News

By Pat Bradley

Albany, NY – A coalition of environmental groups is calling on Governor Pataki to enhance funding to the state's Environmental Protection Fund. The groups say funding has stagnated over the years and the Governor needs to place a renewed priority on the fund in his Executive Budget. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Av Harris

Hartford, CT – With Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman's name circulating as a possible nominee to head the U-S Deparment of Homeland Security, such a scenario would allow Governor Jodi Rell to choose a fellow Republican to replace him. WAMC's Connecticut Correspondent Av Harris reports.

By Kelly Wilkinson

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Ethics Commission has hired an outside consultant who will review the agency from top to bottom. More from WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Kelly Wilkinson.

By Pat Bradley

Killington, VT – Town officials in Killington, Vermont are considering implementing a local option tax on rooms and meals, and sales of alcoholic beverages as a means of easing the property tax burden. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Allison Dunne

Albany, NY – Environmentalists are criticizing a proposal from the EPA that they say would allow municipal waste facilities to dump raw sewage into the nation's waterways. In New York, environmental advocates say the state's drinking water supplies would be in trouble if the proposal were approved. And so they're calling on some elected officials to step in and prevent the plan from going through. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has the story.

By Pat Bradley

Ticonderoga, NY – International Paper will file for a permit this week requesting permission for a test burn of tires at its Ticonderoga plant. The mill has filed for permits in the past and the project has been delayed. Each time environmentalists and others, especially in Vermont, have advocated against the experimental burn. And they still think it's a bad idea. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Brian Shields

Schenectady, NY – A clinic that provides free medical care to the un-insured and working poor in Schenectady is expanding . WAMC's Brian Shields reports on the Schenectady Free Health Clinic that is staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses and lab technicians.

By Eesha Williams

Springfield, MA – A group of Massachusetts lawmakers say they will propose campaign finance reform legislation in the legislative session that starts January 5. WAMC's Eesha Williams has more.

By Kelly Wilkinson

Boston, MA – A new study out in Massachusetts shows thousands of workers are incorrectly classified by their employers. That means companies save money by not paying taxes and benefits. And workers lose out. More from WAMC"s Berkshire Bureau Chief Kelly Wilkinson.

By Allison Dunne

Hudson Falls, NY – Findings from a pair of studies related to the dredging of PCBs in the Hudson River are out this week. One finding shows that greater amounts of PCBs could be disturbed and sent downstream than initially thought. Another shows higher-than-anticipated levels of PCBs in a certain portion of the river. EPA officials are considering the findings, but say time and cost estimates of the project will not yet change. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.