June 28, 2024 - An effort to increase access to primary care by expanding opportunities for physician assistants is facing opposition from the New York Academy of Family Physicians. We talk with the group's president, Dr. Rachelle Brilliant, about their concerns for low-income New Yorkers.WCNY

June 28, 2024 - Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, shares behind-the-scenes details on the legislative effort to reduce plastic packaging waste in New York.WCNY

June 28, 2024 - In light of state policymakers considering restrictions on smartphones in schools, we speak with Melinda Person, president of the New York State United Teachers, about potential bans and why they make sense.WCNY

June 27, 2024 - We explore legislation designed to keep New York's students out of extreme heat with Greg Berck, of the New York State Council of School Superintendents.WCNY

June 25, 2024 - Dr. Michael Dailey, chief of pre-hospital medicine at Albany Medical Center, discusses legislation paving the way for ambulance providers to provide blood transfusions at the site of trauma scenes in New York.WCNY

June 25, 2024 - National Grid, like other utility companies in New York in recent years, is proposing a significant rate hike for their electric and gas customers. We explore their proposal for state regulators with Phil Decicco, the company's general counsel for business in the Empire State.WCNY

June 27, 2024 - Assembly Insurance Committee Chair David Weprin, a Queens Democrat, highlights construction injury fraud and discusses how it can be curbed.WCNY

June 26, 2024 - State lawmakers have OK'd the direct shipping of hard liquor to New Yorkers, but how will it work and what does it mean for distillers? We get answers from Kim Wagner, co-founder and co-owner of Stoutridge, a Hudson Vallery distillery and winery.WCNY

June 26, 2024 - The Children’s Agenda CEO Larry Marx discusses child care and early intervention policies addressed by state lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session.WCNY

June 26, 2024 - The latest poll from the Siena College Research Institute surveys New Yorkers on the completed legislative session, including their reactions to major bills that did and didn't get approved. We go over the results with pollster Steve Greenberg.WCNY

June 24, 2024 - The first stretch of the thruway system opened up on this date 70 years, so we're discussing this anniversary with Frank Hoare, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority.WCNY

June 21, 2024 - We get an update on the state government's effort to hire more New Yorkers with disabilities from Kimberly Hill-Ridley, New York's chief disability officer.WCNY

June 21, 2024 - New York Independent System Operator President & CEO Rich Dewey discusses the state's energy generation capacity and demand for this summer and for future summers (and winters).WCNY

June 21, 2024 - New York Racing Association President & CEO David O’Rourke discusses a special weekend at the Saratoga Race Course, talks about the updates to Belmont Park, and reflects on the future of the industry in New York.WCNY

June 20, 2024 - The New York Power Authority has been tasked with developing and operating its own renewable energy projects, so we get an update on this mission from Vennela Yadhati, the organization's vice president for renewable project development.WCNY

June 20, 2024 - In light of the Hochul administration reconvening the state's Suicide Prevention Task Force, we discuss some of the areas they could address with Renee Rider, a task force member and director of the school mental health resources and training center for the Mental Health Association of New York State.…

June 18, 2024 - Progressive criminal justice activists are hoping to clarify the limitations on what criminal records employers and schools can access. We discuss this effort with KB White, an equal justice works fellow at the Legal Action Center, and Johari Frasier, an equal justice works fellow with The Bronx Defenders.…

June 18, 2024 - We conduct an overdue onboarding interview of Dru Rai, chief information officer for New York and director of the state Office of Information Technology Services. We discuss what drew him to public service, the infrastructure needs of New York, and define the upstate border.WCNY

June 18, 2024 - New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Deputy Commissioner Lisa Koumjian explains how New Yorkers can get a new digital ID on their smartphone and what it will allow them to do.WCNY

June 17, 2024 - New York policymakers are betting big on renewable energy, but should we be expanding our nuclear capacity too? We hear the case for more nuclear energy from Jeff Navin, a co-founder of Boundary Stone Partners.WCNY

June 17, 2024 - We talk with New York Power Authority Chief Innovation Officer Daniella Piper about a new lab in Albany where changes to the electric grid and its connected systems can be tested before being implemented in the real world.WCNY

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