News

Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington was elected in 2018 on a progressive platform of criminal justice reform and community-oriented law enforcement. She took part in demonstrations over the weekend that called for an end to police brutality against African-Americans spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody on May 25th. Harrington spoke to WAMC about how she’s preparing her office during a historic period of social unrest, and why she disagrees with the county’s sheriff about decareration.

It’s hard to work from home if you’re relying on dialup.

In today’s Congressional Corner, Democratic Representative Antonio Delgado of New York’s 19th district continues his conversation with WAMC’s Alan Chartock.

This interview was recorded on May 22.

WAMC's Dr. Alan Chartock discusses reports that police in Washington D.C. used tear gas to clear protesters by the White House on Monday so that President Trump could take a photo outside St. John's Church. 

WAMC's David Guistina speaks with Mike Goodwin of The Times Union about the continued protests in Albany Monday over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. 

Here is NewsChannel 13 Meteorologist Paul Caiano's WAMC Regional Forecast:

Mostly cloudy today, with a few scattered showers. Highs in the lower 70s.

Statements continue to pour in from all over the world over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has reportedly offered to pay for Floyd's funeral and memorial services, and the family has accepted the offer. 

Norwich University, the nation’s oldest private military college, is welcoming its new president.

Protesters were back on the streets Monday after the city cleaned up from Saturday’s dangerous protests, when city police and backup agencies used riot gear, dogs, gas and officers on horseback to disperse hundreds of protesters who gathered outside the department’s South Station.

Following the death of George Floyd in police custody last week in Minneapolis, the Westchester County executive is forming a working group to review county police academy polices.

Albany officials announced a series of programs today designed to provide funding to individuals and businesses in the city of Albany directly impacted by COVID-19 and Saturday’s riots.

A longtime public radio official will be Bennington College’s 11th president.

Troy Mayor Patrick Madden says the city is preparing for protests planned for this week after a skirmish with police turned violent in the city of Albany Saturday. Madden, a second-term Democrat, spoke with WAMC News Monday about that, the coronavirus pandemic and city finances on Monday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says the mass protests in New York City and in upstate cites over the past few nights have been “counterproductive” to the cause of racial justice, and may even reignite the spread of the coronavirus. Cuomo announced an 11 p.m. curfew for New York City on WAMC Monday afternoon. 

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and a Berkshire County nonprofit has identified key issues the community faces in 2020.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks with WAMC's Alan Chartock on June 1, 2020.

Meteorologist Garett Argianas delivers the evening weather forecast for Monday, June 1, 2020.

     The mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts Monday called for a time of national healing.

Berkshire County residents and public officials participated in the international weekend of protest against police brutality.

In one of its first major moves since the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the New York state legislature last week passed a package of COVID-19-related bills. Democratic State Senator James Skoufis co-sponsored many of the bills that range from education needs to price gouging penalties. Skoufis, who chairs the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne about some of the measures along with whether his committee will be looking into Governor Andrew Cuomo’s actions regarding nursing homes during the pandemic.

In a scene that has played out around the country during the pandemic, hundreds of people took advantage of a drive-through food giveaway in Plattsburgh on Sunday morning.

The pandemic has caused a wide range of stresses and anxieties, and many artists and musicians have used their extended time at home to create.

An Albany civil rights leader says the peaceful protest of Saturday afternoon and the violence of Saturday night come from fears among African Americans that a loved one could be killed by law enforcement.

Newschannel 13 meteorologist Paul Caiano delivers the Midday Weather Summary for Monday, June 1, 2020.

Joe Donahue: The city of Albany was like cities across the United States this weekend. Dozens of businesses worked yesterday to board up broken windows and clean up the inside of their destroyed storefronts. The city instituted curfew last night through early this morning to try to maintain order in the wake of protests and confrontations, which included fireworks being shot at police sources, a CDTA bus driver having to be rescued after being pinned in her bus, and an officer being injured after being hit with a brick. At a press conference yesterday morning Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said we are better than what happened Saturday night. The mayor joins us on The Roundtable this morning. 

During the coronavirus pandemic, as work and schooling have largely moved online, many communities across the Northeast are feeling left behind.

Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford and his officers made national headlines on Sunday when they marched and kneeled alongside protesters who gathered in the city as part of nationwide actions following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody last week. There was no violence in the city Sunday, and a curfew remains in effect. Clifford spoke with WAMC Monday morning.

The City of Kingston in Ulster County, New York is launching a cultural planning project. The city’s mayor says a master plan will help preserve cultural assets and help artists facing challenges in this economic landscape.

      The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond.

Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Professor Emeritus of History at Baruch College, CUNY and author of "Fight the Power: African Americans and the Long History of Police Brutality" Clarence Taylor, political consultant and lobbyist Libby Post, and Bard Center for Civic Engagement Senior Fellow and Dean of the School of Continuing Education at the American University Cairo Jim Ketterer.

WAMC's Dr. Alan Chartock discusses President Trump's response to the growing protests over the police killing of George Floyd, which stretched nationwide over the weekend.