Category Archives: Uncategorized

For years, Americans were told that questioning the origins of COVID-19 was irresponsible, even dangerous. The possibility that the virus escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan was dismissed by many in government, media, and public health as a fringe conspiracy theory. Social media companies restricted debate. Scientists who raised questions risked criticism. Ordinary citizens whoContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: The Truth Matters More Than the Narrative — Especially Here at Home”

A recently passed Dutchess County resolution may not make national headlines. There won’t be cable news panels dissecting it. There won’t be celebrities weighing in on social media. But for the people of Dutchess County, it matters. And that’s why I was encouraged to see a political candidate do something surprisingly uncommon in modern politics:Continue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Before You Lead, You Have to Read”

There was a time in America when we didn’t agree on everything, but we generally agreed on something important: there was such a thing as right and wrong. Today, that consensus is evaporating. Ideas and behaviors once considered fringe, immoral, or simply inappropriate are increasingly celebrated, promoted, and institutionalized. Meanwhile, those who express reservations—or holdContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: When a Nation Loses Confidence in Right and Wrong”

The world lost a music legend this week with the passing of Walter Parazaider, one of the founders of Chicago. Like millions of fans, I knew Walt first through the music. The soaring horns. The unforgettable melodies. The soundtrack to first dates, weddings, road trips, and moments we never forget. But years ago, I hadContinue reading “Walt Parazaider: The Man Behind the Horns”

The verdict is in. Pleasant Valley Highway Superintendent John Baxter has been found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of attempted unlawful surveillance after a bench trial in LaGrange Justice Court. The charges stem from allegations that Baxter placed a hidden camera beneath his secretary’s desk in an apparent attempt to capture intimate images without herContinue reading “When Public Trust Is Violated: The Baxter Verdict and the Questions That Remain”

New York taxpayers didn’t just get sticker shock. They got a lesson in how Albany works. For weeks, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders celebrated a state budget they said totaled $268 billion. Press conferences were held. Victory laps were taken. Talking points were distributed. Then came the revelation: the budget wasn’t $268 billion afterContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Albany’s $9 Billion Surprise Isn’t a Mistake. It’s a Warning.”

Next Monday, a judge will decide whether Pleasant Valley Highway Superintendent John Baxter is guilty of attempted unlawful surveillance. The legal verdict will belong to the court. But regardless of what happens in LaGrange Justice Court, the residents of Pleasant Valley are already wrestling with a larger question: What happens when public trust is putContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: A Verdict Beyond One Man”

Government works only when the public trusts the people placed in positions of authority. That trust becomes even more important in local government, where employees work side-by-side every day and where residents often know their elected and appointed officials personally. This week in LaGrange Justice Court, that trust is at the center of the trialContinue reading “A Public Trust Put on Trial”

Today, I had the privilege of celebrating the college graduation of Sam—my first and only intern during my years at WKIP. When Sam first came to the station, she wasn’t a college student. She was a high school student looking for an opportunity to learn about radio and broadcasting. From the very beginning, she stoodContinue reading “Sam: My First and Only Intern at WKIP”

One of the frustrations many New Yorkers have with government today is not simply the decisions being made in Albany—it is the increasing reluctance of elected officials to publicly explain those decisions. This week, Assemblyman Anil Beephan proudly announced his support for a one-year moratorium on new data centers in New York State. In aContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: Assemblyman Beephan Wants the Credit for the Vote, Not the Questions That Follow”

This week, the New York State Legislature passed a one-year moratorium on new data centers. Supporters call it a victory for local communities. They argue that data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity, place demands on local infrastructure, and raise legitimate questions about environmental impacts and quality of life. Residents have packed town halls, sentContinue reading “Valley Viewpoint: New York Hits Pause on Data Centers—But At What Cost?”

Democrats Continue Their War on Common Sense A few days ago, I wrote about Albany’s latest effort to replace the word “mother” in New York law with the term “gestating parent.” At the time, I thought it was another example of government focusing on symbolism while ignoring the real problems facing New Yorkers. Unfortunately, theContinue reading “VALLEY VIEWPOINT”