Protests are planned Monday at the offices of several Congressional leaders around the country by activists opposed to cuts in the food stamp program.

In today’s Academic Minute, Dr. Amy Kelley of Mount Sinai School of Medicine examines the average Medicare recipient’s medical expenses during the last five years of life. 

Amy Kelley is an assistant professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Her research focuses on medical decision making for older adults with serious medical illness. She received her medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College.

About Dr. Kelley

Two New York Congressmen from the Hudson Valley will share breakfast and talk about a number of regional issues Monday morning. The idea is that they’ll do so casting party affiliation aside.

Dartmouth Institute researchers Doctors Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin have published a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzing how the Low Testosterone advertisements so prevalent on television are a perfect template for how drug companies manufacture and sell disease. WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley spoke recently with “Low T: How to Sell Disease” co-author Steven Woloshin.

A spokesman for Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy says his staff will talk to a retired New York Air National Guard officer who alleges a pattern of sexual misconduct at an upstate air base.

Money is being raised for the families of fallen law enforcement officers with several events in Vermont.

In New York, a health commissioner in the Hudson Valley is stepping down.

Democratic heavy-weights will pull out the stops this weekend to campaign for Ed Markey in the June 25 Massachusetts special Senate election.

   A Markey campaign rally in Worcester Saturday evening is headlined by former president Bill Clinton.  Political consultant Tony Cignolli says  Clinton can deliver an effective message on behalf of Markey

Officials say there's still $11 million available in federal funds for Vermont cities and towns eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program following Tropical Storm Irene.