June 14, 2024 - We explore a proposed merger of health insurers in New York with Mark Ustin, a healthcare regulatory lawyer and lobbyist with Farrell Fritz.WCNY

June 14, 2024 - Denise Seidelman, an attorney specializing in adoption and reproductive law, explains proposed tweaks to the state's 2020 gestational surrogacy law.WCNY

June 14, 2024 - New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association President Mark Dorr warns about the pitfalls of towns and cities imposing their own occupancy taxes on hotels and motels.WCNY

June 14, 2024 - This is an excerpt of our Dispatches from Planet Albany episode with Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who discussed the legislative journey of his bill regulating social media consumption by minors.WCNY

June 13, 2024 - Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, makes the case for implementing congestion pricing (on time) in Manhattan.WCNY

June 13, 2024 - League of Women Voters of New York State Executive Director Laura Ladd Biermann and Deputy Director Erica Smitka call for the inclusion of a ballot referendum that would add anti-discrimination language to New York's constitution.WCNY

June 13, 2024 - State Education Department officials Angelique Johnson-Dingle and Jason Harmon discuss an effort to overhaul New York's high school graduation requirements, including ending a Regents exam requirement.WCNY

June 12, 2024 - Kerri Neifeld, the outgoing head of the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, explains her decision to leave the Hochul administration, reflects on her time as commissioner, and outlines the qualities necessary for her successor.WCNY

June 11, 2024 - Lake George Park Commission Executive Director Dave Wick explains the planned deployment of a herbicide in the "Queen of American Lakes" and addresses the ongoing opposition from the Lake George Association.WCNY

June 7, 2024 - More than five dozen state agencies have released updated plans to promote transparency. Unfortunately, most of these proposals are underwhelming, according to Rachael Fauss, a senior policy advisor for Reinvent Albany.WCNY

June 7, 2024 - In light of concerns with the state watchdog policing agencies that care for vulnerable New Yorkers, Assemblyman Ron Kim, a Queens Democrat, is pushing a legislation to ensure law enforcement is involved when criminal allegations are made.WCNY

June 7, 2024 - Steven Yoder, a freelance reporter for The Imprint, provides a status update on New York's effort to promote kinship caregivers in the foster care system, as opposed to relying on strangers and congregate settings for housing.WCNY

June 6, 2024 - A state fund designed to limit malpractice insurance costs for hospitals is headed toward financial insolvency, according to Maya Kaufman, health care reporter for Politico New York.WCNY

June 6, 2024 - New York Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney Daniel Lambright explains a case challenging state restrictions on the movements of sex offenders.WCNY

June 5, 2024 - Bloomberg Government reporter Zachary Williams outlines a deal at the state Capitol requiring minors get parental consent before accessing the most addictive features of social media.WCNY

June 4, 2024 - New York State Insurance Fund Executive Director and CEO Gaurav Vasisht explains an effort to use discounted insurance premiums to incentivize hospitals to reduce their carbon footprint.WCNY

June 4, 2024 - We highlight dairy industry issues, including expanding the eligibility of an overtime tax credit, with Allyson Jones-Brimmer, vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs for the Northeast Dairy Producer Association, and Keith Kimball, the association's chair.WCNY

June 4, 2024 - Riverkeeper Government Affairs Senior Manager Jeremy Cherson makes the case for updating state definitions to ensure sewer authorities have the authority to use fees they charge to promote flood diversion strategies and build better stormwater infrastructure.WCNY

June 4, 2024 - One in six residents of assisted living facilities in New York have experienced physical or verbal aggression from a fellow resident, according to a study from Dr. Karl Pillemer, professor of gerontology in medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.WCNY

June 3, 2023 - Maria Vullo, the state's former top financial regulator, discusses a ruling from New York's top court that upholds an abortion insurance requirement that she implemented back in 2017.WCNY

June 3, 2024 - We consider the need to reduce single-use plastic packaging waste and the legislative response being debated at the Capitol with Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and a former regional administrator for the EPA.WCNY

June 3, 2024 - New York State Office of Addiction Services & Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham talks about overdose death rates, funding distributed by her office, and access to opioid reversal agents.WCNY

May 31, 2024 - After recently being confirmed as commissioner for the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Barbara Guinn swung by the studio to discuss her leadership priorities, combating child poverty, distributing public assistance and overseeing counties.WCNY

May 31, 2024 - Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, a Manhattan Democrat, makes the case for a prohibition on the production and sale of adhesive-based traps for rodents.WCNY

May 31, 2024 - Seneca County Director of Community Services Margaret Morse and Franklin County Director of Community Services Suzanne Lavigne discuss best practices when it comes to harm reduction efforts in New YorkWCNY

May 30, 2024 - Assemblymember Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, discusses the merits of allowing municipal banks and highlights a pilot program establishing a Rochester bank.WCNY

