The Local Edition

Residents and immigration advocates rallied in Goshen on April 12 to demand Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus to end Orange County Jail’s contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Delaware County is investing in its agricultural future — rolling out new grants, funding opportunities, and marketing initiatives aimed at supporting both new and established farmers.

According to county officials, the effort is part of a broader push to strengthen the local farm economy, as agriculture continues to evolve beyond its traditional roots.

In a conversation with Radio Catskill, The Reporter editor Lillian Browne said the momentum is being driven in part by renewed energy within the county’s Department of Economic Development.

“There’s been a resurgence of really positive energy,” Browne said, pointing to new staff — including agricultural specialist Lindsay Whitbeck — who are helping connect farmers with funding opportunities.

Whitbeck, a farmer herself, is working directly with producers to navigate a growing list of grants and low-interest loan programs. Those opportunities are available to a wide range of agricultural operations — from crop growers to livestock and dairy producers. 

The support is not limited to established farms. Browne said a key focus is helping new and beginning farmers enter the industry.

“Folks who want to go into agriculture but need a little help… can apply for these grants,” she said, noting that trainings and one-on-one guidance are available to help applicants build strong proposals. 

Those trainings include assistance with business planning — a critical step in securing funding — as well as connecting farmers with the right programs for their specific operations.

Among the opportunities highlighted is the “value-added producer grant,” which helps farmers expand their businesses. For example, a farm raising cattle could use funding to process and sell beef directly to consumers.

While each grant has its own timeline and requirements, farmers can find updated information through the county’s economic development website or by contacting staff directly.

The investment comes at a time when agriculture in the region is shifting.

Delaware County, once heavily rooted in dairy farming, has seen that sector decline over the years. Rising costs, labor challenges, and federal pricing pressures have made it harder for traditional dairy operations to survive.

In response, many farms are diversifying.

“One of the things that’s been very successful here is agritourism,” Browne said. 

That includes experiences like farm stays and “glamping,” where visitors can spend time on working farms — blending tourism with agriculture and creating new revenue streams for farmers.

Local agencies — including the Watershed Agricultural Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the county’s economic development office — are also working together to support the industry’s transition and long-term sustainability.

Together, these efforts reflect a broader strategy: not just preserving agriculture in Delaware County, but reshaping it for the future.

 This spring, Pennsylvanians will vote in primary elections that will have huge ramifications for the way the state House and Senate look next year. 

Child Care Voucher Enrollment Is Closed in 34 New York Counties and NYC

That number is up from 21 last July. New York City’s waitlist alone has surged to over 17,000 — a tenfold increase in less than a year.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a policy draft last month to increase the accessibility of the outdoors to people with mobility disabilities. The policy aims to standardize the criteria for evaluating where Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) can be used and is currently accepting public comments until March 9. 

Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with DEC’s ADA Accessibility Coordinator Leah Akins, Accessibility Advisory Committee Chairman Jason Thurson and others about issues the policy is aiming to address, ongoing debates surrounding accessibility and environmental protection and future efforts to increase the accessibility of the outdoors. 

New York’s Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden visited Sullivan County on Tuesday to detail Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget investments in child care. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

 Shapiro Parodies and Chatbot Phone Banks — How AI Is Popping Up in Pa. Elections 

Artemis II Set to Carry Humans Around the Moon for First Time in 50 Years

After more than half a century, humans are preparing to return to the Moon.

NASA’s Artemis II mission is expected to send four astronauts on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon and back—marking the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo program. 

“It’s the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era,” said Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, in an interview with Radio Catskill. 

A New Era of Space Exploration

Faherty said the Artemis program represents a shift not just in technology, but in who space exploration is for.

“This is a celebration of opening the door for everyone to do space exploration,” she said. 

The Artemis missions are named after the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology—a symbolic contrast to the earlier program, which sent only men to the Moon.

Why Return to the Moon Now?

The last human mission to the Moon took place in 1972. After that, NASA focused on lower-Earth orbit missions, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.

Now, attention is turning back to deep space.

Faherty said renewed interest is driven in part by global competition.

“China is now really making their push to establish a human presence on the moon,” she said, adding that the U.S. is “extra motivated to move in that direction again.” 

A Mission Focused on Testing

Unlike future Artemis missions, Artemis II will not land on the Moon. Instead, it will test the systems needed to safely send humans deeper into space.

“They’re testing technology… and how they fare in this new capsule and this new rocket,” Faherty said. 

The mission will use NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket—marking the first time astronauts will fly aboard it.

“It’s a technology test,” she said. “They’re just going to be testing all of the functionality.” 

Advanced Technology—But Same Challenges

While modern spacecraft are far more advanced than those used during Apollo, Faherty said the core challenges remain.

“The physics is all the same,” she said. “You’re still dealing with the gravitational force of the Earth and the moon.” 

She emphasized that experience—not just technology—is critical.

“You get good at landing on the moon when you land on the moon,” she said. 

Representation Matters

Artemis II will feature a more diverse crew than past missions, including a woman and an international astronaut.

Faherty said that visibility can have a lasting impact.

“Representation ends up inviting more people… inspiring more people to feel like they can do this tremendous thing,” she said. 

Traveling Farther Than Ever Before

The mission will take astronauts farther from Earth than any humans have gone before.

At certain points, the spacecraft will pass behind the Moon—cutting off communication with Earth entirely.

“They will be farther away from humanity… than anyone else has ever been before,” Faherty said. 

Looking Ahead

If successful, Artemis II will pave the way for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the Moon again.

For now, officials remain cautiously optimistic ahead of launch.

“Rocket launches can be notoriously delayed,” Faherty noted. 

Still, the mission marks a major step forward—bringing humans closer to the Moon, and opening the door to a new era of exploration.