News Content Director at WSKG Public Media.
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Articles by Charles Compton
Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” as read by WSKG’s namesake
Before his untimely death in 1966, Reverend Stanley Kiehl Gambell recorded a reading of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. For years, the tale of loss and redemption was broadcast on Christmas Eve by WSKG Radio. WSKG was named for Gambell, a prominent local clergyman who was active in children’s television programming. Pastor of Binghamton’s First Congregational Church, Gambell appeared regularly on TV & Radio, often reciting stories from memory.
Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” as read by WSKG’s namesake | WSKG
Before his untimely death in 1966, Reverend Stanley Kiehl Gambell recorded a reading of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. For years, the tale of loss and redemption was broadcast on Christmas Eve by WSKG Radio. WSKG was named for Gambell, a prominent local clergyman who was active in children’s television programming. Pastor of Binghamton’s First Congregational Church, Gambell appeared regularly on TV & Radio, often reciting stories from memory.
State Police Superintendent Resigns Amid Reported Investigation | WSKG
NEW YORK NOW – The head of the New York State Police will resign after reports this week indicated he was under investigation by the Hochul administration over claims that he’d helped shield a former human resources staffer from scrutiny. Kevin Bruen was confirmed as superintendent of the New York State Police last year, but will now depart in the coming days, Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed in a statement Friday. “Today I accepted the resignation of State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen.
Summer travel and security increase at Syracuse Airport | WSKG
WRVO – Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport is prepared for the crowds headed out of town as the summer traveling season hits high gear. There are ways to make things go smoother. Executive Director Jason Terreri said airport traffic is about 90% of what it was in 2019, a record-breaking year. And many people are leaving at the same time of day. “The first group of flights is our busiest period,” Terreri said.
New York reacts to Supreme Court’s Far Flung Abortion Decision | WSKG
WSKG – In New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul and the legislature took preemptive steps to protect abortion rights in anticipation of the high court’s decision. Hochul, in a statement issued moments after the ruling was announced, said “this decision is a grave injustice” . Hochul says recent actions in the state will help keep abortion safe, legal and accessible . “History shows us that when abortion is banned, abortion becomes unsafe for women,” the governor said.
GOP leaders meet to choose candidates for governor and other New York races | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – New York State Republicans take their turn today to hold their nominating convention for the 2022 elections after Democrats nominated Governor Kathy Hochul for election nearly two weeks ago. Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin is expected to be the GOP’s pick, but he’s facing some challenges. Zeldin has served in Congress since 2015, and before that was a state senator. He is also an active member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Zeldin picks police veteran as running mate in race for New York Governor | WSKG
NEW YORK NOW – Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican party’s presumptive nominee for governor, has picked Alison Esposito from the New York City Police Department as his preferred choice for lieutenant governor, he said Wednesday. Esposito, a decades-long veteran of the NYPD who currently serves as a deputy inspector at a Brooklyn precinct, will now seek the Republican nomination for the office in June. So far, none of Zeldin’s challengers on the Republican line have announced a running mate.
Governor’s plan to overhaul ethics commission wins praise — and some questions | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul made good on her promise to overhaul the state’s troubled ethics commission when she proposed a new structure in her State of the State message this week. But the idea is getting mixed reviews. Shortly after she took over from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he resigned in disgrace last August, Hochul pledged to “blow up” the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE. She explained how she would do it during her address on Wednesday.
Citizen commission hands down seven ideas to change state police practices | WSKG
HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) – A citizen-led commission created last year to improve state-level law enforcement practices now has a few ideas to share. Gov. Tom Wolf created the panel, known as the State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission, in July in the wake of racial justice and police accountability protests.
Will PA lawmakers live up to their redistricting transparency promises? Doubt is creeping in | WSKG
KEYSTONE CROSSROADS — House GOP lawmakers’ new congressional-map-drawing website was designed to add transparency to Pennsylvania’s redistricting process, allowing constituents to pitch their own ideas about where district lines should lie. But for most of November, it didn’t seem to be working, raising concerns from advocates as lawmakers prepare for a once-a-decade redistricting process that has a significant impact on the commonwealth’s balance of political power.
