New York News

By Allison Dunne

Poughkeepsie, NY – The Senate voted last week to restore funding for AmeriCorps programs. Even if the bill that contains this funding makes it through the House and President Bush's signs it into law, the Hudson Valley still has no guarantee of its programs' survival. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – An agreement has been reached in New York State to reduce the air pollution caused by school buses. WAMC's Brian Shields reports.

By Allison Dunne

New Windsor, NY – Some companies in the Mid-Hudson region are looking to do business in the South African market. Here to help them recently was New York State's commercial representative for the African country. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has more.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – President Bush has returned from his five-nation tour of Africa and there is no decision from the White House on sending U.S. troops as a peacekeeping force in Liberia. WAMC's Brian Shields spoke to two experts on the issues facing the continent, and U.S. African policy.

By Pat Bradley

Albany, NY – The New York Department of Agriculture has re-established its Milk Marketing Advisory Council. Its goal is to improve milk industry profitability, use emerging technology and maintain New York's status as a dairy producer. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Allison Dunne

Greenville, NY – New York State is the new owner of more than five hundred acres of open space in the Hudson Valley. Environmental groups, legislators and town officials applaud the preservation of this land of trails, forest, and ecosystems. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Bolton Landing, NY – Robert F. Kennedy Jr will be in Bolton Landing Saturday to help the Fund For Lake George and the Waterkeeper Alliance officially launch the Lake George Waterkeeper program. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley previews the weekend events.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – What is being called "a accounting mix-up" could mean big cutbacks in the AmeriCorps program, which provides volunteers money for college in exchange for public service work. NY Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says an immediate 100-million dollar infusion is needed if the program is to survive. WAMC's Brian Shields has more.

By Allison Dunne

Albany, NY – Some health care workers in New York State have been able to get jobs, despite some of them having criminal backgrounds. New York Governor Pataki and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer are looking to change that. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne has more.

By Pat Bradley

Saranac Lake, NY – The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Tourism has created a 10-million dollar loan fund to provide money to tourism-related businesses in the Adirondack region. The program targets businesses that often can't get tourism-related funding. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – Summer vacation is well underway, and most children would rather not spend their time in school. WAMC's Brian Shields reports that 300,000 children go to school every day in New York State for a summer lunch program.

By Pat Bradley

Montpelier, VT – The top Democrat in the Vermont Senate is critical of Governor Douglas' views of the Vermont Supreme Court. Peter Welch is concerned about the governor's comments that the court has not shown judicial restraint in recent decisions. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Legislature has restored over $ 40 Million of the $201 Million vetoed from the fiscal year 2004 budget by Governor Mitt Romney. Saying local communities have been hit hard enough, House and Senate lawmakers have restored $23 Million to the account for state aid to cities and towns. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana reports.

By Allison Dunne

Sullivan County, New York – Lawyers for Governor Pataki filed papers with the New York State Court of Appeals last week. They asked the state's highest court to stay its decision that the governor entered into a casino deal illegally, while the governor seeks to appeal to the Supreme Court on the matter. The outcome could affect casino developments in the Catskills. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Frequent travelers to Canada from Vermont and northern NY can now apply for the NEXUS program, which will allow drivers to avoid long lines at the Highgate Springs VT and Champlain NY border crossings. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The NYS Board of Elections today began a series of public hearings on a draft plan to implement the federal Help America Vote Act in New York. The law provides states money to modernize voting machines and update election procedures. WAMC's Brian Shields has more.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's $13.6 million donation is one of the largest gifts ever received by the Boston public school system. The money, to be paid out over four years, will help 7,500 students at 19 Boston high schools, and will include five new small schools the money will help create. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana spoke with Boston Public Schools Communication Director Jonathan Palumbo about what the grant means for the cash strapped school system.

By Allison Dunne

Kingston, NY – The most recent figures show a decline in the Empire State's housing market, including the Hudson Valley. However, realtors and builders agree that sales of single-family homes along with housing starts remain strong and promising for many of the Valley's counties. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Legislature is poised to take up debate today on a majority of the 370 vetoes issued by Governor Mitt Romney last week. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana filed this report.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The American Red Cross is now testing donated blood for the West Nile Virus. WAMC's Brian Shields has more.

By Allison Dunne

Poughkeepsie, NY – A key figure in the founding of the modern environmental movement has died. But the precedents she set still contribute to the preservation of the Hudson Valley today. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – At least one of the nine Democratic Presidential hopefuls is reassessing the importance of an aggressive Internet campaign presence. Senator Bob Graham says rival Howard Dean's Internet success is beginning to change the other candidates' on-line presence. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Arlen Cellana

Boston, MA – One of the least noticed vetoes to come from Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is a $2.9 Million hit to the $3.5 Million line item for recycling programs in the state. If the veto is not overriden, funding for recycling items from aluminum cans to hazardous waste will stand at $600,000 for fiscal year 2004. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana files this report.

By Pat Bradley

Plattsburgh, NY – Safety officials are gearing up for the 4th of July Weekend. Traffic is expected to be heavier than in past years. And, New York State has just implemented new, stricter driving while intoxicated laws. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Allison Dunne

Cuddebackville Dam, New York – The federal government is hooking up with a national non-profit organization to remove an Orange County dam. They are doing it with the hope of helping fish numbers spike in the Neversink River, a river known for trout and fly fishing. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Allyson Dunne

Poughkeepsie, NY – Summer is in full swing, but New York's Summer Youth Jobs Program is not. Though the Governor has announced that funds would be made available for this summer, some of those at the helm of the jobs programs are worried about the cash flow. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne reports.

By Pat Bradley

Burlington, VT – Increasing numbers of rank-and-file Democrats say they're giving former Vermont Governor Howard Dean's presidential candidacy serious consideration. Vermont's former Governor also says the money he's raised so far shows he can win the Democratic nomination for President. More from North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – Nine-thousand teachers and education officials have gathered in New Orleans for the National Education Association's annual meeting. WAMC's Senior Correspondent, Brian Shields spoke to the president of the New York chapter of the N.E.A. about the meeting, and what lies ahead for education.

By Arlen Cellana

North Adams, MA – A state education oversight committee recommends North Adams Public Schools be placed on a list of underperforming districts after the panel found the administrative staff to be inadequate to the point it hinders the district's ability to implement new curriculum and make gains on MCAS scores. Local leaders call the move politically motivated. Berkshire Bureau Chief Arlen Cellana filed this report.

By Brian Shields

Albany, NY – The new month brings with it a new DWI law in NYS. As WAMC's Brian Shields reports, a lower blood alcohol level will bring a charge of driving while intoxicated.