Connections

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has introduced a bill to boost the state's minimum wage by $1.25 per hour, but a new study by an Albany-based think tank shows that we would still lag behind a number of states, including several in the Northeast and Great Lakes, even if Silver's proposal passes this year.

Frank Mauro, executive director of the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute, says our state compares poorly with some of the states around us.

A co-inventor of digital photography whose pioneering work began 36 years ago at Eastman Kodak says he's proud of what he and his colleagues accomplished--even if Kodak was never able to take full advantage of it the way it once dominated chemically based photography.

Steve Sasson, who is now retired from Kodak, says in general he's happy to see the way digital picture-taking has blossomed.

Click on the audio player above to listen to a portion of the interview with WXXI’s Bob Smith on 1370 Connection on Thursday, February 16.

The State Education Department and New York State United Teachers have until Thursday to resolve their litigation over new evaluation standards for teachers and school administrators.

Click on the audio player above to listen to a portion of Urbanski's interview on 1370 Connection with WXXI's Bob Smith.

If they fail to do so, Governor Cuomo says he'll impose his own standards as part of his package of amendments to his proposed state budget.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget looks balanced, but he has concerns about the future.

Speaking on 1370 Connection with WXXI’s Bob Smith, DiNapoli said the state needs to keep track of revenues and do whatever it can to encourage more growth and more balance in the state’s economy so that revenues can remain stable and predictable.

Click on the audio player above to listen to a portion of the interview from 1370 Connection on Monday, February 13, 2012.

The Susan B. Anthony House has been granted an official state charter as a museum.

Executive Director Deborah Hughes says they'll soon unveil the official new name, The Susan B. Anthony Museum and House.

Click on the audio player above to listen to a portion of Hughes’ interview on 1370 Connection with WXXI’s Bob Smith on Tuesday, February 7.

The name change comes with an expanded range of exhibits and programs designed to bring visitors in touch with Anthony and the women's rights movement she helped found.

Rochester Police Chief Jim Sheppard talked with WXXI’s Bob Smith on 1370 Connection.  Sheppard says he’s already in talks with the Regional Greater Rochester Transit Authority about security and safety at the upcoming transit center as part of an overall effort to maintain and improve public safety in the downtown area.

WXXI President Norm Silverstein and Little Theatre and WXXI Board Member Mark Cleary discuss the new partnership between Rochester’s public broadcasting organization and the region’s principal venue for the showing of independent film, the Little Theatre on WXXI-AM's 1370 Connection.

Click the audio player above to listen to a portion of the interview with WXXI's Bob Smith on 1370 Connection Friday, January 6, 2012.

You can also listen to the full interview.

Gary Knell is just weeks into his new job as CEO of NPR. He joined WXXI’s Bob Smith on Thursday’s 1370 Connection to talk about the transition and look ahead.

Click on the audio player above to listen to the interview.