New York Asks Biden Administration for $1B in Additional Rent Relief Funding | WSKG
NEW YORK NOW – New York is asking the federal government for an additional $996 million in emergency rent relief funding after the state’s initial allocation of more than $2 billion didn’t meet the needs of tenants struggling to pay rent during the pandemic. The Hochul administration said Friday that the money wouldn’t go to waste; several applications for rent relief have been put on hold because of high demand for what funding is left.
Rep. Tom Suozzi to decide on run for governor in coming weeks | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from Long Island, is “seriously considering” a run for governor in next year’s election, and will make a final decision by the end of the month, he told reporters Thursday. Suozzi said, if he ran, he would push back against the “far-left” wing of the party, which has gained momentum in Congress and the state Legislature in recent years. Rep. Tom Suozzi. Photo courtesy of New York Now.
Vaccine Mandate for Schools Not Needed, Hochul Says, But Still on the Table | WSKG
NEW YORK NOW – A COVID-19 vaccine mandate for children attending schools in New York is still on the table, but isn’t being considered immediately by the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday. With New York’s COVID-19 numbers gradually decreasing last month after an increase throughout the summer, Hochul said a mandate wasn’t necessary at this point. Credit: Gov. Hochul’s Office “That’s a possibility. It’s on the table,” Hochul said.
New Yorkers Will Decide Five Statewide Ballot Propositions | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – When New Yorkers begin early voting on Saturday, their ballots will contain an unusually high number of propositions on issues from expanding voting access to whether everyone in the state should be guaranteed the right to clean air and water. There are five statewide proposals, as well as many local issues, to be decided.
Heating Costs For New Yorkers Should Spike This Winter | WSKG
ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) – A new forecast on energy costs for heating in New York state calls for a spike in those expenses this coming winter. During an annual presentation by the state of the NY State Public Service Commission last week, staffers said that on average, statewide, consumers will be hit with about a 21% increase in heating costs over the entire winter compared to last year.
New York’s Top Democrat Endorses Hochul For Governor | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – The leader of the state’s Democratic Party is personally endorsing Governor Kathy Hochul for election in the June 2022 Democratic Primary and the general election, next November. And he’s asking other potential candidates who have expressed in interest in challenging Hochul to hold off for now, saying multiple candidates competing in a primary could be chaotic and harmful to the party’s chance of winning next November.
Election Reforms Have ‘Put a Burden’ On Local Boards Of Elections, New York Officials Say | WSKG
NEW YORK NOW – While New York has worked to expand access to voting and the fair handling of elections in recent years, those changes have put new pressure on boards of elections across the state that weren’t set up to handle that shift, state elections officials said Tuesday. That was part of what the state’s top election administrators told the state Legislature Tuesday in Albany, where lawmakers held a public hearing on the state’s voting and election laws.
Hochul Acts to Promote New York’s Abortion Rights | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WSKG) – Gov. Kathy Hochul, responding to strict new abortion laws in Texas, said Monday that she’ll make New York a safe legal haven for women’s reproductive health. “We have to stop extremists from taking women’s rights away,” Hochul said at an appearance with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and other female state and local leaders at the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in New York City’s Central Park. Gov. Hochul and Sen. Gillibrand. Credit: Gov.
Former NY-19 Candidate Van De Water Dies At Age 41 | WSKG
ALBANY, NY (WAMC) – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro says former Congressional candidate Kyle Van De Water has died at age 41. Van De Water, a Republican, unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Congressman Antonio Delgado of New York’s 19th District in 2020. In July, Van De Water said he would run for Congress again in 2022 – but he pulled out of the race last month.
20 years later, Mohawk ironworkers reflect on unique connection to 9/11
Mohawk ironworker Michael Mitchell working on cleanup at Ground Zero. 2001. Photo courtesy of Michael Mitchell. Sep 07, 2021 — The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 hit one North Country community particularly hard. Ironworkers from the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation near Massena have built New York City’s skyscrapers for generations. They helped build the World Trade Center, they were working when the Twin Towers fell, and they raced immediately to the rescue and cleanup effort.
As 2021 New York State Fair Closes Expect Discussion On Its Length | WSKG
SYRACUSE, NY (WRVO) – The books are closed on the 2021 edition of the New York State Fair. While the average daily attendance this year was less than half of what it was in 2019, it was to be expected, as COVID-19 cases rise and the fair for the first time became an 18-day affair. Gregory Horan has been running Horan’s food stand at the fair since the late 1990s. And he was happy to serve customers even in what was an unprecedented year. Photo courtesy of WRVO News.
The Met Considers Selling Its Art To Stave Off Financial Shortfall | WSKG
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2021/02/20210222_me_the_extraordinary_steps_museums_are_taking_to_survive_the_pandemic.mp3?orgId=1&topicId=1141&aggIds=812054919&d=228&story=970190768&ft=nprml&f=970190768 The pandemic is causing The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to consider selling its artwork to cover operational costs as it falls short of $150 million in revenue. The country’s flagship art museum has still not made a final decision on selling its work.
WSKG Launches Online Service; Find Music Streams, News Podcasts At ‘Your Public Radio’ | WSKG
VESTAL, NY (WSKG) – Online radio offers listeners limitless choices, but it can be a difficult path to navigate. So much of it depends on the maker of your smart phone and smart speaker. Another variable is your online subscriptions. And there can be huge differences between apps meant to perform the same functions. WSKG’s newest music stream is New World A2Z. It features thousands of selections from the WSKG Music Library created by 15 American composers.
‘Commercial free, subscription free, fee free’ programs on ALEXA and GOOGLE smart speakers | WSKG
VESTAL, NY (WSKG) – Online radio offers listeners limitless choices, but it can be a difficult path to navigate. So much of it depends on the maker of your smart phone and . Another variable is your online subscriptions. And there can be huge differences between apps meant to perform the same functions. So, WSKG Radio has created a convenient starting point for folks seeking their favorite public radio programs. By the way, these programs are free of subscriptions, fees and commercials.
WSKG Classical Logo | WSKG
WSKG thanks our sponsors... WSKG (https://wskg.org/uncategorized/wskg-classical-logo/) Listen Live WSKG Listen Live WSKG Classical Watch Live WSKG TV Watch Live PBS Kids WSKG Classical Logo Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that in light of President Trump's role in last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, New York City is cutting its business ties with the president's company.
FDA Analysis Of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Finds It Effective And Safe
The Food and Drug Administration released a detailed analysis Tuesday morning of the COVID-19 vaccine from drugmaker Moderna that supports the authorization of the company’s vaccine for emergency use. The FDA’s briefing document along with one from Moderna were posted two days before a group of experts will convene to advise the agency on whether to grant the vaccine emergency authorization for use, or EUA, during the pandemic.
Will Jeffrey Rosen, William Barr’s Replacement, Withstand White House Pressure?
Updated at 11:12 a.m. ET Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen has largely operated outside the spotlight. But that may be about to change. Rosen, 62, will run the Justice Department in the waning days of the administration at a time when White House officials are preparing for a wave of pardons and President Trump is demanding officials take more action on his baseless claims of voter fraud. With the departure of Attorney General William Barr on Dec.
‘God … Let Us Survive’: Remembering Korean War’s Chosin Battle And Evacuation
John Lee was not trained for combat, but he eventually found himself in the thick of a pivotal battle in the Korean War. Lee was a sophomore at Korea University in Seoul when the war broke out in June 1950. He joined the South Korean army and was assigned as an interpreter to the U.S. 1st Marine Division.
A Texas Mayor Urged People To Stay Home, Then Flew To Mexico For Vacation
After initially saying he didn’t do anything wrong, Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin, Texas, says he now realizes he “set a bad example” by traveling to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for vacation last month. An Austin American-Statesman story revealed Wednesday that Adler attended an in-person wedding for his daughter in early November and then flew with others to Cabo for a weeklong vacation. At the same time, Adler was encouraging people to stay home to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19.
‘Welcome To The Party, Zoom’: Video App’s Rules Lead To Accusations Of Censorship
Now that the pandemic has transformed Zoom from a corporate video-conferencing app into a ubiquitous tool for governments, schools, karaoke parties and even “Zoomsgiving” celebrations, the company is having to do the dicey work of deciding what is permitted on its platform. And not everybody is allowed on it. Zoom’s rules say users cannot break the law, promote violence, be obscene, display nudity or support terrorism.
Georgia Results To Be Certified; Election Official Says The ‘Numbers Don’t Lie’
Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET President-elect Joe Biden will be officially certified the winner of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes after a statewide recount ended this week. Hours before the deadline, a weary secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, delivered a short but emphatic speech that “numbers don’t lie” about Biden’s victory.
South Australia Enters ‘Circuit Breaker’ Coronavirus Lockdown
The Australian state of South Australia is entering a mandatory lockdown lasting six days that began at midnight Thursday local time, with residents required to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. Officials also said many outdoor activities, including exercise outside of the home, are prohibited. Only one person per household is permitted to leave the home on a single day for essential activities, such as going to the grocery store. Facial coverings in public are mandatory.
Shake-Up At Pentagon Puts Trump Loyalists Into Senior Roles
The shake-up at the Pentagon continues after President Trump “terminated” Defense Secretary Mark Esper, replacing him with his counterterrorism chief, Christopher Miller, who was being read in on issues and operations. Three other top Pentagon officials have been replaced with Trump loyalists who have pushed conspiracy theories and who are hawkish on Iran.
Supreme Court Appears Likely To Uphold Obamacare
With Obamacare once again on the chopping block at the U.S. Supreme Court, comments from the justices appeared to suggest Tuesday that a majority is inclined to leave the bulk of the Affordable Care Act in place. At least two of the court’s conservatives — Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh — seemed to suggest they will vote to preserve the rest of the law, even if the individual mandate is found unconstitutional.
With Trump’s Loss, Murdoch’s Fox News Faces Wrath And Tough Choices
Updated at 3:16 p.m. ET There may be no media figure more important in preparing Republicans and President Trump himself for a post-Trump period than magnate Rupert Murdoch. Among his properties, the top-rated Fox News Channel stands out, its role in shaping conservative thought and Republican Party politics unrivaled, at least within media. Murdoch allied himself with Trump despite holding the former reality show host in low esteem. And Fox has been one of Trump’s strongest sources of support.
Biden Takes Leads In Pa., Ga., Putting Him On Cusp Of Electoral College Win
Three days after Election Day, Democratic nominee Joe Biden took narrow leads in Pennsylvania and Georgia, according to The Associated Press, putting him on the cusp of a victory in the Electoral College. Early Friday, Biden took a 5,500-vote lead in the Keystone State, after trailing President Trump there for days. He also took a narrow lead in Georgia, giving the Democratic nominee the lead in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since Bill Clinton was on the ticket in 1992.
What We Know About The Latino Vote In Some Key States
Democrats’ long-term hopes for electoral success have long cited the growing Latino population in the country. But former Vice President Joe Biden’s performance in heavily Latino areas of key states has concerned members of his party — and may have cost him Electoral College votes, according to groups and activists working to mobilize Latino voters.
Trump Asks For Wisconsin Recount, Though It’s Unlikely To Change Outcome
Not long after The Associated Press and other news outlets declared Wednesday that Democrat Joe Biden had won Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes, the Trump campaign announced it would ask for a recount in the state. The margin separating Biden and Trump in what is one of the nation’s most contested swing states is roughly 20,000 votes, or less than 1%.
U.S. Adds Almost 100,000 New Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day As Colder Weather Sets In
The U.S. is edging ever closer to 100,000 new daily cases of the coronavirus. According to data released Saturday by Johns Hopkins University, the country added 99,321 cases and 1,030 deaths to its tally on Friday. It’s the greatest single-day increase of the pandemic so far — a sentence likely to be repeated in the coming weeks as the U.S. experiences a third surge in infections that’s expected to dwarf the previous two.
