Ray Graf

Education officials in Springfield, Massachusetts have announced that – starting September 1st - public schools in the city will provide condoms to students as young as 12. It’s part of an effort to fight high rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in the city. Is this a good idea?

How do you lose weight and keep it off?

The theme of the third annual Catskill High Peaks Festival is Classical Hollywood. The ten day festival traces the cross-influences between the concert stage, the Silver Screen, cabaret, and the jazz club and the composers who bridged these worlds. The festival is presented by the Catskill Mountain Foundation in collaboration with Close Encounters With Music. Yehuda Hanani and Michael Chertock join us.

This year, Congress directed the Federal Aviation Authority to open up this country’s civilian air space to drones by 2015. There are already some 300 federal permits to fly them. This has brought up immediate concerns by privacy advocates. A trade group of drone manufacturers and operators has released a voluntary code of conduct for domestic drone missions. But is it enough? Are you comfortable with unmanned aerial drones flying over your neighborhood?

In the wake of recent verbal miscues, there’s renewed speculation in some corners that President Obama may drop Joe Biden from the ticket. Should he? If yes, who should he pick to replace Biden?

Woodstock Fringe is a professional performing arts organization that develops and presents new and experimental theatrical and musical works. They are celebrating their 10th Annual Festival of Theatre and Song and we will speak with Producing Artistic Director, Wallace Norman, and actress Rain Pryor in this hour. Rain Pryor, daughter of Comedy Legend Richard Pryor, is a Director, Actor, Stand up Comedian, Writer and Artistic director of Strand Theatre.

Does a political candidate's religion - or lack of religion - matter to you?

Link to the Quinnipiac University Poll.

SolarCity, a national chain of solar energy infrastructure installation and maintenance professionals, is expanding its Albany operation center, and has announced they are hiring for 34 positions across the state, including eight at their Albany location.

The expansion coincides with the company’s approval last week as a fully affiliated contractor by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and their accreditation in June as an affiliate contractor in NYSERDA’s Home Performance with Energy Star Program.

Last week, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, asked the County Board of Legislators to adopt a countywide ban on the compounds used in a new breed of drugs commonly known as "bath salts."   The move comes as law makers and law enforcement – on the local, state and federal level - struggle to find ways to fight the rapid rise of synthetic drugs. Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente spoke with WAMC's Ray Graf.

Ella, conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison with a book by Jeffrey Hatcher, is running at Capital Repertory Theater in Albany, NY July 24th through August 12th.