New York News

By Lisa Phillips

Kingston, NY – As the near certain war with Iraq approaches, Hudson Valley military families worry about loved ones headed for the Persian Gulf region. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Brain Shields

Albany, NY –

By Lisa Phillips

Kerhonksen, NY – Trombonist and arranger Roswell Rudd will be heating up the stage at Bard College this weekend. The avant-garde musician is no stranger to the Hudson Valley region. He's got a home in the Catskill mountains - and some history with the region's greatest contribution to the art of improvisation: comedy. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips has more.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY –

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – A state Senate panel today will take public testimony on the idea of Vermont adopting a 4-year term for governor. An interactive hearing is scheduled to begin at 4:30 and can be attended at 14 sites across the state More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

North Adams, MA – The Massachusetts Cultural Council has announced six winners of its 2003 Commonwealth Awards, the state's highest honors in the arts, humanities and sciences. Chosen by a committee of arts and business leaders, the recipients were drawn from a pool of 150 statewide nominations received in December 2002. One of this year's winners is a familiar name in the Northern Berkshires. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana reports.

By Arlen Cellana

North Adams, MA – U.S. Representative John Olver visited North Adams on Friday for a meeting of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. The discussion, normally focused on social services and local needs, turned quickly to talk of impending war. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana has more.

By Lisa Phillips

Warwick, NY – A group of Hudson Valley citizens is asking New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to look into what they say may be an antitrust violation in the food industry. It's part of their effort to keep former supermarkets from becoming CVS drugstores. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Albany, NY – New York State's Environmental Protection Fund is supposed to be dedicated to environmental projects. For 2001-2002, the state didn't fund it at all. Now, the state is looking to borrow from it to help close the state deficit. That's upsetting environmental groups. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The USA-Patriot Act, signed into law six weeks after the attacks of 9/11/01 gives law enforcement greater powers of investigation and search. The Albany Common Council may consider a resolution asking police to respect civil rights when pursuing cases under the Patriot Act. WAMC's Brian Shields has more.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – For over two hours Thursday evening, Plattsburgh city councillors and citizens of the area debated whether the Common Council should pass a resolution calling for further diplomacy before the nation declares war against Iraq. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Lisa Phillips

Poughkeepsie, NY – Gas prices are rising. In New York state, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is up more than fifty cents from a year ago. In the Hudson Valley, prices vary widely from station to station, leading to suspicions of price gouging. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly today to ban a highly disputed procedure that its critics call partial-birth abortion. With a number of Democrats also backing the measure, the 64-to-33 vote was a big victory for Republicans, who narrowly control the Senate. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana reports.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – NY is losing its small farms. New government figures show that the state lost a thousand small farms last year, even as the number of larger operations increased. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

Stockbridge, MA – Ending nearly 3 years of administrative and court proceedings, the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services is dropping its lawsuit and has granted a six-month provisional license to the DeSisto School in Stockbridge to operate as an educational institution for troubled youth. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana reports.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The security guard who signed the complaint that led to the arrest of a man for wearing an anti-war T-shirt at the Crossgates Mall in Guilderland NY has been fired. Robert Williams , who worked at the mall in the Albany suburb for almost ten years, says he is a scapegoat for the controversy. WAMC'S Brian Shields reports.

By Lisa Phillips

Kingston, NY – Hudson Valley breast cancer advocates are heading to Albany for their annual Advocacy Day. This year, they'll be focusing on getting funding for local support groups and passing legislation that limits the use of some pesticides. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Albany, NY – Arts groups in New York are bracing for a tough year. The national economy is tightening traditional funding sources and Governor Pataki is proposing state cuts funding to local arts groups by 15 percent. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – Author Devra Davis will speak tomorrow in Boston as part of the Toxic Actions Center's annual Toxics Conference on the links between toxics and chronic disease. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana asked Davis--a world-renowned epidemiologist--how her childhood experiences led her to write her book--a National Book Award Finalist--titled, When Smoke Ran Like Water".

By Lisa Phillips

Saugerties, NY – When Clearly Tech, a scented candle manufacturer, started a factory three years ago in an Empire Zone in Saugerties, Governor Pataki and local officials hailed it as a boon to economic development. Now, the factory is under new ownership - and its neighbors say the place has started to stink. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – The US Ambassador to Canada was in Plattsburgh Thursday to meet with business and community leaders, and discuss cross-border issues. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley was at the Ambassador's luncheon presentation.

By Arlen Cellana

Berkshire County, MA – A plan for the creation of a new national forest in Northern Berkshire County is being discussed by the Romney Administration's Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. Although very early in the formative process the forest area would link up with the Green Mountain National Forest in Southern Vermont and will help preserve open space in the Berkshires. This report now from Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana.

By Lisa Phillips

New Paltz, NY – Hudson Valley college, high school, and middle school students were among the thousands nationwide to walk out of class in protest of a war against Iraq. Some are being punished for their actions. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Lisa Phillips reports.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – Critics of genetically engineered foods are declaring victory in non-binding Town Meeting referenda Tuesday in Vermont. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Pat Bradley

Cambridge, NY – The only hospital in Washington County NY has announced that it will close. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Guilderland, NY – One of the largest shopping malls in upstate New York was the focus of controversy today. On Monday night, a man was arrested at the Crossgates mall in the suburb of Guilderland after refusing to take off a T-shirt that had an anti-war message. Today, 100 people wearing similar shirts went to the mall at lunchtime as a show of protest against the mall's policy. WAMC's Senior correspondent,Brian Shields reports.