The Local Edition

As Pennsylvania prepares for its 2025 primary elections, growing attention is being paid to the 1.4 million voters who will once again be left out of the process: independents and third-party registrants barred from voting due to the state's closed primary system. Pennsylvania remains one of just ten states with closed primaries—meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote in their r...

As the May 7, 2025, deadline for REAL ID enforcement approaches, Sullivan County residents are urged to ensure they have the necessary identification to comply with federal requirements. Starting on this date, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or an acceptable alternative will be required for domestic air travel and access to certain federal facilities. In an interview with Russell Reeves, Sull...

The UFO Museum will kick off the spring season by celebrating May the Fourth Weekend, a celebration of Star Wars where its fans can gather and celebrate together.  But with the summer season approaching the venue has other events in mind for fans interested in the unknown.  The museum offers a comprehensive history of the devoted researchers who studied the phenomenon of UFOs, especially around th...

President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease all federal funding for NPR and PBS, citing what he calls "radical left bias" in their coverage. The order, which faces legal challenges, raises significant concerns about the future of public broadcasting in America—especially among local stations like Radio Catskill. In a...

Ramone E. Wilson has been appointed as the first full-time Executive Director of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Wilson brings a wide range of experience in community advocacy, housing rights, and the arts — including a career in music where he toured with world-famous artists like Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, and Toni Braxton. Speaking with Radio Catski...

A new round of proposed tariffs from former President Donald Trump’s economic team could soon hit the shelves—and small businesses—in Sullivan County. If implemented, the sweeping tariffs would increase the cost of many imported goods that local businesses rely on, including green coffee beans, alcohol ingredients, and car parts. While designed to promote domestic manufacturing, the policy has spa...

Each April, Sullivan County opens a brief but meaningful window for landowners who wish to include their property in one of the county’s Agricultural Districts. It’s a crucial time for local farmers, as joining a district can bring tax relief and protections designed to preserve farmland and support agriculture. With over 160,000 acres already enrolled, the county's farmland protection efforts con...

Today is Earth Day. Many of us are thinking about how we can do our part to protect the planet, not just globally—but right here in our own backyards.  Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke to Dr. Himanee Gupta, Associate Professor of Historical Studies at Empire State University and a passionate advocate for community sustainability. Professor Gupta brings a wealth of experience, not just from t...

Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88, is being remembered for his compassion and unwavering support for the marginalized. His legacy continues to inspire millions around the globe. Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke with Rev. Dr. Ivan Kaszczak of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson NY, who reflected on the loss — calling it "like a death in the family" — and shared hopes for a...

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo sat down with Naomi Scott and Krystal Grow of the electrifying punk rock duo Basic Bitches. They’re here to talk about the world premiere of their brand-new music video “There’s No Crying In Baseball,” happening this Sunday, April 20th at The 108 Main in Narrowsburg. We’ll dive into the idea behind the video, the grant that helped make it possible, and the joy (and...

In a round of good news for hikers, the Open Space Institute recently protected thirty-one hundred acres in the Catskills, one of the largest parcels of privately-owned contiguous forestland remaining within the area.  The project will safeguard clean water for more than 15 million people in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and will also protect wildlife habitat.  The acquisition was made i...

In her debut book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China , NPR journalist Emily Feng offers a deeply human portrait of modern China under the rule of its most powerful leader in decades. She recently spoke with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about the stories behind the headlines and the people whose lives define the struggle for identity in a tightly controlled...

 In an effort to reshape how New York’s criminal justice system handles young people who commit serious crimes, two public defenders are making waves with an op-ed recently published in the Albany Times Union . Allison and Barbara, attorneys at the Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL), are calling for reforms rooted in modern neuroscience and human dignity. Their work centers on the Youth and Eme...

Mental health providers are scrambling to prevent mass layoffs and program closures, leaving advocates urging state leaders to step in before it’s too late.

 State Police are investigating a police-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon at the Evergreen Housing Complex in Monticello. The incident took place shortly after 3 p.m. on April 10, drawing a heavy law enforcement presence, including State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation units, Sullivan County Sheriff’s deputies, and emergency medical services. According to police radio tra...

After an exciting and impactful debut last summer, the Sullivan County Emergency Services Youth Academy is making a triumphant return this July, promising another unforgettable week of discovery, training, and real-world experiences for local teens. Scheduled for July 21-25, 2025 , the Academy invites Sullivan County youth ages 14 to 16 to spend five action-packed days learning about the critical...

A federal judge temporarily blocked  the Trump administration’s cuts of more than $11 billion in public health grants on April 3 – but county and state health departments are already feeling the impact. New York State Department of Health has laid off more than 200 of its workers following the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to roll back local health department funding. Radio Catskill’s Kimbe...

Ellenville’s Budget Deficit Deepens: Mayor Warns of Tax Hikes, Says ‘No Bailout Coming’  The Village of Ellenville is at a financial crossroads, facing a $450,000 deficit for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. With rising costs and stagnant revenues, local officials are warning that tax increases may be unavoidable—and dissolution of the village itself is being openly discussed. “This budget is bare bones...

Five years ago this March, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a statewide lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID pandemic. Public schools, restaurants, and non-essential businesses closed down. Hospitals and healthcare workers faced overwhelming numbers of COVID patients and bed shortages. The long-term toll it has left on people’s lives is immeasurable. More than 7 million people...

Each year, New York Focus reporters examine how lawmakers will spend over $250 billion in public money as lawmakers negotiate over the state budget. New York’s budget is bigger than those of most countries, and outpaces every other state except California.

Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties will shutter its chemical dependency clinics across four locations, including Monticello and Goshen, due to staffing shortages and shifting healthcare dynamics.  The closures, which include outpatient substance use programs, have raised concerns about addiction treatment gaps in Sullivan County, where opioid overdose rates remain among th...

On March 20, 2025, Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) visited Sullivan County to meet with local officials, community organizations, and rural hospitals. During his visit, he spoke with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about two new bipartisan bills aimed at lowering grocery costs and providing relief for family farmers across Upstate New York. Riley highlighted the Lowering Egg Prices Act and the Hea...

We’ve been reporting on Radio Catskill how customers have been impacted by their high NYSEG electricity bills this winter. This past Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that Canada would add a 25% tariff on the electricity they supply to New York, Minnesota, and Michigan but then quickly pivoted – they agreed to delay the surcharges that same day. So what exactly do these new tariffs mean...