DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Wed., Apr. 5 (10:48). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Victoria Addison is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a federal judge has ruled in favor of a former Cairo-Durham first-grade teacher following a seven-year court battle. The decision was handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan, March 30. The school district must now pay Donna Scarpinati de Olivera for damages incurred when the district violated her rights under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. She was terminated by Cairo-Durham in 2010 for taking 23 days of unpaid leave following the birth of her child. A trial will begin Aug. 21, when a jury will hear testimony to determine the amount of damages de Olivera is owed. She is currently employed as a kindergarten teacher by the New Lebanon Central School District. Cairo-Durham district officials declined to comment on the ruling. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential in the wake of the extender legislation passed by the state Legislature Mon., Apr. 3, school districts are wary of what comes next with their budgets going to local voters two weeks before the extender expires. The legislation passed this week prevented a government shutdown, but it did not address the issue of school aid for the 2017-18 school year. This leaves school officials guessing about what the state will award. State aid and local property taxes are the two largest revenue sources for most districts in New York. The annual budget vote and school board elections will be held Tue., May 16, and district property tax report cards are due to the state Education Department no later than April 24. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Larry Rulison is reporting in the Times Union Albany Broadcasting, the company that own WROW-AM, wants to build a 2.6 megawatt solar farm underneath its three transmission towers located just south of Exit 23 of the state Thruway in Glenmont. The company applied for a building permit with the town of Bethlehem on March 10. A variance must be granted before the project can move forward. Albany Broadcasting has hired Dynamic Energy of Wayne, Pa., to engineer and build the solar farm. The proposed 2.6 megawatt solar farm could provide enough electricity for 380 homes. WROW-AM dates back to the 1940s and has operated under various formats over the years. It is now the music station known as Magic 590 am. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Click here to play or download the Catskill Town Board April 4 meeting. (Recorded from live webstream.)

Lance Wheeler recorded and uploaded this video of a barge crash in the Hudson River just off Dutchman's Landing near Catskill.

Emily Masters in the Albany Times-Union reports a barge carrying 60,000 barrels of refined gasoline crashed just outside of Catskill in the Hudson River Tue., April 4. The barge spent hours listing in the Hudson River off Dutchman's Landing in Catskill, but not leaking. No injuries have been reported, Coast Guard spokesman Charles Rowe said. The Daily Freeman reported that Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Sean Mahar said the barge ran aground on the “shallow, sandy river bottom” at 8:30 a.m. The RTC 150 barge is owned by the Staten Island-based Reinauer Transportation Company, and was moving from Newburgh to Albany with the Meredith C. Reinauer tugboat when the barge ran aground. The company said the barge ran aground “in foggy weather.” "There doesn't appear to be any damage," company spokesman Gary Gould said. "It's listing a bit but there're no hull break and no leaking." Gov. Andrew Cuomo arrived on the scene in the afternoon to give a statement. The state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos was also there, with state police investigating and the Catskill Fire Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Catskill Police, Greene County Emergency Services, and DEC officers also responded, the Register-Star reported. "Something went wrong this morning and we need to get to the bottom of it," Seggos told reporters at a news conference at the scene with Cuomo. "You don't have to be an environmental activist to be concerned," the governor said. Click here to hear Cuomo's remarks, recorded by Daniel Zuckerman. Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) released a statement saying, in part, "I intend to make a request for a formal investigation into the cause of the accident through the U.S. Coast Guard and if circumstances warrant it, the Office of Marine Safety at the National Transportation Safety Board." Click here to play a short interview with a passerby at the scene of the crash, recorded by Lance Wheeler.



Daniel Zuckerman recorded and uploaded Gov. Andrew Cuomo's remarks in Catskill Tue., April 4.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos and Gov. Andrew Cuomo giving a press conference in Catskill Tue., April 4. Photo above from Vincent Seeley.

