Midday Magazine on WAMC

The Hudson River PCB-cleanup project is about halfway through, and both governmental officials as well as environmental advocates provided an update on the Superfund project Wednesday. What has not yet begun is a project to restore the Hudson River’s natural resources, including fish and wildlife, but planning for the restoration is underway.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Lake George Park Commission have announced a strategic plan to address invasive species in Lake George. But critics say the policies won’t help the invasives fight.

This week, State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher delivered her third annual State of the University Address, highlighting the value of a college degree, and setting an aggressive agenda for the year ahead.  

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, beginning his final two years in office, is proposing an ambitious restructuring of the state’s tax system.  The governor outlined the proposal in his annual State of the Commonwealth Address last night. 

Governor Deval Patrick announced a bold plan that would raise an additional $1.9 billion dollars in taxes annually.

The influenza outbreak that came early this year to many in the region is reported as widespread across the country. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard took a closer look at how the virus is affecting the region, and how governments are trying to contain the spread...

Mike Leary, spokesman for Berkshire Health Systems, echoed a sentiment being felt by healthcare organizations across the region….

  For the first time in decades Hall of Fame voters decided not to confer baseball’s highest honor to anyone. What makes this announcement unusual is that the most celebrated names from an era marked by performance-enhancing drugs did not gain entry into baseball’s promised land. To make matters even more peculiar, this was a period in baseball history when testing for drugs didn’t exist.

Adirondack Park Agency commissioners have approved a General Permit for management of aquatic invasive species.  The permit restricts the use of mats that are used to smother non-native species like the Asian Clam, due to concerns that native shoreline ecosystems are being adversely affected.

Eleven applications have been filed for lucrative gaming licenses in Massachusetts. Companies that want to develop resort  casinos  or a slots parlor had to meet a 5PM Tuesday deadline to file paperwork and a non-refundable $400,000 fee with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

       Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Steve Crosby was thrilled. He said the state is primed to achieve maximum job creation and revenue from its fledgling gambling industry.

The gun control debate is about to begin on Beacon Hill in Boston. A state lawmaker will introduce legislation this week that will, among other things, require assault weapons in Massachusetts to remain locked and secured at gun clubs, when not in use by their owners. The legislation is from State House Democrat David Linsky of the 5th Middlesex District. He spoke today with WAMC’s Brian Shields.

A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel heard arguments Monday in a dispute between Entergy Nuclear and the state of Vermont about continued operations of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.