Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Santa Claus and his uniformed police elves spread holiday cheer on Saturday by visiting several stops such as Hudson Garden Apartments and Boulevard Knolls, then welcomed children at Winter Wonderland at the Main Street Public Safety Building + handed out toys and offered photo ops.

A glitch on Target’s website and app disrupted holiday pickup orders in Poughkeepsie and nearby Hudson Valley cities over the weekend—some customers report that updates to their orders still are delayed, while the retailer apologized for the issue.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed new laws on Dec.

22 that ban kratom sales to anyone under 21 and require warning labels—steps taken after over 100 overdose deaths last year—while violators may face fines up to $500.

The president signed Congressman Pat Ryan's bill today banning new barge anchorages carrying crude oil or dangerous substances from parking on the Hudson River + the law aims to protect drinking water for over 100,000 residents with backing from local groups.

Health officials say flu cases jumped 83% last week with nearly 50,000 confirmed infections and over 2,250 hospitalizations in the Hudson Valley; they warn numbers could climb further after the holidays (Subclade K is a new strain that challenges vaccines).

Junior wrestler Will Soto of NFA earned his spot on Puerto Rico's Under-17 World Team after quick wins in Puerto Rico and will compete in freestyle wrestling at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in July.

The two-time state champion will proudly represent his heritage.

New Year’s Celebration at Noon

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum — $12-$18 — Celebrate 2026 with music, crafts, science demos, and a lively countdown to noon.