This week there were many local swearings-in in local town halls this week, and in Washington D.C., where Antonio Delgado took over representing New York's 19th Congressional District from John Faso. Sarah Trafton reported in Columbia-Greene Media that there was more change in the Greene County Legislature, than anywhere else. There, five new members took the oath of office Jan. 2, with Republicans expanding their majority from from 8-6 to a 12-2. Patrick Linger (R-New Baltimore) is the new chairperson of the legislature, replacing Kevin Lewis (R-Greenville) who did not seek re-election. In Columbia County, Bernadette Powis was sworn in as Columbia County’s new coroner at the Jan. 2 Columbia County Board of Supervisors meeting. Local State Senator George Amedore, a Republican, was named minority chair of the Housing, Construction, and Community Development committee and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities committee in Albany. State Senator Daphne Jordan (R-Halfmoon) was named the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate’s Racing, Gaming and Wagering committee, and the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate’s Native American Relations subcommittee. And Helen Rose Schneider reports for The Altamont Enterprise reports that "Aline Galgay, who did not seek reappointment as Westerlo's town attorney, was appointed the prosecuting attorney for traffic court. Galgay is also representing Steve Pfleging, who will appear in Westerlo's court for stealing town funds in Rensselaerville while supervisor."

• William J. Kemble reported in The Daily Freeman that Amtrak will hold one of two public meetings Jan. 29 required by the state Department of State as the railroad tries to block public access to the Hudson River at seven locations between Rhinecliff and Stuyvesant. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 in Kellner Community Activities Center at 50 Palatine Park Road in Germantown, with a Feb. 5 snow date.

• Bill Williams reported for WCTW-FM "The Cat," the United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties announced this week that effective later this month, service to Greene and Columbia counties will be subsumed by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region headquartered in Albany.

• Spectrum News reported that while a federal lawsusit filed days ago alleges inmates from New York City are being sent to Albany County for solitary confinement, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says, "There is no solitary confinement at Albany County Jail.” In 2015 New York City banned solitary confinement for inmates under the age of 22. The federal lawsuit also claims Albany County jail staffers beat the young inmates and forcibly conducted rectal searches. Albany County has received about $8.1 million this year for boarders from other facilities, much of it from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Read the full story at Spectrum News.