News

Albany, NY – Representative John Sweeney of New York's 20th district is in the Congressional Corner to discuss some impressions that have been left after some recent remarks have been made about Iraq and Israel. Alan Chartock asked John about comments he made recently, about anti-war protests and anti-Semitism at Albany's Temple Beth Emeth

Albany, NY – Continuing their conversation today in the Congressional Corner is Dr. Alan Chartock and Independent Bernie Sanders. Alan picks up the conversation where it left off yesterday with corporate ownership of the media and it's influence during wartime.

Albany, NY – Returning to the Congressional Corner is Bernie Sanders of Vermont to talk about the state of the economy in America today. Alan asks Bernie if now is a time when someone like Democrat Howard Dean can reach out to to people with the next presidential race approaching.

By Lisa Phillips

Newburgh, NY – A Hudson Valley lawmaker wants to put daily crime alerts on lottery tickets purchased in New York state. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

Albany, NY – Republican John Sweeney is back in the Congressional Corner to talk about some past and recent history in the Middle East and the state of mind of the American people. Alan opens by asking John about the behavior of The Turkish government and forces since the war has begun.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – Plans have been announced for a new center in Albany that will work to solve a problem facing hospitals and health care facilities across the country. The shortage of nurses. WAMC's Brian Shields reports.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – The Clinton County Health Department backed off on a demand that the local Salvation Army apply for special permits to house transient refugees. The permit debate is occurring at a time when the Salvation Army is anticipating a large influx of people waiting to immigrate to Canada. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

Albany, NY – The Independent from Vermont, Bernie Sanders joins our own Alan Chartock in the Congressional Corner today to discuss the war in Iraq and it's impact on international relations. Alan opens by asking if his reservations going into the war have been proven to be correct

By Lisa Phillips

Monticello, NY – The number of anti-Semitic incidents in New York state last year fell by about 25 percent from 2001. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Burlington, VT – The 3rd annual Governor's Summit on the Employment of People with Disabilities is being held in Burlington today. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley was there to hear the keynote speaker - 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace - talk about his experience with clinical depression.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – The New York State Lottery has announced record sales in the past fiscal year. Advocates for problem gamblers say the record lottery sales reflect a growing problem for compulsive players. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley spoke to a problem gambling counselor.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a case that could determine the fate of affirmative action programs at colleges and universities across the country. The case is a challenge to the University of Michigan's policy of using race as a factor in admissions. A new poll suggests New Yorkers support affirmative action compared to thr rest of the nation. WAMC's Brian Shields reports

By Lisa Phillips

Millbrook, NY – The war on Iraq is causing jitters in many sectors of the national economy, including tourism, a big source of revenue for the Hudson Valley. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips takes a look at whether the region's travel and resort businesses are feeling the pinch.

By Arlen Cellana

Sharon, CT – Tri-Arts at the Sharon Playhouse will hold its annual gala benefit this Saturday night at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. The evening's performance "Comedy Tonight" will benefit the non-profit's summer youth program and features local talent and well-known television and film stars. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana provides this preview.

By Lisa Phillips

Kingston, NY – Two Mid-Hudson Valley residents may have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It's the first sign of the disease in the region. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Burlington, VT – Presidential candidate and former VT Governor Howard Dean has exceeded his 1st quarter fund-raising goal by a million dollars. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

North Adams, MA – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom has killed nearly 80 people 46 in China and infected more than 2,300 worldwide and has been making news around the country, including two possible cases in Rensselaer County, New York. On Saturday, a group of students from the Mass. College of Liberal Arts in North Adams returned from a two week trip to China. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana wondered what precautions the school and local health officials are taking to monitor the health of the returnees.

By Lisa Phillips

Poughkeepsie, NY – A federal judge has dismissed a challenge to the constitutionality of the Superfund law. The decision comes as a relief to supporters of the Hudson River clean up. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Albany, NY – A NY state senator is introducing legislation to protect school boards from the negative impact of late state budgets. Educators say the proposal will help, but won't solve schools' financial plight from late state budgets. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – Gasoline prices went up during most of the winter, and now with the war in Iraq underway, some predict that prices at the pump could go even higher. One local government in NY may call for an investigation into gasoline prices. WAMC's Brian Shields reports.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – As the Environmental Protection Agency came to the Albany area today for a public hearing on proposed changes to the federal Clean Air Act , a coalition of health and environmental groups held a rally against the changes. WAMC's Brian Shields reports.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – A meeting scheduled for Wednesday between Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and the chancellors of the 5 campuses of the University of Massachusetts will not go on as planned. The chancellors have refused to attend if U-Mass President William Bulger is not present. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana files this report.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Canada's ambassador to the U-S was on the Plattsburgh State campus Monday afternoon. He discussed trade, and the relationship between the 2 countries in the wake of the war with Iraq, which Canada opposes. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Lisa Phillips

New Paltz, NY – Earlier this year, Hudson Valley photojournalist Lorna Tychostup [tie-CHA-stup] traveled to Iraq to take photographs of the people there. She'll be presenting her work at a lecture Wednesday night in New Paltz. She recently sat down to talk about her experiences and her photography career with WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips.

By Lisa Phillips

New Paltz, NY – Over the weekend, the Committee to Protect Journalists alerted the world of the disappearance of two Newsday journalists and a freelance photographer from Bagdad. The Committee's executive director, former NPR foreign correspondent Ann Cooper, is on sabbatical teaching at SUNY New Paltz this semester. She recently spoke with WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Some senior advocates fear a federal crackdown on companies that illegally import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada could discourage activists from advising seniors to travel north to buy medicine. Meanwhile, other activists believe the federal move is another indication that the federal government is siding with the drug companies. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – A top U.S. Army commander in Iraq admits that coalition forces did not anticipate some of the tactics employed by Saddam Hussein's forces, and that has slowed progress in the move to Baghdad. WAMC's Brian Shields spoke to a military affairs expert from our region about the commander's comments , and the latest developments in the war.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier VT – More than 100 people crowded into a Statehouse hearing Thursday night to discuss possible changes to Vermont's method of funding public schools. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Lisa Phillips

Albany, NY – Two of the region's Democratic Congressmen are on the banks of the Hudson River in Albany at this hour, speaking out against the Environmental Protectional Agency's changes to the Clean Air Act and delays in the Hudson River cleanup. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – A public hearing in Gardner and a full day of debate in the Massachusetts House of Representatives will both revisit the issue of expanded gambling in the Bay State. The first forum, in Gardner on Monday, will look at all of the dozen or so bills in the legislature dealing with expanded gaming. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana reports.