WJFF - The Local Edition - Special Report

Hudson Valley county officials are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s request for a federal disaster designation. That’s after farmers suffered devastating crop loss after freezing temperatures.Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, and Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino sent a letter this week to the USDA urging federal action to support fruit and specialty crop growers.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger about the effort. 

A law designed to protect the environment will be partially rolled back to pave the way for much-needed homes.

Global warming makes heatstrokes even more of a concern for children left alone in cars according to Laura Dunn of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. May 1st was National Heatstroke Prevention Day. The government agency is shifting their focus to a new campaign centered on raising awareness about pediatric vehicular heatstroke. On average 37 children die every year because of heatstrokes sustained in a parent or guardian's car. The new campaign aims to bring that number as close to zero as possible.

The Sullivan County Youth Book Festival returns this spring with a full day of books, author signings, music, activities and family fun.The festival will take place Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello.Held every two years, the festival celebrates youth literacy and gives families a chance to meet authors and illustrators, explore books for children and teens, and take part in a community-wide celebration of reading.Callison Stratton, youth programs coordinator at the Western Sullivan Public Library and entertainment coordinator for the festival, said the event is organized by the Sullivan Public Library Alliance, which includes public libraries across Sullivan County.“It is a chance to promote literacy,” Stratton said. “It’s a chance to get kids excited about books and to meet face to face with the authors of the books that they love.”Stratton said the festival is held every other year so organizers can feature new books, authors and illustrators. The timing is also intentional: the event comes near the end of the school year, just before summer reading programs begin at local libraries.“We like to have it right there at the end of the school year, right before summer,” Stratton said, noting that summer can be a time when reading momentum slows for students. “We try to use it as an opportunity to kick off our summer reading programs at all of our libraries.”This year’s festival will include book characters, including Llama Llama Red Pajama and the dragon from Dragons Love Tacos. Families can also expect face painting from Foxglove Face Painting and Nova Creations, activities with The Chi Hive, and a performance from children’s rock band Roly Poly Guacamole beginning at 1 p.m.Stratton said the festival is designed to make reading feel personal and exciting for young people.“You get to really have a personal connection,” she said. “You get to ask them questions about what inspired their writing, what inspires them to keep writing.”The event will also include food trucks, author and illustrator signings, books for children and teens, family activities and meet-and-greets.Stratton said libraries continue to play an important role in helping families encourage reading, especially in a time when children are surrounded by screens and digital distractions.“There’s so many distractions out there,” she said. “Technology can be a great gift, but it also is something that we try to limit when it comes to the really incredibly valuable skills of literacy, of reading, of writing.”She said reading together remains one of the best ways to get children excited about books.“Reading together is the best way to get a kid excited about reading,” Stratton said.For more information about the Sullivan County Youth Book Festival, visit scybookfest.org

Healthcare workers at the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York say they’ve gone weeks without pay after the jail’s medical vendor, YesCare, filed for bankruptcy. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has more.

Sullivan County's mountainous terrain has hindered broadband expansion for decades. But a $30 million state investment to bring faster internet to the county is now well underway. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar has more. 

Crystal Run Healthcare in Rock Hill, New York will be closing its OB-GYN practice starting July 1, 2026. That leaves Sullivan County with just one OB-GYN practice - Sun River Health - left to serve the entire county.Crystal Run patients received emails from Optum, which acquired Crystal Run in 2023, earlier this week about the sudden closure.A spokesperson from Optum Health said that “patients are receiving clear communication and support throughout the transition, which isn’t scheduled to happen until July."Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with New York Assemblymember Paula Kay about what this means for the state of healthcare in Sullivan County and the region.

Hochul’s counter would limit informal collusion with ICE only in civil matters.

PharmaCann, one of the country’s largest cannabis cultivators, is closing its plant in Orange County. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has more.

