On
December 16, 2009 WAER aired a special hour of radio
dedicated to issues facing returning U.S. veterans. The show
featured two representatives of the VA, a PTSD therapist
with a spiritual approach to healing, an Iraq War vet with a
Purple Heart, and audio stories from the
Veterans Listening Project.
The
first student to graduate as part of a Syracuse University
scholarship for Native American students received his degree
this month. Created in 2006 under the direction of SU
Chancellor Nancy Cantor, the program is one of only a
handful of programs in the country that allows qualified
Native Americans to attend a university free of charge.
WAER's Brad Horn has this story on the hopes for the program
and its first graduate.
WAER
broadcast the second of our election specials, this time
focusing on the Economy and how the next President and
Congress might impact it. Panelists Patrick Mannion from
Unity Mutual, Rob Simpson from the Metropolitan Development
Association and Mike Kaiser from the Civil Service Employees
Association joined News Director Chris Bolt with their
opinions and criticisms of some of the proposals the
Presidential candidates are making about how they might
address the economy as an issue.
The
guests agree Central New York has a lot of good things going
for it, regarding the economy, but that doesn't mean there
aren't real threats to companies, workers and jobs.
There
is no real economic improvement without dealing with one of
the biggest challenges -- energy costs. New programs and
policy changes have to be long-term solutions.
Tax
cuts and direct rebates, such as last year's stimulus plan,
sound great to everyone. But such government giveaways might
not have long-term benefit to the overall economy.
Perhaps the mother of all issues is health care. Any bills
that get passed to limit the costs of health care that
businesses or individuals have to pay can only help the
overall economy.
WAER
aired an hour-long special discussing Health Care and how it
might be changed after the upcoming election. WAER News
Director Chris Bolt was joined by Crouse Hospital President
Dr. Paul Kronenberg and Onondaga County Medical Society
President and local Opthalmologist Tom Bersani.
Dr.
Kronenberg and Dr. Bersani weigh in on some of the proposals
coming from the Presidential candidates.
As the
college year gets into full swing, Chancellor Nancy Cantor
has signed an initiative to bring candid discusion and
debate about college alcohol use to the University. Cantor
has signed on with 128 other colleges and universities to
take a look at the pervasiveness and effects of drinking on
college campuses. One of the points of debate is to
reexamine the drinking age.
Syracuse University Spokesperson Kevin Morrow says the
drinking age discussions are just one piece of the
initiative. The real purpose of these talks is to foster a
more responsible behavior among college students.
Congress is set to consider reauthorizing the 21 law next
year. Patty Washburn, a representative of Mothers Against
Drunk Driving, is one of the many outraged by the
Chancellor's participation in the initiative.
An
innovative approach to veteran mental health is being taken
by a new program in New York. Hoping to identify veterans
struggling with combat trauma, two New York state
agencies--the Division of Veterans Affairs and the Office of
Mental Health--are partnering with the state's National
Guard. The approach is based on creating an atmosphere that
feels safe enough for soldiers to admit if they are
struggling.
The
success of the new project hinges on trust says Jim
McDonough, Director of New York's Division of Veteran
Affairs; both inter-agency trust and vet-to-vet trust.
Recent
tensions involving Iran show how foreign policy decisions
are increasingly part of our domestic lives. Candidates for
Central New York's 25th Congressional District spoke with
WAER about Iran's missile testing and how it realtes to the
War in Iraq, gas prices, and U.S. military intervention in
the near future.
Democratic candidate Dan Maffei says U.S. diplomatic power
is declingin and that could affect residents of Central New
York.
Sweetland believes important lessons can be learned from
Iraq: when the powerful nations of the world threaten
smaller nations, the smaller countries feel they must look
strong. The result can be unnecessary conflict.
As the
Olympic torch makes its way to Beijing, many throughout the
world protest China's treatment of the Tibetan people. Yet
right here in Central New York, the Dalai Lama spoke about
"compassion" as part of a lecture series at Colgate
University.
Trust, compassion and sleep are key ingredients to the Dalai
Lama's recipe for a long healthy life.
Restructuring Interstate 81: Should the bridge be
demolished?
Interstate 81 is due for a make-over, and the regular safety
updates are not enough to keep the elevated portions up to
current standards. New York State Department of
Transportation officials met with the Syracuse Metropolitan
Transportation Council for talks about the beginning stages
of the restructuring of I-81.
Nell Donaldson, planner for the Syracuse Metropolitan
Transportation Council says the beginning stages are
underway as they are currently looking for a project
consultant.
Regional Director for the New York State Department of
Transportation in Central New York Carl Ford isn't quite
sure what the exact plans will include, but says they are
scoping out several options.
Funding for the I-81 restructuring project is also an
unknown factor, but Ford and others are seeking out support
from both the state and federal government.
Central New
York's premier Public Radio station, a broadcast service of
Syracuse
University, reaches Syracuse, Watertown, Auburn, Cortland,
and the Utica-Rome area with a
50,000
watt signal. WAER is a full-service member-supported radio
station featuring Jazz, News, Sports and Weather.
WAER
795 Ostrom Avenue
Syracuse, NY
13244-4610
Phone: (315) 443-4021
Fax: (315) 443-2148
