New York Now

On this week's edition of New York NOW, we dive into the opioid addiction and overdose crisis in New York state. Raga Justin, of the Times Union, joins us to discuss how the state has been using its opioid settlement funds. We also share episodes from WHMT's series on solutions and stories of the opioid crisis in New York - including the history of drug policy, medication-assisted treatment, virtual support and the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. (OASAS)

The state's Court of Appeals - the highest court in the state - issues a ruling that new Congressional maps need to be drawn. We unpack what that means for elections next year with Vaughn Golden of the New York Post and Zach Williams of Bloomberg Law. In recent years, there's been a rise in the development and use of artificial intelligence. But what does that mean for educators? Producer Catherine Rafferty spoke with teachers and students about the benefits and challenges of using AI in classrooms. Explore More: nynow.org

A new edition of NY&, our civics series, looks at how local policy impact what policing looks like across communities in New York state. As part of WMHT'S Opioids in New York series, Public health officials and patients share how medication assisted treatment can assist with addiction recovery at Greene County Family Planning. The Rensselaer County Heroin Coalition is committed to addressing the opioid overdose crisis by providing support and awareness to the issue. Explore more: nynow.org

As the 2024 Legislative Session approaches, dive into the critical intersection of mental health and substance use challenges in New York. InUnity Alliance, led by John Coppola, sheds light on advocacy efforts. Discover the impactful stories of youth peer advocates counseling their peers and learn about the vision for a more inclusive and supportive mental health landscape. Explore more: nynow.org

Federal prosecutors are investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams, news reports say. We'll explain with WNYC's Jon Campbell. A commission has presented recommendations for new graduation requirements in New York's schools. Shantel Destra has details. New York City is allowing housing vouchers to be used outside the five boroughs. Shantel Destra speaks with New York State Association of Counties President and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy about the change. Suddenly having to care for a child can be overwhelming, but there is help out there. We tell you about resources for kinship care. Explore More: nynow.org

Dive deep into the workings of New York's Inspector General Lucy Lang as she shares a two-year update on her office's endeavors, spotlighting instances of misconduct within state government agencies. In parallel, our NY& civics series takes a closer look at the shifting dynamics of tenant protections in New York, unraveling the complexities of changing housing laws across the state.   Explore More: nynow.org

On the latest edition of New York NOW (11/03/2023): The state Senate held a hearing this week with officials from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management to unpack solution to enforce regulation of illegal pot shops. We sit down with Damien Cornwell, member of the Cannabis Association of New York, to discuss his testimony at the hearing and his concerns over laws and regulations for the retail market. As part of WMHT'S Opioids in New York series, we examine the statewide history of drug policy and explore the science of opioids.

Gwendolyn Craig, of Adirondack Explorer, and Rick Karlin, of the Times Union, join the discussion on the state's Environmental Bond Act. Ahead of the centennial anniversary of the state parks system, Erik Kulleseid, commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, talks about his tour of parks across the state. Explore More: nynow.org

Food insecurity continues to impact households across New York. What can the state do to address the issue? Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens County) is pushing a bill that would allow the state to provide additional SNAP monthly benefit funds to households. Natasha Pernicka, executive director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District and The Alliance for a Hunger Free NY, discusses the calls on the state to increase funding to community food programs in New York. Learn More: nynow.org

Assembly Member Mary Beth Walsh (R-Saratoga County) unpacked her opposition to a bill that would move some local elections to even-numbered years. We unpack what resources are availiable in the state for LGBTQ+ older adults who have looking for support with MJ Okma, Senior Manager of Advocacy and Government Relations at SAGE. Aging with Pride, a collaboration between Colonie Senior Service Center and the Pride Center of the Capital Region, provided a trip for LGBTQ+ adults to look through archives housed at SUNY University at Albany. Explore More: nynow.org