Andrew Neiderman has spent much of his life writing stories.Long before he became known as the longtime writer behind the V.C. Andrews novels, before The Devil’s Advocate became a major Hollywood film, and before his books helped carry one of the most recognizable franchises in American publishing, Neiderman was teaching English at Fallsburg High School in Sullivan County.For 23 years, he taught at the same school he once attended.“I came back to the school I graduated from,” Neiderman said. “I taught with the teachers who taught me. That was a wonderful experience.”During his time at Fallsburg, Neiderman became chair of the English Department, directed dramatics, coached wrestling, created an audiovisual division and served as an assistant principal for several years.But even then, writing was not a side project.“I was always writing even when I was teaching,” Neiderman said. “In fact, I published 18 novels while I was teaching.”Neiderman said he first realized storytelling was part of him when he was still a child. In kindergarten, he recalled, his teacher asked students to stop listening to stories and start telling them.Most of the children were nervous. Neiderman was not.“I got up and I started telling my stories,” he said. “After a while, the kids would yell my name.”That continued through junior high and high school, where he wrote poetry and articles for the school newspaper. By the time he became a teacher, writing was already a permanent part of his life.“I knew it was going to be part of my life forever,” he said.Neiderman eventually left the classroom when his writing career began to take off. He said a contract with G.P. Putnam’s Sons, along with a movie project in Hollywood, made it feel like the right time to fully commit.“I thought it’s time for us to shift to the next gear,” he said.That next gear would take him to California in 1987, where he continued writing novels, working on film projects and eventually becoming the ghostwriter for V.C. Andrews after her death.Neiderman said he had not read Andrews’ work before the opportunity came up, though his wife had. His agent told him he might be asked to finish a V.C. Andrews novel. Not long after moving to Hollywood, he was called back to meet with an editor.What started as one assignment became a decades-long role.“It started with that and frankly never stopped,” Neiderman said. “It’s been over 37 years for me.”Neiderman said he had to study Andrews’ style carefully before taking on the role. His background as a creative writing teacher helped him understand what to look for, especially when it came to voice.“I had to spend time learning her style,” he said. “The thing is I taught creative writing, so I had a little bit of a head start.”The work became enormously successful. Neiderman said the first 10, 15 and 20 books he wrote under the V.C. Andrews name reached No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.At the same time, he continued writing under his own name. His own thrillers include The Devil’s Advocate, which was adapted into the 1997 film starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron.Neiderman said seeing his book become a film was “wonderful,” but he also understood that books and movies are different forms. Because he had taught film studies, he said he was comfortable with that process and was welcomed on set.“I knew the difference between a book and a screenplay,” he said.Over the years, Neiderman has worked across novels, screenplays, stage adaptations and television. He also served as a consultant as V.C. Andrews stories were adapted for the screen, reviewing scripts and helping keep the projects close to the tone of the books.“They wanted to keep close to V.C. Andrews novels,” he said. “They wanted to keep it with that feeling.”After decades of writing in that world, Neiderman is now stepping away from ghostwriting for V.C. Andrews. He said Bird Lane Island is the final V.C. Andrews novel he wrote.The decision, he said, came as the franchise shifted after A+E Studios became involved and the future of publishing new novels became less clear.“It ran pretty good,” Neiderman said. “Over 45 years, I figured, okay, maybe this is the time.”But Neiderman said retirement from ghostwriting does not mean he is done creating.“I’m not leaving the process,” he said. “It’s just trying to figure out new ways to do it.”He is now working on a story he describes as part V.C. Andrews and part Neiderman, bringing together the gothic family drama that longtime Andrews readers know with the thriller side of his own work.Even after more than 140 full-length novels, Neiderman still talks about writing as something active and alive. He said his process usually begins with a character and a “what if” question.A believable character, he said, can carry the story forward.“Usually a character writes the story,” Neiderman said. “Once you create the character, a character will always do what it does.”For Neiderman, writing has never been just a career. It was there in kindergarten, in the school newspaper, in the Fallsburg classroom, on the page, on the screen and across decades of books read by millions.“It just became our life,” he said. “Truthfully.”

