In rural Sullivan and Wayne Counties, a grassroots organization is using books to build community and support for transgender and gender-diverse people.

The Trans Support Initiative (TSI) hosts a monthly book club in Callicoon, bringing together trans people, gender-diverse community members, families, and allies to read and discuss trans history, memoir, and identity.

“We discovered that there were way more transgender people in the county than we thought,” said Luisa Santoro, a founder of TSI. “Our family’s involvement came with one of my grandchildren, and at the time there were very few resources around.”

Santoro said her family eventually found support — but only after navigating a difficult path.

“He is now a very successful person, a college graduate,” she said. “But it took a lot to find the resources to get there. We’d like to help other families do that without as much drama as we had.”

For Chana Pollock, the book club is both a cultural and political response to rising hostility toward trans people.

“If you can see it, you can be it,” Pollock said. “Given all the negative energy that’s out in the world currently about trans folks, we need to build a really stable, solid grounding in our history.”

Pollock said books offer both education and joy.

“Just because the world around you might seem really negative doesn’t mean you don’t have the opportunity to create joy,” they said. “There’s so much joy to be had in art and culture.”

The group’s discussions range from graphic memoirs like Gender Queer to classic and contemporary works such as Stone Butch Blues and Hijab Butch Blues.

“We open every book club by asking the simplest question: ‘What do you think?’” Pollock said. “And it just kind of takes off from there.”

Santoro said the book club has become a rare safe space in a rural setting.

“Some people are really afraid to come out, even to a small group,” she said. “But the books help people identify with others who have the same trials and tribulations — or whose children are going through them.”

Beyond the book club, TSI hosts movie nights, community brunches, and maintains a lending library. Meetings are held at St. James Episcopal Church in Callicoon.

“I have never been in such a positive, multi-generational room as when I walk into a TSI meeting,” Pollock said. “Without calling it a support group, it naturally becomes one.”

More information at transsupportinitiativenypa.org.

A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawfully detained an Afghan refugee living in Ulster County, despite his arrest during an asylum interview and years of legal residence in the Hudson Valley.

Ali Faqirzada, a Bard College student and Afghan refugee, has been held in ICE custody since Oct. 14. This week, a federal judge in New Jersey denied his petition for release, finding that his detention does not violate due process.

“So Ali Faqirzada is not going to be able to come back to the Hudson Valley,” said Times Union reporter Maria Silva. “After this federal judge in New Jersey ruled that his detention is essentially lawful.”

Judge: ICE Acted Within Its Authority

The judge pointed to the terms of Faqirzada’s humanitarian parole, which allowed immigration officials to revoke his release at their discretion.

“When Ali Faqirzada was first apprehended by Border Patrol and then granted humanitarian parole, immigration officials made it clear they could terminate that parole at any time,” Silva said. “That’s what happened on October 14.”

ICE issued an administrative — not criminal — warrant for Faqirzada’s arrest. He has remained in detention since.

The court also rejected arguments that his detention violates due process.

“The judge said his detention does not violate due process because he has been in custody for less than three months, which courts do not consider arbitrary,” Silva said.

Under federal law, the judge ruled, Faqirzada must remain in custody until his asylum case concludes.

“He’ll stay detained until he’s either granted asylum or removed from the country,” Silva said.

Arrest Followed Credible Fear Interview

Faqirzada was arrested after attending a credible fear interview — a standard step in the asylum process.

“He went to an ICE facility in New Jersey on October 14 and attended a credible fear interview on Long Island,” Silva said. “His sister told us he passed that interview, and his lawyer said he showed credible fear of returning to Afghanistan.”

After an immigration officer told Faqirzada he had a valid asylum claim and gave him a court date, ICE agents arrested him in front of his attorneys.

“The reason given was that he crossed the southern border without permission,” Silva said. “But expressing fear of returning to Afghanistan is legal and part of the asylum process.”

Crossing the border without authorization is a civil immigration violation, not a criminal offense.

Family, Bard College Rally Support

Faqirzada’s family and supporters say his detention makes little sense. His parents and siblings, who crossed the border with him, have already been granted asylum.

“They all went through the same process,” Silva said. “The family doesn’t understand why Ali is being detained when everyone else was approved.”

The case has drawn bipartisan attention and strong support from Bard College, where Faqirzada studied computer programming and worked as a campus security guard.

“Bard College has held vigils and raised thousands of dollars to support his family,” Silva said. “Supporters describe Ali as generous, respectful, and someone who was contributing to society.”