2 Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize In Chemistry For Genome Editing Research
The 2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to two researchers who developed new techniques of genome editing. The winners are Emmanuelle Charpentier of France, and Jennifer Doudna of the United States. Charpentier is at the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin, and Doudna is at the University of California, Berkeley. As is customary, the winners were announced at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
NY22 Debate: Listen, Watch Here | WSKG
https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/NY22-DEBATE-BACKUP.mp3 Libertarian candidate Keith Price. WSKG Public Media and the League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties presented a debate Thursday evening, featuring candidates in the 22nd Congressional District.
‘Conenator’: Who Is Amy Coney Barrett, Front-Runner For Supreme Court Nomination?
Amy Coney Barrett is viewed as the leading candidate to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court. The 48-year-old judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago is a favorite among social conservatives. They, and others on the right, view the mother of seven’s record as anti-abortion rights and hostile to the Affordable Care Act.
With Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Doses, Who Would Get Them First?
It’s still unknown when a COVID-19 vaccine might be available in the United States. But when one is first approved, there may only be 10 million to 15 million doses available, which may be enough to cover around 3% to 5% of the U.S. population. That’s according to estimates from Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine project, published in a draft framework from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
The Complicated Importance Of Abortion To Trump Voters
If President Trump wins Wisconsin again, he’ll have Republican stalwarts like Mary Ludwig to thank. “I always vote Republican because I’m so against abortion,” she said, sitting next to a lake in the Milwaukee suburb of Oconomowoc on a recent summer evening. Ludwig has some reservations about Trump; she says that she doesn’t like the “offensive” things he says. On the other hand, she also has things she admires about him: She really likes his kids and thinks he’s handling the economy well.
ICE Almost Deported Immigrant Woman Who Says She Got Unwanted Surgery While Detained
As explosive allegations were coming to light about immigrant women who say they’ve been subjected to unwanted hysterectomies and other gynecological procedures, one of those detainees was put on a plane back to her home country. Pauline Binam was nearly deported Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Cameroon, a country she left when she was 2 years old. Binam, now 30, was on the tarmac when members of Congress say they intervened.
Despite A New Federal Ban, Many Renters Are Still Getting Evicted
Before a new federal eviction ban went into effect recently, Alice and Jeremy Bumpus were on the verge of getting evicted. They live in a house outside Houston with their three kids. And they both lost their jobs after the pandemic hit. Alice worked at an airport fast food restaurant; Jeremy at a warehouse. “We explained to the judge that due to everything that was going on, we just fell behind on just our one month’s rent,” Alice says.
Brindisi, Price Agree To Congressional Debate; No Decision From Tenney
VESTAL, NY (LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS) – The League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties, WSKG Public Media, SUNY-Broome Civic Engagement Center, SUNY-Broome History, Philosophy and Social Sciences Department and Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement have extended formal invitations to candidates in New York’s 22nd Congressional District. WSKG Public Media Anthony Brindisi and Claudia Tenney shake hands at their November 1, 2018 congressional debate.
Majority Of Hurricane Laura Deaths Linked To Improper Use Of Portable Generators
More deaths associated with Hurricane Laura were caused by the improper use of portable generators than the storm itself. And officials warn that the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning persists, as thousands of households in Louisiana remain without power.
At Least 64 Arrested In Louisville Protest Calling For Justice For Breonna Taylor
Louisville, Ky., police have arrested dozens of protesters who staged a sit-in on an overpass. Tuesday afternoon’s protest marked the final day of an event known as “BreonnaCon,” which called for justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot and killed by police executing a “no-knock” warrant in her home in March. Sixty-four people were arrested during the event, NPR member station WFPL reported. Several other news organizations reported higher numbers of arrests.
QAnon Supporter Who Made Bigoted Videos Wins Ga. Primary, Likely Heading To Congress
A Georgia Republican who has said that Muslims do not belong in government and expressed her belief in the baseless conspiracy theory called QAnon has won her primary runoff and is all but certain to win a seat in the House of Representatives in November.
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