Patrick Donges

Its Oscar time and this year’s hopefuls include the youngest and oldest ever nominated for acting awards and four period pieces that could not be more different in the running for best picture.

The Oscars will be awarded this Sunday, and today we have film professors Rob Edelman and Audrey Kupferberg in studio to share their picks and address your questions and comments on the nominees, nominees you think may have been overlooked, or even prospects for next year’s awards season.

The opposition to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York SAFE Act continues to ramp up this week. One Central New York Assemblyman has proposed new legislation amending the law to change how ‘assault weapons’ banned by it are defined. WAMC’s Patrick Donges spoke recently with 118th District Assemblyman Marc Butler about his proposal.

On today's show we're talking science in the Science Forum, a collection of some of the finest scientific minds in our listening area.

Today we welcome Dr. Helen Ghiradella, professor of biological sciences at the State University of New York at Albany.

Dr. Ed Stander is a professor of geology and astronomy at the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

As reported this weekend in the New York Times, Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to propose changes to the state’s policies on abortion as part of his ‘Women’s Equality Act’ introduced during his State of the State Address that include allow health care practitioners, not solely physicians, from performing the procedure.

Following last weekend’s massive snowstorm that buried most of eastern Massachusetts from Boston to Worcester in as much as three feet of snow, there was a blizzard of activity this week by Republican hopefuls in the race to replace former Massachusetts U.S. Senator John Kerry.

WAMC’s Patrick Donges checked in with the Boston Globe’s Massachusetts State House bureau chief Frank Phillips for an update on the climatic challenges, both political and meteorological, that Republicans must overcome for a shot at the seat.

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day of chocolate, flowers, and love… or is it?

Today we want your take on this holiday. Is it a fun way to spend some time with your sweetheart, or a day manufactured by card and candy companies to boost first quarter earnings? WAMC's 'resident softie' Alan Chartock joins host Ray Graf.

President Barack Obama delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term last night, outlining bold initiatives on reforming the nation’s high schools, immigration policy, economic development, and gun control.

Today we want to hear what you thought of the president’s remarks, and joining us with his reaction to the speech is WAMC’s own political observer, Dr. Alan Chartock. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts.

Prior to Monday's meeting of the Schenectady City Council, Mayor Gary McCarthy delivered his state of the city address.

He told lawmakers that the city will finish the year with a small budget surplus, but noted that there are still challenges that need to be addressed, including the city’s vacant properties.

New York State officials are facing some hard deadlines over the next few weeks with regards to whether or not the state will allow the drilling of natural gas extraction wells using the controversial process known as hydrofracking.

WAMC’s Patrick Donges spoke recently with Gannett New York State Government reporter Jon Campbell for an update on state’s fracking decision making process.

New York’s top law enforcement officials were joined by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Police Chief Steven Krokoff in Albany on Tuesday to announce a major drug indictment.

The 11-month operation, code-named “Operation North Star,” resulted in a 226 count indictment of 31 defendants and the seizure of nearly 2 kilograms of cocaine with an approximate street value of $200,000 dollars, more than $100,000 dollars in cash, three vehicles, a bulletproof vest, and a hand gun that police say was to be used in an imminent murder.