News

By Dan Bobkoff

Northampton, ma – The average cost of gas nationally is inching closer to $3 dollars a gallon. But are those high prices really having an effect on the average consumer? WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Dan Bobkoff takes a look.

By Jessica Bloustein

Albany, NY – New York State Assembly Republicans are again pushing for stricter sex offender laws. They released a task force report Tuesday recommending measures to do so--just a few months after state lawmakers rushed to strengthen the laws before their sunset. WAMC's Capital District Bureau Chief Jessica Bloustein reports.

Albany, NY – Word For The Wise #2977--05/09/06: National Teacher Day

Albany, NY – Neil Novik's Odyssey Bookshop picks for 5/9/06:

* Crime Beat by Michael Connelly
* In Plain Sight by C.J. Box
* The Hard Way by Lee Child
* End of Story by Peter Abrahams
* The Bookwoman's Last Fling by John Dunning
* Mission Flats by William Landay (Crime Club selection)

Albany, NY – (Air Date: 5/05/06, 5/06/06)On this week's Legislative Gazette: Legislative leaders still want to negotiate, but the governor says the budget is done, State Senate Democrats propose a reorganization of state programs to boost upstate economies, and the Mayor of Plattsburgh may have a new state job.

Albany, NY – On this week's Media Project WAMC's Alan Chartock, Times Union editor Rex Smith and WTEN TV anchor Elisa Streeter talk about Stephen Colbert's roast of the president at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, social relationships between journalists and their subjects and whether FOX News may have won George W. Bush the election in 2000.

By Jessica Bloustein

Albany, NY – Albany District Attorney David Soares has apologized for statements about law enforcement he made in a speech in Vancouver last week. At the same time, he says he is standing by his argument that America is losing the war on drugs, largely because of lack of reform by lawmakers. WAMC's Capital District Bureau Chief Jessica Bloustein reports.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – Vermont lawmakers will return to Montpelier tomorrow to try to finish the Legislative session. Lawmakers had hoped to finish work this past weekend, but House Speaker Gaye Symington decided last Friday that her colleagues were too tired to work into the weekend, and had too much work left to do. The Speaker hopes work can be wrapped up tomorrow. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Carrie Saldo

Great Barrington, MA – The Big Dig, $14.6 billion conversion of Boston's Interstate 93 into an underground highway, has long-been plagued by criticism, cost overruns and scandals. Now, Democratic hopeful for governor Deval Patrick says it needs an independent monitor. A report from WAMC's Carrie Saldo: