Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman that Ulster County legislators have permanently banned any questions about previous criminal convictions on county employment applications. A 2014 executive order banning such questions on applications was adopted unanimously and without discussion this week in Ulster County. County officials can still ask questions and conduct criminal background checks of job applicants, but only if the hiring process moves beyond the initial interview. If Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan signs the measure, the prohibition can only be lifted by a majority vote of the county Legislature. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.