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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.
New York bill would give individuals seat at the table when utility companies request rate increases: What does it mean for this winter?
A bill passed by the New York State Legislature would provide ratepayers with a voice in utility rate increases. The utility intervenor bill would provide for funding to allow individuals or not-for-profit groups to have a ... more
Nearly 410,000 New Yorkers are dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease
Though National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month is coming to a close, experts say education on the disease must continue beyond November. Across the U.S., about 6.5 million people over age 65 have Alzheimer's Disease. In New York, ... more
Outdoor RX launches website to let veterans know about services available
New York State's Outdoor RX Coalition is launching a website to spread the word about its services. Established in late 2020, the coalition is a partnership between the New York State Division of Veterans Services ... more
Finding permanent homes for kids in state foster care system is difficult
It can be a long road to finding permanent homes for kids in the New York State foster care system, but many find it worthwhile. Megan Battista is a Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiter who saw ... more
Two affordable housing projects complete in Central New York: Will they help make housing more attainable though?
Two new affordable housing developments in Central New York should help alleviate the region's affordability problem. The Wheat Street Apartments in Cayuga and Village Grove in Trumansburg are promising lower prices in the face of rising rents. According ... more
Here’s how poll workers make Election Day run smoothly
With Election Day upon us, concerns abound about the safety of elections, and one of so many reasons the 2022 elections are expected to be safe is the role of poll workers. According to a Marist ... more
New York’s largest nurses union has joined forces with largest national union: What does it mean for healthcare?
New York's largest nurses union has affiliated with the largest nurses union nationwide. The New York State Nurses Association voted to affiliate with National Nurses United to help numerous nurses gain better working conditions in ... more
$70M coming to school districts to purchase electric buses: Can it work across NYS?
School districts across New York will be receiving almost $70 million in federal funding for electric school buses, via a grant awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Bus rebate competition. It is part of ... more
Unemployment rate for people with disabilities is double those without: What needs to be done?
As National Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to a close, New Yorkers are contending there is more to do beyond October. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities ... more
Early voting begins later this week: Will turnout live up to expectation across New York?
Early voting begins in New York this week, with in-person early voting starting on Saturday, October 29. Early voting has been a popular option with New Yorkers ever since it was introduced in 2019. That ... more
Asian Americans face rising rates of hate crimes: What is being done in New York to address it?
As Asian Americans continue to face discrimination and hate crimes, new funding could aid New York officials in reporting - and preventing - these incidents. The multipurpose funding, from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, will ... more
Medicaid expansion: Study finds expanded program means better health outcomes for kids
New York is one of the states opting to expand Medicaid as soon as it could through the Affordable Care Act, and recent studies found a 2014 decision has paid off in terms of better ... more
Upstate New York has rural housing affordability crisis
A new affordable housing development is coming to Lake Placid, an area facing a workforce housing crisis. Fawn Valley, with six homes and 16 town homes, comes at a time when much of the area's ... more
Legislation would remove restrictions on electric vehicle sales in New York: Does it have a chance?
A new piece of legislation would provide New Yorkers with further access to electric vehicles. The Direct EV Sales bill, still under consideration by the New York Legislature, would remove restrictions on the sale of electric vehicles ... more
What should New Yorkers consider when purchasing health insurance?
Many New Yorkers will be shopping for new health insurance plans this month, when open enrollment begins. If you are among them, experts advise it is important to be aware of exactly what you are ... more
Invasive Carp: Great Lakes focus of new film documenting effort to keep species out
A new film is documenting efforts to prevent invasive carp species from entering the Great Lakes. "Against the Current 2: Keeping Invasive Carp Out of the Great Lakes" is a sequel to 2020's "Against the ... more
Study finds more civic education needed: Only 33% of Americans would pass citizenship test
As political tensions have risen in the last few years, experts are calling for a bigger emphasis on civic education. In a 2021 study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, only half of people surveyed could name ... more
Climate change takes aim at poor communities: New York working to prepare them
New York State has been working to ensure disadvantaged communities aren't so vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, as storms grow in power, it may not be enough that the state is bracing ... more
Social workers go virtual, leaving nonprofits shorthanded across New York
Nonprofit social workers in New York are seeing a shortage of people coming into the field, abdicating it for telehealth work. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth began to fill the gaps for in-person visits ... more
