News

By Elizabeth Christensen

Oswego, NY – WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen visits Oswego Hospital's new Surgical Center... which will bring state of the art medical technology to rural Oswego County.

(Note: Tours of the new Surgical Center will be given to the general public on Saturday, October 29, 2005 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.)

By Chris Ulanowski

Syracuse N.Y. – The public opinion poll in the race for mayor of Syracuse, released this week by the Post-Standard, shows signs that Democrat Matt Driscoll's bid for a second term may in trouble. That according to a local political expert. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski spoke with Lemoyne College political science professor John Frey about the poll findings.

By Chris Ulanowski

Syracuse N.Y. – The public opinion poll in the race for mayor of Syracuse, released this week by the Post-Standard, shows signs that Democrat Matt Driscoll's bid for a second term may in trouble. That according to a local political expert. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski spoke with Lemoyne College political science professor John Frey about the poll findings.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. –

As Destiny U-S-A developers take their message to the public in television ads, the content of at least one commerical sticks out as being as controvesial as the project itself. WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports.

By Matt Hackworth

PHOENIX, N.Y. – Tonight in New York City, a leading gay rights group will highlight the struggle of a Central New York woman to honor her longtime partner. As WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports, the Phoenix woman's story brings added emphasis to a legislative plan that would provide domestic partners with at least one benefit of marriage.

By Chris Ulanowski

Syracuse, NY – If Green Party candidate for mayor in Syracuse Howie Hawkins had his way, the current system of city government would scrapped and replaced by a system of what he calls "grassroots democracy and proportional representation."
Hawkins outlined his plan in a position paper. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski spoke to the Green Party candidate.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – New York State is considering a measure that would apply the same provisions for treatment of domestic victims of human trafficking that already exist for victims of international human trafficking.

The New York State Assembly recently held a roundtable discussion with stake-holders to see what can be done on the state level to combat the exploitation of persons for commercial sex or forced labor.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Oswego, NY – Child care advocates across New York are holding events to call attention to the importance of day care programs.

WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen spoke to Peggy Liuzzi , the Executive Director of Child Care Solutions. She says many providers are holding rallies and virtual strikes to get the message out.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse City School District got renewed support yesterday for its $600 million building renovation plan. Governor Pataki vetoed the plan in the final hours of the State Assembly session. WRVO's Matt Hackworth visited one elementary school to see first hand the problems district officials say warrant so much state assistance.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY – A group seeking to overhaul the way New York State funds public schools is calling on the republican-controlled State Senate to take action.
The Alliance for Qaulity Education is launching a campaign this week demanding that the state senate respond to a two-year old landmark court ruling that requires the state to fix the funding system. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski asked A-Q-E's Director Billy Easton why the issue has remained stalled for so long.

By Sean Spano

Oswego, NY – School districts across the state are taking a beating on transportation costs and the effect of Hurricane Rita will no doubt make the situation worse.
Some school districts are already taking steps to curtail the rising expense. WRVO's Chris Ulanowski spoke to Tim Kremer...the executive director of the State School Boards Association about what could be a funding crisis for many New York schools.

By Mark Lavonier

Syracuse, NY – Manfred Stanley and his mother fled Nazi Germany to the US at the outset of WWII. His mother Ilsa was a theatrical success in Berlin, and played a pivotal role in rescuing many from the Gestapo. Coupled with the love of her son and compassion for others, she produced a moving wartime radio drama called, "Our Secret World" with tales from home and the front. This is the story of a son reunited with his mother's work, and the realization of how he was the focus of her aspirations in their new country.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. –
Over the weekend, a former police officer stopped in Syracuse on his way across the country. The journey is more than a sightsseing trip. As WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports, the retired cop is on a mission to reverse US drug policy.

By Chris Ulanowski

Syracuse , NY – Two emergency physicians from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse have returned to Central New York from the hurricane-ravaged gulf coast region.
One of them, Dr. Jahn Avarello was dispatched to a clinic shelter about 60-miles outside New Orleans. The pediatric doctor described the shelter as well-organized -- filled with food and supplies. But as he explained to WRVO's Chris Ulanowski, what he heard from the evacuees was disturbing.

