M. Gessen, the Russian-American journalist, author, and visiting writer at Bard College, has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for a body of work in The New York Times examining the rise of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. M. Gessen, a visiting scholar at Bard, has won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. (Photo by Lena Di) The Pulitzer committee cited what it described as an “illuminating collection of reported essays on rising authoritarian regimes that draw on history and personal experience to probe timely themes of oppression, belonging, and exile.” At Bard, where Gessen has served since...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/bard-visiting-writer-and-scholar-masha-gessen-wins-pulitzer-prize-for-essays-on-authoritarianism-erosion-of-democracy/

Volunteers collected tons of trash along the Hudson River shoreline Saturday as part of Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep, including at sites in Rhinecliff and Staatsburg, where dozens of local residents turned out for the effort. Lauren Coghill of Rhinebeck, left, and Gabriella Spartos of Kingston joined hundreds of volunteers Saturday in cleaning up the banks of the Hudson River, from Staten Island to Saratoga. (Photo by Emma Cornfeldt) Volunteers collected tons of trash along the Hudson River shoreline Saturday as part of Riverkeeper’s annual Sweep. (Video by Emma Cornfeldt) In Rhinecliff, 21 volunteers spent three hours scouring the shoreline, while in...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/from-stair-treads-to-microplastics-riverkeeper-sweep-pulls-20-tons-of-trash-from-hudson-with-video%e2%96%b6/

Two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Village of Rhinebeck within the span of one week, according to the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM), a Hudson Valley-based immigrant advocacy organization. Two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Village of Rhinebeck within the span of one week. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security) The first arrest occurred on Saturday, April 25, when a man was pulled over by ICE agents while driving. The second took place on Friday morning, when a man was apprehended while...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/ice-detains-two-men-in-rhinebeck-village-in-course-of-one-week-advocates-say/

After 51 years as President of Bard College, Leon Botstein today announced he will step down at the end of June. Bard Faculty members gathered Tuesday morning to discuss issuing a public statement in response to reports of President Leon Botstein’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) The news comes after a report by the Washington, D.C. law firm WilmerHale, analyzing Botstein’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was delivered to the Bard Board of Trustees this week. The report, a three-page summary of which was released to the Bard community Friday, sharply criticized Botstein. Botstein,...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/bard-president-leon-botstein-announces-june-retirement-amid-conclusions-of-law-firm-over-his-relationship-with-sex-offender-jeffrey-epstein/

In a close vote, the Clinton Planning Board agreed Thursday to begin drafting a resolution to require the proposed Six Senses development to conduct a more extensive environmental review, rather than allowing the project to move forward as is. The Clinton Planning Board agreed Thursday to begin drafting a resolution to require that the proposed Six Senses development conduct a more extensive environmental review. (Photo by Claire Greenburger) The 4-3 vote caps over a year of public hearing and Board discussion over whether the controversial development should receive a “positive declaration” under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, a designation...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/clinton-planning-board-moves-toward-deeper-environmental-review-of-six-senses-project-after-split-vote/

Several Rhinebeck community members, including four 7th-graders at Bulkeley Middle School, hope to tackle food insecurity locally by launching a community fridge near Rhinebeck’s Starr Library later this year. A group of 7th graders at Bulkeley Middle School is leading a push to launch a community fridge in Rhinebeck. (Photo by Tony Adamis) On Monday evening, three of the students – Lucas Button, June Howe, and Dominic Miller — gave a presentation about their plans to the Town Board, which is receptive to the project. The students contacted Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia in April about hosting the fridge on Town...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/rhinebeck-middle-schoolers-lead-push-for-free-community-fridge-near-starr-library/

President of the Red Hook Volunteer Fire Company Board of Directors Richard Hilbrandt has informed Town and Village leaders that a lack of active volunteers is hindering the ability of the company to respond to emergency calls and meet its contractual obligations to serve the Red Hook community. The Red Hook Volunteer Fire Company has informed Town and Village leaders that a lack of active volunteers is hindering the company's ability to respond to emergency calls. (Photo courtesy of Todd VanBuskirk) “There have been instances where our response times have been delayed, and in some cases, we have been unable...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/red-hook-fire-company-says-it-may-fall-short-on-contract-as-volunteer-staffing-declines/

Volunteers from across the Hudson Valley offered their time last Saturday to repair and rebuild the home of an 81-year-old Clinton grandma. Donna G. has lived in her home for 31 years, but has recently found it difficult to keep up with the maintenance. Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley spent last Saturday rerunning electrical, repairing a deck, replacing front steps, and more at the home of 81-year-old Donna G. of Clinton. (Photo by Tony Tackaberry) Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley worked on upgrading Donna G.'s home in Clinton on Saturday. (Video by Tony Tackaberry) The project was organized...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/hudson-valley-volunteers-repair-restore-clinton-grandmas-home/

Alexia Doyle, of Red Hook, died on April 24, 2026, at Northern Dutchess Hospital. She was born on July 31, 1947, in Poughkeepsie to Allan and Genevieve Traver. Alexia worked as a secretary at the New York State Department of Transportation's Poughkeepsie office, where she was known for her reliability, kindness, and quiet dedication to her work. In her retirement, Alexia was a member of a Mahjong club and several knitting groups. She loved knitting and sewing for family and friends. She also found comfort and community in her faith and was a devoted parishioner of St. John’s Reformed Church. ...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/alexia-doyle-ny-dot-secretary-dies-at-78/

The Red Hook Village Board on Monday approved a sewer budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will keep rates steady, despite a divided vote and concerns from one trustee that the plan lacks sufficient reserves to cover unexpected expenses. The Red Hook Village Board on Monday approved a sewer budget for the upcoming fiscal year that will keep rates steady. (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock) “When something unexpected happens, there's no mechanism to pay for it without either overspending the budget or seeking another advance from the General Fund,” Trustee Frances Uku told The Daily Catch.  The Board adopted...

https://www.thedailycatch.org/articles/divided-red-hook-village-board-approves-sewer-budget-holds-rates-steady/