It’s been a challenging year for many rural New Yorkers – from high utility bills to frozen USDA funding to SNAP benefit delays.
Author: Kimberly Izar
Venezuelan Leader Maduro Lands at Orange County Stewart Airport; Local Leaders React to U.S. Strikes
About 60 miles north of Manhattan and an hour from Sullivan County, Stewart International Airport is a relatively small airport with two main runways and a National Guard base in Newburgh. But…
Our 5 Biggest Climate & Agriculture Stories of 2025
It was a big year for climate and agriculture issues in the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania region in 2025. From President Trump’s new administration halting billions in federal funds and food access…
Inmate Dies at Wayne County’s USP Canaan in Waymart
An inmate, Robert James Turner, died at U.S. Penitentiary Canaan (USP Canaan) in Waymart, Pennsylvania on Dec. 19. He was 57 years old. Turner was found unresponsive at USP Canaan at approximately…
Sullivan County Approves 2% Tax Hike – and Bets on Ambitious Revenue Projections
Sullivan County legislators approved the 2026 county budget Thursday, voting 5–3 to adopt a spending plan that raises property taxes by two percent and relies on ambitious revenue projections. The vote followed…
ENGN’s Youth Art Program Fosters Connection and Community Understanding in Monticello
It’s a Wednesday afternoon after the school day has ended at Monticello High School. Inside a schoolroom known as The Tank, students Savannah and Valerie work on a portrait together that didn’t…
Sullivan County Legislature Postpones Budget Vote After Residents Push Back
Sullivan County legislators moved their budget vote on Tuesday evening from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18 after residents pushed back during two public hearings in Monticello. The county has put forward a…
Rep. Riley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits
New York’s 19th Congressional District Representative Josh Riley, alongside a bipartisan House member coalition, introduced CommonGround2025 on Dec. 4. It’s a two-year bill to extend the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs)…
New York Attorney General Investigates Off-Duty Monticello PD Officer Who Struck and Killed a Man
New York Attorney General Letitia James has opened an investigation into an incident involving a man who was struck and killed by an off-duty Monticello Village Police Department (MVPD) officer. The New…