Ray Graf

  Today's topics include:

Albany Mayor Jennings not running for re-election
IRS/AP/Benghazi - “A perfect storm” or just second term blues
Nate Silvers Five questions
Drunk Driving

  Ninety Miles is a Cuban American music collaboration of a distinctly unique collection of songs. Originally recorded in Cuba under a special visa, Ninety Miles has received global recognition and was a featured documentary on BBC Worldwide in the fall of 2012. The group will be performing Thursday night at the College of St. Rose.

The touring group features three critically acclaimed jazz musicians: vibist and Albany native Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Nicholas Payton.

Stefon Harris attended Albany High School and played in the Empire State Youth Jazz Ensemble.

A four-time Grammy nominee, Harris has been heralded by The Los Angeles Times as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” and has been awarded “Best Mallet” six times by the Jazz Journalists Association.

  Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, WAMC’s Morning Edition Host, David Guistina, and University at Albany Journalism Professor and Investigative Reporter, Rosemary Armao. Ray Graf moderates.

Today's topics include:
• The latest from Boston
• What we Know and Don’t about Bombings
• Obama’s Cautious Approach
• Ricin Letter to Senator

  Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, WAMC’s Associate News Producer, Patrick Donges, and the Producer of The Roundtable – Sarah LaDuke. Ray Graf moderates.

This morning our discussion topics include:

• North Korea Moves Missile to Coast
• PEW: Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana
• Roger Ebert dies at 70 after battle with cancer

    In more than a century of vampires in pop culture, only one lord of the night truly stands out: Dracula. Though the name may conjure up images of Bela Lugosi lurking about in a cape and white pancake makeup in the iconic 1931 film, the character of Dracula—a powerful, evil Transylvanian aristocrat who slaughters repressed Victorians on a trip to London—was created in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel of the same name, a work so popular it has spawned limitless reinventions in books and film.

But where did literature’s undead icon come from?

  Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, WAMC’s Morning Edition Host, David Guistina, and University at Albany Journalism Professor and Investigative Reporter, Rosemary Armao. Ray Graf moderates.

This morning our discussion topics include:
• In a Budget Gesture, Obama Will Return 5% of His Salary
• Obama administration pushes banks to make home loans to people with weaker credit
• U.S. Embassy Tweets Jon Stewart's Egypt Monologue; Diplomatic Incident Ensues
• Latest Updates on the Gun Violence Debate
• Leno Blesses ‘Tonight Show’ Succession Plan

  Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, WAMC’s Morning Edition Host, David Guistina, and Associate Editor of The Times Union – Mike Spain. Ray Graf moderates.

This morning our discussion topics include:

• State Senator Malcolm Smith corruption case
• Gun Control Reform, President Obama is in CO today, CT next week
• Gallup Poll shows The Capital Region is among the least religious regions in the nation
• China Smog Linked to 1.2 Million Premature Deaths

What are you thoughts on the proposed minimum wage increase?

  Mike and Ruthy have organized the first Winter Hoot at The Ashokan Center in Olive Bridge, NY. It will be a three day festival that will feature music and dancing as well as birding, hiking, blacksmithing, nature photography, and indoor farmers market, silent auction and more!

UPDATE:   9:05pm - Pat Cooney reports that Central Avenue has reopened to traffic. 

8:40pm - Albany city fire and emergency workers have given the all clear at WAMC.  Normal programming is back!