The Orange County Jail has served as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility since 2008. Advocates have long alleged that individuals incarcerated in the jail’s ICE unit have faced medical neglect and inhumane treatment.On April 22, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office addressed the allegations, calling them “rumors.” Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has more.

John Kagia is stepping into one of the most closely watched roles in New York government at a critical moment for the state’s legal cannabis industry.Recently appointed acting executive director of the New York Office of Cannabis Management by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Kagia takes over following leadership turnover and ongoing concerns about how the state’s cannabis rollout has unfolded.Kagia leads the team responsible for policy development and implementation for New York’s medical, adult-use and cannabinoid hemp programs. He also oversees research and data systems used to track industry performance, along with public health education campaigns tied to cannabis use.Kagia told Radio Catskill the rollout has faced challenges but also pointed to major progress.Kagia described the current moment as “exciting” for legal cannabis in New York, pointing to rapid growth since adult-use sales began.“We’ve issued over 2,000 licenses across the supply chain… and we have over 600 stores now open,” Kagia said.He added that the state has already surpassed $3 billion in total sales, with projections of up to $3 billion more in 2026 alone.Still, Kagia said many prospective business owners are waiting for approvals, and that access across the state remains uneven. “There’s a lot more to do,” he said.Kagia, who previously served as the agency’s policy director, said he sees the cannabis office moving out of its startup phase. Just a few years ago, the agency didn’t exist. Now, it has grown into a team of more than 270 people overseeing what he called one of the most complex regulatory systems in the country.The next phase, he said, is about refining and stabilizing the system. “There’s a huge amount of work still to do to grow this program… and ensure its long-term sustainability,” Kagia said.Kagia brings more than a decade of experience in market research and strategic analysis, including work across federal government, technology and nonprofit sectors. Since entering the cannabis industry in 2014, he has focused on emerging markets, investment trends, supply chains and consumer behavior, advising policymakers, investors and business leaders.Kagia is stepping into the role as federal cannabis policy begins to shift. He pointed to recent moves to reclassify marijuana at the federal level as some of the most significant drug policy changes in decades.“These are some of the most consequential… policy changes in the last century,” he said.While cannabis remains illegal federally, those changes could eventually reshape how state markets like New York operate—especially around banking, taxation, and research.The state’s cannabis rollout has faced criticism for delays, licensing backlogs, and confusion in the marketplace. But Kagia pushed back on the idea that New York has moved too slowly.“If you benchmark the pace… we’ve actually moved really quickly,” he said, noting the scale of building a new regulatory system from scratch.Still, he said people are frustrated by delays, and improving efficiency is a top priority.One of the most visible challenges has been the rise of unlicensed cannabis stores, particularly in New York City. Kagia called enforcement a “critical priority,” citing concerns about public health, youth access, and the impact on legal businesses.“Illicit businesses are selling cannabis from who knows where… and too often to people who should not have access,” he said.He added that illegal shops also undermine licensed operators and create confusion for consumers. State agencies are working together to address the issue, though Kagia said enforcement resources remain limited.The cannabis market has also seen swings in supply. Early on, growers produced more cannabis than the limited number of open dispensaries could sell. Now, with more than 600 stores operating, the concern has shifted toward meeting demand.Kagia said the state is working to stabilize supply by allowing existing growers to expand production and bringing new cultivators into the market.New York’s cannabis law was designed with a strong focus on social equity—aiming to ensure that communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis enforcement benefit from legalization. Kagia said that goal remains central to the agency’s work.State law calls for 50% of licenses to go to equity applicants, including minority- and women-owned businesses, veterans, distressed farmers, and people from impacted communities.As Kagia steps into leadership, he faces the challenge of managing a fast-growing but uneven system, with ongoing state issues and shifting federal policy shaping the industry. Kagia said the focus now is on improving how the system works and making sure businesses and consumers can rely on it.

