Public News Service

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported neonicotinoids could jeopardize more than 200 plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates urge Gov. Hochul to ban harmful pesticides in NY

Wildlife advocates are urging New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign what's known as the Birds and Bees Protection Act. The bill bans neonicotinoids…

One element of dual-use solar is solar grazing, which means using livestock to tend land solar panels are on. This has proved beneficial, but a 2021 Cornell University study finds most New York farms have fewer than 25 sheep for solar grazing. (Adobe Stock)

Dual-use solar makes best use of renewable energy, farmland

New York is looking at different ways to make use of where to place solar panels. The practice of dual-use solar uses solar panels in a variety of …

The National Young Farmers Survey found 62% of Northeastern farmers attribute changes in weather events they are experiencing on their farms to climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Young NY farmers want Congress to help them withstand climate change

Young farmers in New York and across the country want Congress to help them deal with the effects of climate change. Bayer's Farmer Voice Survey …

Part of the Rebuild Rural America Act would establish the Rural Future Corps, placing AmeriCorps Fellows in rural areas to expand critical services. In New York, rural counties experienced a population decline of 50,000, double the rate of urban counties. (Adobe Stock)

Congressional Bill Could Provide Billions to Rural NYers

Legislation in Congress aims to provide money to rural communities in New York and across the U.S. The Rebuild Rural America Act would allocate $50-…

A report from the Rural Housing Coalition of New York finds rural counties saw their amount of housing increase between 2011 and 2020. However, they're still facing an 18% vacancy rate. (Photo Courtesy of Snow Belt Housing Co.)

Some Rural NY Renters See Benefits of Covid Block Grants

Some one-time grant funding has made the difference between renters in rural New York having a safe place to live - or having to move. The McNeil …

Costing around $19 million, the Selkirk Landing Apartments are one part of a statewide $25 billion investment to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York. (Oswego Housing Development Council, Inc.)

New Development Helps Reduce Rural NY Housing Shortage

New apartments on the market in Pulaski are the latest development aimed at reducing New York's housing shortage. Selkirk Landing consists of 44 …

A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report estimates at least two billion people worldwide eat insects. Globally, more than 1,900 insect species are considered edible, particularly those in tropical countries. The most commonly eaten insect groups include beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants and grasshoppers. (Adobe Stock)

NY Chef Changing Minds on Eating Insects

By Whitney Bauck for The Guardian.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

A new study from the Rural Housing Coalition of New York finds while rural counties in the state have higher levels of homeownership, vacancy rates are twice as high as urban counties. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural NY Struggling with Numerous Issues

A new study shows rural New York is struggling with declining populations and lacking employment. The State of Rural New York examines about a …

According to a report from AARP New York, one solution to lack of accessible rural homes for seniors would be to create a tax credit of up to $2,750. It would be available to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more accessible to those who use walkers or wheelchairs or have trouble with steps. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Senior Rural NYers Face Housing, Transportation Disparities

A recent report from AARP New York finds older rural New Yorkers are struggling to age in place due to a wealth of disparities. The two biggest …

According to a Cornel University study, one challenge for farmers interested in solar grazing is finding grazeable sites. This is due mostly to the fact that farmers don't have influence in deciding on solar sites. (Adobe Stock)

NY Solar Grazing Combines Farming, Climate-Smart Resources

By Lissa Harris for The River. Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for The River/Solutions Journalism/Public …

According to a 2020 report, as Lake Placid has become more of a vacation destination and second home location, the year-round population of the town has been on the decline. The decline has been faster than Essex County and New York's North Country. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New NY Housing Development Highlights Rural Affordability Crisis

A new affordable housing development is coming to Lake Placid, an area facing a workforce housing crisis. Fawn Valley, with six homes and 16 town …

Draft rules would streamline New York's clean-energy project approval process while preserving community input. (sefoma/Adobe Stock)

NYers Debate Accelerated Clean-Energy Siting Rules

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State is hoping to speed up the process of evaluating sites for clean-energy projects. The Office of Renewable Energy …

