The Local Edition

Votebeat PA reports that the U.S. Justice Department is asking Pennsylvania how it manages voter rolls. Several other states are also facing new scrutiny as the Trump administration refocuses election-law enforcement.

Carter Walker explains that some elections officials and observers are wary because of the larger context in which this effort is occurring, although the commonwealth has not yet responded to these requests.

New York is staring down billions in lost federal funding for Medicaid and food assistance over the next decade

The public now has access to crucial data about air quality around Hudson Valley. Bard College has partnered with an environmental justice group, “JustAir,” to install sensors and publish the data in real time. Before this initiative, only government agencies could view the data without a formal request and it was being measured from farther away. Citizens have to file using the Freedom of Information Act to access EPA statistics, explains Eli Dueker. 

Dueker is the Director of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities at Bard College. He told WJFF, “We are the first publicly accessible air quality network in the Hudson Valley. The nearest ‘official’ Department of Environmental Conservation station is in Newburgh and not publicly accessible.” 

The program is a huge step for environmental justice and democratizing information, says Desirée Lyle, the manager of Bard’s Community Sciences Lab. The program is a “resource for the community” that isn’t vulnerable to the politicization of climate science. Lyle explains that Hudson Valley was previously part of an “air quality monitoring desert,” in which fifty million Americans still currently live. Now, however, residents are empowered to use data to investigate potential health hazards to the community: 

“If you have something that just happened in your neighborhood, let’s say there was a fire, and you’ve been coughing a lot for the last two weeks, and you’re wondering if that fire in your neighborhood is the cause of that, then you can go back three months ago and see what the air quality was like before you had your cough, and see if it was the same or if it was different. So that’s another way that data are helpful to individual community members, not just municipalities or hospitals or larger organizations. It could be just, you know, a person who’s sick and wanting to get more information about why they might be not feeling well.”

Lyle and Dueker hope to grow the program even further by installing sensors on-the-ground. These are more accurate than those on top of roofs because gravity moves a lot of harmful particles down to where people are actually breathing. They encourage people to limit burning firewood and partaking in other activities that can hurt the air quality. Dueker says:

“We as a community, we have control over our air quality… in this era of living, there’s a lot that we can’t do anything about… Our point is that air quality is not one of them. We can make decisions that affect our air quality immediately." He continued, "We also aren’t into in the business of using guilt as a way to achieve environmental excellence. We actually believe that there are a lot of decisions that everyone has to make on a daily basis and we have no business judging that. But we can, as a community, make some decisions that can help guide people around that.”

Listen to the audio here for more and visit https://hvaq.wordpress.com/ to sponsor a sensor, volunteer for the program, or learn more.

Radio Catskill's Jaime Case explores the intersection of biodiversity, conservation, and native plants with environmentalist and landscape designer Carolyn Summers.
 
In this conversation, Summers shares insights from her ambitious 20-year project, Flying Trillium, located on a 100-acre property in Sullivan County. The project serves as both a living laboratory and a sanctuary—where native plants are not only cultivated but allowed to flourish alongside local wildlife. 

Camille O'Brien represented the Catskills this Independence Day on Coney Island for a great American tradition, Nathan's annual hot dog eating contest. O'Brien ate six and a half weiners in just ten minutes, placing eleventh out of thirteen women.

At the weigh-in on July 3rd, O'Brien was feeling starstruck, surrounded by the biggest names in professional eating, including two former champions. " It's so surreal to be right behind Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo right now.... I got to be announced with the people that I've been watching for so many years. That's so cool."

James Webb, an Australian competing in the contest, sees this event as the pinnacle of U.S. culture. "I never realized what the Fourth of July means to people in America, but you all always find a way to celebrate... So tomorrow there's gonna be drunk idiots with those big Nathan's hats. It's the most fun. I love this week. I bring my whole family from Australia for this week."

