News

By Joe Donahue

Albany, NY – From The Producers to Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Gene Wilder has had a pretty amazing career.

But, lately he has been hard at work on his just-released memoir titled Kiss Me Like a StrangerThe book is not an autobiography in the usual sense of the word, and it's not a celebrity "tell-all." Instead, Wilder has chosen to write about resonant moments in his life, events that led him to an understanding of the art of acting, and - more important - about love.

By Joe Donahue

Albany, NY – Not surprisingly, Gene Wilder was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Leo Bloom. (He was also nominated for an Oscar for co-writing Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks.)

By Allison Dunne

Kingston, NY – A New York Senator and Massachusetts Congressman are introducing a bill that aims to protect consumers' personal information. They say the measure will close a loophole in U.S. privacy laws that leaves consumers vulnerable when U.S. businesses send personal customer information overseas for processing. The lawmakers cite an increase in identity theft cases as a major reason for the bill's necessity. More from WAMC's Allison Dunne.

By Eesha Williams

Brattleboro, VT – More than 600 people attended a legislative hearing in Brattleboro, Vermont last night. The subject of the hearing was storage of nuclear waste at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams has more.

By John Krol

Pittsfield, MA – The contract dispute between teacher and administrators in Pittsfield, Massachusetts continues to make waves as the teachers took to the streets yesterday in protest. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

Albany, NY – Lee Boroson's current show at the Tang is entitled "Outer Limit" and is the eighth in the series of Opener exhibitions at Skidmore that began in 2000. Boroson's installation features seven, new, large-scale works that use a wide variety of materials including blown glass, inflated nylon, and digital photography.You can find clouds, castles, stars, leaves, symbols of luck and even a cross-section of skin in Boroson's sculptures at the Tang. www.skidmore.edu/tang

By Joe Donahue

Albany, NY – Actress Teri Garr speaks with WAMC's Joe Donahue about her career and about being an ambassador for MS. A role she says she enjoys.

By John Krol

Great Barrington, MA – A group of citizens in southern Berkshire County is calling on the district attorney to seek a lesser sentence for several young people accused of distributing drugs in a school zone. The D-A currently has a policy of seeking a mandatory two-year sentence for such an infraction. But, others say any compromise would be a double-standard, favoring the priviledged. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

By Allison Dunne

Newburgh, NY – The New York State Assembly minority leadership has been called into question this week, with one Republican Assemblyman stepping up to say he'd take on the role. Though support remains for Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt of Albion, there are others who say Assemblyman Dan Burling of Warsaw should take over. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with a few Republican Assembly members from the Hudson Valley to get their take on the situation.

By Eesha Williams

Springfield, MA – Relatives of dozens of people who worked at a factory in Springfield, Massachusetts say the workers died prematurely because of their jobs. The factory made atomic valves for the government. The federal government has a plan to compensate the victim's families. Critics say the money is taking too long to arrive. Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams reports.