Orange County could be the next county in the Hudson Valley to implement a gas sales tax cap. Legislators unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday to cap the county’s sales tax to $3 per gallon for motor fuel and diesel motor fuel. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Laurie Berkner, widely known as the “queen of kids’ music,” is bringing her “Greatest Hits” solo show to the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater on Sunday, May 3, with performances at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., including a sensory-friendly option designed to make the experience accessible to all families.Berkner’s path into children’s music began in an unexpected way. Early in her career, she split her time between playing in rock bands at night and working as a preschool music teacher during the day. That contrast eventually led to a turning point.“I just remember thinking… ‘Why am I even here?’” she said, recalling a late-night bar performance.The following day, performing at a children’s birthday party offered a different kind of energy — one that stuck.“It is so much nicer to have people want to hear music that I’ve written,” she said.That experience led her to leave the cover band scene behind and focus on writing and performing for children, a decision she said “made me a lot happier.”Her background as a teacher continues to shape her work. Berkner builds her songs with participation in mind, often incorporating movement and call-and-response elements to engage young listeners.“I want to see that they’re actually doing it… and that they get it,” she said.At the same time, her music is designed to resonate with parents as well.“Oh yeah, that’s very intentional,” she said.Over the years, Berkner has adapted alongside major changes in the music industry, from cassettes and CDs to streaming and YouTube, where her work now reaches millions of families worldwide.Her Peekskill performance will feature a mix of classic songs like “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “The Goldfish,” along with newer material and lesser-performed favorites.The earlier sensory-friendly show will offer a more flexible environment, with adjusted lighting and sound and a welcoming, judgment-free space for audience members to move and engage as needed.For Berkner, the goal remains the same as when she first made the shift into children’s music: creating a shared experience that connects families.“There’s this incredible connection… between adults and kids,” she said.Tickets for both performances are available through the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater.

 Sullivan County Chamber Shares April Update on Business Activity and Events 

In northeastern Pennsylvania, a growing debate over data centers is drawing attention from residents concerned about how development could reshape their communities.“I grew up around the scars,” said Brian Wrightson, a rural broadband specialist from Archbald.Wrightson recently spoke with Radio Catskill after reading reporting on proposed data center projects in the region. He is also running for Pennsylvania State Senate in District 40—a point he disclosed during the interview—but said his concerns come from his experience living and working in the area.Lessons For Wrightson, the issue is personal—and historical.He describes a region still marked by the legacy of the anthracite coal industry, where economic growth once came at a lasting environmental cost.“I could drive around pretty much any part of northeastern Pennsylvania… and see the scars,” he said.He remembers waterways that were once heavily polluted, later restored through years of cleanup.“But those scars are still here,” he said.That history, he says, should guide how communities approach new large-scale development.Industry on the riseData centers—the facilities that power streaming, cloud computing and artificial intelligence—are expanding rapidly.Wrightson says their growth is unavoidable.“Data centers are coming. They’re definitely coming,” he said.But he says the speed and scale of that growth raise questions about long-term impacts—especially on land, water and infrastructure.Across the Delaware River Basin, dozens of data centers are already active or proposed, and the region’s location between major metro areas makes it a likely target for more.Who decides where they goFor Wrightson, the central issue is local control.“If you come into my neighborhood, it’s on my terms,” he said.He argues that large facilities should not be placed near residential areas and should instead be sited in locations that minimize disruption.“They should never be placed next to residential communities,” he said.He also questions whether the economic benefits often highlighted—like tax revenue—will outweigh the costs for the people who live nearby.Calls to slow the processWrightson is among those calling for a pause in new development.“I truly believe that the state itself needs to put a moratorium… even for one year,” he said.He says that would give municipalities time to update zoning laws, coordinate regionally and prepare for potential impacts.Without that, he worries development could spread quickly, putting pressure on natural resources and changing the character of local communities.

