Ryan Santistevan reports in the Poughkeepsie Journal that longtime Hudson Valley Republican State Senator Bill Larkin died over the weekend. He was 91, and before retirement, had been in the state Legislature for nearly 40 years, including 28 years in the State Senate. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said in a statement that it was an honor to work with Larkin. "America lost a hero, New York lost a statesman, the Hudson Valley lost a son and advocate and so many lost a mentor, peer and friend," Molinaro said. "He lived a storied and purely American life - courageous and kind, conscientious and decent, full and honorable." Read more about this story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.