The Debrief Podcast

Is the Finger Lakes Drive-In experiencing a resurgence? Is this a new trend, and will the "drive-in fever" last through the summer?  On this edition of The Daily Debrief, Paul Meyer, the owner of Finger Lakes Drive-In located on 5&20 near Auburn assesses his recent opening weekend and the future of the drive-in movie theater industry amid the coronavirus pandemic. He also explains how his business has handled the reopening process. 

Why does a $10.3 million broadband grant matter for Yates County? With employees working remotely from home becoming a more common industry practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nonnie Flynn, the treasurer and administrator for Yates County reflects on obtaining the full grant award in the amount of $10.3 million from the Re-Connect Program, which is dispersed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Today on the show, a look at that program, and how it will impact one of the most-rural communities in Upstate New York.

Today on The Daily Debrief, part of our conversation with Jeff Behler, of the U.S. Census Bureau. He oversees operations in several states - including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. He spoke with FingerLakes1.com Reporter Gabriel Pietrorazio, who co-hosts this show - about the pandemic, and how 2020 is shaping future census counts.

On Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo pressured the press corps into an impromptu history pop quiz, asking where the first Memorial Day celebration occurred, but instead met with silence. On today's special holiday edition, we honor the lives and legacies of our nation's fallen heroes by stepping back in time in observance of Memorial Day to learn more about the origins and founding of this national holiday in the Village of Waterloo in 1866 alongside Cyndi Park-Shiels, the executive director for the Waterloo Library and Historical Society.

What's it like living inside a state prison during a global pandemic?

Are incarcerates informed about current events with frequent updates surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? Are they rendered invisible, out of sight and out of mind? Are prisons a safe space, especially for health immune compromised inmates inside? 

Joyce Smith-Moore, the spouse of Jim Moore, an 85-year-old, is presumably the longest serving inmate in New York State history - serving 58-years and counting. She talks about her husband's lived experiences while being bedridden inside Coxsackie Correctional Facility, which is located just outside of the state's capital in Albany. 

The Paycheck Protection Program was launched as part of the federal CARES Act, intended to keep people employed as the nation dealt with a devastating pandemic. The Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on companies of all sizes - but small businesses - who don't have access to large lines of credit, or the existing capital to survive weeks or months of economic inactivity were particularly devastated. Steve Bulger serves as Regional Administrator for the SBA - the agency tasked with administering hundreds of billions of dollars in loans to small businesses under the CARES Act. It was an undertaking like nothing the SBA or federal government had ever experienced. And as you probably read - there were challenges.  Today on the show: What that economic activity might look like - from one of the Country's leaders in the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

Is the Cayuga Nation on the brink of reaching an agreement with Cayuga County? In a FingerLakes1.com exclusive, Mayor Bud Shattuck from the Village of Union Springs shares that conversations which points to negotiations being rekindled with the Cayuga Nation after being put on hold since the pandemic began. County officials are planning to reconnect with Cayuga Nation leadership this upcoming Friday via Zoom as they plan ahead for a future meeting, which is set to occur on June 25th, aiming at exploring the prospects of possible economic development projects - including the possibility of opening a new hotel and casino in Union Springs.

Keeping the lights on is tricky business, especially during a pandemic. To get the inside look at the the work, and plans that had been in place to keep NYSEG and RG&E running during the Coronavirus Pandemic, we caught up with President Carl Taylor. He talked about the types of plans a company like his has for various types of events, the changes in energy consumption during lockdown, and how they are keeping employees safe.

Are virtual courts held accountable? In the absence of watchdogs and public oversight during hearings, can virtual courts amid the COVID-19 pandemic unhinge judges, public defenders or privately retained attorneys.

Josh Durso, Todd Elzey, and Ted Baker break down the week's biggest headlines and answer YOUR questions