, Jeff Beals from Saugerties, Patrick Ryan, Sue Sullivan from Otsego County, Brisee, Flynn, and Delgado wanted to talk about Faso, and how they disagree with him.

Matthew Hamilton reports in Capitol Confidential that a new poll suggests 50 percent of voters in the 19th Congressional District support the current Affordable Care Act healthcare plan and only 33 percent prefer the proposed American Health Care Act replacement bill currently being considered in Washington D.C. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, and commissioned by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Local Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) said he would have voted for a previous version of the AHCA, and said on May 1 that he would be agreeable to voting on the newest version of the Republican bill even before the Congressional Budget Office is able to assess the fiscal and social impacts of the new version of the bill. The poll says that 52 percent of local voters oppose the AHCA. A March Quinnipiac poll said that 56 percent of voters across the country disapproved of the Republican health plan, and a March Siena College poll showed that 56 percent of registered voters in New York opposed passage of the AHCA. The PPP poll also found that 62 percent of 19th district voters oppose defunding Planned Parenthood. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Casey Seiler is reporting at Capitol Confidential U.S. Rep. John Faso told the Times Union editorial board on Mon., May 1, that he would be agreeable to voting on the newest version of the American Health Care Act even before the Congressional Budget Office is able to assess the fiscal and social impacts of the bill. “I would certainly prefer it,” Faso said, referencing a new CBO “score” on the legislation. The measure could come up for a vote a soon as this week. The CBO found the original AHCA would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 24 million during the coming decade. The Kinderhook Republican said a new CBO score would be less significant than changes made to the bill if it proceeds to the Senate. "It is a process that is undoubtedly going to have additional changes that I would like to see,” he said. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) voted for the latest Republican healthcare plan on May 4, which passed the U.S. House. "After careful review of the changes to the AHCA, I believe that this legislation addresses my concerns and I will support it as amended," Faso wrote on Twitter. Faso previously supported an earlier version of the bill, which polled at 17 percent approval. This version of the bill is more conservative, with less coverage. On May 1, Faso said he would be fine voting on the newest version of the American Health Care Act even before the Congressional Budget Office is able to assess the fiscal and social impacts of the bill. Gov Andrew Cuomo released a statement May 4 that said, in part, "As a direct result of the amendment introduced by Congressmen Faso and Collins, this provision alone would cut Medicaid funding for New York by $2.3 billion and cripple hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities across the state." There was a protest in front of Faso's Kinderhook office May 4 over the healthcare issue.

The Daily Freeman reports that construction work is underway on several bridge repairs and replacements in western Greene County. Workers are currently replacing the Route 23 Prattsville Bridge over the Schoharie Creek in Greene County, a $13 million project to replace the bridge that was damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. That should be completed in 2019. Work is also ongoing to replace the Route 23 bridge over the Huntersfield Creek and two culverts on Route 23 near County Route 2. Replacing the state Route 42 bridge over the West Kill in Lexington and the state Route 296 bridge over the East Kill in Jewett is also under way. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Casey Seiler reports in Capitol Confidential many comments from local officials and health experts about Republicans passing a new healthcare plan in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4, with the vote of local Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook). Those comments include:

• Paul Macielak, President and CEO of the New York Health Plan Association: “More than six million New Yorkers access their health care through Medicaid managed care, Child Health Plus or the state’s basic health plan known as the Essential Plan, all of which depend on managed care plans to deliver cost effective and high value health care coverage. It is vital that New York protect these populations’ access to quality health care services."

• Pat Kane, RN, treasurer of New York State Nurses Association: “The ‘Yes’ votes in the House of Representatives today, passing the American Health Care Act, constitute an appalling setback for the nation. This vote will go down in history as a defeat for patients across the country, as they will receive less care and get sicker if it becomes law. As nurses we must express our outrage at this assault on the public’s health and overwhelming concern for the future of our communities."

• Robin Chappelle Golston, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York State: “We will not forget who voted for this disastrous legislation. There is no excuse for failing to stand up for New Yorker’s healthcare needs.”

• Rep John Faso said: "The AHCA will continue to protect Essential Health Benefits (EHB) and those with pre-existing conditions. Children up to 26 years old can continue to stay on their parents��� healthcare plans. In addition, New York insurance law requires health insurance plans to include Essential Health Benefits and also includes provisions for guaranteed issue of health insurance. This remains unchanged under the AHCA."

• New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said: "This bill threatens to slash essential healthcare services for millions of New Yorkers who need them the most.... If this disastrous and unconstitutional healthcare bill is ultimately signed into law, I will challenge it in court."

Karrie Allen in the Register Star reports that Chatham is trying to cope with a dangerous, inadequete bridge CSX built in 2014. The 14-foot, one-lane bridge with a 5-foot pedestrian walkway at the intersection of Albany Turnpike and Route 295 has received complaints since it opened. Engineers with Barton & Loguidice recently presented the Town Board with plans to add traffic lights and barriers to the area. Town Supervisor Maria Lull says Chatham will spend about $190,000 to improve the intersection near the bridge. Now the town needs Department of Transportation approval. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Showers likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Showers are also likely Saturday night, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SUNDAY: A 40 percent chance of showers Sunday, with mostly cloudy skies, and a high near 53. Sunday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low around 36.
MONDAY: There is a chance of rain and snow showers before 8 a.m., turning to just rain showers, with a high near 46.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Friday, May 5 (4:19). (Produced by Neva Wartell.)