Oct. 4, 2024 - New York State Budget Director Blake Washington swung by The Capitol Pressroom studio to talk about the current fiscal year, including potential revenues from a Medicaid managed care tax, and the upcoming budget process, including potential revenue from fees to polluters, savings from the administration of home care, and controlling …

Oct. 4, 2024 - New York Farm Bureau CEO Deanna Fox and New York State Agriculture & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball discuss the implementation of the governor's directive for state agencies to procure at least 30 percent of their food purchases from New York producers by 2027.WCNY

Oct. 4, 2024 - In order to reduce the trauma a child can experience when their parents or guardian is arrested, state lawmakers want to direct law enforcement to implement child-sensitive procedures. We discuss what those steps could look like and why they're important with Tanya Krupat, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Osborne Associa…

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa and one of her top deputies join the show to discuss the statewide results from standardized tests administered in the spring, which found that about half of kids grades three through eight were proficient in English and math.WCNY

October 3, 2024 - Is it time to lower the threshold for keeping jurors anonymous from criminal defendants? Not according to Kevin Stadelmaier, chair of the legislative committee for the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, who says legislation advancing this effort is overly broad and unnecessary.…

October 3, 2024 - The state has reported a decline in shootings with injuries in communities participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, so we discuss the state of firearm use with Joseph Popcun executive deputy commissioner at the State Division of Criminal Justice Services.…

October 3, 2024 - New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball discusses the roll out of a refundable tax credit designed to help farmers cover some of their 2024 overtime costs. The state began accepting applications for advance payments this summer, but most farmers are waiting to apply for reimbursement next yea…

October 3, 2024 - Assemblymember Jeffery Dinowitz, a Bronx Democrat, talks about his bill calling for a study of fees changed by landlords to tenants living in regulated apartments.WCNY

Oct. 2, 2024 - After nearly three decades at the Capitol, state Sen. Neil Breslin, a Capitol Region Democrat, has decided not to run for re-election. He stops by the studio to discuss his retirement and his time in public service.WCNY

October 2, 2024 - The presidential candidates have shined a spotlight on taxes on tips, prompting a GOP state lawmaker to propose ending state taxes on tips. In light of this attention, we consider whether this is the best way to help low-income workers with the help of Nathan Gusdorf, director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.…

October 2, 2024 - A larger insurer and the Archdiocese of New York are at odds over who should pay to settle sex abuse cases stemming misconduct and coverups by church officials. We consider who will have to pay and the role of state financial regulators with Maria Vullo, the former head of state Department of Financial Services.In the aftermath of…

Sept. 30, 2024 - LeadingAge New York President & CEO Jim Clyne discusses legislation creating statewide quality metrics for assisted living residences to help consumers choose the facility that is right for them.WCNY

Sept. 30, 2024 - We look at the work of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, which oversees the care provided to some of the state's most vulnerable New Yorkers. The group's acting executive director, Maria Lisi-Murray, discusses its 2023 report and new training for first responders.…

October 1, 2024 - Albany Common Council Member Gabriella Romero discusses her journey to the state Assembly, including why she decided to run for political office, her plans for the Capitol, and how she'll approach the dirty reality of governing.WCNY

October 1, 2024 - A political memorabilia show is coming to the Capital Region on October 5 at the Albany Airport Inn, so we explore this corner of nerd culture with Albany politico and campaign tchotchke collector Brian Fessler.WCNY

October 1, 2024 - Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, is calling for a wide array of action to address gun violence, including expanding the state's definition of a mass shooting, boosting efforts to solve gun crimes, and tracking certain firearm sale trends.WCNY

Sept. 27, 2024 - Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, discusses a recent public hearing on regulating the use of artificial intelligence technology and highlights a bill he is crafting.WCNY

Sept. 27, 2024 - Assembly Children and Families Committee Chair Andrew Hevesi, a Queens Democrat, and Betsy Kramer, director of public policy and special litigation at Lawyers For Children, explain how subsidies to support kids adopted from foster care aren't ending up in the right place and share their legislative solution.…

Sept. 27, 2024 - We breakdown the corruption charges facing New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Brooklyn Democrat, and the potential fallout with the help of Ben Max, executive editor of the Center for New York City and State Law at New York Law School.WCNY

Sept. 26, 2024 - Times Union state investigative reporter Raga Justin discusses her deep dive into a Capital Region nursing home and what it tells us about the quality of care around the state and oversight of the industry.WCNY

Sept. 26, 2024 - It's been more than five years since state policymakers put in place a major gun storage law and now they want to make sure gun owners know about it. We talk about this awareness campaign and the role of gun storage requirements with Tanya Schardt, senior director of state and federal policy for the advocacy group Brady.…

Sept. 26, 2024 - The reason for the outmigration from New York is a charged political issue at the Capitol, with popular narratives circulating on both sides of the aisle. Newsday Capitol reporter Mike Gormley is trying to cut through the rhetoric with his recent reporting on why New Yorkers are leaving and where they're going.…

Sept. 25, 2024 - New tenant protections were included in the state budget, but what effect are they having in New York City and beyond? We try to answer that question with the help of Chris Janaro, a housing reporter with City Limits.WCNY

Sept. 24, 2024 - New York State Court of Appeals Judge Shirley Troutman, who serves as co-chair of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the importance of juror diversity and steps that could address the composition of juries.WCNY

Sept. 24, 2024 - Assemblymember Josh Jensen, a Rochester-area Republican, shares concerns with a nursing home rating transparency effort and discusses how the quality of care at nursing homes can be improved.WCNY

