New York NOW

NY’s Congressional Maps Ruling & AI in Education Explained

The state's Court of Appeals - the highest court in the state - issues a ruling that new Congressional maps need to be drawn. We unpack what that means for elections next year with Vaughn Golden of the New York Post and Zach Williams of Bloomberg Law.
In recent years, there's been a rise in the development and use of artificial intelligence. But what does that mean for educators? Producer Catherine Rafferty spoke with teachers and students about the benefits and challenges of using AI in classrooms.
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A Deep Dive into New York’s Policing, Opioid Overdose Crisis

A new edition of NY&, our civics series, looks at how local policy impact what policing looks like across communities in New York state.
As part of WMHT'S Opioids in New York series, Public health officials and patients share how medication assisted treatment can assist with addiction recovery at Greene County Family Planning.
The Rensselaer County Heroin Coalition is committed to addressing the opioid overdose crisis by providing support and awareness to the issue.
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2024 Legislative Session Preview and Mental Health Advocacy

As the 2024 Legislative Session approaches, dive into the critical intersection of mental health and substance use challenges in New York. InUnity Alliance, led by John Coppola, sheds light on advocacy efforts.
Discover the impactful stories of youth peer advocates counseling their peers and learn about the vision for a more inclusive and supportive mental health landscape.
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Investigating Eric Adams, Graduation Standards, Housing Vouchers Upstate, Kinship Care

Federal prosecutors are investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams, news reports say. We'll explain with WNYC's Jon Campbell.
A commission has presented recommendations for new graduation requirements in New York's schools. Shantel Destra has details.
New York City is allowing housing vouchers to be used outside the five boroughs. Shantel Destra speaks with New York State Association of Counties President and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy about the change.
Suddenly having to care for a child can be overwhelming, but there is help out there. We tell you about resources for kinship care.
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A Deep Dive into New York Governance, Elections, and Housing

Dive deep into the workings of New York's Inspector General Lucy Lang as she shares a two-year update on her office's endeavors, spotlighting instances of misconduct within state government agencies.
In parallel, our NY& civics series takes a closer look at the shifting dynamics of tenant protections in New York, unraveling the complexities of changing housing laws across the state.
 
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State Senate Cannabis Hearing, History of Drug Policy in NYS, the Science of Opioids

On the latest edition of New York NOW (11/03/2023):
The state Senate held a hearing this week with officials from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management to unpack solution to enforce regulation of illegal pot shops.
We sit down with Damien Cornwell, member of the Cannabis Association of New York, to discuss his testimony at the hearing and his concerns over laws and regulations for the retail market.
As part of WMHT'S Opioids in New York series, we examine the statewide history of drug policy and explore the science of opioids.

Environmental Bond Act, NYS Parks Commissioner

Gwendolyn Craig, of Adirondack Explorer, and Rick Karlin, of the Times Union, join the discussion on the state's Environmental Bond Act.
Ahead of the centennial anniversary of the state parks system, Erik Kulleseid, commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, talks about his tour of parks across the state.
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Food Insecurity in the State, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, Natasha Pernicka

Food insecurity continues to impact households across New York. What can the state do to address the issue?
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens County) is pushing a bill that would allow the state to provide additional SNAP monthly benefit funds to households.
Natasha Pernicka, executive director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District and The Alliance for a Hunger Free NY, discusses the calls on the state to increase funding to community food programs in New York.
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Assembly Member Mary Beth Walsh, MJ Okma, LGBTQ+ Older New Yorkers

Assembly Member Mary Beth Walsh (R-Saratoga County) unpacked her opposition to a bill that would move some local elections to even-numbered years.
We unpack what resources are availiable in the state for LGBTQ+ older adults who have looking for support with MJ Okma, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Government Relations at SAGE.
Aging with Pride, a collaboration between Colonie Senior Service Center and the Pride Center of the Capital Region, provided a trip for LGBTQ+ adults to look through archives housed at SUNY University at Albany.
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The Legacy of Willowbrook

We dive into the legacy of Willowbrook State School and investigative journalist Geraldo Rivera's shocking expose on the state institute - leading to its closure
We speak with Vicky Hiffa, executive director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, about the documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rivera's reporting
Maureen O'Brien of the New York State Industries for the Disables (NYSID) talks through workforce opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and state support
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