Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Dutchess County will hold Memorial Day ceremonies and parades from May 21 through May 25 to honor military service members.

A ceremony in Poughkeepsie is set for May 25 at 11 a.m. at John K. Rinaldi Memorial Park.

Poughkeepsie resident Stephen Masten won $1 million on his March 16 Powerball ticket bought at South Gate Deli and opted for a lump-sum cash payout of $651,000 after taxes.

Today, on the steps of the state Capitol in Albany, the New York Beef Council named Ben’s Fresh the winner of the 2026 Best Burger in New York for its Empire State Burger made with prime beef + aged cheddar; the restaurant in Port Jervis operates daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 33 East Main Street.

National Grid warns that scammers are targeting customers during its smart meter rollout by impersonating workers and urging prepaid card payments; one customer stopped a potential $400 charge by verifying her account number and reporting the call.

A new state law requires Hudson Valley schools to take cooling measures once classrooms exceed safe temperatures, and students may be sent home if temperatures hit 88 degrees (forecast highs reach 96 degrees today) as extreme weather persists.

SUNY Ulster may keep tuition flat for the 2026-27 school year if the county legislature approves a $28 million budget at today’s public hearing in Stone Ridge.

Enrollment has risen over five years with full-time tuition proposed at $5,680, officials say provides an affordable path for local families.

The New York State Bridge Authority teamed up with Green Goats to clear invasive vegetation under Walkway Over the Hudson and introduced two new goats (Brooklyn and Oats) to help maintain the area, inviting residents to watch from a safe distance.

New York’s DMV has updated its point system so that even minor infractions like slight speeding or cell phone use add more points—lowering the threshold to 10 points in 24 months.

Officials warn these changes could quickly lead to license suspension for repeat violations.

New York lawmakers passed two bills banning electronic shelf labels and personalized online pricing to protect consumers from surveillance pricing that raises grocery costs — the Protecting Consumers and Jobs from Discriminatory Pricing Act and the One Fair Price Act now await Assembly and governor approval.

On May 18, 2026, New York State awarded DRI funding for 10 projects in Poughkeepsie (including $1,230,000 for a Market Street conversion and additional funds for mixed-use, community, and workforce housing redevelopments) to revitalize local areas.

Central Hudson Gas and Electric carried out a planned outage at the MJN Convention Center and DoubleTree Hotel on May 11 to replace aging cables and boost service reliability — hotel guests received accommodations during the shutdown.

Local nonprofit Hudson River Housing received $1.45 million + a $700,000 grant to demolish an old laundromat and build an 83,000 sqft mixed-use building with 81 apartments and commercial space at 488 Main Street pending zoning board approval.

The Chain Gang Band: Billy Joel Tribute Concert

3-5 p.m. — Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center — Ticket details not specified — Experience the electrifying tribute to Billy Joel by the beloved Hudson Valley band.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - Dance Recital

2-6 p.m. — Bardavon 1869 Opera House — Tickets available — Experience a captivating ballet journey to Narnia battling the White Witch with powerful choreography and enchanting music.

Paint YOUR Pet at Vino - Crew Restaurant & Bar

6:30-9 p.m. — Crew Restaurant & Bar — Price varies — Unleash your creativity by painting your pet while enjoying wine and appetizers.