We dive into the legacy of Willowbrook State School and investigative journalist Geraldo Rivera's shocking expose on the state institute - leading to its closure We speak with Vicky Hiffa, executive director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, about the documentary commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rivera's reporting Maureen O'Brien of the New York State Industries for the Disables (NYSID) talks through workforce opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and state support Explore More: nynow.org

New York — and the rest of the country — is experiencing a mental health crisis, with a huge demand in services and a system that can't keep up. We speak with Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, commissioner of the state Office of Mental Health, about what the state's doing, the challenges that still exist, and what someone should do if they're struggling with their mental health. Suicide prevention is key, but often overlooked in certain demographics. We'll tell you more. Dan Egan from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Capital Region Chair) talks about mental health in New York today, and how more lives could be saved. Explore More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (9/22/2023) An update on the state's migrant crisis, after Gov. Kathy Hochul met with President Joe Biden this week. SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to discuss the new semester, and his vision for the future of the public college and university system. Research shows after school activities can have a positive impact on the mental health of young adults. YouthFX is an organization dedicated to teaching youth how to tell impactful stories through film. Producer Catherine Rafferty has the details. Explore More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (9/15/2023): Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado joined us to discuss his first year in office and what's ahead. (Originally aired June 2023) Should New York's budget process be more transparent? We discuss with Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Saratoga. (Originally aired July 2023)

On this week's edition of New York NOW (9/08/2023): New York's courts were impacted by the pandemic, but problems existed before COVID-19. We'll discuss the future of New York's court system with Hank Greenberg, chair of the Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York's Courts, and a past president of the New York State Bar Association. Should New York's graduation requirements for grade school students change? The New York State Education Department is considering that now. Producer Catherine Rafferty has details. A new On The Bill looks at how changing the payment structure for ambulances around the state could eliminate a lot of the headache around collecting that money. Explore More: nynow.org

On the latest edition of New York NOW (9/01/2023): It's the start of the new school year in New York. We'll chat about education, schools, and more with Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers. The Great New York State Fair runs through Labor Day. Reporter Shantel Destra spends a day at the fair and brings it to you. What's the future of artificial intelligence in New York? Zach Williams from Bloomberg Government has been covering that, and joins us to explain. Explore More: nynow.org

Join us as we delve into vital environmental issues in New York with insights from State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and Gavin Donohue of IPPNY.  Learn about the Green Amendment, Environmental Bond Act, and clean energy goals.  Discover how these efforts are shaping a greener future for the state. Explore More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (8/18/2023): The state Legislature in New York has passed a bill that would ban wildlife killing contests in the state, sparking some controversy and misinformation. We'll break down the bill with Brian Shapiro, the New York state director at the Human Society of the United States. Lawmakers also considered legislation related to health insurance and health care this year, while insurance companies propose higher rates for consumers. We'll discuss that and more with Eric Linzer, president and CEO of the New York Health Plan Association. WATCH, READ, OR LISTEN TO THE EPISODE: https://bit.ly/NYN202333   

On this week's edition of New York NOW (8/11/2023): New York's influx of asylum seekers continues, with more being transported upstate this week. A few weeks ago, we brought you a special discussion on the situation. This week, we speak with Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, D-Schenectady, about a bill he's introduced that he says would help better organize the process. Concerns over the integrity of elections began to pop up during, and after, the 2020 election, including in New York. So, how confident should you be in New York's elections, and voting? We'll explain the entire process, and how your vote is protected, in a new installment of NY&. Explore More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (8/04/2023): How will New York spend the $4.2 billion that voters authorized it to borrow last year, to adapt to climate change? And is New York taking your gas stove away? We'll answer those questions with DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and NYSERDA President & CEO Doreen Harris. A new installment of our segment New York By The Numbers, which uses a number to tell about something in New York you might not know about. This week's number is 13.8, and deals with access to high-speed internet in New York. Gov. Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams team up for an announcement on public safety in New York City. We'll have details. Plus, what's next for mental health in New York's schools? New funding is available.