Chris Bolt
Senior Reporter/Professional in ResidenceChris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards. Recent reporting has focused on health and medicine, environment, elderly, substance abuse and culture reporting.
Chris has a doctor of education in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College and a master’s in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School.
In addition to coverage of our community, equally satisfying has been the success of so many WAER alumni, students who have won and succeeded in jobs in news, sports and elsewhere in media, many of whom won awards at local, state and national levels as students. He has also taught classes at Newhouse and at OCC. Chris also enjoys connecting WAER with the community through moderating debates, facilitating and hosting public meetings, giving media training workshops and other events.
Chris and his wife Anne live in downtown Syracuse. They have two grown sons, Carter and Donovan, who both remain in the area. Their family enjoys all things Upstate New York, including myriad outdoor activities in the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, music and other cultural events, and just about anything on a trail or on the water.
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Governor Hochul declared an emergency over end of SNAP food aid, adding $65 million in aid for food banks. A coalition of groups says it’s not enough. NYS should fund entire month of SNAP benefits. -
Local residents say they are uncertain where their meals will come from as SNAP benefits are scheduled to end November 1. Syracuse residents are part of a lobbying effort for state hunger aid. -
Magazine fashion editors are no longer the arbiters of style and chic. Audiences follow influencers who are often ore relatable. AI is also impacting marketing, leading to further change. -
Syracuse will install fiber optic cable on West Onondaga Street through about November 10. The project expands broadband to under-resourced areas, but will cause delays on a busy commuter corridor. -
Federal incentives for electric cars, electric appliances and renewable energy upgrades are being cancelled. But advocates say progress to increase efficiency & reduce fossil fuel use will continue. -
Opponents want Governor Hochul and NYSDEC to reject proposals for the Constitution and Northeast Supply Enhancement pipelines. They content climate impacts and cost to consumers are too high. -
A proposal to rollback the endangerment Finding could impact EPA rules that limit emissions & pollutants that affect health. CNY environmental & civic officials share concerns. -
Senator Chuck Schumer cites healthcare premium projections as a case for compromise to end the federal government shutdown. He estimates some families face $700-$800-a-month jumps if subsidies stop. -
The Trump administration has plans to rescind the Endangerment Finding, basis for climate & other regulations. Environmental Rhea Jezer and Syracuse Auditor Alexander Marion on what could be lost.
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Dr. Charisse L'Pree has students seek definitions of the American Dream from people different than themselves, crossing gender identity, generational, ethnic, economic lines finding myriad explanations.
