News

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Local officials and business leaders gathered in Plattsburgh this morning to call for the re-authorization of New York's Empire Zones program. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By John Krol

Pittsfield, MA – After signs of progress last month, negotiations between teachers and the school committee seems to have taken a step backward -- as lately, there seems to be more communication through the press than at the bargaining table. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

By Eesha Williams

Springfield, MA – School bus drivers in Springfield, Massachusetts held a noisy protest outside the school superindent's office this morning. The drivers say a plan by the school district would drastically cut their pay and benefits. They are threatening to go on strike. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams was at the protest and filed this report.

By John Krol

Williamstown, MA – Mount Greylock Regional School District in Williamstown, Massachusetts is facing huge deficits in the coming years with costs doubling revenue increases. It has school committee members calling for concessions by teachers, as class sizes are expected to balloon next fall on account of the contract dispute. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, NY – State lawmakers have just two more days to meet their goal of a budget agreement before the Easter recess. Governor George Pataki is becoming increasingly critical of the legislature's decision to try
to craft its own budget first, without including him in the process. WAMC's Capitol Correspondent Karen DeWitt reports.

By Allison Dunne

Garrison, NY – Environmental group Riverkeeper has a new senior attorney on board. He joins the Putnam County-based Hudson River advocacy group at a time when Riverkeeper's executive director plans to be more proactive, than reactive, when it comes to polluters and developers. More from WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Annual crime statistics that colleges and universities are required to submit to the U-S Department of Education show that colleges in northern New York are among the safest in the country. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Allison Dunne

Hudson, NY – A New York Department of State comment period has ended with regard to St. Lawrence Cement's proposed Greenport plant. Environmental groups looking to halt the cement company's plans say comments they've submitted shed new light on how the Greenport plant would impact a state historic site in Columbia County. A St. Lawrence spokesman says the light they are casting isn't all that new or suprising. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has more.

By John Krol

Amherst, MA – The federal Education Department is offering colleges and universities a new way to show compliance with the Title Nine anti-discrimination law for inter-collegiate athletic programs -- in the form of an internet-based survey. But, many critics say the move is undermining the landmark law. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, NY – Governor George Pataki is chiding the state legislature for failing to meet its self- imposed deadline of finishing budget conference committees by the end of the day on Monday. The conference committees
have been extended to the end of the month. WAMC's Capitol Correspondent Karen DeWitt reports.