Hank Gross

HYDE PARK – Hotel and motel room tax in Dutchess County revenue rose in 2012 by four percent above 2011 and that is an indication that tourism is picking up, industry officials say.

County and local leaders, including Dutchess County Tourism Executive Director Mary Kay Vrba, marked National Tourism Rally Day at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday.

In response to the recent controversy regarding Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo’s firing of a city employee, several concerned residents came to City Hall Tuesday evening to speak to the city council about how the issue has been handled.

Residents who offered their opinions Tuesday night spoke in support of Gallo personally or as a leader and elected official. 

City resident Jeanne Edwards said that the mayor has already apologized and it’s time to move on, telling the council she was embarrassed to see the city’s dirty laundry has being aired for all to see.

BETHEL – The Sullivan County 911 center will upgrade its communications system with a grant from the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

County Commissioner of Public Safety Richard Martinkovic said the funds will allow for the county to buy a new 911 emergency telephone system at its facilities in Bethel and a new backup system at Liberty State Police, as well as new recording equipment for all calls and radio communications.

NEWBURGH – Police late Thursday released the names of the three victims who were shot and killed in Newburgh early Wednesday.

The victims were identified as Pamela Jenkins, 52, of 98 South William Street, and John Lewis, 43, and Henry Blue, 52.  They lived elsewhere in the city.

Police said the second and third floor apartments at 98 South William are vacant.

City detectives, investigators from the State Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office are continuing to investigate the case.

No arrests have been made.

CATSKILL – A small aircraft was seen crashing into the Hudson River off Catskill, at approximately 4:30 Thursday afternoon. Witnesses say it burst into flames shortly after impact, and became submerged within 10 minutes.

Emergency responders cordoned off both sides of the river, Main Street in Germantown on Columbia County's east bank; and the area near Lehigh Northeast Cement factory in Catskill, on Greene County's western shore.

No plane or survivors were recovered as of sundown.

NEWBURGH – Police are investigating the murders of three people – two men and a woman – whose bodies were found in an apartment at 98 South William Street in Newburgh early Wednesday morning. They had all been shot.

Two of the victims of the 2:40 a.m. incident were dead at the scene and a third died at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital a short time after arrival.

The corners down the street were lined with people from the neighborhood watching and speculating.   Since the investigation was fresh and ongoing, police released little information.

KINGSTON – The City of Kingston Flooding Task Force, which was created to address waterfront flooding and sea level rise, continues to look at alternatives and suggestions to avoid flooding in the future.

The group will eventually develop recommendations to prevent waterfront flooding now and into the future, said Gregg Swanzey, the city’s economic development director.

KINGSTON – Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht of Congregation Agudas Achim in Kingston felt the community of the Hudson Valley should do something spiritual for the victims of the Boston Marathon attacks so his synagogue held a special prayer service Tuesday.

Congregants and others prayed for the dead and injured and their families, but also for the entire country, said Rabbi Hecht.

GOSHEN – Law enforcement across the Hudson Valley has heightened security in the wake of the Boston bombings that left three people dead and over 170 people injured on Monday. The attacks at the Boston Marathon were acts of terrorism, President Obama said Tuesday.

Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois said law enforcement is concentrating on areas where large numbers of people gather.

ALBANY – Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R, Fishkill) said the governor’s proposed legislation to get tough on public corruption is only a first step.

Lalor said the second step “has to be clearing the legislature of leadership that has tolerated corruption,” and that should start at the top of the Assembly with Democrat Speaker Sheldon Silver stepping down.

The freshman lawmaker said there should be term limits on the legislature and those in its leadership positions.

Lalor also called for the end to member items.