The Local Edition

his Sunday, Dec. 21, the Borscht Belt Museum is inviting the community to celebrate the holiday season with a program that blends music, history, and tradition, bringing Christmas and Hanukkah together under one roof. The Christmas–Hanukkah Holiday Mashup runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on the penultimate night of Hanukkah. The event is part concert, part history lesson, featuring music by Larry Bush and Su...

 Property owners in Sullivan County are being warned about a growing wave of property deed fraud, a scam that county officials say is becoming more common, more sophisticated, and more damaging. In a recent interview with Radio Catskill, Sullivan County Clerk Russell Reeves said his office has handled multiple cases in which scammers attempted to sell or transfer property without the owner’s knowl...

Following New York Focus Investigation, Home Health Aides Will Get New Insurance

Last week, New York’s 19th Congressional District Representative Josh Riley joined 34 House members to introduce CommonGround2025. It’s a new bipartisan bill that would extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits.  The credits are set to expire at the end of 2025, which could leave millions of families facing premium increases of more than $10,000 a year. The Senate is expected to vote Thursday...

After a delayed start caused by a federal government shutdown, New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now up and running for the winter season, offering much-needed relief for residents struggling with heating costs. John Liddle, Commissioner of Health and Human Services for Sullivan County, told Radio Catskill the program officially reopened on December 1 and is now operating normall...

It’s been 100 years since the invention of the color photo booth, which used a chemical “dip and dunk” process to develop images on the spot. Today, only one remains in operation, and it's in Berlin. But for decades, a quieter, lesser-known booth ran out of an old arcade in Sylvan Beach, New York. It operated on a stockpile of supplies bought in the 1990s and stayed alive thanks to one family's de...

When incarcerated women give birth, that’s often the last time they see their baby until prison visiting day. After a few days in the hospital, usually while handcuffed to the bed, the moms lose their baby to a relative or to foster care. But in eight prisons across the United States, including Westchester County’s own Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, there’s an alternative. Prison nursery pro...

The New York State Attorney General’s Office is reviewing allegations — first reported by the Times Union — that officials in South Blooming Grove intentionally suppressed voter turnout during the village’s October 22 election. Only 132 voters, or about six percent of those registered, cast ballots in the heavily Orthodox Jewish community. Residents later told state officials they didn’t know an e...

An unidentified security guard responded to a threat at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, New York, on November 13. According to a statement from the city of Newburgh's police department, a man identified as town resident Carlos Ortiz brought a knife into the emergency room. After pulling the fire alarm, Ortiz allegedly attacked the security guard, who fatally shot Ortiz. Meanwh...

The Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre (HPAC) is rolling out a full day of holiday celebrations on Saturday, December 6 , starting with its annual Breakfast with Santa and ending with a free evening concert and donation drive. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. , families can enjoy a breakfast buffet, holiday crafts, music, and photos with Santa in HPAC’s transformed “winter wonderland” ballroom. Director of...

Certain veterans charged with crimes in Ulster County will now be given special consideration. There is now a "problem-solving court" dedicated specifically to veterans. According to nycourts.gov, "To meet the challenges of such a large system, more than two decades ago, the New York State Unified Court System began to establish problem-solving courts. These courts help judges and court staff to b...

Heating Assistance Still on Hold as Federal Government Reopens

This November marks American Diabetes Month, a time when millions of families gather for the holidays — and also a moment to talk honestly about a condition that affects more people than ever. According to the CDC, 38 million Americans are living with diabetes, and 1 in 3 adults are living with prediabetes. Many don’t even know they have it. Diabetes brings not only health challenges but also a gr...

Sullivan County's Human Rights Commission will be hosting a Round Table on Human Rights at SUNY Sullivan on December 3rd from 11 AM - 2 PM. Guided by the principle of Civil and Human Rights: Different Roots, Same Purpose, the roundtable will be a way for the community to connect with the newly appointed board and voice their concerns on major issues, including housing and workforce discrimination....

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo sat down with Andrew Limbong — NPR Culture Desk correspondent and host of the Book of the Day podcast — to talk about the return of Books We Love and its companion limited-run series, Books We’ve Loved . The ten-episode franchise, wrapping up December 4, brings NPR voices together to revisit the books that shaped them, challenged them, or stayed with them long afte...

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest cooking days of the year—and one of the most dangerous. Between crowded kitchens, deep-fried turkeys, candles, fireplaces, and heavy holiday travel, the risk of fires and accidents spikes heading into the holiday weekend. To help keep families safe, Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with John Hauschild , Sullivan County’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety...

As the holiday season gets underway with Thanksgiving, many families are still feeling the ripple effects of the recent federal shutdown—everything from cuts to SNAP to uncertainty around HEAP. For a lot of people, it’s been a tough stretch. But in Monticello, the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless is once again stepping up. They’ll be giving out turkeys tomorrow and hosting a full Thanks...

The Open Enrollment period for Affordable Care Act plans is under way until January 15, 2026. However, the recent government shutdown ending without an extension of premium tax credits is leaving many Americans scrambling for affordable options.  With the increase in monthly premiums, the Congressional Budget Office estimates as many as 40% of currently covered Americans will drop medical coverage...

The Second Annual Gospel from the Garage concert returns this Saturday at 4 PM, bringing century-old spirituals, folk blues, protest songs, and electrified originals to the Riverside United Methodist Church in Barryville. The concert helps support local food pantries and musician and writer Mike Edison is ready to play loud, play bold, and bring the community together. Edison, who has toured with...

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters . HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers have passed a $50.1 billion budget that makes additional investments in public schools, creates a tax credit for lower-income people, a...