Midday Magazine on WAMC

Newschannel 13 meteorologist Paul Caiano delivers the Midday Weather Summary for Tuesday, June 18, 2013. 

Planning efforts surrounding economic development through the life sciences and transportation in the Berkshires are about to head into their next stages.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is asking county residents to weigh in on planning efforts examining potential station locations for North-South passenger rail between Pittsfield and the state border with Connecticut, as part of a $240,000 federal grant. 

The idea of tending small flocks of chickens in urban and suburban areas is growing as more city leaders across the country pass regulations allowing residents to keep backyard chickens. 

Newschannel 13 meteorologist Paul Caiano with the Midday Weather Summary for Monday, June 17, 2013.

Dartmouth Institute researchers Doctors Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin have published a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) analyzing how the Low Testosterone advertisements so prevalent on television are a perfect template for how drug companies manufacture and sell disease. WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley spoke recently with “Low T: How to Sell Disease” co-author Steven Woloshin.

Some two dozen low-income Hudson Valley residents showed up outside the office of their Congressman Thursday to express disappointment and anger over his recent vote concerning a national food stamp program.

I practice hospital medicine.

Recently the nurses at our hospital voted to give me an award. They told me about it, discreetly, one by one, ahead of the official notice from the administration. These caregiving colleagues, upon whom our patients in the hospital depend every day, took the time to let me know that they also depend upon me. Wow. A true honor.

The cement-walled flood chutes that travel through North Adams are now over 60-years old, and concerns over the safety and integrity of the structures have been on the minds of many city residents for years.

Judy Grinnell, President of Hoosic River Revival, said the conversation about how to address the flood chutes and improve the quality of life in North Adams first began in 2008.

As Congress reviews the Farm Bill, there remains debate outside the Beltway over some of the dairy provisions.

The man in charge of administering much of the social services system in Massachusetts is trying to live for a week on a food budget equal to what is provided by a federal assistance program.  It is part of a national campaign by anti-hunger groups to highlight the importance of the program at a time when it is threatened with deep cuts.