William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that Esopus Town Board members are the latest to join the Hudson River Waterfront Alliance against the proposal for ten new sites with 43 barge anchorages on the river. The proposal would make it possible for more barges to carry Bakken crude oil, refined petroleum, and dangerous chemicals such as benzene between ports in Albany and New Jersey refineries, parking temporarily at ten locations between Yonkers and Kingston. On April 4, near Catskill, a barge moving refined petroleum crashed, but did not leak. The proposal was submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York/New Jersey Tug and Barge Committee, the Hudson River Port Pilots Association and the American Waterways Operators. Coast Guard officials have received 10,206 public comments on the proposal last year. The Town of Rhinebeck joined the alliance a few weeks ago, and Ulster County Executive Michael Hein, the Ulster County Legislature, Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, and the Kingston Common Council are on record against the proposal. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Local weather forecast:

A Flood Watch, remains in effect into Sat., Apr. 8 for all of eastern New York and western New England. The National Weather Service in Albany warns that recent rainfall and the snow melt have resulted in nearly saturated grounds across the region. A second storm system this week is expected to bring additional rainfall to the area beginning Thursday into Friday night, increasing the potential for flooding.

TODAY: Partly sunny. High near 58. Wednesday night, a chance of rain after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 40.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
THURSDAY: Rain. High near 47. Thursday night, rain, mainly before 2 a.m. Low around 42.
FRIDAY: A chance of rain. Cloudy. High near 50. Friday night, a chance of showers. Cloudy. Low around 37.

Sunrise today: 6:29 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:26 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 12:57 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the first Wednesday of the month.

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

COPAKE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE County Legislature Health Services Committee, County Resources Committee and Public Safety Committee meetings, 6 p.m. at 411 Main Street, Catskill (719-3200).
GREENPORT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 600 Town Hall Drive, Greenport (828-4656).
GREENVILLE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Greenville (966-5055).
HUDSON Common Council Youth and Aging Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson; Arts, Entertainment and Tourism Committee meeting cancelled (828-1030).
JEWETT Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at municipal building, 3547 Co. Rte. 23C, Jewett (263-4646).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
PRATTSVILLE Planning Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).
Questar III BOCES Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at central office, 10 Empire State Boulevard, Castleton (477-8771).
VALATIE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building, 3211 Church St., Valatie (758-9806).

POLITICAL EVENTS
Town of New Paltz public hearing on proposed sanctuary city law, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 6 at New Paltz Community Center, 3 Veterans Drive, New Paltz.
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.

