Hudson Valley News

Though the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the airwaves most of the year, there were some other significant developments in 2020. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne highlights a few of them in an abbreviated year in review.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill sponsored by Hudson Valley lawmakers to increase food donations to food pantries and similar nonprofits.

The $900 billion COVID-19 funding package President Trump signed Sunday contains some $4 billion for the MTA, which includes Metro-North Railroad. Proposed layoffs and drastic service cuts can be shelved, for now. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi about what the funding means and more.

The New York state attorney general announced Monday that her office was opening an investigation into a Brooklyn-based healthcare provider with a location in Orange County. The investigation is focused on COVID vaccine distribution. The Orange County executive says the investigation should come from higher up.

It was the first weekend March when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus, which took hold in New Rochelle. For a time, the Westchester County city became the epicenter of the virus in New York and the country.

The Ulster County executive has announced the next phase of an initiative that began in March as a community fund and local food distribution effort to support residents impacted by COVID-19.

A New York state assemblyman plans to introduce legislation barring elected officials from getting a COVID-19 vaccine ahead of priority groups. It comes after various members of Congress have received the vaccine ahead of frontline workers and others.

Outgoing U.S. Representative from New York Nita Lowey recently delivered farewell remarks on the House floor.

A Congressman-elect in New York’s Hudson Valley has been appointed to a certain caucus as well as the House Judiciary Committee.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced the formation of Regional Vaccination Hubs to help facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations once Phase 2 of the state's plan begins in early 2021. Regional task forces are part of the process. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with a few county leaders who are on the Mid-Hudson region’s task force.

A rural school district in Dutchess County is getting ready to construct a health center at its school. The center was supposed to be up and running by now but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process.

Congress has reached a deal on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package. It does not contain direct aid for state and local governments. For the New York State Association of Counties and county executives in the state, that’s a problem.

Two academic institutions have a new joint admission agreement.

Improvements to a rail trail in Ulster County, New York, have been completed.

Two of Democratic New York Congressman Antonio Delgado’s bills to support veterans await President Trump’s signature.

Scientists and toxicology experts say PFAS chemicals known to affect the immune system could impact the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine. While the link has not yet been cemented, they are concerned that communities with high exposures to PFAS may be more vulnerable during the pandemic.

Two New York state lawmakers from the Hudson Valley have introduced legislation for a state and local tax workaround for partnerships. The hope is to counter what they call the negative impact of a state and local tax deduction cap under federal tax legislation signed three years ago.

New York Congressman Antonio Delgado held a virtual town hall Wednesday night. He talked about COVID-19 relief negotiations in Congress and answered questions on topics ranging from student debt to rural broadband.

Virtual public hearings begin today following the completion of a New York state Public Service Commission investigation into electric utilities’ responses to Tropical Storm Isaias. The August storm left thousands of customers without power for days. The public hearing on Central Hudson’s performance takes place Thursday (Dec. 17) afternoon at 4. PSC Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection Rory Lancman is conducting the hearings. He spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne.

A mural was recently unveiled in Yonkers that celebrates the diversity of the city’s residents, especially those with disabilities.

An assemblyman from the Hudson Valley was the only New York state official to attend the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit at the White House earlier this month. The next day, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state’s vaccine distribution plan. Orange County Republican Colin Schmitt says he still has some questions and concerns. He spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne.

The Ulster County executive has announced the formation of a county Vaccine Distribution Coalition.

The mayor of the City of Kingston, New York has issued an executive order on affordable housing.

Hours after the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in New York Monday, to an ICU nurse in Queens, a few county executives delivered COVID-19 briefings. They talked about vaccine distribution along with potential shutdowns. Indoor dining was closed in all of New York City Monday, and leaders wonder if the same could happen north of the city.

A person who tested positive for COVID-19 attended a wake and funeral in Columbia County. And now the county Department of Health is concerned after learning a lot of people went to the events over the course of a few days.

Key findings and recommendations of a Mid-Hudson transit study have been released. The study, whose recommendations call for improvements like the expansion of some park and rides to microtransit zones, is still open for public comment.

As the year comes to a close, changes are in store in the New York state legislature. In the 42nd Senate district, first-term Democrat Jen Metzger lost her bid for re-election as the seat reverted to Republican hands. She says she got a lot done in two years and found the work gratifying. Metzger spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne about her term and what lies ahead.

Two New York state lawmakers from Rockland County are pushing their bill to automatically renew property tax exemptions for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Senior residential learning communities are a fairly new trend in senior living options in the U.S. So far, the only one in the tristate area will be at SUNY Purchase in Westchester County. Shovels have not yet hit the ground for the on-campus specialized community, but a few of the future residents are already participating in activities and cannot wait for move-in day.

New York Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney’s bill to permanently ban oil barge anchorages on the lower Hudson River has passed in the House.