Some of the stories that made the news May 2 through May 5:

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail more than a year after passage of the New York SAFE Act, the Athens Town Council last week unanimously adopted a resolution in opposition to the legislation. Under the law, rifles patterned after military-style assault rifles must be registered and more background checks and additional filings for hand guns and ammunition are required. The Act also calls for harsher penalties for the illegal sale and use of a gun. A large group of gun owners appeared before the Athens Town Council and requested the resolution be passed and filed with the state. One attendee acknowledged the resolution was not legally binding, making it more a gesture of opposition. But if all municipalities do this and nothing changes, he said, "then it shows the arrogance of our governor."

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will announce her plan to improve pedestrian safety on Hudson Valley roadways at an event Monday morning at L.M. Cahill Elementary School in Saugerties. The announcement comes at a time when 23 fatalities and nearly 990 injuries involving pedestrian occurred on the region's highways. Gillibrand is expected to declare her intention to push legislation to allow localities to use federal highway safety funds for pedestrian safety projects.

John Mason reported in the Register Star on the dispute that has arisen in Hudson over Mayor William H. Hallenbeck, Jr.'s decision to ban dogs from the Cedar Park and Hudson City cemeteries. Signs appeared Thurs., May 1, indicating dogs were not allowed. Hallenbeck said he ordered the signs posted until such time that he concludes canines are permitted in the cemeteries. Alderman John Friedman, chairman of the Common Council Legal Committee, said he doubts the mayor has that authority. Friedman said Common Council has said dogs that are registered can be anywhere in the city, except in the riverfront park. Hallenbeck will meet Tues., May 6, with Jim Folz [f-OH-l-z], the Commission of Public Works, to review the rules and regulations governing city cemeteries.

William J. Kemble reported in the Daily Freeman the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now has nine months to finalize new rules for wood-burning heaters. In a statement issued last week, state Attorney General Eric Schniederman said the time line was part of a court settlement after seven states and several public health organizations filed a lawsuit claiming federal officials were not acting quickly enough to update its air pollution standards for wood heaters. The lawsuit alleged federal officials have not met requirements of the U.S. Clean Air Act by allowing outdoor wood heaters to emit too much soot. Federal officials have until Feb. 3, 2015, to finalize the new rules.