April 19, 2021 - As part of the effort to rebuild New York's economy, state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo just invested $800 million of federal money into small business grants. Assemblyman Harry Bronson, a Rochester-area Democrat, discusses how the program will work and also talks about future unemployment insurance costs for businesses.

April 19, 2021 - Barbara Bowen, president of the union representing faculty and staff at CUNY, walks us through the higher education portion of the state budget. She discusses the narrowing of the "TAP Gap," the freeze on tuition costs at SUNY and CUNY institutions and the state's overall commitment to New York's public colleges and universities.

April 19, 2021 - Caitlin O'Brien, the American Heart Association's government relations director for New York, joins the show to make the case for a state investment in a program that secures free local fruits and vegetables for New Yorkers on government assistance, producing better health outcomes and boosting the state's agriculture sector.

April 16, 2021 - The New York State Health Foundation's Derek Coy joins the program to explain the funding for veterans that made it into the state budget and how a new law will make courts for veterans more accessible all over the state.

April 16, 2021 - In 2007, the state created an interagency council to serve deaf New Yorkers, but 14 years later the body had become defunct. Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, a Rockland County Democrat, joins the show to explain his legislative push to fill this gap with a new state office.

April 15, 2021 - We turned to Anu Joshi, vice president of policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, for an explanation of the $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund in the state budget, including who is eligible for what and how the money will be distributed.

April 15, 2021 - The recently adopted state budget took a big step forward in ensuring that all children in New York have access to free pre-kindergarten instruction. Dia Bryant, interim executive director of Education Trust New York, breaks down why this investment is important and what else is needed for early childhood.

April 15, 2021 - New York City employees hoping to exit civil service may be eligible to pull the pin early, as the result of an incentive tucked into the state budget. Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, explains why the measure was included and how it could save the city money.

April 14, 2021 - A list of seven contenders have been identified to replace Judge Leslie Stein on the state's top court when she retires in June, so we speak with court watcher Vin Bonventre for his analysis of the potential candidates for the Court of Appeals and get his prediction on who the governor will pick.

April 14, 2021 - Last year, state officials eliminated the Regents requirement for graduating high school, which ensured that seniors who might not have graduated or would have taken longer to graduate got their diploma. With the state waiving the requirement again, Education Trust New York Director of Research and Policy Francisco Miguel Araiza joins the show to explain what districts will be the most effected and what it means for students moving forward.