Morning Edition on WAMC

Independent voters have grown in recent years into a mega voting bloc. By some estimates they outnumber registered Republicans, and even registered Democrats.

Every election cycle, independents generate enormous amounts of interest as candidates, pollsters and the media probe their feelings. These voters are widely considered to hold the key to most elections.

For the first time in a long time there is actually more than a modicum of interest in the women's side of a Grand Slam tournament. And, of course, it's all strictly due to a party of one: Serena Williams.

Mid-Hudson farmers brought their concerns to state and federal lawmakers at a forum at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson Monday night.

Chief among their concerns was the lack of affordable land access for farmers, said Lindsey Shute of the National Young Farmers Coalition.

Three Democratic Hudson Valley state lawmakers applauded a new law that will provide mandate relief to BOCES systems by generating new revenue and saving taxpayers money.

“The new law will be a great opportunity for BOCES to not only share their innovative educational curricula and programs with schools, facility and students outside the state, but also less the burden on taxpayers by raising revenue from other sources beyond New York,” Assemblywoman Sandy Galef said on Monday.

Senator David Carlucci also said the relief will provide benefits for BOCES.

Gov. Deval Patrick is back on the campaign trail for President Barack Obama, this time with appearances planned in the home state of Republican Mitt Romney's running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.

Patrick is scheduled to discuss health care and Ryan's budget proposal with a group of seniors in Madison on Tuesday and later make a stop in Milwaukee before returning to Massachusetts in the afternoon.

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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

Governor Andrew Cuomo formalized the state's request for federal support to build a new bridge replacing the Tappan Zee on Monday by signing a letter of intent to Washington. Addressed to US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, it acts as an application for Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) funding. The bridge is projected to cost over $5 billion.