Weekly event:
Faso Friday, 12 p.m., every Friday at U.S. Rep. John Faso's District Office, 2 Hudson Street, Kinderhook. Info at erinpersists@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Tue., Apr. 4 (9:29). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Victoria Addison is reporting in the Register-Star the Hudson City School District Mon., Apr. 3, broke ground for the construction of a new track and athletic field facility behind the junior/senior high school on Harry Howard Avenue. The complex is the first phase of a $19.9-million capital project that includes plans to consolidate the district into two buildings. The athletic facility will include an eight-lane track, steeplechase area, multiple jumping pits, a football and soccer field, plus interior and exterior bleachers, press box and scoreboard. At the groundbreaking Monday, Superintendent Maria Suttmeier spoke to the assembled school staff, students and community members, thanking the community members who voted to approve financing for the project in February. Suttmeier also acknowledged the Galvan Foundation and Hudson River Bank and Trust for their support of the project. Construction is slated to begin April 17. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Brian Nearing is reporting in the Times Union state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is heading a group of states that are suing the Trump administration for moving to roll back new energy-efficiency standards for some appliances. Schneiderman announced Mon., Apr. 3, a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy for delaying tighter rules for new portable air conditioners, walk-in coolers and freezers, power supply equipment, commercial boilers, air compressors and ceiling fans. The new rules were expected to cut billions of dollars from energy bills and reduce power plant emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases. Similar rules already apply to about 55 different household and commercial devices, including clothes washers and refrigerators, and heating and air-conditioning equipment. Schneiderman said the Energy Department's decision to put the brakes on the expanded rules was "another example of how the Trump administration's polluter-first energy policy has real and harmful impacts on the public health, environment — and pocketbooks — of New Yorkers." The states of California, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington, as well as New York City, joined New York in the suit. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Flood Watch, effective Tue., Apr. 4, into Sat., Apr. 8, for all of eastern New York and western New England. A storm system is expected to bring 1 to 1.5 inches of rainfall during the day and into the night, Tuesday. Recent rainfall and the snow melt have resulted in nearly saturated grounds across the region. Some flooding of urban, poor drainage and low-lying areas are possible. A second storm system is expected to bring additional rainfall to the area beginning Thursday into Friday night, increasing the potential for flooding. The National Weather Service advises those living in areas prone to flooding to be prepared to take action should that flooding develop.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Senate Mon., Apr. 3, approved legislation extending the current state budget through May 31. The state Assembly followed suit on Monday evening, as officials continued to work out the details of a new spending plan. The legislation lasts through May 31. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said during debate on the extender bills that he is not shutting government down. Flanagan said, “… We got the message, if we don’t do this by 2 o’clock then state employees really can’t get paid. Whether the Assembly does their business or not, but I know we’re doing the people’s business in this house." Speaking before the Assembly vote, speaker Carl Heastie said an extender “isn’t a punt of our duties. I’m just trying to make sure government isn’t shut down." Both Assembly Democrats and Republicans said the length of the extender is troublesome, as is the general legislative inaction on the budget. The legislation approved Monday was necessary to avoid potential disruptions to government operations and payroll. Read both stories at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Emilia Teasdale is reporting in The Columbia Paper the Kinderhook Smart Climate Committee met last week to review proposed changes to the town’s zoning laws for solar panels. The town currently has a moratorium on ground-mounted solar panels in place, which includes solar farms, while the town considers how to regulate them. The Climate Committee has now asked the portion of the law that prohibits solar farms in all zoning districts be removed. Committee member Mark Leinung said he was against the ban, especially since there are already laws for setbacks and the town Zoning Board of Appeals would have to grant a special use permit for that type of facility. The committee also recommended the town drop its 15-acre limit on farms, as well. Town Code Enforcement Officer Wayne Voss disagreed, saying allowing solar farms is "not a good idea." Voss argued that land should not go to companies that would not increase the tax base. He said the only people making money on a solar farm are the property owners and utility companies. Voss also expressed a concern that the equipment would eventually be abandoned after it was no longer in use. The town Codes Committee has already looked at local laws and suggested changes, Supervisor Pat Grattan said. It is unknown at this point when the Town Board will review the changes. The Town Board does expect to adopt the state Unified Solar Permit law. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Amanda Purcell is reporting in The Daily Mail the Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corporation has received $400,000 to replace 12 old mobile homes with new, energy-efficient manufactured, modular or site-built homes. The nonprofit housing agency was one of five in the state to receive the award last week. An applicant to the replacement program must be from Greene County and income qualify; they must own the unit and the property on which the modular home sits. The unit must also be considered in poor condition. The cost to replace a dilapidated manufactured home with a single-wide modular unit is approximately $70,000, Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corporation Executive Director Lawrence Krajeski said. Catskill Mountain Housing helps homeowners with needed repairs and counsels first-time homebuyers, homeowners and tenants on how to resolve housing issues. The agency also manages housing in six locations for seniors and the disabled. Catskill Mountain Housing is open for inquiries about the program at 448 Main Street, Catskill. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Mid-Hudson News Network is reporting Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler has introduced a smartphone app designed to give the public a direct connection to his office and its resources. The app provides information and resources "that could be useful in preventing crime and addiction, and to gain information to help fight crime," according to the paper. Links to written and video news about the DA's office, as well as to the CrimeStoppers portal, the DA's Camera Partnership Program and the county "It's On Us," anti-sexual assault campaign Hoovler launched in 2015, are included. The app is available for both iPhone and Android users. The story failed to say what it cost to develop the app or how it was paid for. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.