Hudson Valley News

With the storm that began Wednesday, Hudson Valley emergency services personnel, power companies, and local government officials are keeping a close watch.  In Ulster County, there is a new way to get information about storms and other emergencies. 

There’s a report out by an environmental advocacy group in the Hudson Valley detailing where sewage contamination is in the Hudson River, from New York City to Troy. The report is in response to the increased recreational use of the Hudson, with more people swimming and boating.

Two counties in New York’s Hudson Valley will be sharing a legal service that officials say could save the counties’ taxpayers more than 300-thousand dollars a year. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro say their counties are starting a one-year pilot program to share legal defense counsel. And here’s why:  when a Public Defender’s Office is disqualified from representing a client because of a legal conflict, a private attorney is assigned.  The private attorney then bills the County according to rates established by New York State.

In the aftermath of the school shootings in Connecticut last week, Putnam County officials from law enforcement, school districts, and other governmental agencies held their first meeting Tuesday to address security issues at schools and other public facilities.