The Local Edition

This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a non-profit news publication investigating how power works in New York state. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Prescribed burns are banned in New York’s largest tracts of forest, but some rangers say they need to torch the brush to save the trees.

The state of New York has historically enjoyed conditions that suppress the occurrence of wildfires. However, with the increasing intensity of heat waves and erratic shifts between heavy rainfall and extended dry spells, these favorable conditions could change in the future.

And as we started the summer with smoke from wildfires just to the north of us in Canada…

Then there’s the question of prescribed burns, controlled fires intentionally set to manage vegetation. Prescribed burns are currently prohibited in New York's largest forest areas but some forest rangers argue that they are 

Jason Dole speaks to  NY Focus Reporter - Nathan Porceng 

Delaware Currents is a news project that tells the story of the Delaware River, starting from its origin in the Catskill Mountains of New York and flowing all the way to Delaware Bay.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo recently spoke to Meg McGuire, the founder and publisher of Delaware Currents, discussing how severe weather threatens us all.

The Town of Fallsburg has seen remarkable growth over the past few years, which has resulted in increased demand for resources, especially water and sewer utilities. Unfortunately, the current infrastructure falls short of meeting the state's standards to accommodate future growth during peak months of July and August.

Radio Catskill's  Patricio Robayo Explores Fallsburg's Future Growth

In many rural upstate communities, eviction rates are higher now than before the pandemic. Places like Liberty, in the Sullivan Catskills, have been hardest hit due to a lack of housing supply at multiple income levels.

This story is part of a reporting partnership between Radio Catskill and The Times Union exploring the housing crisis in rural communities. 

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors has announced a collaboration between the U.S. military and the County of Delaware for an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. This program is supported by the 

U.S. Department of Defense and aims to prepare military personnel for potential future deployment missions both within the country and worldwide.

From July 11th to the 19th, the program will offer various services to Delaware County residents. 

You can simply walk in and take advantage of these services, which include free health exams, sports physicals for youth, eye exams and glasses prescriptions, dental exams, and even veterinary care for household pets.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo had a chance to speak to the director for Delaware Planning, Shelly Johnson-Bennett. 

Patricio first asked Shelly, if this was the first time an event like this has been held in Delware County….

Delaware Currents is a news project that tells the story of the Delaware River, starting from its origin in the Catskill Mountains of New York and flowing all the way to Delaware Bay.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo recently spoke to Meg McGuire, the founder and publisher of Delaware Currents, discussing the recent postponement of the Delaware Aqueduct and its impact on residents.

Sullivan County has started early voting for the Republican primary race of District Attorney. 

The early voting period will extend until June 25, with the official primary voting day scheduled for June 27. 

One of the candidates contending for the position is Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty who is running against Deputy County Attorney Tom Cawley. 

Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty hared his insights on why he believes he should be elected as the next District Attorney.

Sullivan County has started early voting for the Republican primary race of District Attorney. 

The early voting period will extend until June 25, with the official primary voting day scheduled for June 27. 

One of the candidates contending for the position is Deputy County Attorney Tom Cawley, who is running against Acting District Attorney Brian Conaty. 

We are joined by Deputy County Attorney Tom Cawley, who will share his insights on why he believes he should be elected as the next District Attorney.

Kia Willam'sinal weeks began with a visit to Ghana to be with her Ghanaian partner. Unfortunately, visa issues made it challenging for her to return home to Barryville. As the days turned into weeks, Kia discovered she was pregnant with twins, bringing joy to her family who had never experienced twins before.

Tragically, around 10 weeks into her pregnancy, Kia passed away, leaving her loved ones devastated. Her sisters, Quiyanna Terry and Miyanna Albritton, shared that Kia had been experiencing health issues, including shortness of breath. Concerned for her well-being, Terry urged her sister to seek medical attention. However, the doctor she visited failed to conduct thorough tests or blood work, only prescribing her medication.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo recently interviewed Kia’s sisters, Quiyanna Terry and Miyanna Albritton, as well as Jess Lewis, a member of the Sullivan County Mamas. They discussed Kia's journey to Ghana and the challenges her family faced while coping with their efforts to bring her back home.

In this episode, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger sits down with Radio Catskill's Jason Dole to discuss a variety of pressing topics affecting the county and beyond. From the recent Central Hudson electrical bill scandal to Metzger's ongoing efforts to combat climate change, the conversation covers a lot of ground. They also dive into the resignation of Ulster County’s longtime Finance Commissioner and Metzger's calls for greater regulation following the Norfolk Southern train accident in Ohio. Join us as we explore these issues and more with the newly elected county executive.