Notes from around town

 Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin is feeling the heat as he is running for re-election, so he's gone full Trump on his challenger, Democrat Tiffani Silverman.

Seems Ms. Silverman posted on social media last month that McLaughlin had abused a loan from the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program for a soybean farm. McLaughlin is crying foul, claiming identity theft, and, through attorney William Dreyer, is demanding Ms. Silverman retract her statements.

Photo courtesy Albany Times-Union.

Silverman had obtained the information on the soybean farm from ProPublica. Allegations of loan abuse against McLaughlin had first appeared on a Reddit message board before Silverman picked up the story. McLaughlin has also refused invitations to debate Ms. Silverman from the League of Women Voters & WRGB. Gee, that sounds familiar, doesn't it? McLaughlin is definitely leaning into the Trump playbook, but I think it's going to cost him this time.

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As reported yesterday, Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC tonight, but will WTEN, owned by Nexstar, air the show? We'll just have to wait & see.

It's funny how things work. Nexstar also owns the CW Network, whose local affiliate, WCWN, is owned by rival Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is continuing its blackout of Kimmel in 38 markets where they have ABC affiliates. Anything to appease the thin skinned guy in the White House, you know?

Update, 3:20 pm (ET): Even though Kimmel is still in WTEN's listings, the station, per Nexstar, will not air the show. A replacement has not been named at press time.

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I got tipped off to news that some crackpot was posting fliers claiming the Rapture was coming today, in the middle of Jewish New Year.

Like, really? When was the last time ya read a Bible, fella? Turns out this jabroni had seen something on social media after a South African pastor had prophesied that the Rapture was coming after a dream the preacher had over the summer.

The timing, however, is just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off base. And if the Biblically-challenged president hasn't said anything about it, well, rest assured that it ain't happening, regardless.

For context & clarity, I suggest this from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 24, verses 35-36. Christ's words are in red.

"Heaven & earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day & hour, no one knows, not even the angels in Heaven, but My Father only."

Anyone that tries to claim otherwise is, well, dreaming.