New York NOW

NY Leaders Endorse Kamala Harris, State to Close Some Prisons

New York elected officials traveled to Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention.
Along with Democrats, the Working Families Party is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House. We sit down with Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, for more.
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced two upstate prisons will close this fall. State Sen. Julia Salazar, Chair of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, joins us to discuss the decision and the conditions of prisons across the state.
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Exploring Reparations in New York

The state's newly formed Commission on Reparation Remedies kicked off their first meeting just a few weeks ago and is expected to deliver a report with their findings and recommendations next year. Assembly Member Michaelle Solages (D-Nassau County) joins us to discuss the creation of the committee and their work ahead.
Environmentalists have long warned of the dangers of climate change. Producer Dana Wright shares a deep dive on how the issue is impacting birds in New York in the latest edition of NY&Climate.
Explore more here: https://nynow.wmht.org/blogs/full-episodes/full-episode-am-michaelle-solages-climate-change-and-birds/

New York's Cannabis Industry is Struggling

It's no secret that New York's legal cannabis industry has room for improvement. The issues include leadership changes for the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, the slow rollout legal cannabis licenses and issues with cracking down illegal smoke shops across the state. We unpack the many challenges and the future of the industry with Damien Cornwell, president of the Cannabis Association of New York.
The state Department of Health has a direct-patient care approach to providing healthcare services and safeguarding public health. James McDonald, commissioner of the NYS Health Department, speaks with David Lombardo, of WCNY's Capitol Pressroom, for an in-depth conversation.
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Biden Ends Re-Election Bid, VP Harris Begins Presidential Run

President Joe Biden announced the end of his re-election bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. We discuss the presidential race and elections in New York with Jack O'Donnell, political analyst and managing partner of O'Donnell & Associates. New York Civil Liberties Union filed a class action federal lawsuit to challenge the Sexual Assault Reform Act in New York State. We spoke with Daniel Lambright, senior staff attorney with the union, to learn more.
 
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Trump Assassination Attempt, Congestion Pricing Pause Lawsuit, Regulating Pet Insurance in NYS

On This Week's Edition:
Catch this week's show on your local PBS member station, or watch on YouTube, Facebook, or using the free PBS app anytime after Friday. A podcast version is available wherever you normally get podcasts.
On This Week's Edition:
Elected officials in New York and around the country are reeling from the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
We discuss the possibility of legal challenges to Gov. Kathy Hochul's indefinite pause on the congestion pricing plan in New York City with Michael Gerrard, of Columbia Law School.
Assembly Member Pamela Hunter (D-Onondaga) joins us to unpack her bill meant to implement state regulation on pet insurance.

State Legislature Races, Social Media Child Privacy

We unpack the competitive state legislature primaries and races to watch. Jon Campbell, of WNYC and Gothamist, joins us to discuss. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Carroll Gardens) discuss the impact of child social media privacy legislation, the path to garnering support and the possibility of legal challenges.
 
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Congressional Primaries, Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults

Tuesday was primary day in New York! We unpack the competitive congressional primaries races with Austin Jefferson, of City and State New York. We discuss the availiable resources in the state for LGBTQ+ older adults who have looking for support with MJ Okma, Senior Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations at SAGE. In collaboration with the Colonie Senior Service Center and the Pride Center of the Capital Region, LGBTQ+ older adults with Aging with Pride took a trip to SUNY University at Albany to look through historic archives of the pride center of the capitol region.
 
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Inside SUNY’s Future with Chancellor John King, The Legacy of Karen DeWitt

SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to discuss his vision for the university, goals for the coming school year and SUNY's position on protests. After more than three decades covering state politics in New York, Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau chief for the New York Public News Network, is retiring. We sit down with Karen to unpack her career and legacy.
 
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Congestion Pricing Update, MENA Data Bill, NY & Land

We'll unpack the governor's announcement essentially pulling the plug on congestion pricing plan for New York City. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens County) discusses the importance of disaggregating data for Middle Eastern and Northern African New Yorkers and the path forward to getting her bill over the finish line. Now more than ever, forest management is vitally important in helping the state reaches it's climate goals. Producer Dana Wright shares a deep dive as part of WMHT's NY& Climate series. As part of WMHT series focusing on Aging New Yorkers, we dive into the work of the Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC) to ensure seniors over the age of 60 maintain their quality of life and stay connected.
 
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Expanding Renewable Energy, Impact of Court Rulings in NYS

Recent court rulings in New York state may threaten the legitimacy of the state's ethics watchdog and an equal rights ballot referendum. Bill Mahoney, of POLITICO, joins us to discuss the impact of these court cases. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, joins us to discuss the challenge of expanding renewable energy across the state and the possibility of using nuclear power.
 
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