The Local Edition

Mental health providers are scrambling to prevent mass layoffs and program closures, leaving advocates urging state leaders to step in before it’s too late.

 State Police are investigating a police-involved shooting that occurred Thursday afternoon at the Evergreen Housing Complex in Monticello.

The incident took place shortly after 3 p.m. on April 10, drawing a heavy law enforcement presence, including State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation units, Sullivan County Sheriff’s deputies, and emergency medical services. According to police radio traffic, one individual sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Authorities confirmed no officers were injured during the encounter.

By late afternoon, investigators had cordoned off the complex’s center courtyard with crime scene tape and were canvassing the area with a K-9 unit. Only residents were permitted to enter the premises during the investigation.

State Police spokesperson Jennifer Alvarez stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public and that additional details would be released as they become available.

The motive for the shooting has not yet been disclosed.

This was the second officer-involved shooting in upstate New York that day. Earlier, a separate incident in Malta resulted in one fatality after a confrontation with police.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is confirmed.

After an exciting and impactful debut last summer, the Sullivan County Emergency Services Youth Academy is making a triumphant return this July, promising another unforgettable week of discovery, training, and real-world experiences for local teens.

Scheduled for July 21-25, 2025, the Academy invites Sullivan County youth ages 14 to 16 to spend five action-packed days learning about the critical work of our region’s emergency responders. Hosted at the Emergency Operations Center in Swan Lake, near the County Airport, this free program offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the life-saving tools and techniques used by firefighters, EMTs, police officers, and other first responders.

Created and coordinated by the Sullivan County Division of Public Safety, in partnership with local emergency service agencies, the Academy is more than just a summer activity—it’s an immersive, educational journey designed to spark interest in public service, build leadership skills, and foster a deeper understanding of community safety. Teens will get up close and personal with emergency equipment including drones, tactical vehicles, helicopters, ambulances, and even bomb disposal robots. They’ll learn essential techniques in search and rescue, 911 dispatch operations, and K-9 unit deployments—and will leave the week with certifications in CPR and first aid.

“Our first Academy was an outstanding and exciting success, introducing local teens to the huge array of methods and equipment our firefighters, EMTs, and police officers utilize,” said Public Safety Commissioner Scott Schulte. “We’ve upped our game for this year, and the invitation is out for teens to spend a week with us that they will never, ever forget!”

The program runs daily Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and lunch is provided. The only requirement is a commitment to attending each day in full—no prior experience is necessary.

For parents and guardians looking to help their teens explore meaningful career paths, build confidence, and learn valuable life-saving skills, the Emergency Services Youth Academy is an unmatched opportunity. Space is limited, so early interest is encouraged.

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke to Dan Hust, Communications Director for Sullivan County, about what to expect at this year’s Academy.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s cuts of more than $11 billion in public health grants on April 3 – but county and state health departments are already feeling the impact.

New York State Department of Health has laid off more than 200 of its workers following the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to roll back local health department funding. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

Ellenville’s Budget Deficit Deepens: Mayor Warns of Tax Hikes, Says ‘No Bailout Coming’

 The Village of Ellenville is at a financial crossroads, facing a $450,000 deficit for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. With rising costs and stagnant revenues, local officials are warning that tax increases may be unavoidable—and dissolution of the village itself is being openly discussed.

“This budget is bare bones,” said Mayor Evan Trent at the March 24 Board of Trustees meeting. “We’ve cut what we can, but the reality is, the cost of everything—insurance, fuel, wages—is going up.”

Reporter Chris Rowley spoke to the issue in an appearance on the Local Edition, helping unpack the village’s grim financial landscape.

Deficits, Dissolution, and Difficult Decisions

The village’s fiscal distress is not just about this year. Mayor Trent warned the board that the long-term picture remains troubling, and that Ellenville may need to raise its tax take by as much as 20% over the next few years to stay solvent.

Rowley highlighted a more existential issue: whether Ellenville should remain a village at all.

That idea—once fringe—is gaining traction. The town has a healthy fund balance and could, in theory, absorb the village. But concerns over local control, services like policing, and political resistance could complicate the process.

If the village dissolved, the Ellenville Police Department might be replaced by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies—a move the sheriff’s office may be reluctant to take on given its own budget constraints.

Infrastructure & Legacy Costs

Despite austerity measures, some investments continue. The village recently completed renovations to the Berme Road Park ball courts—a $100,000 project. But a larger issue looms: Ellenville must contribute 5% toward the long-delayed Clinton Avenue Bridge repair, a $130,000 price tag that would require dipping into reserves that no longer exist.

Is There a Lifeline?

There is one possible route out of crisis: the New York State Financial Restructuring Board, which helps municipalities restructure debt and access low-interest loans and grants. But Ellenville must stabilize its books before it can apply.

“There is a way forward,” said Rowley, “but it won’t be easy.”

What Happens Next?

A follow-up public meeting is scheduled for Monday, where trustees are expected to discuss the potential for dissolution, additional cuts, and the long-term financial outlook. With fewer than 4,000 residents and the loss of industry and commercial tax base, Ellenville’s future may depend on tough decisions being made in the coming weeks.

