Hudson Valley News

A former county executive who ran unsuccessfully against Mario Cuomo for governor of New York in the 1980s, has died after a long illness.

Officials from Putnam County, supported by two state lawmakers, came together Thursday saying they will not release the names and addresses of legal, pistol permit holders in Putnam County, despite having been presented with a Freedom of Information Law request for the information. Their decision comes after The Journal News, a lower Hudson Valley newspaper, published such information from Rockland and Westchester Counties less than two weeks ago, using an online, interactive gun map.  The issue has since become highly controversial.

For the second straight year, January has been dubbed “Falafel Awareness Month” by one regional restaurant. WAMC’s Alan Chartock spoke with Justin Goldman, general manager of Park Falafel and Pizza in Hudson, New York, to find out why.

After voting to avoid going over the fiscal cliff, House of Representative lawmakers from New York expressed outrage that there was no move to vote on a Hurricane Sandy relief supplemental appropriations bill before Congress adjourns tomorrow. On Friday, the U.S Senate passed a Sandy disaster relief package, and many congressional representatives said the majority support was also there to pass a bill in the House. After much criticism and pressure today, one House member says there is now a vote scheduled, one for the end of the week.