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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This week on CNY Decides, WAER's Chris Bolt, Central Current's Laura Robertson & Scott Willis on the term limit referendums on mid-term ballot. Onondaga County voters consider 12- or 16-year limits. -
This episode of CNY Decides with WAER's Chris Bolt and Central Current reporter Patrick McCarthy kicks off Season 2 with a look at New York's U.S. District 22 cogressional race. Chris and Patrick talk about Republican Kailee Buller and what she says she is offering over Democratic incumbent John Mannion.
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School starts Tuesday and Wednesday at most area schools. Transportation and law enforcement officials want motorists to pay more attention around schools and bus stops.
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A federal judge struck down a New York law for companies to pay $75 billion for climate change costs. An EarthJustice lawyer says polluter pays laws are not new and this could get reversed. -
Gas prices in the Syracuse area rose once again over the past week. Analysts say renewed fighting in Iran and Ukraine strikes on Russian oil targets pushed the market higher. -
A statewide ban on 287-g agreements went into effect. It outlaws collaboration between local police and federal ICE officials. But some law enforcement agencies are challenging the ban in court. -
Newhouse Master's student Chris Fiegel leveraged AI and media design education to create a health communications portal called Bridge Concussion. -
Environmental Advocates of New York released its 2026 Environmental Scorecard, voting records of each member on bills the group deemed important. It includes key bills that never made it to a vote. -
Blueprint 15 holds block party to celebrate the neighborhood, amid construction, street detours & noise from several projects. The public event also spreads information about the group’s mission. -
Hidden level, an East Syracuse firm that makes airspace sensor devices, won a grant through FuzeHub to help with growth. The company will partner with TDO consultants on efficiency upgrades to help.