Faqirzada’s asylum case is still pending.

As New York lawmakers debate ways to lower costs and confront climate change, environmental advocates say the state stands at a pivotal moment. Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent state of the state address included major investments in clean water and a defense of congestion pricing — steps that drew praise from environmental groups. Yet advocates caution the state still lacks a near-term plan to rapidly expand clean energy and cut pollution.

Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates New York, joined NPR to break down what the state got right, where it fell short, and what the 2026 agenda calls for.

"We know that New Yorkers want climate action that's practical, affordable, and real," Fajans-Turner said. "The governor understands the pressure families are under, but climate leadership now means moving much faster on deploying solutions and clean energy at scale that will lower costs and protect New Yorkers’ health in the near and long term."

Investing in Water and Public Health

Among the highlights of Hochul’s address was a $3.75 billion, five-year clean water plan. Fajans-Turner called it a "historic investment" that will not only replace aging infrastructure like lead pipes but also safeguard communities from rollbacks at the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

"This is pocketbook protection," Fajans-Turner said. "By investing in large-scale public infrastructure, the state reduces costs for property taxes, municipal budgets, and household water expenses."

Clean Energy Gaps and Nuclear Concerns

Fajans-Turner praised the emphasis on affordability and safety but said the governor fell short on clean energy. "We did not hear about utility-scale solar or offshore wind deployment," she said. "Incremental wins are not enough. We need a statewide energy plan that accelerates New York toward its climate goals."

She also cautioned against overreliance on nuclear power. "Nuclear will cost billions more than solar or wind and take years to deploy," Fajans-Turner said. "It cannot replace shovel-ready clean energy projects that are essential today."

Housing, Data Centers, and Environmental Protections

Hochul also proposed streamlining environmental review to speed housing construction. Fajans-Turner urged a careful approach: "Reform should be a scalpel, not a chainsaw. Reviews must protect our water, air, and communities to ensure projects deliver more benefits than costs."

With rapid growth in energy demand from data centers, Fajans-Turner emphasized that "big load growth must come from binding clean energy and storage requirements. We cannot allow expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure."

2026 Action Agenda: PFAS, Clean Energy, and Resilience

Environmental Advocates New York recently released its 2026 action agenda, which Fajans-Turner described as "not a wish list, but the basic work of governing in a warming world." Key priorities include banning toxic PFAS chemicals in consumer products, investing in community resilience, and accelerating clean energy deployment.

"First and foremost, we urge the governor to commit an additional billion dollars for the Sustainable Future Program," Fajans-Turner said. "Second, we must continue to protect drinking water and accelerate clean energy. These steps will help New York remain a climate leader and keep costs down for residents."

Looking ahead, Fajans-Turner said success would mean a 2026 renewable energy plan that charts a clear path toward solar, offshore wind, and a zero-emission economy, along with programs that make polluters pay rather than burden taxpayers.

"If we follow through on these priorities, New York can accelerate its clean energy transition while protecting health, lowering costs, and safeguarding communities," Fajans-Turner said.

Learn more about Environmental Advocates New York and their 2026 agenda at eany.org.

Governor Kathy Hochul used her fifth State of the State address to position herself as a defender of New Yorkers’ pocketbooks — and a bulwark against what she described as federal overreach by the Trump administration.

Radio Catskill reporters Jason Dole, Kimberly Izar, and Patricio Robayo, who followed the speech closely, said the governor’s overarching message focused less on sweeping policy details and more on framing the political moment.

Dole said her key message seemed to be: “Re-elect Governor Kathy Hochul. She was presenting an image of stability and accomplishment.”

Affordability Takes Center Stage

Hochul repeatedly returned to cost-of-living pressures, highlighting energy bills, child care costs, housing shortages, and insurance premiums. She noted that the average New Yorker pays about $1,700 a year just to keep the lights on and pledged to rein in utility rate hikes.

“She talked a lot about affordability, especially energy,” Izar said. “But there were not a lot of specifics on how those rate hikes would actually be stopped.”

The governor said large energy users, including data centers, should “pay their fair share” so everyday consumers aren’t left shouldering higher costs.

Child Care Push Amid Federal Cuts

One of the biggest applause lines came when Hochul outlined plans to expand child care statewide, including universal pre-K for four-year-olds and a partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fund care for 2,000 children in the city.

But reporters noted the timing is complicated by federal cuts.

“We’re seeing federal cuts to child care under the Trump administration,” Dole said. “That’s going to make implementation challenging.”

