New York News

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" opened nationwide on Wednesday. WAMC's Brian Shields spoke to people who saw the movie in Albany.

By Allison Dunne

Albany, NY – An environmental coalition that monitors the cleanup of PCBs in the Hudson River has handed out grades to the parties involved. New York Governor George Pataki and the EPA earned the best grades, with GE and local elected officials faring the worst. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – Groups against the use of genetically-modified seeds have placed a full page ad in a Vermont newspaper urging legislators to "call a time out" on use of the organisms. But such a moratorium may be against the law. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – The US Border Patrol is defending the safety of a checkpoint on the Adirondack Northway that was the site of a bus/tractor-trailer accident this past weekend that injured more than 50 people.
Questions are being raised as to whether the signs leading up to the stop were a factor in the collision. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Allison Dunne

Shandaken, NY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued for public comment a draft permit for the discharge of water from the Shandaken Tunnel to the Esopus Creek. The permit seeks to address the problems with the sediment-laden water that comes from the Schoharie Reservoir. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has more.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The State Assembly has passed a package of election bills to bring New York into compliance with the federal Help America
Vote Act of 2002. WAMC's Brian Shields reports.

By Kelly Wilkinson

Hadley, MA – Salmon raised in hatcheries around the Northeast will be tested to see if they contain unhealthy levels of chemicals. US Fish and Wildlife announced the tests this week in response to a major study that showed farmed salmon were more contaminated than their wild counterparts. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Kelly Wilkinson has more.

By Kelly Wilkinson

Pittsfield, MA – Pittsfield Massachusetts has never recovered from the massive job loss that followed General Electric's departure from the city. But now the city has a concrete plan to create more jobs...specifically 150 jobs a year that pay at least $35,000 a year. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Kelly Wilkinson reports.

By Allison Dunne

Hudson, NY – The American Civil Liberties Union has submitted a petition to the United Nations on behalf of post-September Eleventh detainees. Among those detainees is a Pakistani immigrant who was living in Hudson, New York, until early 2002, when he was placed in the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. In addition, Congressman Maurice Hinchey is calling for swift action in the immigrant's case. More from WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Although Howard Dean has dropped out of the presidential race, his supporters are still working to get out the vote for their candidate. Tonight, "North Country Folks for Dean" in Plattsburgh, New York are planning a meet-up. It's part of an effort to accumulate Dean delegates for the national convention. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.