News

By Allison Dunne

Kingston, NY – With the death last month of the brain-damaged Florida woman - Terri Schiavo - the topic of living wills and other so-called advanced directives have been weighing on people's minds. In New York State, in the Hudson Valley, at least one hospital is holding a forum on the issue, while state associations are doling out information, and seeing large numbers of downloads of related documents from their Web sites. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has more.

By Eesha Williams

Northampton, MA – Several lawmakers from western Massachusetts feels that an apparent change of position on emergency contraception by Governor Mitt Romney will hurt women. A Romney spokesman declined to speak specifically about the issue of emergency contraception. A bill to make the so-called "morning-after pill" more widely available is moving quickly through the Massachusetts legislature. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams reports.

By Pat Bradley

Washington, DC – The GAO released a report Monday that concludes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission needs to crack down on nuclear plants and their handling of highly radioactive spent fuel.
The report was issued a year after two spent fuel pieces were reported missing, and were later found, at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By John Krol

Boston, MA – Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are holding hearings today on several bills related to gay marriage in Massachusetts. One calls for the repeal of a 1913 law that has been used by the Romney Administration as a way to ban out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in the commonwealth. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has the story.

By Alan Chartock

Albany, NY – TODAY IN THE COMMUNITY CORNER WE MEET TROY, NEW YORK MAYOR, HARRY TUTUNJIAN. TUTUNJIAN TELLS ALAN HOW HE STARTED OUT IN POLITICS, AND IF HE MISSES HIS OLD LIFE. THEN THEY DISCUSS THE ZONING ALONG ONE OF NEW YORK'S MAJOR ROADS.

By John Krol

Rowe, MA – The demolition and clean up of the former Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power facility in northwest Massachusetts is expected to be finished by this fall. But, critics say contamination at the site is too extensive for that goal. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief John Krol has more.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – A group of wealthy Vermonters, ranked in the state's top 5% of income, is calling on Vermont's Governor and legislature to raise taxes on their income bracket to help solve the state's Medicaid budget crisis. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Eesha Williams

Springfield, MA – The city of Springfield, MA could soon be importing cheaper prescription drugs from the from across the Atlantic, as well as Canada. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Eesha Williams reports.

By Allison Dunne

Kingston, NY – For the first time, New Yorkers will be able to donate directly to prostate cancer research through their state income tax returns. New York is one of two states including this first-time option. The C-E-O of the Prostate Cancer Foundation says he expects dozens of states to follow suit in the coming years. More from WAMC's Allison Dunne.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – Vermont Governor James Douglas has created a task force designed to boost the economy of the state's dairy industry. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.