Radio Chatskill

Sullivan County residents are demanding answers on the abrupt closure of the Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar has more.

New York Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha is continuing her series of healthcare town halls across the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions. Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo has more.

Sullivan County plans to reopen its child care assistance program on September 16. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar has more. 

From a proposed utility solar project in Sullivan County to the latest news of the closure at Care Center in Sunset Lake, big changes could be coming to the Catskills. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar caught up with Congressmember Josh Riley, who represents the 19th congressional district, about the most pressing issues facing the district.Riley reflects on the proposed Town Line Solar project in the Towns of Forestburgh and Thompson, latest Farm Bill updates, access to the Toronto Reservoir, the Care Center at Sunset Lake closure, and more.The 19th congressional district is the second-largest congressional district in the state, spanning from the Finger Lakes into the Hudson Valley regions, including Sullivan, Delaware, and parts of Ulster counties.

A new legislative scorecard released from environmental justice group, Environmental Advocates New York, details how every state lawmaker voted on key environmental bills this year. The report comes after New York Governor Kathy Hochul weakened the state’s landmark climate law this past May as part of the state budget.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates New York about what the scorecard tells us on where lawmakers stand on the environment.

Sullivan County’s Child Care Assistance Program has been closed for more than a year. It closed on July 1, 2025 due to a lack of funding. This is the program that helps families pay for the high costs of child care.County leaders have said they plan to reopen the program on October 1, though that has left hundreds of families without assistance.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Donna Willi, Executive Director of the Sullivan County Child Care Council, to learn how families and providers are navigating the pause.

At 16 Upper Main Street in Callicoon, one chapter closes as another begins.After a six-year run operating the beloved Catskills Provisions, owner Claire Marin has sold the building to The Callicoon Pantry, the low-waste grocer and community hub, as the business prepares to expand.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar caught up with Dania LaScola, owner of the Callicoon Pantry, Claire Marin, owner and head distiller of Pollinator Spirits, and Dayna Halprin, chef and owner of Day’s Sandwiches and Smoothies, about the new chapter ahead.

Mozart’s The Magic Flute is one of the best-known operas ever written — but you don’t have to be an opera expert to enjoy it. Delaware Valley Opera is bringing the fairy-tale classic to audiences this month, with magic, comedy, memorable music and a story about the search for a better world.Kimberly Izar spoke with Suzanne Dvorken of Delaware Valley Opera about the production.

Sullivan County officials say a major economic development project could bring new life to Liberty.Hudson Valley Farms, the Ferndale-based farm and food retailer, has made an accepted offer to purchase the former PepsiCo plant on Route 55 in the Village of Liberty, according to county economic development reports. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar has more.

Community pushback is growing against the 1,200-acre Town Line solar project proposed in Sullivan County. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released the latest report on local sales tax collections for the first half of 2026. While New York state overall saw an increase of 6.8% in sales tax revenue, Sullivan County saw the steepest decrease at 5.3% of any county in the state.Meanwhile, neighboring counties of Delaware, Ulster, and Orange counties all saw increases in their sales tax revenue.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek about what the decline could mean for the county’s future.

New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act goes into effect on August 5. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill into law earlier this year in February. The new law allows medical aid in dying for New Yorkers with a terminal illness who have less than six months to live. Some groups have challenged the law in court with mixed results. A federal judge dismissed one of the lawsuits last week, while a judge in a separate case signed off on a temporary injunction regarding the plaintiffs in that case.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Ed McArdle, Assistant Clinical Professor of Bioethics and Humanities at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, about how the law will be implemented across New York.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman took his campaign to the Town of Forestburgh on Thursday, where he rallied against what could be the largest utility solar facility in the Hudson Valley and Catskills region. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has the story.

An OB/GYN practice has returned to Garnet Health Doctors in Sullivan County. The healthcare system held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday at the Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills campus in Harris to mark the occasion. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has more.

Heavy rain that dumped an estimated 3 to 6 inches of precipitation across parts of the Catskills has triggered widespread flooding, road closures and emergency response operations in Sullivan County, with some communities experiencing significant damage Wednesday morning.Some small businesses have reported significant flooding along Main Street in Livingston Manor.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Sally Wright, Executive Director of Catskill Art Space, this morning, whose business has closed for today out of an abundance of caution.

New York has secured a U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster declaration for more than 30 counties, including Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, and Delaware counties. The declaration comes after a spring frost in April affected many fruit growers across the state.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger – whose county is the second largest apple producer in New York state – about what this designation means for farmers.

Sullivan County’s hospitality and leisure industry has plummeted by about 1,000 jobs in the past four years. A mix of weaker than usual seasonal hiring, consumer caution, an aging workforce, and immigration restrictions have contributed to the dip. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Laura Quigley, Sullivan County’s Commissioner of Community Resources, about the decline. 

The Town of Newburgh unanimously voted to oppose an ICE detention warehouse in the Town of Newburgh on July 13.The resolution comes after the federal government quietly leased a warehouse in the Town of Newburgh to a Texas-based contractor for $35.5 million without any local officials’ knowledge.On Monday, hundreds of people gathered in Newburgh ahead of the town board meeting. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Tim Bruno on Radio Chatskill about the rally.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week that the state has kicked off an $18 million project to improve safety along Route 17 in Sullivan County. That’ll include major safety upgrades to roadways between the Hamlet of Parksville and the Village of Liberty.State Route 17 becomes an increasingly busy highway during the summertime, carrying on average 19,400 vehicles daily during the summer months.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Sullivan County Legislator Luis Alvarez about what kinds of safety upgrades residents can expect. 

New York officials and residents are demanding answers after news broke that the federal government had leased a warehouse in Newburgh for $35.5 million. While the Trump administration hasn’t specified for what purpose, federal records suggest it could be for ICE.The news comes just five months after Orange County residents staunchly opposed a proposed ICE facility in Chester. ICE later told New York Assemblymember Brian Maher that they would not pursue those plans.More than 300 people rallied in Newburgh last night, according to organizers, to oppose ICE’s presence in the Hudson Valley. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has the story.

Local activists are doubling down on their efforts to end Orange County Jail’s agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as new state laws prohibiting local cooperation with ICE go into effect and a new federal lease in Newburgh raises concerns.Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar spoke with Vanessa Cid, For the Many organizer, about the push to end the county's ICE contract. 

Optum Health has announced it’s considering selling certain specialty practices affiliated with Optum Medical Care and Crystal Run Health to other large New York health systems. That includes orthopedics, general surgery, and urology, among others.A spokesperson for Optum Health said that they’ve signed or are negotiating letters of intent with some health systems – with the goal of closing sales by the end of 2026.But some Crystal Run Healthcare workers are worried about what this means for patient and worker care. Crystal Run workers, meanwhile, have been pushing for a stronger contract, including safer staffing and better healthcare benefits.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Anna Oman and Krystal Shorette with healthcare union 1199SEIU about the possible sale and what Optum workers are calling for.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this week on Tuesday that states may ban transgender women and girls from participating in school and college sports.The decision marks a devastating blow for LGBTQ+ advocates around the country and is part of a series of state and federal rollbacks for trans protections.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Charlie Solidum, Director of Programs and Services at the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center in Kingston, about what the court ruling means for transgender communities across New York state.

Jesse Ballew has been the emcee of the Callicoon Tractor Parade for 30 years. This year he is stepping away from the mic after one final year celebrating with the community. Jesse joins Radio Catskill reporter Rebekah Hendricks to tell us more about his time with the parade.