The Newsroom Demystifying Albany

What’s going on at Syracuse Housing Authority?

The Syracuse Housing Authority has been in the news recently: From missed deadlines to accusations of conflicts of interest. What does it all mean? Central Current reporter Debadrita Sur breaks it all down on this episode of ‘It’s Happening Here.'

A look at immigration enforcement in Central New York

On this edition of "It’s Happening Here" host Chris Libonati is joined by Central Current contributor Eddie Velasquez and reporter Patrick McCarthy to discuss immigration enforcement and how local elected officials are responding to pushback against President Donald Trump‘s deportation agenda.

An editor’s forecast for 2026

As the New Year begins, what should Central New Yorkers be on the lookout for? Central Current’s Editor Chris Libonati shares his thoughts about the biggest items to keep an eye on over the coming news cycle. He shares his own journey as a reporter, his favorite stories from 2025, the reasons he loves reporting in CNY, and explains how he chooses what to cover. Editor’s Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current’s editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.

Let's talk about reading

Child literacy remains a persistent challenge in Syracuse. According to 2019 data from the Early Childhood Alliance, only 22% of SCSD students are reading on grade level by the 3rd grade. Guests Laurie Black and Dr. Maria Murray are each tackling this challenge from different angles: As Community Education Director for the United Way, Laurie Black has grown their Book Buddies program to reach over 600 students annually. Her network of 500 volunteers provides ongoing education, support, and encouragement to children from kindergarten through 3rd grade. Dr. Maria Murray, CEO of The Reading League, focuses her efforts on providing teachers with evidence-based practices for improved literacy education. Her organization studies the science of reading and works with educators nationwide to improve outcomes for students. On this episode of It’s Happening Here, Laurie Black and Dr. Murray join hosts Maximilian Eyle and Dr. Roosevelt “Rick” Wright to discuss the relationship between literacy and poverty, the resources available in Onondaga County for parents and children, the Book Buddies program, and ways to improve your own child’s reading development. -- Editor's Note: This podcast reflects the opinions and perspectives of the host and guests and is not a product of our editorial staff, including Central Current's editors and reporters. The program may be edited in post-production for length and clarity.

The Newsroom Demystifying Albany

With an annual budget of over $250 billion, New York State’s public spending exceeds that of most countries. Decisions made in Albany impact New Yorkers across the state in nearly every aspect of their lives. Akash Mehta wants to close the distance between state residents and their representatives in Albany by providing accessible and in-depth coverage of state government. At the age of 22, Akash launched New York Focus - an independent nonprofit newsroom. Over the past five years they have built a staff of 15 and have broken stories ranging from Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment lawsuits to secretive state senate committees exerting a heavy hand on which bills make it to the floor for a vote. NYS Focus’ Editor-in-Chief Akash Mehta joins Central Current’s Executive Director Maximilian Eyle on this episode of It’s Happening Here. Read New York Focus’ coverage and sign up for their free newsletter at nysfocus.com. Central Current’s reporting can be found at central current.org