r e g i o n a l n e w s
NCPR News Staff: Matt Richmond
Reporter, The Innovation Trail
Stories filed by Matt Richmond
H2A workers on a North Country Farm. Photo by David Sommerstein
Will immigration reform ease NY's farm labor shortage?
May 21, 2013 — As lawmakers in Washington debate the immigration reform bill released last month, farmers in New York State are hoping to find enough workers to fully staff their operations.
The Senate Judiciary Committee spent a day last week amending the 844-page bill, legislation that includes changes to guest worker programs. The changes may be good news for New York farmers. Go to full article
The Senate Judiciary Committee spent a day last week amending the 844-page bill, legislation that includes changes to guest worker programs. The changes may be good news for New York farmers. Go to full article
Hispanic men and women - some of them quite young - provide labor illegally on many dairy farms. Photo: David Sommerstein
Undocumented farmworkers weigh benefits against risks
May 20, 2013 — New York's farms employ about 60,000 people and no one knows how many of those workers are here illegally. According to one estimate, 70 percent of the state's agricultural workforce is undocumented.
Some stay for years, long enough to raise a family. But it's risky. Go to full article
Some stay for years, long enough to raise a family. But it's risky. Go to full article
Drilling rig in the Marcellus Shale region. Photo: Laurie Barr
Court upholds local fracking bans
May 03, 2013 — New York State's second highest court has ruled in favor of two towns which passed laws banning gas drilling.
In two decisions released Thursday, the court ruled unanimously in favor of local control in Dryden and Middlefield. Go to full article
In two decisions released Thursday, the court ruled unanimously in favor of local control in Dryden and Middlefield. Go to full article
Schlumberger's gasfield services facility in Horseheads, just outside of Elmira. Photo: Matt Richmond
Elmira thinks twice about its fracking boom
Apr 23, 2013 — The City of Elmira is just seven miles from the Pennsylvania border. And for four years, the natural gas boom in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier crossed over the border and boosted Elmira's economy.
But that natural gas rush has slowed down, and there's disagreement in Elmira about whether a temporary boom is worth the costs. Go to full article
But that natural gas rush has slowed down, and there's disagreement in Elmira about whether a temporary boom is worth the costs. Go to full article
Sonostics CEO Chuck Schwerin says his company's treatment offers a way to resolve knee pain before going to surgery. Photo by Matt Richmond, Innovation Trail.
Startup looks for a way around knee surgery
Apr 04, 2013 — Knee pain is among the most common medical complaints across age groups from young athletes to aging baby boomers. Often, the trouble is in the meniscus cartilage, and often, the prescription is surgery.
But recent studies comparing results of physical therapy to outcomes of surgery find PT to be equally effective in many cases. A Binghamton company is working on one less invasive treatment. Go to full article
But recent studies comparing results of physical therapy to outcomes of surgery find PT to be equally effective in many cases. A Binghamton company is working on one less invasive treatment. Go to full article
Energy highway. Photo: dtmi99, CC some rights reserved
Will Cuomo blueprint solve NY's energy puzzle?
Rensselaer, NY, Mar 19, 2013 — Late last year, the Cuomo administration laid out its agenda to address New York's future energy requirements. All this week, reporters from the Innovation Trail are putting different parts of that complex energy puzzle under the microscope.
In this first report, Matt Richmond examines the goals of that plan, known as the Energy Highway Blueprint. Go to full article
In this first report, Matt Richmond examines the goals of that plan, known as the Energy Highway Blueprint. Go to full article
Fracking wastewater after treatment at temporary, privately owned facility in Pennsylvania. Photo: Matt Richmond/WSKG
How would New York deal with hydrofracking wastewater?
Binghamton, NY, Mar 05, 2013 — About four million gallons of water goes into a typical Marcellus Shale well during the fracking process. As much as 20 percent of what went in comes back out right away. That's what's known as flowback water.
Over the life of a producing well, more than a million gallons comes out, and after the initial flowback the rest is known as produced water. Go to full article
Over the life of a producing well, more than a million gallons comes out, and after the initial flowback the rest is known as produced water. Go to full article
New York's Dept. of Environmental Conservation delayed its environmental review of fracking until the go-ahead is given by the Dept. of Health. Photo: DEC headquarters in Albany, Kurtman518, released to the public domain
Fracking delay's effect is in the eye of the beholder
Rensselaer, NY, Feb 19, 2013 — Last week, New York State officials announced another delay of their final decision on hydrofracking. The Department of Environmental Conservation will wait for a report on the health protections in its environmental review of fracking. Then the environmental review can be completed.
The time frame could be less than a month or it could be much longer. And both pro- and anti-fracking groups took heart from the delay. Go to full article
The time frame could be less than a month or it could be much longer. And both pro- and anti-fracking groups took heart from the delay. Go to full article
Drilling rig in the Marcellus Shale region. Photo: Laurie Barr
NYS DEC cuts complicate fracking picture
Rensselaer, NY, Jan 25, 2013 — Proponents and opponents of hydrofracking in New York state read Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget closely for clues about fracking's future in the state.
They didn't see much. A decision on whether fracking will be allowed is expected after a health study is complete in February.
The agency overseeing the review, and in charge of permitting should fracking get the go-ahead, is New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. And it's in for a cut of five and a half percent in Cuomo's new budget. Go to full article
They didn't see much. A decision on whether fracking will be allowed is expected after a health study is complete in February.
The agency overseeing the review, and in charge of permitting should fracking get the go-ahead, is New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. And it's in for a cut of five and a half percent in Cuomo's new budget. Go to full article
Tyler Hale, a firefighter in Cayuga Heights, tested leather and rubber boots to measure their effects on joint and muscle movement. Photo: Matt Richmond / WSKG
Researchers hope to make the job of first responders easier
Jan 21, 2013 — New York State first responders have had plenty of opportunity to put their training to the test over the past two years during extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy and Tropical Storms Lee and Irene.
The Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports on research that may make their challenging job easier, starting from the ground up. Go to full article
The Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports on research that may make their challenging job easier, starting from the ground up. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
