Behind The Headlines

Dr. Christopher Gobler of Stony Brook University joins the panel to discuss the current state of water quality on the East End, focusing on nitrogen, innovative and alternative treatment systems (also known as IA systems), and the impact of algae on local ecosystems. He also clarifies a point about "flesh eating bacteria" after a short clip of him went viral out of context. This week’s panel is: J...

This episode of Behind The Headlines features smaller panel and takes a deep dive into the state of Long Island's bays. Beth Young outlines issues with septic systems and how outdated infrastructure in Riverhead makes it difficult to control the amount of nitrogen that leaches into the Peconic Bay. Joe and Bill also talk about Southampton zoning updates and infrastructure projects like sewage trea...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on February 12, 2026 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . Year after year, the Hamptons market has refused to cool. In 2025, the East End saw a record-breaking median sale price, reaching $2 million for the first time in its history, even as the region conti...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on January 29, 2026 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . On January 29, 2026, more than 100 people gathered at The Church on Madison Street for a two-hour Express Sessions event titled “The Evolution and Preservation of Downtown Sag Harbor.” Attendees includ...

This week, the panel takes a deep dive on the Southampton sewage treatment proposal, the background of it and its implications. Denise Civiletti explains Riverhead's development plans and political dynamics and they also touch on affordable housing initiatives, and the complexities of land use. This week’s panel is: Joe Shaw, Consulting Editor at The Express News Group Bill Sutton, Editor-in-chief...

Bob DeLuca is President and CEO of Group for the East End, an environmental organization that has been working to preserve and protext the delicate ecosystems of Eastern Long Island since 1972. He joins the weekly panel to explain the proposed amendments to the State Environmental Quality Review Act - also known as SEQRA - by Governor Kathy Hochul. They focus on the complexities of land developmen...

On this weekend's Behind The Headlines, the panel explains the recent bird flu outbreak that's lead to hundreds of dead geese for East End towns to deal with. They also outline how Trump's war in the Middle East could devastate local agriculture throughout Riverhead and the Twin Forks. Alek Lewis explores innovative approaches to affordable housing in the region, Beth Young discusses local EMT cer...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on January 15, 2026 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . The "Local Matters" series was a special five-part set of Express Sessions events. Sewer district expansion, environmental concerns and downtown business were the main topics at the Westhampton Beach c...

On this edition of Behind The Headlines, Brendan O'Reilly explains the complexity that has arisen around Justin Timberlake's 2024 drunk driving arrest in Sag Harbor. The panel discusses how the Freedom of Information act plays into the legal battle over the body-cam footage of the police officer involved in the incident. They also cover property erosion and ongoing traffic challenges. This week's...

Legislation drafted by OLA of Eastern Long Island and Fred Thiele has been written in a nonpartisan rhetoric and seeks greater accountability and transparency from ICE agents, and clarifies what local emergency services are supposed to be doing when faced with difficult circumstances in dealing with the undertrained federal agents. Local dancer/choreographer turned activist Anita Boyer has been or...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on December 20, 2025 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . The "Local Matters" series, a special five-part set of Express Sessions events, continued on November 20 at Cowfish.

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on December 11, 2025 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . The "Local Matters" series, a special five-part set of Express Sessions events, continued on December 11 with a luncheon panel discussion in Amagansett at Rowdy Hall. The conversation focused on issue...

The Washington Post recently gutted much of their staff, in departments ranging from sports to their flagship podcast. Many large outlets like Slate and The Atlantic have described the layoffs as Jeff Bezos "killing" or "murdering" the Post. What does this dismantling mean for the media landscape and what picture does it paint for local news outlets in particular? This week's Behind The Headlines...

This week on Behind The Headlines, the panel opens with a check-in on the recent severe winter weather conditions, with Denise Civiletti pointing out dangerous pedestrian conditions due to lack of snow clearing on many sidewalks. They also discusses the importance of community engagement in local governance, local impact of the ongoing ICE conflict in Minneapolis, the ways in which Facebook and In...

With the growing prevalence of cameras in public spaces and what some refer to as a "surveillance state," many citizens are concerned with the widespread use of license plate readers and related video technologies in police departments. James Kiernan is Chief of Police for the Town of Southampton police department. He joins the panel to discuss the practical and local applications of video surveil...

As the country grapples with a recent murder by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, the East End prepares for potential demonstrations and vigils. The panel expresses their personal views on the issues of ICE possibly causing more unrest than they solve. They also discuss the efforts of the Montaukett people to gain recognition from New York State, Jerry Halpin's unique style as the new Riverhead Town Su...

The Montaukett have been denied state recognition as a formal nation 7 times. In her recent veto memo, Gov. Hochul cites a case from 1910 in which the Montaukett were denied recognition as a formal nation. What is the reasoning behind her decision? Plus, what will the local impact be following the murder of Renee Nicole Good? The panel discusses these pressing issues plus horseshoe crab protection...

Affordable housing continues to be a major topic of concern across the East End. New housing initiatives in Southampton and East Hampton will attempt to address it. The panel also outlines how frequent ICE sweeps and the presence of ICE officers is creating an air of great anxiety, especially among the Spanish-speaking community. Plus, the need for improvement to cellular tower and related infrast...

Local journalism and community newspapers are the heartbeat of a place, especially places like Shelter Island. Jake Williams has a deeply personal connection to both Shelter Island and its struggling hometown newspaper The Shelter Island Reporter as someone with many family ties to the island and a former writer for the outlet. He joined the panel to talk about his journey, what drove him to creat...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on October 23, 2025 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . The “Local Matters” event focused on Sag Harbor Village and the issues most important to residents, including those living in the village and the surrounding communities of Noyac and North Haven. The p...

Fred W. Thiele Jr. is a former state assemblyman, life-long Sag Harbor resident, and now a regular columnist with the Express News Group and member of a number of nonprofit boards. He gives unique perspective on the politics of the East End, talking about the ways that national polarization have reached local elections and how voters react to national trends in small races. This week's panel is: J...

ICE has been enacting sudden raids throughout the East End of Long Island, causing widespread alarm and confusion, especially within the Latino community. Many families have stopped sending children to school, avoid medical appointments, and other basic parts of life for fear of being detained. Minerva Perez is Executive Director of OLA of Eastern Long Island , a Latino advocacy organization. She...

Please enjoy this Express Sessions while Behind The Headlines is off. This was recorded live on October 9th, 2025 and has been edited for time and conciseness. An unedited version can be found here . The first in a series of five special Express Sessions events titled “Local Matters” focused on Southampton Village and the issues that are important to its residents. Topics included traffic, sewers,...

In this episode of 'Behind the Headlines,' Joe Shaw and Bill Sutton welcome Denise Civiletti, Beth Young, and Cailin Riley to take a deeper dive into Eastern Long Island news. Denise and Beth explain the controversial Riverhead Town Square development and public opinion on it, the demand for hotel accommodations, and a significant subdivision proposal on the North Fork. Cailin goes into the histor...

On this week's show, the panel has a serious conversation about the role of local journalism in giving formal endorsements of candidates in local and regional political races. Denise Civiletti and Beth Young express why they each hold policies against the practice as very small organizations, and Joe Shaw gives a counterargument from the perspective of a larger operation. They also talk about New...