The COVID pandemic has raised public awareness of the essential role that undocumented workers play in the U.S. agricultural industry. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Farm Labor: The Forgotten “Essential Workers”

NEW YORK -- Undocumented New York farm workers may be risking their lives and livelihoods during the COVID pandemic, but they get few federal or …

In 2016 the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that all uses of chlorpyrifos are unsafe. (hhendrix/Adobe Stock)

Cuomo Bans Dangerous Pesticide but Environmental Bills Remain Unsigned

ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. Andrew Cuomo took action Wednesday to ban a pesticide that poses significant risks to children's brain development…

Good soil-management practices can help keep carbon in the soil. (spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

Agricultural Practices Critical to Fighting Climate Change

NEW YORK — A new report says farming has an important role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change and Land Use report from the …

Twelve states and the District of Columbia currently allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. (jan3933/Pixabay)

Bill to Allow Immigrants NYS Drivers Licenses Clears Assembly

ALBANY N.Y. – Labor leaders are urging the state Senate to take action on a bill they say will help ensure that all drivers in New York are …

Converting land to corn production has reduced the amount of milkweed, the main food for monarch butterflies. (leoleobobeo/Pixabay)

Report Calls Biofuels Standard an Environmental Disaster

NEW YORK – A new report says the push for biofuels is causing serious environmental damage. The Renewable Fuel Standard or RFS was intended …

Chlorpyrifos is used extensively on apples and other fruits and vegetables. (Skitterphoto/Pixabay)

Federal Court Urged to Order Pesticide Ban

NEW YORK – A federal court will determine if the EPA should be ordered to ban a pesticide linked to brain damage in children. Seven states …

Jerry Jung of the group Rethink Ethanol says the ethanol mandate has led to the conversion of 7 million acres of wildlife habitat to agriculture. (GregMontani/Pixabay)

On World Environment Day, a Call to Rethink Ethanol

NEW YORK - A coalition of small-business owners, industry leaders and environmentalists says it's time to take a hard look at the real impact of …

New York is one of the top three apple producing states in the nation. (lumix2004/Pixabay)

Farmworkers Challenge Pesticide Training Delay

NEW YORK – Improved pesticide training will save lives. That's the message farmworkers are sending to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency …

The population of eastern monarch butterflies has decreased by 90 percent in recent decades. (ulleo/Pixabay)

Planting Milkweed to Save Monarch Butterfly from Extinction

ALBANY, N.Y. — Wildlife experts say the "king" of butterflies could go the way of the passenger pigeon unless people step in to plant more of …

Conversion of land for biofuels has caused loss of wildlife habitat and algal blooms from nutrient runoff. (Medienservice/Pixabay)

New Bill Promotes Greener Biofuels

NEW YORK – Environmental groups say a bill now in Congress could reverse damage caused by the 10-year-old Renewable Fuel Standard. Critics of …

Populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators have declined sharply. (PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay)

Planting a Million Gardens to Save the Butterflies

NEW YORK – Conservationists are closing in on their goal of creating 1 million gardens that support pollinating insects. Loss of habitat…

Climate change is reducing the amount of protein and vitamins in wheat and other grains. (diannehope/morguefile)

Report: Climate Change is Changing Food Quality

NEW YORK – A report that looks in depth at how climate change is robbing crops of nutrition says there will be more hungry people and more suffe…

Sam Clovis is a talk-show host and former advisor to the Trump campaign. (Alex Hanson/Flickr)

Scientists Oppose Trump Nominee to Agriculture Post

NEW YORK – A leading scientific organization says President Donald Trump's nominee to be chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

In New York, 42 percent of rural and small town children are covered by Medicaid. (Eden, Janine and Jim/Flickr)

Report Shows Medicaid Vital for Rural Children

NEW YORK – Medicaid is critically important for health care in small towns and rural areas, especially for children, according to a new report…

President Trump's preliminary budget proposal trims $200 million from the WIC program, a nutrition program for low-income mothers and children. (USDA/Flickr)

Proposed USDA Cuts Slash Programs for the Poor

NEW YORK - President Trump's proposed budget is being called a "war on people in poverty" by some in New York. The administration's spending plan …