Immigration and Federal Overreach

Hochul sharpened her criticism of federal immigration enforcement, proposing tighter limits on ICE activity in New York.

One proposal would require immigration officers to obtain judicial warrants before conducting enforcement actions in “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship.

“The governor argues that without these protections, people are afraid to send their kids to school or seek medical care,” Robayo said. “State officials warn that this kind of avoidance can undermine public health and safety more broadly.”

Hochul said New York will not use state resources to assist federal immigration raids targeting non-criminal immigrants.

Housing, AI, and a Shift in Tone

On housing, Hochul renewed calls to streamline environmental reviews to accelerate construction, backing New York City’s plan to build 500,000 new homes over the next decade.

“Let them build,” she said.

She also announced a new AI research center at Binghamton University and proposed clear labeling requirements for AI-generated content, particularly in elections, alongside stronger data protections for children.

Reporters noted a tonal shift away from earlier law-and-order rhetoric.

“She’s moved away from bail reform framing,” Dole said. “Safety was discussed, but with more nuance.”

Political Stakes Ahead

Republicans criticized the address as heavy on rhetoric and light on results. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said “actions speak louder than words,” while State Sen. Peter Oberacker said families need lower costs and safer communities “not just speeches.”

As budget negotiations begin, reporters say the real test will be whether Hochul’s affordability agenda survives federal funding cuts and legislative bargaining.

“This is when they're all going to weigh in and that's why you're going to hear me talking to our news partners on there and saying what are people on the ground saying what who likes this idea who doesn't like this idea,” said Dole.

 Early American taverns are often imagined as rowdy halls full of drinking men. But a closer look at these 18th- and early 19th-century institutions reveals a far more complex picture — one that shaped politics, business, culture, and transportation in the young United States. 

“Early American taverns are a fantastic window into the making of the United States,” says historian Dr. Kirsten Wood. “They were important in the American Revolution, but also in the early republic… once you start following who went to taverns and what they did there, you can see how tavern going contributed to the country's economy, its transportation networks, and even its political culture.”

Dr. Wood explores this history in a virtual program, Taverns in the Early United States, this Sunday at 2 p.m., hosted by The Time and The Valley’s Museum in Grahamsville. 

Taverns varied widely depending on location and architecture, and drinking wasn’t always the main activity. “You would also find people who were drinking very little or not at all. So tavern going didn’t necessarily mean excessive drinking,” Wood says.

They also drew a more diverse crowd than imagined. “There were sometimes women — travelers, women conducting business — not just white men,” she explains.

Taverns hosted mutual insurance societies, horse-thief detection clubs, dancing lessons, stockholder meetings, and even medical society gatherings. “The amount of capitalism in fairly advanced forms that’s happening there is really striking,” Wood says.

They were vital to travel too. “People were traveling by foot, on horseback, wagons, or stagecoach… taverns are really important nodes in transportation,” she explains, often serving as early watering stops for stagecoaches and railroads.

Taverns’ legacy lives on in modern public spaces, she says. “The ability to safely enter and use any of those spaces shapes your economic possibilities, your sense of belonging as a citizen… That, I think, is the key similarity between taverns then and now.”

For decades, the Catskills’ Borscht Belt helped shape American comedy, giving immigrant performers a place to test jokes, tell their stories, and build careers that would later define stand-up nationwide.

Now, that legacy is being revived.

This weekend, the Borscht Belt Museum launches a new season of the Borscht Belt Comedy Club at Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, with Ellenville-born comedian Alejandro Morales serving as curator, host, and headliner.

Morales, now based in Philadelphia, returned home with a clear goal: bring live Catskills comedy back to the place where it all began — and make it reflect the voices of today.

A Borscht Belt Family History

Morales’ connection to the Catskills resorts runs through his family.

“My mom and dad are both from Chile, and they emigrated separately in the 1970s,” Morales said. “My father says that he was the first Chilean in Ellenville — you take that with a grain of salt. But he got a job at the Nevele Hotel, and then my mother got a job at the Nevele Hotel, and they met working in the dining room.”

By the time Morales was growing up, the golden age of Borscht Belt comedy had already passed.

“By the time I was a teenager, the sort of heyday of the Borscht Belt was more or less in the past,” he said. “So I unfortunately missed all of the wonderful emergence of live stand-up comedy in the region.”

He didn’t see live stand-up until moving to Philadelphia, where comedy took hold. When he eventually moved back to Ellenville, he wanted to reconnect the region with its comedic roots.

