Hudson Valley News

A state assemblyman and the Orange County district attorney are holding a roundtable Tuesday evening about the opioid epidemic.

The annual federal defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, does not include certain provisions that would address PFAS water contamination. A Washington-based nonprofit group accuses Congress of caving on cleaning up the toxic substances.

A new visitor center is under construction at Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that the project is a public-private partnership with the Open Space Institute. 

Democratic New York Congressman Antonio Delgado has introduced legislation to raise funds for Lyme disease research. He did so with fellow members of the congressional Lyme Disease Caucus.

Two children and two adults were found dead Thursday inside a house in Westchester County.

New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says Stewart Air National Guard base is one of seven bases being considered across the nation for a new mission.

A Dutchess County resident who is an advocate for policy reform around military sexual trauma says new legislation in New York concerning veterans is trailblazing. Her work and her story helped inspire the legislation that Democrat Didi Barrett sponsored in the Assembly.

A Kingston-based non-profit organization has a new tool to help provide quality, affordable housing. RUPCO is bringing the program to two Hudson Valley cities and their surrounding communities to help stabilize and upgrade landlords’ properties.

New York state Senator George Amedore announced over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend that he will not seek re-election in 2020. Two Democratic candidates already running for the 46th District seat say their own campaigns are advancing unchanged.

A major storm added a snow day to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, closing schools and state and local government offices from Albany to the Hudson Valley and beyond. And now New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for several counties.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill that allows for email communication to voters. Emails would be in addition to postal mail.

Less than a year before the 2020 elections, there are some changes in the most recent U.S. House and Senate ratings from Congressional Quarterly Roll Call and Inside Elections. In part two of their interview, WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with the Inside Elections publisher about how the 2020 election is shaping up in a few New York districts.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed a bill protecting an Orange County school district’s employee health insurance program.

U.S. House and Senate ratings from Congressional Quarterly Roll Call and Inside Elections show some changes since last election cycle. In New York, one of the most closely watched House districts – the 19th — has been newly assessed. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with the Inside Elections publisher about the 2020 race in the sprawling 11-county district in the first part of a two-part interview.

It’s a familiar experience for thousands of people in the WAMC listening area: you drive to a Metro-North station, park, and catch a train. Now, parking costs could be going up. But as WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports, a vote on the proposal has been postponed.

Westchester County has a new gas leak emergency training facility. Local fire departments will now receive hands-on training for handling gas and transformer emergencies.

A documentary about the Bard Prison Initiative airs Monday and Tuesday nights on PBS stations. “College Behind Bars” explores the lives of a dozen incarcerated men and women as they struggle to earn degrees in the Bard Prison Initiative, one of the most rigorous prison education programs in the country.

A bill that eliminates an administrative burden for farmers in New York is now law.

The Open Space Institute has acquired properties in Ulster County next to a Catskills forest.

New York state lawmakers from Westchester County are letting the governor of Connecticut know they oppose his proposed toll increase on an interstate highway.

A New York state senator is urging the owner of a mobile home park in Orange County to withdraw a rent increase that he says is unlawful.

Another candidate wants to succeed retiring Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey in New York’s 17th District. Chappaqua resident Evelyn Farkas served under President Obama in the Department of Defense and says she sounded the alarm about Russian election interference. She said as much in a tweet Monday, announcing her candidacy. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison spoke with Farkas about why she’s running.

New York Congressman Antonio Delgado on Wednesday introduced legislation to halt political contributions from opioid manufacturers.

Westchester County has launched a Vaping Prevention and Awareness campaign.

The Westchester County executive has proposed stricter term limits for his post. He just submitted legislation to the Board of Legislators.

A student at the State University of New York at New Paltz died after accidentally falling from a cliff.

Absentee-ballot counting began Monday in Ulster County in a race where three votes separated the candidates following Election Day.

One of the biggest traffic headaches in the Hudson Valley has been alleviated. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Orange County recently to announce the completion of a major transportation hub.

New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey has reintroduced a bill that would prohibit body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge system.

A fourth Democrat has entered the race for a congressional seat in New York’s lower Hudson Valley. Westchester County resident Allison Fine announced Thursday she will run for the 17th District seat held by Democrat Nita Lowey, who is not seeking re-election after 16 terms.  WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with Fine about why she’s entering the race.