The Capitol Pressroom

Sept. 29, 2025 - An additional $340 million in this year's state budget is supposed to make breakfast and lunch available in schools to students all over New York without any out-of-pocket costs. We learn about the implementation of universal school meals with Katy Headwell, the Director of School Nutrition Services at Shenendehowa Central School District

September 30, 2025- The Hochul administration is being taken to court for relaxing state laws designed to ensure private school students are receiving a basic education. We discuss the lawsuit with Michael Rebell, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, and Adina Mermelstein Konikoff, executive director for Young Advocates for Fair Education.

Sept. 29, 2025 - State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, discusses the approval process for a controversial new gas pipeline and outlines his advocacy agenda for 2026.

Sept. 29, 2025 - A wide range of products derived from Kratom are showing up on shelves all over New York, so Assemblymember John McDonald, a capital region Democrat, makes the case for imposing age restrictions on sales.

September 26, 2025- Environmentalists are hoping a gas pipeline proposal for New York City gets rejected by state regulators for a fourth time, but interested business and labor groups think it deserves new consideration. We talk about the controversial proposal with Daniel Ortega, executive director of New Yorkers for Affordable Energy.

September 26, 2025- We get to know Jennifer Saunders, the new head of the state museum in Albany. We discuss why she was interested in the leadership role, the future of long-stalled renovations, and navigating turf wars at the Capitol.

September 25, 2025- The Hochul administration has green lit an overhaul of the Capitol complex, including a $25 million commitment to integrate the Empire State Plaza into the surrounding community. We explore this mandate - in a Dispatches from Planet Albany excerpt - with OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy.

September 25, 2025- State regulations for cannabis beverages can be limiting for producers and confusing for consumers, so the manufacturers of hemp-derived drinks want more latitude in New York. We talk about the regulatory landscape with Jake Bullock, CEO of Cann, a THC-infused beverage producer.

September 25, 2025- It's been about three years since Micron Technology announced a major development for central New York and work on the project could begin this fall. We get an update on the implementation of this potentially $100 billion investment with Glenn Coin, a reporter with Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com.

September 24, 2025- If federal environmental regulators are going to back off some water protection measures, how should state policymakers work to preserve clean drinking water? We examine this changing landscape with Robert Hayes, senior director clean water at Environmental Advocates NY.