A Spanish-language comedy show is coming to Ellenville this weekend, bringing a new voice—and a new audience—into the Catskills’ historic comedy scene.The Borscht Belt Comedy Club will host Venezuelan comedian Laura Bolivar on Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at Shadowland Stages Studio on Market Street. The show will be performed entirely in Spanish, part of a growing effort to expand comedy offerings beyond English-speaking audiences.Bolivar, who has been based in New York City since 2015, said her comedy is deeply rooted in her experience as an immigrant adjusting to a new language and culture.“When I came here, I didn’t speak any English at all,” she said. “So a lot of my material comes from those mistakes… trying to speak another language, adapting to a new country, making new friends.” Before finding stand-up, Bolivar studied journalism and worked in media in Venezuela. She initially turned to comedy as a way to improve her English, enrolling in classes and performing short sets in front of classmates.“I was just doing it for fun,” she said. “But then I realized I was having so much fun—and I felt close to my dreams again.” Over time, she began performing in both English and Spanish, discovering that each language shaped her performance differently.“In Spanish, I feel like I can go faster, be more free,” she said. “In English, I’m more structured—what I write is what I say.” That flexibility has helped her connect with a wide range of audiences, from Latin American communities to non-Spanish speakers curious about the experience. In one recent show, she recalled a woman translating each joke in real time on her phone.“She told me, ‘I don’t speak any Spanish—I’m translating every joke you’re saying,’” Bolivar said. “That was so sweet.” The upcoming Ellenville performance is part of a broader trend. Spanish-language comedy has been growing in popularity, especially in cities like New York, where audiences are eager to laugh in their native language after spending much of their day working in English.“People want a space where they can laugh in Spanish, remember how they were raised, and see someone with the same experience,” she said. Organizers say the show is also about expanding the legacy of the Borscht Belt, the Catskills region long known as a launching pad for American stand-up comedy. Bringing in bilingual and Spanish-language performers is one way to keep that tradition evolving.The April 18 show is aimed at Spanish speakers, bilingual audiences, and even those still learning the language—what organizers describe as “Duolingo lovers” looking for a fun, immersive experience.For Bolivar, performing in the Catskills carries added meaning.“This is the right moment for shows in Spanish,” she said. “People want to see it.”The show takes place Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at Shadowland Stages Studio in Ellenville.

Residents and immigration advocates rallied in Goshen on April 12 to demand Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus to end Orange County Jail’s contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Delaware County is investing in its agricultural future — rolling out new grants, funding opportunities, and marketing initiatives aimed at supporting both new and established farmers.According to county officials, the effort is part of a broader push to strengthen the local farm economy, as agriculture continues to evolve beyond its traditional roots.In a conversation with Radio Catskill, The Reporter editor Lillian Browne said the momentum is being driven in part by renewed energy within the county’s Department of Economic Development.“There’s been a resurgence of really positive energy,” Browne said, pointing to new staff — including agricultural specialist Lindsay Whitbeck — who are helping connect farmers with funding opportunities.Whitbeck, a farmer herself, is working directly with producers to navigate a growing list of grants and low-interest loan programs. Those opportunities are available to a wide range of agricultural operations — from crop growers to livestock and dairy producers. The support is not limited to established farms. Browne said a key focus is helping new and beginning farmers enter the industry.“Folks who want to go into agriculture but need a little help… can apply for these grants,” she said, noting that trainings and one-on-one guidance are available to help applicants build strong proposals. Those trainings include assistance with business planning — a critical step in securing funding — as well as connecting farmers with the right programs for their specific operations.Among the opportunities highlighted is the “value-added producer grant,” which helps farmers expand their businesses. For example, a farm raising cattle could use funding to process and sell beef directly to consumers.While each grant has its own timeline and requirements, farmers can find updated information through the county’s economic development website or by contacting staff directly.The investment comes at a time when agriculture in the region is shifting.Delaware County, once heavily rooted in dairy farming, has seen that sector decline over the years. Rising costs, labor challenges, and federal pricing pressures have made it harder for traditional dairy operations to survive.In response, many farms are diversifying.“One of the things that’s been very successful here is agritourism,” Browne said. That includes experiences like farm stays and “glamping,” where visitors can spend time on working farms — blending tourism with agriculture and creating new revenue streams for farmers.Local agencies — including the Watershed Agricultural Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the county’s economic development office — are also working together to support the industry’s transition and long-term sustainability.Together, these efforts reflect a broader strategy: not just preserving agriculture in Delaware County, but reshaping it for the future.

