WJFF Radio Catskill

Ever wonder how New York decides how to spend over $250 billion each year? The state budget is more than just numbers—it shapes everything from healthcare and education to housing and public transit. But the process behind it? It's one of the least transparent in the country. New York Focus breaks down how it all works: who's involved, what's really up for debate, and how the public can make its voice heard. As budget negotiations heat up in Albany, understanding this process is more important than ever. Read the full explainer: https://lnkd.in/eqq2V46X #NYBudget #AlbanyPolitics #NewYorkState #BudgetProcess #GovernmentTransparency #CivicEngagement #PublicSpending #PolicyMatters

Sullivan County’s youth are facing some of the toughest odds in New York State. A new report from the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York reveals alarming disparities—high rates of teen unemployment, school dropouts, and births, alongside limited access to healthcare, stable housing, and internet. The county’s youth are experiencing some of the most acute barriers to success in the entire state. What’s behind these numbers, and what can be done to change them? Read the full breakdown and see what targeted investments and community efforts could mean for the future of Sullivan County. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eq_NUZY4 #SullivanCounty #YouthEquity #ChildWellbeing #NYPolicy #CommunityInvestment #EducationMatters #HealthAccess #DigitalDivide #HousingJustice

SOUNDINGS #47 is out now from Radio Catskill! This week, we look at the lives of New Yorkers still coping with the effects of Long COVID, five years after the start of the pandemic. We also report on a possible rollback in federal support for HIV prevention, and spotlight a local choir that blends music and activism in Ulster County. Plus, how the Hudson Valley is marking Trans Day of Visibility, and what to know about New York’s state budget process. Stay connected to local news and culture. Read the latest issue and sign up to get SOUNDINGS in your inbox. https://conta.cc/4l7upKv #LongCOVID #TransDayOfVisibility #HIVAwareness #HudsonValleyNews

Five Years Later: New Yorkers with Long COVID Juggle Illness and Doubt Brain fog. Fatigue. Gastrointestinal issues. Long COVID comes with more than 200 symptoms and is still affecting millions. "Short answer, it sucks," says Jamie Sanin of Celebrate845, a Hudson Valley mutual aid group that's been distributing free tests and masks since 2021. Long COVID is hard to diagnose, unpredictable, and often dismissed. But it’s real—and resources are scarce, especially in rural areas. Clinics like Ellenville Regional Hospital are working with limited staff and equipment to support patients ranging in age from 26 to 84. At the grassroots level, Sanin and others are creating safer, more accessible spaces for people still at risk. "There are a lot of tools that are just gonna help stay safer, and it’s actually going to make the spaces more accessible. Why wouldn’t you want that?" Looking for help? Check Long COVID Alliance for a national directory of clinics or the NYC Health Department for care options in the city. #LongCOVID #COVIDAwareness #ChronicIllness #MutualAid #HudsonValley #DisabilityJustice https://lnkd.in/ey7artvf

Delaware Valley School District Reassesses 2016 Agreement on Transgender Student Inclusion Policies In Pike County, Pennsylvania, The Delaware Valley School District board is reevaluating a 2016 agreement with the federal Office of Civil Rights that mandates policies for the inclusion of transgender students. This comes amid the Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance. At a work session March 12, the board was divided on how to proceed. Some members advocated withdrawing from the agreement to align with a Trump executive order and restrict facility access by gender, while others suggested seeking legal counsel due to uncertainties around changing federal policies. Tim Bruno spoke to Taylor James, Executive Director of Triversity about the issue on Radio Chatskill. TriVersity is the Pike County Pride Center committed to serving the LGBTQ+ Community & allies living in or visiting the TriState region of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. https://lnkd.in/egJfz7JW

Sullivan County Responds to Catholic Charities Closures Catholic Charities will close its chemical dependency clinics in Monticello, Goshen, and two other Hudson Valley locations—another sign of shifting healthcare dynamics and ongoing staffing challenges. While the closures are sparking concern over treatment gaps in a region with some of NY’s highest opioid overdose rates, officials are assuring the public: help isn’t going away. Local providers like Restorative Management and Lexington Center for Recovery are stepping in, with transition plans already underway. The good news? Overdose calls are down—from 35 a month in 2021 to just 14 in 2024. “There is hope,” says John Liddle of Sullivan County Health. “We’ve built a stronger treatment network.” https://lnkd.in/e2AFNPAR #SullivanCounty #PublicHealth #OpioidCrisis #AddictionRecovery #HealthcareNews #HopeNotHandcuffs

Congressman Josh Riley Pushes to Lower Egg Prices and Support Family Farmers Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) visited Sullivan County on March 20, meeting with local officials, community organizations, and rural hospitals. During his visit, he spoke with Radio Catskill about two new bipartisan bills designed to help family farmers and lower grocery prices for consumers. The Lowering Egg Prices Act would eliminate an outdated FDA regulation that forces farmers to waste nearly 400 million eggs each year. Riley says this change would increase egg supply and help bring prices down at the store. He’s also working to pass the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, which would provide financial support to small farms impacted by avian flu outbreaks—something not currently available to many family farms. Riley also reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Exit 114 on Route 17 open, saying closing it would devastate Wurtsboro businesses. "Every dollar we can put back in working families' pockets matters," Riley said. Read and Listen for more: https://lnkd.in/eiaRkfUU #SullivanCounty #NY19 #FarmBill #JoshRiley #EggPrices #SupportLocalFarms #Wurtsboro #RadioCatskill https://lnkd.in/eiaRkfUU

Young Farmers Feel The Freeze of Federal Funding Farmers say the federal funding freeze is halting growth and derailing their planning and young farmers say they face unique challenges. For young and beginner farmers, federal funding is critical as they shore up their first few years of production. That’s money farmers were planning to use to do things like put up foundational fencing, pay farm workers, or build their first high tunnel – some farmers saying these are projects they’ve already paid into and were waiting for reimbursement. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to some young farmers in the region to understand what’s at stake and how they’re struggling to make critical decisions this spring as billions of dollars in promised federal payments remain frozen by the Trump administration. https://lnkd.in/eStqr82S

Federal Funding Freeze Threatens Sullivan County’s New Generation of Farmers A freeze on federal funds has halted crucial programs supporting beginner farmers in Sullivan County, leaving many in financial uncertainty. The $1.5 million in funding, distributed through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, was earmarked for mentorship and technical assistance to foster the next generation of local farmers. The cuts also impact the Sullivan Fresh mobile farmers market, potentially reducing access to fresh produce in underserved communities. In response, Cornell Cooperative is launching fundraising efforts to sustain these initiatives. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the future of farming in the region as advocates push for the funds to be restored. Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo sat down with Ruby Rayner of The River Reporter to discuss the issue. https://lnkd.in/e-mfm7R2

Meet the Newest Member of Our Team: Journalist Kimberly Izar Joins Radio Catskill! Kimberly Izar joined us Monday, March 3, as our new multimedia reporter! Kim is passionate about local news and solutions journalism that responds to community needs and interests. She has covered issues ranging from food insecurity, urban agriculture, public housing, segregation, and reproductive healthcare for communities of color, and her work has been featured in NPR, Gothamist, WBAI, The Jersey Bee, Next City, and others. Kim has received awards for her local news reporting in New York City and New Jersey from the Center for Cooperative Media, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the College Media Association. She is a graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and Northeastern University. For her first assignment, Kim spoke to some NYSEG customers who are taking some drastic measures to cope with unexpectedly high energy bills this winter, including turning off the heat in their homes. Welcome to the team, Kim!