A federal civil rights lawsuit involving allegations of religious discrimination in the Town of Forestburgh has escalated into a national legal flashpoint, with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York State Attorney General backing the Hasidic Orthodox Jewish developers behind a long-stalled housing project.

The developers allege that Forestburgh officials deliberately revised zoning laws to prevent their planned community from moving forward. The 2,600-unit project, originally envisioned as a golf resort called Lost Lake, has changed hands over the years. The latest owners purchased it for over $13 million and say they have encountered systemic resistance rooted in religious bias.

“This is a version of a fight we’ve seen across the Hudson Valley and the Catskills,” said Philip Pantuso, Managing Editor of the Times Union’s Hudson Valley bureau, in an interview with Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo. “But what’s different here is the depth of evidence pointing to discriminatory intent.”

That evidence includes internal emails exchanged by town officials and residents. In one message cited by federal prosecutors, the chairman of the planning board wrote, “Please don’t be scared about the Hasidic threat ― we’re energized and have the cash to fight and make their lives miserable.” Another email warned of Hasidic families “taking over like locusts” and destroying Forestburgh “as we know and love it today.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan filed a 21-page statement of interest in federal court supporting the developers’ civil rights claims. State Attorney General Letitia James followed with a strongly worded letter praising the Justice Department’s action.

“Your engagement in this matter sends a powerful message that no individual or community is above the law — and no community is beyond its protection,” James wrote to the acting U.S. attorney.

James’ office had previously warned Forestburgh officials that the town’s zoning code may violate anti-discrimination laws, particularly for requiring five-acre minimum lots for places of worship and excessive lot-line setbacks—restrictions the plaintiffs argue were designed to keep Hasidic Jews out.

In response, Forestburgh’s legal counsel, Jafid Afzali, defended the zoning laws, saying they apply equally to religious and secular uses such as daycares and libraries. He also argued that the cited emails dated back to 2015—well before the current developers acquired the property—and that they don’t represent official town policy.

“These communications have been taken out of context and do not reflect the actions or official position of the Town Board,” Afzali wrote, adding that the town has worked to ensure compliance with constitutional and statutory land-use laws.

Still, critics of the town’s actions say the pattern resembles other legal battles, including a 2019 case in Chester, Orange County, where the state and federal governments intervened to stop what they deemed discriminatory housing policies aimed at blocking Hasidic migration.

The Forestburgh case remains in federal court, with the developers seeking damages and a halt to what they describe as unconstitutional zoning barriers. In the meantime, development on the site remains frozen.

“There have been other disputes on this land before the Hasidic community got involved,” Robayo noted during his conversation with Pantuso. “But what’s surfaced in the emails is something entirely different—it goes beyond environmental or aesthetic concerns and reveals deeper issues.”

A resolution may still be months away, but the involvement of the top state and federal law enforcement agencies signals that Forestburgh’s zoning practices will remain under intense scrutiny.

“This case exemplifies the critical need for robust enforcement of the Fair Housing Act,” James said, “and the protection of all communities from discriminatory governmental conduct.”

On this World Ovarian Cancer Day, hope is on the horizon for the estimated 300,000 women diagnosed globally each year with one of the most lethal forms of cancer. A groundbreaking new international effort is being launched today that aims to transform how ovarian cancer is detected and treated—by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), based in the United States, in partnership with research organizations from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Backed by a $1 million grant and an additional $1 million in AI compute credits from Microsoft’s AI for Health Lab, the new Global Ovarian Cancer Coalition intends to accelerate research breakthroughs that have long lagged behind those for other cancers like breast or skin.

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke with Audra Moran, President and CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, to learn more about this international effort and how AI may change the future of ovarian cancer care.

“There is no mammogram for ovarian cancer,” said Moran. “That’s been the holy grail—developing a reliable early detection test. Right now, by the time symptoms appear, the cancer has often already spread.”

But AI, Moran believes, can help rewrite that narrative.

One promising example comes from Memorial Sloan Kettering, where a researcher funded by OCRA is using nanotechnology and AI to scan blood for molecular markers that may indicate ovarian cancer years before symptoms arise. “This kind of innovation could shift detection forward by five years,” Moran said, offering a potential lifeline to countless women.

The lack of early detection is only one of the challenges. Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease—many different types fall under the same label, and most originate not in the ovaries, but in the fallopian tubes. By the time the disease is diagnosed, it is often in advanced stages, contributing to a 50 percent survival rate—a figure Moran calls “unacceptable.”

That stark reality is what inspired this global coalition. “We don’t care where a cure comes from,” said Moran. “We just want to find it.”

AI’s role will not only be in detection but also in treatment optimization, potentially tailoring therapies to each patient’s genetic profile. The coalition also aims to address systemic hurdles in global research—like the sharing of data across borders—and create a collaborative environment that supersedes national and institutional competition.

For patients, families, and advocates wondering how to help, Moran encourages visiting OCRA’s website, where individuals can take a free genetic risk assessment, access peer mentorship, and learn about advocacy efforts. “If a test is developed,” Moran noted, “we’ll need to ensure it gets covered by insurance and Medicare.”

The launch today marks a turning point, not only in strategy but in optimism. Moran, reflecting on her own experience with rapidly evolving AI tools like ChatGPT, believes the same acceleration can—and must—apply to life-saving medical technology.

“Just a year ago, I would’ve said it could take 10 years to see this kind of change,” she said. “Now, I believe we can do it much faster.”

For Moran and so many others—including families affected by ovarian cancer, like this reporter’s own—this initiative represents more than innovation. It represents a promise that the future can be different.