 This spring, Pennsylvanians will vote in primary elections that will have huge ramifications for the way the state House and Senate look next year. 

Child Care Voucher Enrollment Is Closed in 34 New York Counties and NYCThat number is up from 21 last July. New York City’s waitlist alone has surged to over 17,000 — a tenfold increase in less than a year.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a policy draft last month to increase the accessibility of the outdoors to people with mobility disabilities. The policy aims to standardize the criteria for evaluating where Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) can be used and is currently accepting public comments until March 9. Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with DEC’s ADA Accessibility Coordinator Leah Akins, Accessibility Advisory Committee Chairman Jason Thurson and others about issues the policy is aiming to address, ongoing debates surrounding accessibility and environmental protection and future efforts to increase the accessibility of the outdoors. 

New York’s Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden visited Sullivan County on Tuesday to detail Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget investments in child care. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

 Shapiro Parodies and Chatbot Phone Banks — How AI Is Popping Up in Pa. Elections 

Artemis II Set to Carry Humans Around the Moon for First Time in 50 YearsAfter more than half a century, humans are preparing to return to the Moon.NASA’s Artemis II mission is expected to send four astronauts on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon and back—marking the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo program. “It’s the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era,” said Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, in an interview with Radio Catskill. A New Era of Space ExplorationFaherty said the Artemis program represents a shift not just in technology, but in who space exploration is for.“This is a celebration of opening the door for everyone to do space exploration,” she said. The Artemis missions are named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology—a symbolic contrast to the earlier program, which sent only men to the Moon.Why Return to the Moon Now?The last human mission to the Moon took place in 1972. After that, NASA focused on lower-Earth orbit missions, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.Now, attention is turning back to deep space.Faherty said renewed interest is driven in part by global competition.“China is now really making their push to establish a human presence on the moon,” she said, adding that the U.S. is “extra motivated to move in that direction again.” A Mission Focused on TestingUnlike future Artemis missions, Artemis II will not land on the Moon. Instead, it will test the systems needed to safely send humans deeper into space.“They’re testing technology… and how they fare in this new capsule and this new rocket,” Faherty said. The mission will use NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket—marking the first time astronauts will fly aboard it.“It’s a technology test,” she said. “They’re just going to be testing all of the functionality.” Advanced Technology—But Same ChallengesWhile modern spacecraft are far more advanced than those used during Apollo, Faherty said the core challenges remain.“The physics is all the same,” she said. “You’re still dealing with the gravitational force of the Earth and the moon.” She emphasized that experience—not just technology—is critical.“You get good at landing on the moon when you land on the moon,” she said. Representation MattersArtemis II will feature a more diverse crew than past missions, including a woman and an international astronaut.Faherty said that visibility can have a lasting impact.“Representation ends up inviting more people… inspiring more people to feel like they can do this tremendous thing,” she said. Traveling Farther Than Ever BeforeThe mission will take astronauts farther from Earth than any humans have gone before.At certain points, the spacecraft will pass behind the Moon—cutting off communication with Earth entirely.“They will be farther away from humanity… than anyone else has ever been before,” Faherty said. Looking AheadIf successful, Artemis II will pave the way for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the Moon again.For now, officials remain cautiously optimistic ahead of launch.“Rocket launches can be notoriously delayed,” Faherty noted. Still, the mission marks a major step forward—bringing humans closer to the Moon, and opening the door to a new era of exploration.

VOTEBEAT PA: Automatic Voter Registration Is Getting More Pennsylvanians On The Rolls, But They Don’t Always Vote

A Pension Battle Is Heating Up in Albany. Here’s What to Know.