I hope those stunning photographs that the Artemis II astronauts sent back of Earth remind us of the stakes as we celebrate Earth Day. We’re a radiant, fragile oasis of life against the blackness of interstellar space.

For years, I have wondered why Bard College, an innovative institution where I have worked for nearly 30 years and serve as the executive vice president and vice president for Academic Affairs, does not receive more press coverage. But, as the adage goes, be careful what you wish for.

For a contemporary dance company, walking away from a major presenting opportunity is no small matter. Choreographer Doug Varone had been scheduled to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts but canceled the engagement after Donald Trump attached his name to the venue.

This is a true story. Names have been removed, but it did happen. In was the summer of 1995, and I was a graduate student living in Gainesville, Florida. We were exactly one year from the ‘96 Summer games in Atlanta, which meant I was going to be a five-hour drive from the center of the sporting universe and young and free enough to drop everything to drive north and crash on someone’s couch in between track and swimming and whatever else I could get to.

The Albany County Legislature passed a new law last month that requires drivers to give 3 feet of space when they pass or approach bicyclists, pedestrians, road workers and other vulnerable road users.

New York’s state budget is now two weeks late. There are no public indications that the secret negotiations are heading toward a quick resolution. Reading the tea leaves, the late budget is largely the result of Governor Hochul’s insistence that lawmakers approve non-budget measures, such as weakening the climate law, as part of an overall budget agreement.

April 24th is the release date of the highly anticipated "Michael". Michael Jackson's nephew Jafaar Jackson plays his uncle, The King of Pop, in a drama that will chronicle his rise to stardom. “Michael” is directed by Antoine Fuqua, of “Training Day”, written by John Logan, who penned “The Aviator”, and produced by Graham King, of “The Departed” and 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

On Tuesday, April 7, the moment of truth was at hand. After a number of postponements of a deadline by President Trump, the Iranians were confronted with a demand that they give up their one piece of leverage in this war --- the control of the Strait of Hormuz --- in return for a cease fire. Working indirectly through Pakistan as an intermediary, Trump and the Iranians presented positions that seemed completely irreconcilable.

Set far back from a main road in Westfield, Massachusetts, the Genesis Spiritual Center provides silent respite from the endless grind of work and worry. Established by the religious order of the Sisters of Providence, the center is one of a slowly decreasing number of Catholic retreat settings in the United States.

When Governor Hochul recently announced the launch of EXPRESS NY I paid close attention. Because for those of us delivering mental health and child welfare services across New York, regulatory reform is not theoretical. It affects care every single day.