News

(Airs 1/25/ 1/26) The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events with WAMC's Alan Chartock, Albany Times Union Editor Rex Smith, and University at Albany Professor and Investigative Journalist Rosemary Armao. On this week's show they talk about Fox news apologizing for "no go zones", Megyn Kelly and sexism in the media, and much more.

In one of its first actions the new House of Representatives voted to approve a rule that blocks the transfer of funds from the Social Security’s larger retirement and survivors’ trust fund to the disability trust fund. Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a critic of the action, notes that such transfers have been done routinely in the past under both Republican and Democratic presidents.  Vermont’s junior Senator is working with The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare to assure the reallocation occurs.  WAMC North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley spoke with Max Richtman, the President and CEO of the National Committee, about its concerns over the House rule.

Vermont has passed the only law mandating the labeling of genetically modified — or GMO — foods. This week the state attorney general held a public hearing at the Statehouse on his proposed rule that would lead to the regulations to implement the law. It’s a law that is being challenged by some major food processing companies and supported by right-to-know advocates.
Dr. Vandana Shiva is an internationally renowned environmental activist, scientist and the author of more than a dozen books. During a visit to Vermont, she talked with WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley about her support for the state’s GMO labeling law.

Forecasters say blizzard-like conditions could drop a foot or more of snow across much of the Northeast at the start of the work week.

Anne Tonneson Palamountain, the former “First Lady” of Skidmore College, has died at age 91.

Students have returned to their New Paltz campus after participating in a workshop in disaster preparedness in Israel.

A national gay rights organization gives Massachusetts high marks on a report card grading states on legislation affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign puts Massachusetts in its "Solidifying Equality" category. That's second-highest on a four-step index measuring states on their legislative success in stamping out workplace discrimination and other anti-LGBT bias.

Seven states and the District of Columbia are in the highest category, "Working Toward Innovative Equality."

A fire blamed on an overloaded electrical circuit has claimed the life of a 77-year-old woman at a mobile home park in upstate New York.

WAMC's theater reviewer, Bob Goepfert of the Troy Record, is directing a staged reading of Lydia Strike's An Accident on Monday, January 26th.

An employee of International Paper’s Ticonderoga Mill has died of injuries sustained Friday night while working on the mill’s power plant.

57-year old Jorg Borowski died Friday evening.

In a statement company spokeswoman Donna Wadsworth said, “We are deeply saddened by this loss.  Jorg was a valued and respected member of the Ticonderoga mill family.  Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family, friends and mill team members.”

An investigation is underway.