Midday Magazine on WAMC

The 46th state Senate District race between Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk and Republican George Amedore is heating up - Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas has a look at the two candidates.

Both Cecilia Tkaczyk and her Republican opponent, state Assemblyman George Amedore, have "grass-roots" elements to their campaigns and are making promises accordingly.

Tkaczyk, was brought up on a dairy farm, has worked as a senior legislative analyst for the New York State Senate Majority Conference, and served as president of the Duanesburg Central School District Board of Education.

In one of his earliest books: “Cakes And Ale,” W. Somerset Maugham observed that hypocrisy cannot be practiced part-time, in one’s spare moments.  “Hypocrisy,” he said, “is a whole-time job.”  Back in the days when icons were authentic and worth quoting, one of the greatest was Martin Luther, who bemoaned the fact that “Truth goes begging, while hypocrisy finds ample wages.”  It’s an adage that’s still true, especially in the political arena, where the worst of that ilk continue to operate with impunity.

The EPA has announced a series of grants under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to target invasive species.  Among those receiving money is a small college in the midst of the Adirondacks.

Five organizations in New York State will receive a total of 1-point-4 million dollars to assess and reduce the spread of invasive species.  Paul Smith’s College’s Watershed Stewardship Program will receive just under 400-thousand dollars to continue a watercraft inspection program at boat launches in the western Adirondacks.  Director Eric Holmlund.

For decades, filmmakers from across the globe have been producing works that explore their country’s history, culture, and politics-- and that offer perspectives on that history. In this regard, two very different but not unrelated films were screened at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. One spotlights East Germany in the 1980s, before the fall of communism. The other is a portrait of France in the early 1970s, when a certain type of young person was embracing a Marxist/anarchist ideal.

Officials in Essex County, New York have been working to close a 13-million dollar budget gap in the 2013 budget.  While they hope a pending sale of the county-run nursing home will make a difference, they say mandate relief from the state would be more helpful.

The rural Adirondack County has one of the lowest tax rates in New York State and has been using their fund balance to hold the line on property tax increases. Essex County Manager Dan Palmer says that may not be possible much longer.

A recent report released by the Massachusetts Medical Society highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the physician workforce in the Commonwealth, which includes a lack of trained specialists and primary care physicians.

The Massachusetts Medical Society’s annual Physician Workforce Study takes a comprehensive look at the working doctors in the state, physician recruitment rates, profession satisfaction, and more. One of the key observations in the report is a lack of primary care doctors and specialists across Massachusetts.

New delays mean hydrofracking in New York probably won’t begin until at least next year... if it begins at all. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports those on both sides of the issue are anxious for more details...

 

Local leaders in Berkshire County submitted their comments to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation yesterday in North Adams. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports that officials made it clear to the board that funding to the county’s public transportation is inadequate.

At the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s monthly board meeting, held in North Adams yesterday afternoon, local officials brought their complaints with them to the 7-member board.

During tonight’s presidential debate, citizen groups are calling for the issue of campaign financing to be raised to candidates Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

A report to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission estimates the state will need to establish a labor pool of 30,000 candidates to fill approximately 10,000 jobs in the new casino industry. Commissioners  will need to establish a plan for workforce development to go along with a master schedule that projects the awarding of casino licenses in the winter of 2014.   WAMC’s  Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports