The state’s energy regulator has more work than ever — and far fewer employees than it did three decades ago. Colin Kinniburgh, from NY Focus speaks to Jason Dole.By Patricio Robayo

Without cuts or an infusion of cash, Pennsylvania’s budget surplus is projected to run dry next fiscal year. But lawmakers aren’t saying much about a solution. Jason Dole speaks to Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PABy Patricio Robayo

More than a million New Yorkers with children are receiving checks in the mail from the state. The payments of up to $330 are a one-time supplement to the state’s child tax credit, passed as part of the state budget negotiated by the legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul this spring. But one Albany-area Republican senator wants the state to go furt…

A new 1.1-mile trail has opened up in South Fallsburg, where visitors can wind around the partially collapsed Fallsburg Tunnel and take a scenic stop overlooking the Neversink River on a moderately hilly, unpaved path. It's part of an ongoing project to transform stretches of abandoned railroad tracks throughout Sullivan County into the 50-mile-lon…

New York's rollout of the adult-use recreational cannabis market has encountered numerous obstacles. While the first dispensaries licensed under the general application period are now opening, previous rounds aimed at equity applicants were marred by legal disputes and significant delays. Philip Pantuso of the Times Union recently discussed these c…

This year’s state budget addresses some gaps that leaders in rural areas say make it hard to attract and keep people in their communities.By Patricio Robayo

Hochul says she’s working with the legislature to replace congestion pricing, but key legislators say they aren’t aware of any conversations. Sam Mellins talks to Radio Catskill's Jason Dole.By Patricio Robayo

For this week's update from the Sullivan County government, we spoke to county treasurer Nancy Buck, who shared a reminder about the fast-approaching repurchase deadline for tax-foreclosed properties, and shared her thoughts on the fiscal state of the county.By Chia-Tien Nicole Chen

Local rivers are swelling with heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby this week, putting low-lying towns in the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania on alert about potential flooding. With increasingly extreme weather brought on by climate change, experts say it’s worth reconsidering the ways we manage our rivers and streams. Radio Catskill reporter…

By Patricio Robayo

Sullivan County has temporarily closed several public buildings today, August 5, 2024, due to a non-specific threat emailed to the county government's main address. Acting Sullivan County Deputy Manager Michelle Huck authorized the closure as a precautionary measure. The closures include the Social Services campus in Liberty, specifically the Travi…

In New York’s 19th Congressional District race… Republican Congressman Marc Molinaro and his Democratic challenger Josh Riley… have been criticizing each other during press conferences, over social media and in attack ads. As WSKG’s Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo reports… one issue that keeps coming up is immigration.…

"On the 531" is an original play written and directed by Mando Alvarado. The story follows Benny, who discovers his late wife’s infidelity and struggles with his own faults over a decade-long journey. Alvarado’s play delves into life’s twists and turns, the power of memory, and the difference between reality and how we remember it.…

Lou Ingrassia Jr. officially announced his candidacy for the 100th Assembly District today at a press conference held in the lobby of the Sullivan County Government Center. The seat is being vacated by Assembly Member Aileen Gunther, who is set to retire this year. Ingrassia, a Republican, will face Democrat Paula Kay in the upcoming November elect…

Local Edition's Jason Dole speaks with NY FOCUS's Colin Kinniburgh about New York's strategy to cut pollution from transportation.By Patricio Robayo

In a recent article, Spotlight PA talked about recent bipartisan agreements by Pennsylvania state lawmakers on various energy projects and policies, signaling a gradual shift towards clean energy while maintaining the use of fossil fuels. Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA speaks with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo…

Multiple state prisons in Pennsylvania lack air conditioning, leaving thousands of incarcerated people at risk during increasingly common high temperatures. Spotlight PA's Danielle Ohl has more.By Patricio Robayo

Great Meadow and Sullivan prisons are slated to shut down in November. The state could close up to three more over the next year. Chris Gelardi from NY FOCUS has more.By Patricio Robayo

New York State Senator Oberacker, for the 51st District, joined local officials at a rally today at the Woodbourne Firehouse to oppose the planned closure of the Sullivan Correctional Facility, scheduled for November 6. Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo has more…By Patricio Robayo

By Chia-Tien Nicole Chen

By Chia-Tien Nicole Chen

By Patricio Robayo

The town of Bethel has been recertified as a “Bronze-standard Climate-Smart Community” by the Department of Environmental Conservation as part of New York State’s Climate Smart Community program, which supports local efforts to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change. Bethel is one of 23 municipalities being …

NY-19 Congressman Marc Molinaro Discusses Assassination Attempt on Former President Donald TrumpBy Patricio Robayo

Greg Goldstein, Chairman of the Republican Party in Sullivan County said "It's a sad day for America."By Patricio Robayo

Former President Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt Saturday when a gunman opened fire at a rally approximately 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. During the incident, one person at the rally was killed and two others were wounded before Secret Service agents neutralized the shooter. Greg Goldstein, Chairman of the Republican Party in …

For the second consecutive week, the Town of Fallsburg has issued another water conservation notice for certain areas of South Fallsburg, effective until Monday, July 15, 2024. According to Fallsburg officials, a review of the current water supply this morning revealed that the LaVista Drive water tanks are at minimum levels necessary to meet the e…

John J. Lennon is a prison journalist currently serving a 28-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility for murder, drug sales, and gun possession. He is a contributing editor at Esquire and a contributing writer at The Marshall Project. Recently, he started a nonfiction writing workshop at Sullivan, where 10 incarcerated individuals …

Sullivan County’s bus service, Move Sullivan, is set to expand its routes, aiming to connect more communities across the county. This expansion is part of a broader initiative to improve public transportation accessibility for residents, making it easier for people to commute to work, attend medical appointments, and access other essential services…

A transgender man sued the New York prison system for forcing him to undergo illegal genital examinations. He has settled the case for $275,000. Chris Gelardi from NY Focus spoke to Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo on what this means for the transgender community in prisons.By Patricio Robayo

Joanna Gass, a beloved local singer who performs with Search and Rescue and frequently appears at events throughout Sullivan County, such as Bethel Music by the Lake. Joanna, who sang during the Catskills Borscht Belt era, will be sharing her story with writer Carol Montana, discussing her life and how she became a staple in the Catskills nightlife…

Girls who have experienced trauma face a significantly elevated risk of engaging in self-harm and contemplating suicide. According to EverGreen Meadow Academy, a new agency in Sullivan County, the best opportunity to alter their trajectory is during their middle school years. The academy offers comprehensive mental health services, including indivi…

The New York State Prison agency has revoked a policy that prohibited incarcerated writers and artists from publishing their creative work. This policy, which was put into effect on May 11, mandated a rigorous approval process for publishing creative content outside of prison and allowed prison superintendents to block works that violated broad rul…

It’s tick season In New York State and tick safety is important as ever. The good news is there are a number of precautions you can take to protect yourself. Reporter Marin Scotten is joined by Melissa Prusinski from the New York State Department of Health to hear more about ticks, where you can find them, how to protect yourself and what to do if …

Plane Crash in Masonville On Sunday June 30, 2024, around 2:00 p.m., the New York State Police responded to a potential plane crash near Lake Cecil Road in Masonville. A multi-agency search effort, including drones, ATVs, and helicopters, led to the discovery of debris and the downed aircraft. The aircraft, a Piper Malibu Mirage, was found with all…

In April 2022, New York State set an ambitious mandate: by July 1, 2027, it states, all school districts in New York State can only purchase zero-emission buses, and by July 1, 2035, all school buses operating in-state must be zero-emission — powered by electricity, rather than diesel or gas. Monticello Central School District received its first el…

New York State is falling behind on critical milestones needed to achieve its ambitious emissions targets. In a recent interview, Radio Catskill's Jason Dole discusses these issues with Colin Kinniburgh, shedding light on the state's climate challenges.By Patricio Robayo

On Thursday, June 20, at approximately 12:37 PM, a fire broke out at Russell Farm's barn located along Route 17B in Bethel, NY. The White Lake Fire Company received the call and promptly responded to the scene. According to Shane Cunningham of the White Lake Fire Company, the fire was triggered by a mechanical failure in the hay conveyor machine. D…

Christopher Mele, a senior staff editor at the NY Times with nearly 40 years of experience in community newspapers in New York and Pennsylvania, has authored a new book. In "Goodwill's Secrets," restless teenager Raven vanishes from the Adirondack village of Goodwill. Reporter Alex Provetto, initially dismissive, is assigned to cover her story. As …

In New York and across the country, insurers like Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and Allstate, among others, have stakes in both sides of the climate crisis. To make up some of the lost revenue, they have pared back coverage and hiked rates by more than 30 percent since 2019, in large part because the increasing frequency of storms and other extreme w…

In August 1897, the first scientific expedition to Antarctica set sail from Antwerp. Nineteen young men from six countries were on board, among them was American physician and Sullivan County native, Frederick Cook, venturing into the frozen unknown for more than a year. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of this expedition, the Frederick Cook Soci…

The Deep Water Literary Festival returns to Narrowsburg this weekend and Radio Catskill is proud to be a media partner. Every day this week we’re featuring authors and events from the festival. When Jennifer Kabat moved from London to the Catskills in 2005, she had no idea it was the site of the "Anti-Rent War," an 1840s episode of American rural p…

A record-breaking heat wave envelopes the northeast this week with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The duration of the heat wave is notable with blazing temperatures lasting several days. Tim Bruno spoke to Mark Pellerito a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's New York office and the heat wave.…

Early Tuesday morning, a select circle of state senators began filing into the office of Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, on the fourth floor of the state capitol building in Albany. They were there for a meeting of the Senate’s Working Rules group, a body so secretive that even some of their fellow senators didn’t know it existed un…

Penn State Health is discontinuing kidney and liver transplant programs, citing ‘ongoing challenges’ and federal scrutiny. The decision casts doubt on the success of the health system’s extensive efforts to rebuild the programs. Jason Dole talks to Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA’s State College bureau and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA.…

Older adults are frequently seen as easy targets for scammers for a variety of reasons. They might be less familiar with modern technology and the methods employed by fraudsters. Additionally, factors such as loneliness or cognitive decline can increase their vulnerability to manipulation. Lise-Anne Deoul, the Director of the Office for the Aging f…

NY FOCUS recently reported that The Push for Public Power in New York State has spread to the Hudson Valley. Local lawmakers have introduced a proposal for the public takeover of Central Hudson, the region’s scandal-plagued gas and electric utility. Radio Catskills Jason Dole speaks to Colin Kinniburgh of NY FOCUS about the issue.…

Kevin Scot Graham has been named Sullivan County's fifth poet laureate, serving from 2024 to 2026. Graham's artistic talents span music, visual arts, and poetry, with the latter being a constant in his life. He plays multiple instruments, including the guitar and a six-string ukulele. After earning a music degree, he moved to New York City and work…

Greg Goldstein, Chair of the Republican Committee in Sullivan County reacts to Trump’s verdict said,By Patricio Robayo

Anne Hart, Chair of the Democratic Committee in Sullivan County reacts to Trump's Verdict.By Patricio Robayo