DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Tue., Apr. 25 (8:33). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail the True Value store located on Mansion Street in Coxsackie was razed recently after sitting vacant for years. The building was formerly Vermilyea Hardware, and operated in the village for 38 years. The business closed as a result of competition from big box hardware stores. Developer Aaron Flach bought the parcel six years ago with the idea of turning the structure into a wheelchair accessible apartment complex for seniors. However, needed roof repairs were cost prohibitive, and the building had asbestos inside, Flach said. Flach’s company owns several properties in the village including the Mansion Square Apartments and the Eagle Hotel. "We’re pretty heavily invested in the community," he said. Right now, Flach does not have a specific plan or a construction schedule for a new structure on the site. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Rosa Acheson is reporting in the Register-Star the A. Colarusso & Son haul road proposal has been removed from the agenda for the Greenport Planning Board meeting on Tue., Apr. 25. Planning board members said Monday due to the large volume of letters and comments received the board needs more time before the matter can move forward. “We’ve received a pile of letters and we have to get the stenographer’s typeout from last week’s meeting — the board has to go over everything before starting the environmental review,” Greenport Planning Board Co-Chairman Robert MacGiffert said. The planning board held a special meeting April 18, providing the public a chance to speak up about the project. Hudson officials and residents who spoke expressed concern about ways an improved haul road would impact tourism, waterfront revitalization, real estate and redevelopment, in addition to environmental concerns. MacGiffert said it is unknown when the proposal will be discussed next. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Rick Karlin is reporting in the Times Union Kristina Johnson became the 13th Chancellor of the State University of New York on Mon., Apr. 24, during a meeting of the Board of Trustees in Albany. Johnson is an engineer and inventor who once served as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Engineering during the Obama administration. She holds 118 U.S. and international patents and in addition to helping to develop the technology that led to the creation of 3-D glasses used in films like "Avatar," she also invented a camera to detect pre-cancerous cells on a cervical smear. "Kristina Johnson is the right leader to keep SUNY at the top of its game," said outgoing Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. Johnson began her teaching career at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1985. Since then she served as dean of Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering and as provost of Johns Hopkins University. At SUNY she will oversee a 64-campus system with 463,000 students and a $12 billion budget. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Cairo Town Supervisor Dan Benoit Sat., Apr. 22, announced on his Facebook page the town of Cairo has been awarded a $551,000 grant from the state of New York to construct a 2,230 foot multi-use pathway. This grant, in addition to an earlier award, will fully fund the project, Benoit said. The sidewalk will run along Main Street for a half mile from Cairo Elementary School to Cumberland Farms, and include connections to bike pathways, as well. The funding was made available through the Federal Highway Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation. Under the same program, the town of Greenville was awarded $760,000 to replace and extend its sidewalks.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting in the Times Union as state lawmakers return to Albany on Mon., Apr. 24, for the final eight weeks of the legislative season, they are set to take up the question of whether alcoholic beverages should be sold in movie theaters. Some theater groups and alcohol producers are voicing support for the bill. Last week, Assembly member Joe Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat, introduced a measure to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages to patrons of legal age with tickets for films rated PG-13, R or NC-17. Current state law allows theaters with licensed restaurants on site and tables at each seat to sell and serve alcohol, allowing the privilege to fewer than 10 movie houses statewide. Lentol's proposal is similar to the one put forward by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo during state budget negotiations, which was rejected by both the Assembly and Senate. As a result, it is unclear if the legislation can get passed before the session ends in late June. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Amanda Purcell reported last week in The Daily Mail the Catskill Village Board has created a tree council that will be responsible for planting and monitoring trees on Main Street and other public places. The council will also maintain an inventory of trees and create a master plan, as well. It will also provide programs and written materials for public education. “It’s time for a tree council,” Village President Vincent Seeley said. The council was unanimously approved by the board on the condition that the members, rules and regulations would be determined at a later date. Over the coming weeks, officials will look at tree laws and regulations in other communities before establishing the group’s guidelines, Seeley said. The Catskill Tree Council was founded in 2012, by Hudson Talbott and began as an all-volunteer organization, before it became a branch of Cultivate Catskill. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Casey Seiler is reporting at Capitol Confidential a new Siena Research Institute poll found that less than a quarter of New Yorkers believe the new state budget is either excellent or good for state residents. At the same time, more than 70 percent agree that the key elements of the budget, such as the creation of a clean water infrastructure fund, additional aid to schools, the expansion of ride-hailing services and the free tuition plan, will make the state a better place to live. Approximately two-thirds of Democrats and New York City voters think raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 will make New York better; Republicans disagree with the change 53 to 43 percent. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump registered an increase in their favorability ratings in the poll. However, Trump remains in the negative column with most New Yorkers. He scored a 34 percent favorability rating and a 28 percent job performance rating among those polled. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY: Showers likely, mainly between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., then rain likely after 2 p.m. Cloudy. High near 53. Tuesday night, rain. Low around 47.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
WEDNESDAY: A chance of rain before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cloudy. High near 60. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 53.
THURSDAY: Partly sunny. High near 72. Thursday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 57..

Sunrise today: 5:57 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:48 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 13:51 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.

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

CANAAN Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 County Route 5, Canaan (781-3144).
CATSKILL Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COLUMBIA Economic Development Corporation Annual Member meeting, 7:30 a.m. at Kozel's Restaurant, Route 9, Ghent (828-4718).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors County Government meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
GERMANTOWN Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
GREENE County Tourism Advisory Committee meeting, 10:30 a.m. at 411 Main Street, Room 427, Catskill (719-3270).
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
GREENVILLE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Greenville (966-5055).
HUDSON Development Corporation meeting (tentative), 12 p.m. at 1 N. Front St., Hudson (751-1044).
QUESTAR III BOCES Budget Vote and Board Election will take place in regular or special meetings simultaneously conducted within each component school district located in Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties. Check with your local school board for exact location and time.


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.

People's Climate March Delhi, 11 a.m., Apr. 29. Sister march to the People's Climate March in Washington D.C.
People's Climate March Hudson, 12 p.m., Apr. 29; begins in the Hudson Public Square (7th Street Park). Sister march to the People's Climate March in Washington D.C. Scheduled speakers: Ned Sullivan of Scenic Hudson, state Assembly member Did Barrett, Livingston Town Board member Will Yandik, and Michelle O'Leary from the Hoosick Falls-based NY Water Project.
Day without Immigrants Strike, May 1, details to come. No work, no school and no shopping for a day.
People's March for Free Press, 12 p.m., May 13, at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York. March and rally in support of the press and free speech.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Monday, April 24 (3:48). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)