Patrick Donges

While it began in October, flu season has arrived in earnest this month with a vengeance -The Centers for Disease Control reports that flu is now widespread in 46 states.

In New York, state health officials say that flu vaccine is still available, but there may be some localized shortages because of late season demand.

Today, New York is expected to become the first state to enact major gun control policy following last month’s tragic elementary school shooting in Connecticut.

The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement, or SAFE Act, includes a ban on all pre-1994 high capacity ammunition magazines, a ban on any magazine that holds over 7 rounds, and real-time background checks on ammunition purchases to alert law enforcement of high volume purchasing.

Today on Medical Monday to answer your questions on issues of mental health and end of life care is Dr. N. Michael Murphy, founder of the Love, Loss and Forgiveness Project. 

A graduate of University College in Dublin, Ireland, he completed his residency in psychiatry at Boston State Hospital.

Your afternoon regional weather summary with meteorologist Garett Argianas.

It’s the first 2013 edition birding show on this edition of Vox Pop, with bird expert Rich Guthrie answering your avian inquiries.

Post your questions below to have them answered on-air.

2012 was, by most accounts, a year of challenges for New York, not the least of which was the devastation of Hurricane Sandy as she tore up the Eastern seaboard.

In state politics, the assembly remains firmly Democratic, while this year will usher in a new era of governance in the senate by a controlling coalition of Republicans and the five-member Independent Democratic Conference, the effectiveness of which has yet to be seen.

On the second anniversary of the Arizona mass shooting that almost took her life and almost a month after the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 children, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords announced today the formation of a political action committee aimed at countering the influence of the gun lobby in Washington.

Joining us today on Medical Monday to answer your questions on sexual health and men’s health is Doctor Andrew McCullough of Albany medical Center and the Urological Institute of Northeastern New York.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, he completed a residency in urology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

As reported this morning by WAMC’s Capital Correspondent Karen DeWitt, an 8 page document drafted last year by New York State regulators which states that the potential health impacts of fracking for natural gas could be reduced or prevented with the right regulation from the state.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation today says the document is out-dated and doesn’t reflect the conclusions of the forthcoming final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on fracking.

Congress avoided the automatic tax increases and budget cuts of the dreaded fiscal cliff at the last minute this week with a deal that raises tax rates on individuals with incomes over $400,000 and couples making $450,000.