March 20, 2025 - We break down the ruling from the state's top court that upheld the constitutionality of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government with Richard Rifkin, legal director for the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.WCNY

March 20, 2025 - Businesses paying credit card fees are hoping the state will prohibit tacking these costs on to sales taxes and gratuities. We explore these concerns with Ashley Ranslow, state director in New York for NFIB, and Mike Durant, president & CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York State.…

March 20, 2025 - New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli calls for more fiscally prudent budgeting from the state Legislature and addresses a campaign to divest the pension fund of its Tesla holdings.WCNY

March 20, 2025 - We examine the governor's proposals to target drugged driving and crackdown on fentanyl analogs with Toni Smith, state director in New York for the Drug Policy Alliance.WCNY

March 19, 2025 - The administration transition of the state Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program is scheduled to be done at the end of March, but most stakeholders say the process won't be completed on time. We explore why and what that could mean with Ilana Berger, New York political director for Caring Majority Rising.…

March 19, 2025 - New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon explains the effort to place former federal workers into state government jobs. We also examine why the governor thinks it's necessary to study how to fund universal child care in New York.WCNY

March 19, 2025 - New York State Association for Affordable Housing President & CEO Jolie Milstein discusses efforts to promote the growth of affordable housing and calls for more government subsidies for developers.WCNY

March 19, 2025 - New York Birth Control Access Project and Action Fund co-Executive Director Jenna Bimbi makes the case for legislation ensuring pharmacists can administer a birth control shot and get reimbursed by private insurance plans for doling out hormonal birth control.WCNY

March 18, 2025 - Coalition of Medication-Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates President Allegra Schorr discusses regulatory changes in New York to make medication assisted treatment more accessible and outlines the funding needs of her providers.WCNY

March 18, 2025 - The state's domestic violence services could be thrown into disarray by funding cuts at the federal level. We explore how the state should boost its services to survivors of domestic violence with Joan Gerhardt, director of public policy and advocacy for the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.…

March 18, 2025 - The state's commercial ambulance providers want a multi-million dollar investment in Medicaid rates to keep up with the growing costs of providing their life-saving services. We discuss this campaign with Bryan Brauner, CEO of Twin City Ambulance in Western New York and head of the legislative committee for the United New York Ambu…

March 17, 2025 - Northern Rivers Family of Services Executive Director Bill Gettman discusses the rising insurance costs facing voluntary foster care agencies, which could hinder their ability to find homes and services for foster kids across the state.WCNY

March 14, 2025 - State Sen. Patricia Fahy, an Albany Democrat, explains why New Yorkers in powered wheelchairs need more options for getting their vehicles repaired and discusses the broader "right to repair" campaign.WCNY

March 14, 2025 - State Health Commissioner Jim McDonald talks about access to obesity medication and dental services, while also providing an update the transition of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.WCNY

March 14, 2025 - New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy discusses her mandate to improve state government efficiency and promote innovation.WCNY

March 13, 2025 - We discuss the governor's spending plan and the possibility of unemployment insurance cost relief for businesses with Assemblymember Ed Ra, a Long Island Republican.WCNY

March 13, 2025 - Warmer weather means a possible encounter with a coyote, so we get some tips on how to avoid conflicts with these wild animals from Mandy Watson, a wildlife biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.WCNY

March 13, 2025 - New York Agriculture & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball talks about the governor's budget and provides an update on eligibility for the state's farmworkers tax credit.WCNY

March 13, 2025 - New York State Committee on Open Government Executive Director Shoshanah Bewlay unpacks rulings from the state's top court that ensure the public has access to police disciplinary records from before 2020, including records about unsubstantiated complaints.WCNY

March 12, 2025 - We talk about the security needs of private, religious schools, state oversight of yeshivas, expanding the state's child tax credit, and overseeing vaccine records with Yeruchim Silber, director of New York government relations for Agudath Israel of America.WCNY

March 12, 2025 - The 2-1-1 hotline helps connect New Yorkers with services in their communities, but the network needs additional investment, according to Therese Daly, president and CEO of the United Way of New York State.WCNY

March 12, 2025 - The largest public safety net hospital on Long Island, the Nassau University Medical Center, is warning that they might have to shut their doors without additional millions from the state. The center's CEO, Megan Ryan, joins the program to discuss the institution's financial conditions and the path forward.…

March 12, 2025 - Progressive tenant advocates and state lawmakers want to expand the pathways for municipalities to demonstrate a housing emergency that would let them participate in rent stabilization regulations. We hear concerns about this proposal from Richard Lanzarone, executive director of the Hudson Valley Property Owners Association.…

March 10, 2025 - Adirondack Explorer reporter Gwen Craig highlights the stalled campaign to develop an official gateway to the Adirondacks, which has been slowed in part by state land title practices.WCNY

March 10, 2025 - State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, wants to codify an effort to reduce vehicle miles traveled in New York and is pushing legislation ensuring future capital funds for roads aren't tailored solely to passenger vehicles.WCNY

March 10, 2025 - Members of the Graduate Student Employees Union have descended on the Capitol to make the case for a new contract with the State University of New York, arguing for better compensation, more flexibility, and other benefits.WCNY