Between 2008 and 2012, 162,000 acres in New York were converted to agricultural production. (Ken Lund/Flickr)

Report: Biofuel Mandate Harms Wildlife, Water Quality

NEW YORK - The federal Renewable Fuel Standard has led to the destruction of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and has endangered water supplies…

An estimated 95 percent of onions grown in New York are treated with the pesticide chlorpyrifos. (Pollinator/Wikimedia Commons)

Pesticide Use: Equal Protection Sought for Farm Workers

NEW YORK – Farm workers and health groups have petitioned the EPA to ban agricultural uses of a pesticide that was removed from household produc…

Bill sponsor Sen. Ken LaValle urges passage of his GMO labeling law on Tuesday. (Food and Water Watch)

Final Push for New York State GMO Labeling Law

ALBANY, N.Y. - Consumer advocates were in Albany on Tuesday, urging passage of a bill to require labeling of genetically modified foods before the …

An estimated 90 percent of Americans want labeling of GMO foods. (Alexis Baden-Mayer/flickr.com)

U.S. Senate Rejects GMO Labeling Ban

NEW YORK - States may yet be able to require labeling of genetically modified food products. A bill to ban required labeling of GMO foods was …

Supporters of GMO labeling urge passage of a law in New York. (GMOFreeNY.net)

Federal Bill Could Scuttle NY GMO Label Legislation

NEW YORK - A bill just approved by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee could kill state laws requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods…

Advocates say 90 percent of Americans want mandatory GMO labeling. (Alexis Baden-Mayer/flickr.com)

GMO Labelling Bill Advances in Assembly

NEW YORK - A bill requiring the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, has cleared its first hurdle in the state …

Some farmers in New York say a hike in the minimum wage would wipe out their profits. (Javier Ramos/freeimages.com)

NY Farming Group Opposes Cuomo's Minimum Wage Hike Proposal

ALBANY, N.Y. – Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to raise New York's minimum wage to $15 an hour is praised by many. But the New York Farm Bureau …

A Hudson Valley nonprofit partners with local farms to provide fresh, locally produced milk to schools in the Taconic Hills Central School District, but its ultimate goal is to produce more farmers as well. Credit: Matthew Green/freeimages.com

Nonprofit Aims to Change NY School Lunch Menus with Farmers' Help

COPAKE, N.Y. - The founders of the New York nonprofit FarmOn! Foundation, say they're on a mission to bring fresh food from New York's farms to …

$PHOTO: Environmental advocates are sending congratulations to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but also are demanding he take action to make good on a campaign promise concerning science and fracking. Credit: T. Proulx.$

Green Group Reminds Cuomo of Campaign Promise on Fracking and Science

NEW YORK – One environmental group is sending congratulations to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his re-election victory, but is also calling for action …

PHOTO: Thousands of people took part in the People�s Climate March on Sunday in New York City, one of many such demonstrations around the nation and world. Photo credit: Mark Scheerer.

Climate March Clogs NYC Streets With Something Other Than CO2

NEW YORK - Thousands of people took part in the People's Climate March Sunday in New York City, one of many such demonstrations around the nation and …

$PHOTO: The town of Dryden is one of two municipalities with zoning laws banning fracking for natural gas. Their cases are being argued today in New York's highest appeals court. Photo courtesy of the town of Dryden.$

Future of Fracking at Stake in NY Courtroom Today?

ALBANY, N.Y. - A case being argued in New York's highest appeals court today could shape the future of fracking - using hydraulic pressure to extract …

Efforts to Close “Painful” Loophole in Animal Slaughter Regs

NEW YORK - Some see it as a "painful" loophole in animal-slaughter regulations. It affects so-called "downer calves" in the Tri-State area: cattle …

$PHOTO: New York�s highest court will hear an appeal from a foreign-owned energy company that wants to start hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas underneath two upstate towns - Dryden and Middlefield - which have banned drilling. Courtesy Town of Dryden$

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast - April 18, 2024

2024Talks - April 18, 2024

The Yonder Report - April 18, 2024

NY: Rural/Farming