O'Brien has now signed a contract with Major League Eating and is expecting to compete in more events going forward. Next up? Hopefully the buffalo wing contest in Buffalo, NY, she said.

Jeffersonville’s Camille O’Brien is heading to Brooklyn this July 4 to compete in one of America’s most iconic eating competitions — the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

“I can’t even believe it,” said O’Brien. “I actually signed a contract yesterday with Major League Eating, so technically I’m a professional eater now.”

She secured her spot by winning a qualifying event at Hershey Park, where she ate 8.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, narrowly edging out her competitors. “Second place ate eight, and third place ate seven and a half, but only the winner gets a seat at the big show,” she explained.

This will be O’Brien’s first time competing in a hot dog eating contest at this level, though she’s no stranger to the world of competitive eating. “I’ve been in other eating contests, but funny enough, my whole family is from South Brooklyn. One of my earliest memories is being at Nathan’s on Coney Island in the summer and eating French fries with the little red fork they used to have.”

Preparation for the contest has been intense. “I’ve been eating a lot of watermelon to create more space in my stomach,” she said, adding that she’s also practiced with members of her local fire department nearby in case of choking — a real risk in the world of speed eating. “Hot dogs are one of the things people choke on the most… so I did have a practice the week before.”

O’Brien is also planning to use her moment in the spotlight to promote a cause close to her heart: volunteer firefighting. “I’m hoping to wear some of my fire department bunker gear and promote volunteer firefighting.”

For O’Brien, this contest is more than a competitive milestone — it’s deeply personal. “It means, I think, way more than a lot of people know to me. Having lost both my parents, it’s such a throwback to my family and the memories I have there.”

She knows the event will be physically demanding — “the energy it takes from your whole body to digest that much food” is no joke — but for O’Brien, it’s worth it. “I never thought this was the way I was going to get on ESPN. But here we go.”

The story of Sullivan County’s growth and transformation begins along the banks of the Delaware and Hudson Canal.

In a recent conversation with Radio Catskill, Fiona Feltman, Assistant Parks Director for Sullivan County, spoke with Patricio Robayo about the D&H Canal Interpretive Center in Summitville. The center highlights the history of the canal, once a vital transportation route that helped shape the economic and social landscape of the region.

“The canal played a critical role in connecting communities and industries in the 19th century,” Feltman said. “Its impact is still visible in the layout and character of towns throughout the area.”

The Interpretive Center includes exhibits and artifacts that trace the canal’s legacy—from its construction and operation to its role in moving coal and other goods through the Catskills. The site also serves as a space for education and engagement, offering visitors a chance to better understand the infrastructure and labor that powered early industrial growth in the region.

In addition to the permanent displays, the center is hosting a series of free public programs throughout the summer. The lineup includes historical talks, guided walks along the canal path, and other events designed to highlight both the human and natural history of the area.

“We’re focused on helping people connect to the broader story of the region, whether they’re history enthusiasts or just looking for something meaningful to do with their families,” Feltman said.

The D&H Canal Interpretive Center is operated by the Sullivan County Division of Parks, Recreation, and Beautification. A full schedule of summer programming is available on the county’s website.

Statewide spending on hotels has more than tripled in recent years. The shift away from shelters has prevented families from accessing services like child care and help finding housing.

Read more here: https://nysfocus.com/2025/06/24/new-york-homelessness-hotels

For Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo speaks with keynote speaker and entrepreneur Kevin Green. From Division 1 athletics to fine dining and an appearance on the Food Network’s Chopped, Green’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention. He shares his personal story of facing burnout, divorce, and career shifts—highlighting the importance of men’s mental health, vulnerability, and redefining what strength really means.

Author Patricia Grayhall joins Radio Catskill’s Jamie Case to discuss her new book, A Place for Us, an autofictional account of her search for a country where she could legally live with her British partner—years before the United States extended immigration rights to same-sex couples.

At the heart of her story is a message to queer youth: “Love will prevail.”