March 7, 2025 - State Commission on Judicial Conduct Administrator Robert Tembeckjian looks back at the commission's work in 2024 and discusses their ability to weigh in on certain complaints, like compliance with New York's pre-trial detention laws.WCNY

March 7, 2025 - State Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee Chair, Joe Addabbo, a Queens Democrat, discusses the evolving world of gambling in New York, including expanding and restricting sports gambling bets, regulating betting markets on non-sports, and increasing aid for gambling addiction services.…

March 7, 2025 - What would Micron get? That's the question that Ken Girardin, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy, thinks smalls businesses should ask when they're looking for incentives to grow, in light of the local and state sweeteners deployed to attract the high-tech manufacturing company to central New York.…

March 6, 2025 - In an excerpt from this week's Dispatches from Planet Albany episode, Chris Gelardi, a reporter for New York Focus, discusses the ongoing correction officer strikes in New York.WCNY

March 6, 2025 - Ever wonder why New York's health care system is so expensive? Well we've got answers for you, courtesy of Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives for the Community Service Society of New York, which recently studied the issue.WCNY

March 6, 2025 - Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Sorin discusses the local Bronx economy and weighs in on the governor's budget proposal, including what could help and what is missing.WCNY

March 6, 2025 - Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses the implementation of restrictions on the availability of gas appliances in most new homes starting in 2026.WCNY

March 5, 2025 - Legislation advanced by Democratic state lawmakers would put new guardrails on the collection and use of New Yorkers' electronic health data. We explore this digital privacy issue with Allie Bohm, senior policy counsel for the New York Civil Liberties Union.WCNY

March 5, 2025 - Assembly Banks Committee Chair Clyde Vanel, a Queens Democrat, discusses balancing competing interests in the financial sector, legislation allowing public banking, and the state regulatory approach to cryptocurrency.WCNY

March 5, 2025 - Environmental Advocates NY Director of Clean Water Rob Hayes highlights language in the governor's budget proposal to make capital funding available for private drinking water testing and remediation.WCNY

March 5, 2025 - We discuss an effort to expand mental health outpatient services in New York with Alice Bufkin, associate executive director for policy and advocacy at the Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, and Brad Hansen, public policy director at Families Together in New York State.WCNY

March 4, 2025 - In light of federal actions negatively impacting the day-to-day lives of transgender New Yorkers, we explore how the potential substantive and rhetorical response from state policymakers with Kei Williams, interim director of the New Pride Agenda.WCNY

March 4, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul talks about the importance of child care, but her executive budget proposal doesn't address the industry's workforce, according to members of the state Child Care Availability Task Force. We discuss investments into child care providers with Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy Policy Director Dede Hill, and EdT…

March 4, 2025 - We highlight efforts to expand access to financial services for marijuana businesses and ensuring New York-grown marijuana products are sold in the Empire State with James Rogers, director of the trade practices bureau at the State Office of Cannabis Management.WCNY

Feb. 28, 2025 - We talk with Alex Thompson and Blaise Bryant of the New York Association on Independent Living about the subminimum wage allowed for people with disabilities, funding in the budget to keep New Yorkers independent, and the controversial transition of a home care program.WCNY

FEB. 28, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul's effort to increase involuntary commitments has generated a lot of rhetoric, but what will her proposal actually do? We try to predict the ramifications with Keith Brennan, a former state mental health official and now with the law firm Barclay Damon.WCNY

FEB. 28, 2025 - American Farmland Trust New York Policy Director Julian Magnano calls on the state to increase its investment in farmland protection efforts in order to preserve land for agriculture and create more opportunities for farmers.WCNY

Feb. 27, 2025 - We take the temperature of the manufacturing industry in New York with Randy Wolken, president and CEO of MACNY: The Manufacturers Association. We consider tax parity for small manufacturers, creating more pathways to a manufacturing job, and the impact of new tariffs.WCNY

Feb. 27, 2025 - State Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee Chair Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat, discusses New York's prison system, including the thousands of guards on strike, the threats of violence in facilities, and whether the system is still in need of progressive reforms.…

Feb. 27, 2025 - Empower Schools senior advisor Dia Bryant makes the case for investing state resources into early college high school programs that give students a free opportunity to earn college credits and accelerate their academic career.WCNY

Feb. 26, 2025 - Tax rebates, credits and cuts may have gotten the attention from the governor's budget proposal, but there are other tax policies in the spending plan, which we unpack with Liz Pascal, a partner with the law firm of Hodgson Russ.WCNY

Feb. 26, 2025 - Medicaid reimbursement rates are critical to funding nursing home services and operators of these long-term care facilities say the state's rates don't keep up with the cost of care. We discuss this issue and other staffing issues at nursing homes with Dr. Kimberly Townsend, president and CEO of Loretto, a health care provider in ce…

Feb. 26, 2025 - Chef Christopher Galarza, co-founder of EcoChef, discusses how to make kitchens more sustainable, including transitioning to induction stovetops.WCNY

Feb. 28, 2025 - New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham talks about standardizing care at halfway houses, funding for drug recovery and treatment in the governor's budget, and the impact of the prison strike on substance abuse treatment in correctional facilities.…