By Matt Hackworth

OSWEGO, N.Y. – The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is evident in Central New York at more places than gas stations. Lmber prices are on the way up, as WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Earlier this week, we brought you the story of the response to Hurricane Katrina by Central New York's faith community. Houses of worship collected personal hygiene kits for refugees at the Houston
Astrodome. As a member of Park Central Presbyterian Church, WRVO's Matt Hackworth took part in the aid effort. He spoke with Charles Tremper, who drove his truck and a trailer more than two days straight to Texas and back to Syracuse.

By Chris Ulanowski

Oswego, NY –
The Hannibal Central School District in rural Oswego County has had difficulties lately with its budget. As classes resumed this week, there's some positive news to report. Hannibal Physics Teacher Carol Burch has been recognized as an "Unsong Hero" by the financial services group ING for her innovative class work.
WRVO's Chris Ulanowski spoke with the 11-year teaching veteran.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A truck and trailer filled with donations from Central New Yorkers is on its way to Houston to aid refugees. The donations are personal care kits in Ziploc bags, to help people stuck in the astrodome. As a member of Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, WRVO's Matt Hackworth took part in the aid effort. He brings us this audio journal of the mission.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Oswego, NY – Officials in the Mohawk Valley are celebrating their reversal of fortune in the Base Realignment and Closure process.

BRAC Commissioners voted yesterday to keep the Rome "Defense Finance and Accounting Service" office open and create 600 new positions at the facility.

WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen spoke to Rome-area Congressman Sherwood Boehlert shortly after the BRAC announcement to get his take on the commission's decision.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Verona, NY – Most Central New Yorkers are aware of the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona.

The casino has operated, and expanded, since the early 1990s.

But few people realize how much work goes into keeping the resort running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen prepared this audio postcard of the "casino behind the casino."

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Long-time peace activist Kathleen Krumpf will travel to Craford, Texas to take part in the growing anti-war vigil outside President Bush's ranch. She spoke with WRVO's Matt Hackworth before she left.

By Chris Ulanowski

Syracuse, NY – Mentoring and professional development are critical in the retention of new teachers. That's the recommendation of the not-for-profit "Alliance for Excellence in Education." In a new study, the Washington D-C based policy and research group found that nationally, fifty-percent of teachers will leave the profession within the first five-years of entering it. Alliance President Bob Wise explains the findings.

By Matt Hackworth

OSWEGO, N.Y. – As school districts ready buses, classrooms and cafeterias for another year of learning, those handling district finances face an unexpected new challenge. As WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports, rising gas prices run the risk of sapping districts of cash.

By Chris Ulanowski

By Elizabeth Christensen

Syracuse, NY – Developers of the Destiny USA mega-mall project in Syracuse want J-C Penney to use only approved Destiny USA workers.
WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen spoke to Amanda Nicholson, an Associate Professor in Syracuse University's Department of Retail Management, about the unusual proposal.

By Matt Hackworth

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It's been more than four years since Syracuse's common council asked for a racial profiling study of the city's police department. Changes in city and police leadership mean the study was never completed. As WRVO's Matt Hackworth reports, the department's first real racial profiling study is about to get underway.

By Elizabeth Christensen

Rome, NY – The old H.P. Sears Service Station on the corner of North George and West Liberty Streets in Rome has re-opened as a museum.

The red, white, and blue building is an exact replica of the gas station that was built in 1933 and is filled with memorabilia from a bygone era.

WRVO's Elizabeth Christensen visited the service station museum on it's opening day and prepared this audio postcard.

By Chris Ulanowski

Rome, NY – Mohawk Valley Edge, the agency leading efforts to keep Rome's Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center off the Pentagon's base closing list, has submitted a white paper to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Mohawk Valley Edge spokesman Rob Duchow tells WRVO's Chris Ulanowski that it makes a strong case to keep the Rome center open.

By Matt Hackworth

OSWEGO, N.Y. – Energy company executive John McClellan decided to visit his company's facilities last year...by bike. He used the trip not just for on-the-job visits but also to raise money for charity. McClellan spoke with WRVO's Matt Hackworth

By Matt Hackworth

FT. DRUM, N.Y. – The Army has a new plan to bridge the cultural divide between American soldiers and Iraq's civilian population. As W-R-V-O's Matt Hackworth reports, Ft. Drum has the only school in the Army that teaches Arabic language and culture to soldiers set to deploy to Iraq.