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Edwin Viera
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He's previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR's Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.
Experts help people find the right healthcare plans in New York
New York health experts are preparing people for the health-care coverage open-enrollment period. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of New Yorkers without health insurance declined from almost 12% to a little more than 5%. As people ... more
New state law requires disclosure of property’s flood risk to buyers
New York is slated to become another state to require disclosing flood-risk information to prospective homeowners. The Legislature passed a law earlier this year requiring property owners to disclose whether a property is located in ... more
Interest resumes building on New Yorkers’ student loans
Interest on federal student loans will begin accruing for borrowers in New York and across the nation starting this month. The Education Data Initiative finds $93 billion in federal student loan debt belongs to New Yorkers. The ... more
Gen Z New Yorkers want more affordable, quality healthcare options: Not the typical offerings, either
As 'Gen Z' New Yorkers enter the workforce, their healthcare needs and concerns are varying from previous generations. Along with differences in their healthcare needs, how people in their teens to mid-20s learn about healthcare ... more
Will Head Start get the funding it needs? Upstate NY could lose 4,300+ seats if $750M is cut
Congress is divided on how to fund the Head Start program in its upcoming appropriations bill. While the Senate is keen on investing more money for the program, the House is looking to cut around $750 million. In ... more
House bill on cell-tower placement: Should towns be able to say no? This legislation would make it difficult
A bill in Congress could almost eliminate local input on cell-tower location, in New York and across the U.S. The American Broadband Deployment Act would create new restrictions on local and state land use and ... more
EXCLUSIVE: Activists say Hochul should sign bill prohibiting harmful pesticides
In honor of National Honey Bee Day, New York environmentalists want Gov. Hochul to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act. The bill prohibits selling neonicotinoids and use of seeds coated with the pesticides. It also requires the state's ... more
Uptick in New Yorkers getting hit by scams: How much has been lost?
New Yorkers and people across the nation are being victimized by a plethora of scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported impostor scams cost New Yorkers almost $600 million between 2022 and 2023. Across the country, ... more
New Buffalo Bills stadium creates 10,000+ local union jobs
As construction on the new Buffalo Bills stadium gets underway, Western New Yorkers are preparing for the jobs the project will create. Along with myriad community benefits, construction will create 10,000 union labor jobs for the ... more
Congressional bill could provide billions to rural New Yorkers: How would it help?
Legislation in Congress aims to provide money to rural communities in New York and across the U.S. The Rebuild Rural America Act would allocate $50-billion to make it easier for rural areas to access federal grant money ... more
Legislation expands vote-by-mail access in NY: How would it change voting?
Before New York's legislative session ended, lawmakers expanded vote-by-mail access. The New York Early Mail Voter Act allows registered voters to get early mail voting ballots through an application to their local Board of Elections. Currently, ... more
Work begins immediately to redraw NY’s Congressional maps after court decision
New York's Appellate Court has ordered the state's Congressional maps be redrawn. The Bipartisan State Commission will start work immediately. After the 2020 census, the commission did not agree on a new map, leading to a lengthy ... more
New campaign focuses on improving public education in New York
A new campaign aims to bolster public education and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers' Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign aims to boost a variety of issues schools are lagging behind in. In New ... more
Rural New York renters see benefits of COVID block grants
Some one-time grant funding has made the difference between renters in rural New York having a safe place to live - or having to move. The McNeil Park Apartments, in Copenhagen, is an income-based complex ... more
New development helps reduce Upstate New York’s housing shortage: But much more is needed
New apartments on the market in Pulaski are the latest development aimed at reducing New York's housing shortage. Selkirk Landing consists of 44 affordable homes for families and seniors, along with 20 homes with supportive ... more
EXCLUSIVE: What is New York doing to keep railways safe?
As National Rail Safety Month comes to a close, experts in New York and across the country stressed there is more to do beyond June. The Federal Railroad Administration reports there have been 18 rail-related accidents in the last ... more
How is child well-being in New York?
Child well-being in New York has fluctuated over the last year, a recent annual report finds. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book found that New York's child health rank increased, although it lost ... more
Canadian wildfire smoke has impact on humans and animals
As smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets New York and much of the East Coast, it's causing a wide range of health effects - and not just for people. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the ... more
Senate passes HEAT Act: Natural gas appliances one step closer to being banned in NY
The New York State Senate has passed the HEAT Act, which now goes to the Assembly. The legislation aims to phase out gas-line extension allowances, which would reduce the use of natural gas in the state ... more