“I really wanted to bring back this original art form that sprang up in the 20th century,” Morales said, “and bring it back so people can continue to enjoy that live art in Ellenville.”

Finding the Borscht Belt in His Voice

Morales now recognizes how deeply the Borscht Belt shaped his comedic instincts — even before he understood its history.

“I was a big fan of Joan Rivers,” he said. “She was one of my favorite comedians growing up. I was also a big fan of Sandra Bernhard and Richard Lewis.”

Through television, Morales absorbed the rhythm and sensibility of Borscht Belt comedy without realizing where it came from.

“I didn’t put two and two together when I was a teen or in my 20s,” he said. “But I’ve always been connected to this tradition that started in my hometown.”

That connection, he says, is something comedians still feel when they perform in the Catskills.

“People come up to the Hudson Valley and it kind of dawns on them,” Morales said. “‘Oh, this is where it all started.’ Those conversations usually happen in the green room before the show.”

A New Comedy Season in Ellenville

As curator of the Borscht Belt Comedy Club, Morales has built a season that blends history with contemporary voices.

The January kickoff features Jeff Gurian, Alan Frischman — a local plumber and author — along with Bess Farber and David Lustbader.

February programming celebrates Black History Month with comedians Chanel Ali and Anthony Moore.

In March, Emmy Award-winning comedian Judy Gold headlines what Morales calls the season’s marquee performance.

April brings a Spanish-language comedy show with Laura Bolívar, expanding the Borscht Belt tradition to audiences long connected to the Catskills resorts.

“I really want to bring something to my generation and my parents’ generation — people who worked in the hotels who were Latin American and South American and speak primarily Spanish,” Morales said.

The season concludes in May with a family-friendly comedy show, aimed at welcoming as wide an audience as possible.

Carrying an Outsider Tradition Forward

Morales sees clear parallels between today’s revival and the origins of Borscht Belt comedy.

“The story of the Borscht Belt is the story of outsiders who were not welcomed everywhere,” he said. “It was Jewish folks who wanted to go on vacation and couldn’t go where they wanted to because of prejudice.”

Out of that exclusion came a cultural force that reshaped American comedy.

“They took that rejection and that outsider status, and they built something that became an art form that’s taken the entire world by storm,” Morales said.

Today, Morales believes that same spirit lives on through marginalized voices finding space onstage.

“We can now plug in our outsider voices and carry on that tradition,” he said. “Having somewhere to practice your art and connect with your community — I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than that.”

Comedy Comes Home

The revival is personal for Morales. His late father worked as a maître d’ at the Nevele and the Concord, where he crossed paths with celebrities of the era.

“I’m sure he’d be super excited if he were still with us,” Morales said. “My mother is so excited to have me back home. She’s thrilled.”

A vacant warehouse in Chester, New York, could soon become New York state’s next ICE processing facility, according to internal ICE documents. The news drew significant local opposition – with hundreds of people protesting outside the Chester Senior Center last night. The Village board relocated the board meeting to a larger venue last minute to accommodate the crowd.

The protest comes amidst nationwide protests following the ICE killing of Nicole Renee Good in Minnesota. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

The Hudson Valley’s LGBTQ+ and Allied a cappella chorus Key of Q is celebrating 10 years of music, community, and joy with its winter concert, It’s About Time. 

“We are an auditioned group of LGBTQ+ and allied singers… Over our 10 years together, we've become really a chosen family with deep and abiding connections,” said Terry Gibson, managing director of Key of Q. “We practice love and support and acceptance and really celebrate all of our unique voices.”

The chorus performs modern, secular music in complex multi-part harmonies, often with themes of equality, love, and identity. Gibson described the group’s unique approach to music selection:

“We encourage all members to suggest songs… We strive to have about half of our music celebrate something about the queer community… It fosters not only more of an emotional connection to the music but a stronger sense of community.”

Key of Q has also launched the One Day Chorus, a one-afternoon session where anyone can join and sing in full harmony. “There’s no audition, there’s no pressure… All proceeds go to benefit a local queer-positive organization,” Gibson said, noting that the first session raised hundreds of dollars for the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center.

On the theme behind It’s About Time, Gibson explained:

“Some days [time] just rushes past and other days it feels heavy and slow… It’s an invitation to pause, to listen, and to remember that even when the world feels dark and rushed and uncertain, our lives and our communities can still unfold in meaningful, beautiful, joyful ways, and we're all here to support one another.”

Learn more and grab tickets at keyofq.org. Gibson adds:

“You don't have to know anything about choral music. You don't have to be LGBTQ+ to belong with us, just be open to being moved. Our singers put their whole selves into the music and that creates a kind of honesty you can really feel in the sound.”

