Cell Phone Ban

(Airs 01/01/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Jimmy Vielkind, public media reporter for WNYC, The Gothamist and the New York Public News Network, about some of the new laws in New York in 2026, some of the bills Governor Hochul vetoed, and some of the top political stories of 2025.

(Airs 12/19/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her support this week for medical aid in dying legislation, the New York State Energy Planning Board adopts an energy plan for the state, and we’ll visit a high school to talk to educators and students about how the cell phone ban is going.

(Airs 09/26/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: The state rolls out a new program that relies on manufactured homes to tackle housing affordability, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says federal cuts will hurt New Yorkers, and a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers propose the state’s first animal boarding legislation.

New York State's "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban is designed to cut down on distractions while encouraging student's critical thinking and improving social skills. Many school communities have already reported positive results, but the policy has been something of an adjustment.

(Airs 09/05/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: With children back in school this week, districts across New York state are implementing cellphone bans, many colleges and universities are grappling with how to implement and regulate A-I in the classroom, and we’ll talk about educating the incarcerated with Max Kenner, founder and Executive Director of the Bard Prison Initiative.

(Airs 08/15/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: As the state heads toward a fiscal cliff, some lawmakers say Governor Hochul should cancel plans for rebate checks, we’ll take a deeper look at ICE agents and questions about them wearing masks, and the state is asking for the public’s help in collecting data and preventing the spread of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.We’ll speak with one of a handful of winners of this year’s Dan David Prize. Hamilton College professor Mackenzie Cooley received the world’s largest history prize for her study of “bioprospecting.”And we’ll speak with school administrators in New York about the state’s new ban on cell phones in schools.

(Airs 04/03/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Jimmy Vielkind, public media reporter for WNYC and The Gothamist about the late state budget, a potential cell phone ban in schools, the impact of federal cuts, and much more.

(Airs 03/27/25 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York state Republican Assemblyman Ed Ra about the continuing budget negotiations over a possible cell phone ban in schools, criminal justice issues, and much more.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has included more than $13 million in her executive budget to support a statewide ban on cellphones in schools.