Radio Chatskill

A recent state memo suggesting that fully implementing New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act could raise household energy costs is “overstated,” according to Lisa Marshall of New Yorkers for Clean Power. The leaked memo from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office on the estimated financial impacts of the state’s greenhou...

Liberty, NY — If today's chilly temperatures outside have you questioning the arrival of spring, you’re not alone. Meteorologists say the new season officially began yesterday — at least according to the meteorological calendar. Meteorological spring, defined by the National Weather Service as the three months of March, April, and May, begins after the 91 coldest days of the year — typically endin...

Pike County community members and local and state officials are rallying behind a mosque after a shooting at the Pike County Islamic Center in Matamoras, Pennsylvania. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Spring may still be weeks away, but across Northeast Pennsylvania, the signs are already here. Buckets are filling. Blue lines stretch between trees. And deep in the woods, steam rises from sugarhouses as maple syrup season hits full stride. “It’s always a pleasure talking to you guys,” says Trevor Tochydlowski, forest specialist with the Wayne Conservation District. “Because I know when I talk to...

The number of people detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities have soared in the past year. At the Orange County Jail, the number of people detained by ICE has more than doubled since the start of the Trump administration.  That tracks with what communities are seeing across New York state and the country.  Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Meghan Maloney...

New federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect across New York on March 1, and anti-hunger advocates are warning that hundreds of thousands of residents could be at risk of losing food assistance — not necessarily because they’re ineligible, but because they may not know they qualify for an exemption. The updated rules require many adults without...

Art, community and creative risk collide this Saturday in Barryville. At Second Marks , a collaborative art show at Chester's Creative Studio, 12 local artists are doing something few creators willingly attempt: handing over their finished work to another artist — and trusting them to transform it. The result is part creative experiment, part celebration of the area’s deep artistic bench — and par...

Sky gazers across the U.S. will have a chance to see an extraordinary celestial event on Friday as all of the planets in our solar system appear in the evening sky. This phenomenon, known as a “planet parade,” will feature Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all visible at the same time along a line or arc in the sky, NASA says. Though “planet parade” is not an official astr...

Reducing food waste could be one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to cut climate pollution in New York. A new statewide coalition launching today — the New York Food Waste Action Network — aims to do just that. The coalition brings together farmers, businesses, hunger relief organizations and environmental advocates to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills, where it generates meth...

Former U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro announced his bid on Monday to return to New York state politics. Molinaro briefly served as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration after his appointment by President Donald Trump, stepping down in February. Now, he's running for New York's 102nd State Assembly District. Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno spoke with Molinaro about the decision.

Residents are facing high utility bills this winter as freezing temperatures hit our region. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has made affordability the center of her latest budget, but what about energy affordability? Jason Dole spoke with Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of the Public Utility Law Project, to learn more.

The NAACP Middletown branch has reactivated its chapter in recent years as a hub for racial justice for Black New Yorkers. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Cindy-Lee Dorcely, President of the NAACP Middletown branch, to learn what's in store for Black History Month and the year ahead.

The recent death of actor James Van Der Beek has renewed attention on a troubling health trend: colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults. Colorectal cancer — cancer that develops in the large intestine, including the colon and rectum — was once considered primarily a disease affecting people over 50. But doctors say that’s no longer the case. “Colorectal cancer is becoming an increasingly...

LIBERTY, NY — What if professional development didn’t end when the workshop did? At Liberty Elementary School, teachers are reshaping how they improve their craft through Lesson Structure Study (LSS) — a collaborative process that puts educators in charge of refining their own teaching, with student engagement at the center. “LSS gives teachers the breathing room to step back, look at what student...

Playful, self-aware and just a little absurd — that defines the creative partnership between fellow Sullivan County cartoonists Lia Strasser and Bizzy Coy. The duo will bring that chemistry to Narrowsburg on February 22, for “Talk Toons,” a behind-the-scenes look at their work. From Sullivan County Walk to The New Yorker Strasser had been trying to break into The New Yorker for years before she ap...

A sweeping change to New York’s driver penalty system is now in effect — and a single offense could cost some motorists their license. Under new rules from the <a href="https://dmv.ny.gov/points-and-penalties/the-new-york-state-driver-point-system" target="_blank">New York State Department of Motor Vehicles</a>, alcohol- or drug-related driving offenses and aggravated unlicensed operat...

With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on the horizon, former Congressman Chris Gibson says the country is facing a defining test — one that echoes the perilous summer of 1787. He calls it “the spirit of Philadelphia.” “So, the spirit of Philadelphia is what happened at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 when they finally compromised on the issue of how to work the legisl...

KINGSTON, N.Y. — It may wobble. It may shimmer. But at this weekend’s Jell-O Jamboree, it’s art. The fourth annual Jell-O Jamboree, hosted by the Midtown Kingston Arts District (MKAD), returns Saturday with what organizer Chris O’Neill calls “a fun, jiggly live event with all sorts of amazing activities for children and adults.” At the center of the evening is the Jell-O sculpture competition — a...

Wallkill, NY - Preliminary testing has confirmed that several dead birds found in Orange County were infected with avian influenza, according to state officials. In recent weeks, residents reported dead crows and other birds in and around the Town of Wallkill. Phillip Pantuso of <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/bird-flu-wallkill-21345021.php" target="_blank">the...

New York lawmakers are moving to curb exposure to PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” found in everyday products from non-stick pans to waterproof mascara. PFAS — a class of more than 10,000 synthetic compounds — accumulate in soil, water and human bloodstreams. Studies have linked them to certain cancers, developmental effects in children, immune system suppression and reproductive harm. This...

This Valentine’s Day, Richard Hoehler takes the stage at Kraus Recital Hall in Narrowsburg with Songs of Love and Outrage , a concert that blends personal reflection with social awareness. Inspired by folk icons like Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, and Pete Seeger, Hoehler explores how music can carry powerful messages without alienating audiences. From Prison Workshops to Original Music For more than 3...

Fans in New York City braved cold January streets for a rare glimpse into Cindy Lauper’s personal wardrobe . For two days, the pop icon opened her closet, offering over 20 years of stage costumes, designer pieces, and vintage finds. Lines stretched for hours as devoted fans hunted for one-of-a-kind items, turning the sale into a moment of music history. Now, a curated selection of those iconic pie...

Kingston, NY — As Black History Month continues, Ulster County is shining a light on a lesser-known but remarkable chapter of its past: the role of Black players and communities in 19th-century baseball.  The Ulster County Clerk’s office, in partnership with the Ulster County Restorative Justice and Community Empowerment Center, will host a “Lunch and Learn” event on February 12 delving into a gro...

A major philanthropic merger in the Hudson Valley and Catskills is now official — and supporters say it could reshape how charitable giving works across the region. The New York State Attorney General has approved the unification of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan and the Rockland Community Foundation, creating the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland . The merged...

February is often a month for thinking about health—heart health, mental health, and the habits we hope to build for the year. But experts agree that staying healthy is easier when you’re not doing it alone. That’s the idea behind Sullivan Club 180 , a network of small, community-based clubs in Sullivan County that help people form healthier habits through simple, consistent actions. “Health reall...