The federal government recently released updated national dietary guidelines that emphasize whole, minimally processed foods, an inverted food pyramid highlighting proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables, and a reduction in added sugar. The new guidance has sparked debate over what Americans should eat — and what this could mean for public health.

To discuss the implications, we spoke with Dr. Eve Walter, Public Health Director for Ulster County.

On Aligning Guidelines with Local Health Data
Dr. Walter said the written recommendations generally align with established dietary guidance, though the visual representation of the new pyramid may confuse the public.

“I want to first separate that there’s a bit of a difference between the recommendations as they’re written in the words and the recommendations as the visual appears,” she said. “When you then look at the image though, you know it’s recommending… protein recommendations typically like a giant picture of a steak or whole milk. These tend to be higher in saturated fats, so it starts confusing the message a little bit.”

She noted that some aspects of the guidelines, such as limiting sugar for children under 10, may be unrealistic. “Some of them are really valid and some of them are a little confusing,” she said.

On Saturated Fats and Heart Health
The new guidelines have raised concerns among some nutrition experts for emphasizing red meat and full-fat dairy, foods high in saturated fats linked to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Walter stressed that while the written guidance still advises reducing saturated fat, the visuals may send a mixed message.

“The research is a bit mixed on exactly how much saturated fats are, you know, should a person avoid?” she said. “It’s obviously been associated with higher risks of different kinds of cardiovascular diseases… I’m actually less… expecting that your average person on a day-to-day basis will sit here and all of a sudden be dramatically changing their diet as a result of this.”

On Equity and Food Access
Dr. Walter emphasized that the guidelines do not address broader public health issues such as food access, cultural differences, or affordability.

“There are many cultures who consume large amounts of rice and grains and healthfully consume them, and it’s sort of suggestive that how their eating is not appropriate,” she said. “It doesn’t at all address access to food… fast food… is way less expensive than healthy fruits and vegetables… that’s the bigger concern.”

Impact on Federal Nutrition Programs
The guidelines influence federal programs like WIC, SNAP, and school meals. Dr. Walter said the impact is already being felt locally.

“We have a WIC program and the WIC program recipients receive a card so that they can go shopping and the food is covered. Already recipients are being… this is dictating sort of what will be covered more, what will be covered less,” she said. “There’s definitely a higher level of proteins and fruits and vegetables being covered, but there’s still this issue of access to fruits and vegetables… sometimes individuals are shopping in places where fruits and vegetables are not commonly available or affordable.”

Challenges in Public Adoption
Dr. Walter said education is key, especially for SNAP recipients who may not have access to nutritionists.

“Already, we have been setting an agenda for our public health department to really figure out how we can educate people on how to identify and cook the healthiest foods possible,” she said. “Not everyone has that opportunity… other people are going to have to navigate it on their own and that’s a concern.”

On Alcohol Guidance
The new guidelines also remove specific daily limits on alcohol, advising Americans simply to “drink less” for overall health. Dr. Walter described the messaging as vague and potentially confusing.

“It just feeds into the larger confusion… this is all just becomes confusing to the public who don’t know where things are or why things would change and what’s the motivation behind it,” she said.

Key Health Outcomes to Watch
For Ulster County, Dr. Walter said public health monitoring will focus on food access and education.

“Really getting the message of not only what healthy foods are out there, but how is access working? How do we help people improve their access to these foods, how do we help people understand how to cook these foods that they may be less familiar with,” she said. “We have people who sometimes have to travel very far just to get to a supermarket… and that’s a real problem.”

Dr. Walter’s assessment underscores the challenges of translating national dietary guidance into practical, equitable, and culturally sensitive local health strategies.

New York energy advocates are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to make affordability a top priority in her State of the State address, amid soaring energy costs. Gas prices are projected to more than double by 2026, and roughly one in seven New Yorkers is behind on bills.

Kim Fraczek, director of Sane Energy, said recent victories like repealing the 100-foot gas rule and securing funding for EmPower+ will help households, but more action is needed.

“The 100-foot rule has cost New Yorkers $600 million in delivery charges,” Fraczek said. “EmPower+ helps low- and moderate-income families upgrade their homes to consume less energy and lower bills.”

Fraczek also urged the governor to address ongoing gas infrastructure expansion, citing its cost and lack of necessity. “We need a commitment to gas decommissioning and stronger funding for renewable energy and efficiency programs,” she said.