Sept. 24, 2024 - In light of the beleaguered rollout of a program by the state attorney general's office to monitor racial discrimination in the real estate industry, we examine what else is happening in New York to combat this problem. Our guest is Maura McDermott, an investigative reporter with Newsday, which thrust this problem into the light in…

Sept. 23, 2024 - We recap former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's testimony on the state's pandemic response before a congressional subcommittee with the help of Brendan Lyons, a managing editor at the Times Union.WCNY

Sept. 23, 2024 - Cannabis Farmers Alliance President Joseph Calderone provides an update on the state's "seed-to-sale" tracking system and reflects on the experience of marijuana farmers in New York.WCNY

Sept. 23, 2024 - The state's teachers' union is throwing its weight behind Democrats in purple congressional districts in New York in order to make Hakeem Jeffries the next speaker of the house. We talk about this political decision with Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers.WCNY

Sept. 23, 2024 - We discuss efforts to ensure the long-term viability of emergency medical services, including a recently adopted bill dealing with Medicaid rates, with Ryan Gregoire, legislative director for the New York State Association of Counties, and Steve Kroll, chair of the legislative committee for the New York State Volunteer Ambulance an…

Sept. 19, 2024 - SUNY Chancellor John King discusses a pilot program at 25 public colleges and universities to provide low-income students with additional counseling services and financial resources to ensure on-time graduation.WCNY

Sept. 19, 2024 - David Carmel, co-founder of New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis, makes the case for lifting an $8.5 million cap on the revenue from a traffic violation surcharge that the state invests each year in spinal cord injury research projects.WCNY

Sept. 19, 2024 - What does a constitutional guarantee to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment mean? We're starting to get answers to that question from the court system and we explore one of the latest rulings with Dan Spitzer, a partner with the law firm of Hodgson Russ.WCNY

Sept. 18, 2024 - Karin Carreau-Spencer, a lobbyist in Albany and founder of the advocacy group HORSEPOWER, explains the state laws designed to ensure horses in New York don't end up being slaughtered elsewhere.WCNY

Sept. 18, 2024 - Two New York City groups representing landlords merged this summer to form the New York Apartment Association and wooed Kenny Burgos away from the Assembly to be their first leader. We talked with the Bronx Democrat about his career change and the work ahead.WCNY

Sept. 18, 2024 - The off-track betting organization representing Western New York, which has come under fire for years, is poised to have Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown as its next leader. We discuss why the change is happening and the gambling operator's future with J Dale Shoemaker, a reporter with Investigative Post.…

Sept. 17, 2024 - Adirondack Explorer reporter Gwendolyn Craig discusses the staffing levels of the New York State Forest Rangers, which are leading to high levels of overtime.WCNY

Sept. 17, 2024 - The New York City transit system has tens of billions of dollars in capital project needs over the next few years and its funding plan is in limbo, according to a recent report from the state comptroller's office. Deputy State Comptroller Rahul Jain discusses the findings, including the challenges Gov. Kathy Hochul might face in re…

Sept. 17, 2024 - We explore the role of New York's special act school districts, which serve kids who struggle in traditional school settings, including students with severe emotional disabilities. Our guests are Stephen Beovich, superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Blythedale Union Free School District at Blythedale Children's Hospital, and Dr. Haro…

Sept. 18, 2024 - We discuss the first round of data released from a statewide, localized air monitoring effort with Rachel Spector, a senior attorney at Earthjustice.WCNY

Sept. 13, 2024 - State Senate Children & Families Committee Chair Jabari Brisport, a Brooklyn Democrat, makes the case for expanding when parents, who work flexible or part-time hours, are eligible to receive child care assistance.WCNY

Sept. 13, 2024 - Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, is prescribing more transparency at the pharmacy, as he pushes a bill intended to expose the true cost drivers of medications.WCNY

Sept. 13, 2024 - Safety net hospitals are a lifeline for low-income New Yorkers, but these facilities are perpetually in financial jeopardy and have come to rely on increasing government support. In order to promote their long-term viability, the state is looking to promote new partnerships with these critical institutions explains Paul Francis, ch…

Sept. 13, 2024 - In light of new drug overdose death data for New York, we examine the state of this public health crisis with Jasmine Budnella, director of drug policy for VOCAL-NY.WCNY

Sept. 12, 2024 - Around one million New Yorkers who get their health insurance through the state's marketplaces are facing a rate increase in 2025. We explore these increased costs, including how they may not be enough to cover the expenses of health insurers, with Eric Linzer, president and CEO of the New York Health Plan Association.…

Sept. 12, 2024 - The cost of cleaning up brownfields in New York could be going up, as state lawmakers want to impose new wage standards for remediation efforts. We discuss the potential consequences of a prevailing wage mandate with Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat.…

Sept. 12, 2024 - NYSERDA President & CEO Doreen Harris discusses the state's effort to update the state's energy plan, explaining how it would be used and why new nuclear projects may be part of New York's future.WCNY

Sept. 11, 2024 - New York's sports gambling taxes have brought in a lot of money for the state's coffers, but the tax rate prompted one operator to consider imposing a new fee on its users. We talk about this aborted surcharge and the potential changes to the industry with Adam Candee, editor-in-chief of Legal Sports Report.…

Sept. 11, 2024 - The state's wastewater surveillance system, set up in 2021 to respond to the pandemic, has been recognized by the CDC as a "Center of Excellence." We explore how wastewater monitoring is promoting the public health with Dan Lang, deputy director at the Center for Environmental Health at the State Department of Health, and Kirsten S…

Sept. 11, 2024 - Automobile brokers are pushing back against a legislative effort to impose new regulations, which they claim will sink their industry. We discuss these concerns with Sloan Schickler, an attorney representing the New York Automobile Leasing Brokers Association.WCNY