The Big Question: If Ellenville Dissolves, Does the Name Disappear?

In a lighter moment during the interview, host Patricio Robayo asked whether the village’s name would vanish if the municipality dissolved.

Five years ago this March, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a statewide lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID pandemic. Public schools, restaurants, and non-essential businesses closed down. Hospitals and healthcare workers faced overwhelming numbers of COVID patients and bed shortages.

The long-term toll it has left on people’s lives is immeasurable. More than 7 million people around the world have died from COVID; more than 1.2 million of that number died in the U.S.

While much of the world has reopened, for many – life ‘as usual’ has not resumed. People with Long COVID continue to juggle chronic COVID symptoms and doubt from others. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

Each year, New York Focus reporters examine how lawmakers will spend over $250 billion in public money as lawmakers negotiate over the state budget. New York’s budget is bigger than those of most countries, and outpaces every other state except California.

Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties will shutter its chemical dependency clinics across four locations, including Monticello and Goshen, due to staffing shortages and shifting healthcare dynamics. 

The closures, which include outpatient substance use programs, have raised concerns about addiction treatment gaps in Sullivan County, where opioid overdose rates remain among the highest in New York State.

John Liddle, Sullivan County’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, reassured residents that services will continue through other local providers. “Catholic Charities is not leaving Sullivan County entirely,” said Liddle, citing ongoing case management, housing, and food pantry services. Transition plans are in place for patients currently under Catholic Charities’ care, who will be referred to providers such as Restorative Management, Lexington Center for Recovery, and the county’s Liberty-based mental health clinic.

Liddle noted promising trends in overdose statistics. EMS overdose calls have decreased from 35 per month in 2021 to just 14 in 2024. The success of Narcan distribution and initiatives like the Hope Not Handcuffs program have contributed to this decline.

“There is hope,” Liddle said. “We’ve built a stronger treatment network, and resources are available for families in crisis.”

On March 20, 2025, Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) visited Sullivan County to meet with local officials, community organizations, and rural hospitals. During his visit, he spoke with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about two new bipartisan bills aimed at lowering grocery costs and providing relief for family farmers across Upstate New York. Riley highlighted the Lowering Egg Prices Act and the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act (HPAIA), both of which seek to address key challenges faced by farmers and consumers alike.

Riley said that the Lowering Egg Prices Act targets an outdated FDA regulation from 2009 that requires farmers to refrigerate eggs immediately after they are laid—whether they are table eggs for direct consumption or breaker eggs used in processed foods like salad dressing and cake mix. The original purpose of this regulation was to prevent the spread of salmonella in table eggs that are sold raw in grocery stores. Immediate refrigeration reduces the risk of bacterial contamination and keeps eggs fresh for longer periods when intended for raw consumption.

However, Riley explained that breaker eggs—which are cracked, pasteurized, and processed for use in manufactured food products—are handled entirely differently in the supply chain. These eggs do not pose the same risks when used for pasteurized food items. Despite this distinction, the outdated rule applies the same refrigeration requirements to both table eggs and breaker eggs, leading to unnecessary waste. Farmers have been forced to discard nearly 400 million breaker eggs annually because they could not meet these refrigeration requirements, even though the eggs themselves were perfectly safe for processing.

“Folks are telling me every day that their grocery bills are just too high,” Riley said. “This is common sense. My bipartisan bill would overturn that regulation, put hundreds of millions of eggs back on the market, and bring prices down for consumers.”

Riley believes the impact could be immediate, with more eggs available for sale and prices decreasing as a result. “It’s not a silver bullet, but every dollar we can put back in working families’ pockets matters,” he said.

The Congressman also discussed the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, which addresses the financial burdens placed on poultry farms impacted by avian flu outbreaks. Under current law, only farms with confirmed cases of avian flu are eligible for USDA financial assistance. Neighboring farms within a designated control zone—often required to take costly preventative measures—are left without compensation.

“Small family farms are already hanging on by a thread,” Riley said. “They’re shouldering the burden of containing avian flu, and it’s not fair or smart public policy to leave them on their own.”

Riley is working to include the bill in the upcoming Farm Bill and emphasized the urgency as migratory birds return north, increasing the risk of avian flu spread.

Riley also stated his commitment to keeping Exit 114 on Route 17 open. “Closing it would devastate Wurtsboro,” he said, vowing to push regulators—and if needed, introduce legislation—to protect local businesses.

Congressman Riley will be holding a telephone Town Hall on March 26 at 5:30 PM.  https://riley.house.gov/townhall

We’ve been reporting on Radio Catskill how customers have been impacted by their high NYSEG electricity bills this winter. This past Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that Canada would add a 25% tariff on the electricity they supply to New York, Minnesota, and Michigan but then quickly pivoted – they agreed to delay the surcharges that same day.

So what exactly do these new tariffs mean for New Yorkers and why are customers seeing these NYSEG bill increases? Radio Catskill reporter Kimberly Izar spoke to Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of the Public Utility Law Project in Albany, to help us unpack what New Yorkers need to know about their bills.

Note that this interview was recorded on Tuesday and since then, Canada has delayed energy tariffs.