Tom Casey reports in the Register Star the Hudson Common Council passed a local law Tues., July 17, to ban smoking within all city-owned and operated parks. Violators will be fined $250. The law takes effect immediately. The Council also approved the so-called, "dog poop law." That law increases the fine for failure to clean up after a dog from $50 up to $250 for a first offense. The fine doubles with each subsequent offense -- up to $500 the second time around, and to $1,000 for the third. A local law to alter the process for city review of Freedom of Information Law requests was sent back to committee for further consideration. Read the full story in the Register Star.