Albany, NY – Word For The Wise #2912--02/07/06: Birth anniversary of Charles Dickens

By Jessica Bloustein

Albany, NY – New York State Court of Appeals Chief Justice Judith Kaye coupled a long-sought request for judicial pay raises with a call for legislative and executive branch pay raises in Monday's State of the Judiciary address. Although she describes the state judiciary as being in good shape, Kaye is calling for several other groundbreaking initiatives for the state's court system.

WAMC's Jessica Bloustein has more.

Albany, NY – America's oil wells are drying up. In fact, some say we are at peak oil production right now. At the same time, China, Russia, and India are starting to consume more oil. According to international security expert Michael Klare, the confluence of these two events, plus the rocky relationship between U.S. policy in the Mideast and the oil found there, could spell war in the future.

Klare's new book is called Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum.

By Pat Bradley

St. Albans, VT – A group of farmers in northwestern Vermont has started an alliance to make sure legislators in Montpelier understand their concerns over pollution regulations. The group also wants to educate the public that it's everyone, and not just the agricultural industry, that's contributing to pollution run-off into Lake Champlain. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.

By Deborah Runcie

Albany, NY – With gas prices remaining high, the number of people driving off without paying continues to be a problem nationwide. A lawmaker in upstate New York is hoping to impose legislation that will serve as a deterrent for stealing gas.
WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Deborah Runcie has more.

By Deborah Runcie

Albany, NY – With gas prices remaining high, the number of people driving off without paying continues to be a problem nationwide. A lawmaker in upstate New York is hoping to impose legislation that will serve as a deterrent for stealing gas.

WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Deborah Runcie has more.

By Karen DeWitt

ALBANY – The New York State Lobbying Commission is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to severely restrict gifts that lawmakers can receive from lobbyists. Two new appointments to the commission announced by Governor Pataki make it more likely that the new gift limits will be approved.

Albany, NY – Word For The Wise #2911--02/06/06: Funeral Service Education Week

Albany, NY – (Air Date: 2/03/06, 2/04/06)The State University of New York's Chancellor says, to stop a tuition increase, the legislature must give SUNY more money, our political observer Alan Chartock shares his thoughts on a candidate who's decided to drop out of the race for governor, and there are new calls for better monitoring of dams across the state.

Albany, NY – ALBANY, NY (2006-02-05) (AIRS: 2/05/06 and 2/06/06)Times Union Editor Rex Smith, WAMC's Alan Chartock, and WAMC's Susan Arbettter discuss why some U.S. troops don't like the coverage of injured ABC news anchor Bob Woodruff, whether the media should air the video of kidnapped journalist Jill Carroll, your letters and much more...