By Karen Dewitt/WRVO's Capitol Correspondent

ALBANY, NY – The state's former health commissioner, Dr. Richard Daines, died suddenly over the weekend, the probable cause of death was a heart attack.

Dr. Daines, who was chosen to be former Governor Eliot Spitzer's Health Commissioner, and who stayed through the Paterson Administration, died suddenly at his weekend home in the Hudson Valley over the weekend, a State Health Department spokeswoman says.

By Dave Bullard/WRVO

Albany, NY – The state legislature is back in Albany this week, with a lot on the calendar.

State budget hearings continue today, with a hearing on the transportation part of the budget.

A state senate committee takes the first step Tuesday towards ending school layoffs based on seniority by taking up the bill that would allow schools in big cities to lay off based on the quality of the teacher.

By Daniel Robison/WRVO's Innovation Trail

Buffalo, NY – The Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo is now offering the first-ever vaccine to treat cancer.

But WRVO Innovation Trail reporter Daniel Robison reports, the drug isn't for everyone.

By Dave Bullard/WRVO

VERONA. NY – Lots of people watched the Oscars Sunday night. Oneida Nation leader Ray Halbritter watched them, too. But he wasn't in his living room.

Halbritter attended the Oscars so he could lobby film industry executives and stars to use the Nation's production facility and to shoot their films in Upstate New York.

The Oneidas run Four Directions Productions, a film production house that produced an award-winning animated short called Raccoon and Crawfish.

By Michael Benjamin

WRVO – Law enforcement agencies in Onondaga County are cracking down on aggressive driving. That story and more in today's newscast.

By Michael Benjamin

WRVO – Women's rights advocates in New York State object to congressional plans to cut funding to family planning programs. That story and more in today's newscast.

By Michael Benjamin

WRVO – Health care advocacy groups are calling out local congressional representatives for voting to defund the health care reform law. That story and more in today's newscast.

By Michael Benjamin

WRVO – A Central New York State Senator supports Governor Cuomo's proposal for an independent redistricting commission. That story and more in today's newscast.

By Jason Smith/ Kate Percival

WRVO's Weekly Edition - February 18th, 2011

By Michael Benjamin

WRVO – Governor Cuomo is taking heat from unions and receiving praise from Sarah Palin. That story and more in today's newscast.