Midday Magazine on WAMC

The jobs report last Friday was confusing, to say the least. Yes, the core unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, but a major reason for that was a drop in the size of the workforce—now a mere 63.6 percent of the population, far below what it has been over the past decade. While 146,000 jobs were created, the employment market remains anemic, demand is still low, and median income is still trending flat to down.

Just what is the Nobel Peace Prize committee up to?  In giving the prize to the European Union (EU) the Norwegians comprising the decision making committee made themselves a laughing stock… again.  In what sense, is this regional union an avatar for peace? This decision is comparable to giving an award to a committee held together with illusions.

A school district in Orange County is one of 16 districts in the nation to receive a federal "Race To The Top" grant, as we hear in this report from Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas.

Opponents and supporters of gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing are stuck in limbo, both sides believing a "final decision" is long overdue, Some local governments have taken matters into their own hands, not waiting for the state to take action.  Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports on some of the most recent developments.

It’s been said that death and taxes are the only two guarantees in life , but being unable to find a parking spot in the city in Albany is also certain. But for some city residents, who live near the state capitol and the empire state plaza, which will change next month. After almost two decades of discussion, debate and court challenges, Albany will implement a permit system in certain designated areas, beginning January 15th.  Albany city clerk Nala Woodard is in charge of getting distributing parking permits for the new system.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has begun several days of meetings  to address dozens of policy questions.   It’s a prelude to the commissioners writing the final regulations to fully implement the year old gambling law and license resort casinos.   WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

Having now selected their national leadership and the representatives of their national legislature, Americans face a more important decision; perhaps the most important in the history of their country.  They must make a choice between politics and preservation.  Not the lower case preservation of personal or political consequence but the towering CAPITALS that spell out the preservation of what may well be humanity’s last-best hope for truly representative government: of, for and by its people.  Of even more enduring consequence, is the physical preservation of a healthy, socially and eco

Since 2011, planners in Berkshire County have been conducting  a federally funded study of community sustainability. Now this week,  the first set of findings are being released. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

The Sustainable Berkshires is a long-term plan, being developed by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, is intended to help guide investment in private, public, and non-profit initiatives.

Nat Karns, Executive Director of the BRPC, says that the goal of the study starts with a simple question.

Several lower courts have ruled against it, saying it is un-constitutional, but the nation’s highest court will take up a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, a law passed by congress in 1996 that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. New York is among a handful of states that have legalized same sex marriage, and the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court will be watched very closely in New York. George Simpson, spokesman for Empire State Pride Agenda, spoke about the issues under review by the court with WAMC’s Brian Shields.

The largest brownfield mill redevelopment project in New England, in Ludlow Massachusetts, has been designated a priority project by Massachusetts state officials.  WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

Massachusetts Lt Gov Timothy Murray recently added five new projects to the state’s Brownfields Support Team Initiative. Ludlow Mills is the only project in western Massachusetts to be designated for the cleanup assistance in this latest round.