WAMC Northeast Report on WAMC

The 36th annual Mayor’s Cup Festival and Regatta is set to take sail in Plattsburgh July 11-14. While the highlight is a sailboat regatta, this year, sponsors are helping raise money for a special community project.

Deals have been reached between Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders on siting new casinos and creating tax free zones at college campuses. But a bill on abortion rights was struggling, and reform measures appear dead for the session. 

The agreement on casinos would allow four resort style gambling centers; one in the Capital Region, one in the Southern Tier, and possibly two in the Catskills, if voters approve the change to the state’s constitution in the fall.     

A state-funded wellness initiative in the Northern Berkshires is holding a community discussion on addressing the region’s nutritional challenges.

The North Berkshire chapter of Mass In Motion, a state-funded program that encourages health-conscious lifestyles through exercise, nutrition, and community involvement, is holding a community-wide event that will focus on connecting residents to fresh and healthy food.

I suppose it’s low hanging fruit to write a column criticizing NBA refs. That’s like criticizing the IRS or the DMV. Calling an NBA game correctly is as easy as catching a Cheetah with a bicycle; it’s just not possible. Not with the unbridled speed and athleticism— all inconceivable when the game was created. Today’s professional basketball is lightning fast, fiercely physical, and hard to assess in slow motion, much less full speed. So, just getting most calls right is a herculean task. It’s like keeping most of the kindergarten class quiet during story time.

In his first news interview about Indian Point’s license renewals since he took over in his new role earlier this year, William Mohl spoke with WAMC’s Allison Dunne about how he’s trying to putting more of a public face on the process.

The city of Springfield Massachusetts has entered into a three -year partnership with a utility company to dramatically reduce energy use. 

   In a first of its kind agreement in western Massachusetts  the city of Springfield will work in partnership with Western Massachusetts Electric Company toward a goal of reducing the city’s energy consumption by 12 percent over the next three years.

   Mayor Domenic Sarno signed the partnership agreement Wednesday with David McHale, the CAO for Northeast Utilities, the parent company of WMECo.

A congressional representative from New York introduced a bill today that would extend credit card protections for individuals to small businesses. The legislation comes during the 50th annual National Small Business Week.

Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey of the 17th district introduced her “Small Business Credit Card Act of 2013,” saying many small businesses across the country need credit cards to help keep their doors open.

Last Wednesday, the board of the Vermont State Employees Association, known as the VSEA, sacked executive director Mark Mitchell after 18 months on the job. But on Monday, the board changed course and decided to reinstate him, placing him on paid administrative leave.

There were several arrests at the New York State Capitol Tuesday. Advocates took out their anger and frustration on Cuomo and leaders of the State Senate, after it became clear that a progressive agenda that includes abortion rights and public campaign financing are likely dead for the legislative session.

Let me begin by congratulating the station on a successful fund drive. These guys are terrific, the work they do is important.