May 30, 2024 - We host a debate on the Medical Aid in Dying Act, legislation that would enable a mentally competent, terminally ill New Yorker commit suicide with the help of a doctor. Our guests are Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices in New York and New Jersey, and Blaise Bryant, communications specialist with the New…

May 30, 2024 - Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski, a Rockland County Democrat, and State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa makes the case for imposing a financial control board on a lower Hudson Valley school district that is potentially months away from becoming insolvent.WCNY

May 29. 2024 - Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, a Capital Region Democrat, makes the case for a recently convened state commission designed to coordinate and promote the 250th anniversary celebrations of the Revolutionary War.WCNY

May 29, 2024 - New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli explains how he tries to use the state's retirement fund - valued at over $250 billion at the end of 2023 - to influence business practices.WCNY

May 29, 2024 - The Hochul administration is being sued for allegedly violating a 2021 law by putting incarcerated New Yorkers with disabilities into solitary confinement. We discuss the case with Stefen Short, who is of counsel for the Prisoners' Rights Project at The Legal Aid Society, which is a party in the case.…

May 28, 2023 - After mixed success in raising wages for human services sector workers in the budget, Human Services Council Executive Director Michelle Jackson is pushing a wage board to get this critical workforce the compensation they deserve.WCNY

May 28, 2024 - A Siena College Research Institute survey examines key environmental issues being debated at the Capitol. We review those questions, and more, with Siena pollster Steve Greenberg.WCNY

May 28, 2024 - Ever wonder how the classic wood signs end up in New York's parks? We talked with George Bailey, the man in charge of NYS DEC sign shop in Fulton County.WCNY

May 23, 2024 - State education officials are proposing gender-neutral rules for school sports, which could lead to an increase in co-ed sports team. We consider the merits of this idea and potential implementation challenges with Dr. Robert Zayas, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.…

May 22, 2024 - Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Manhattan Democrat, discusses his legislation designed to curb the practice of unauthorized selling of dinner reservations at popular restaurants.WCNY

May 22, 2024 - Protect the Adirondacks Executive Director Peter Bauer and Deputy Director Claudia Braymer explain why New York should build wildlife crossings on certain roadways.WCNY

May 21, 2024 - In response to mounting evidence about the negative health effects of gas stoves, environmental and health activists are pushing to curtail these popular kitchen appliances in New York. In the interim, though, there is a campaign to spread awareness about the air contamination from gas stoves, explains Tim Guinee, New York legislativ…

May 21, 2024 - Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer, a Westchester County Democrat, explains the overhaul of New York's teacher evaluation law that is awaiting the governor's signature.WCNY

May 21, 2024 - We highlight an effort to prevent New Yorkers from being sent out of state for electro-shock therapy with Rhoda Gibson and Gina Barbara, members of national ADAPT.Editor’s note: The deployment of electroconvulsive therapy in New York is dramatically different than the practices in Massachusetts referenced by the guests.…

May 20, 2024 - Feeding New York State Executive Director Dan Egan discusses what the state budget does - and doesn't do - to combat hunger in the Empire State.WCNY

May 20, 2024 - New York State Economic Development Council Executive Director Ryan Silva explains the work of the state's Public Subsidies Board and how it impacts construction projects around the Empire State.WCNY

May 20, 2024 - We talk with John Howard about his decades of public service in Planet Albany, including time in the Assembly, a leadership role in the administration of Andrew Cuomo, and five years at New York's utility regulator.WCNY

May 17, 2024 - SUNY Chancellor John King discusses the impact of funding in the state budget on SUNY campuses and aspiring college students.WCNY

May 17, 2024 - New York Coalition for Open Government President, Paul Wolf and Project Coordinator Annmarie Reeb make the case for state entities to track the records requests they receive to document their compliance with FOIL.WCNY

May 17, 2024 - We analyze a multi-state lawsuit against the NCAA for restrictions on incoming college athletes with the help of David Meluni, an associate teaching professor at the Syracuse University Falk College of Sport and Human DynamicsWCNY

May 17, 2024 - Model Alliance Executive Director Sara Ziff urges state lawmakers to adopt new regulations for the fashion industry that she says will protect vulnerable workers.WCNY

May 16, 2024 - We highlight Medicaid dollars that flow through health insurance companies to address health disparities through community partnerships. To talk about the Quality Incentive Program we're joined by Eric Linzer, president and CEO of the New York Health Plan Association, and Diane Mbombo Tite, a former asylum seeker who benefited from t…

May 16, 2024 - ProPublica reporters Jodi Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards discuss their deep dive into a for-profit school for people with Autism in Westchester County that is going largely unregulated by the state, despite reports of unsafe and unsanitary conditions.WCNY

May 16, 2024 - In light of the college protests that have popped up around the country since October, we discuss free speech rights and implementing the principles of free speech with Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, and Justin Harrison, a Senior Policy Counsel with the organization.…