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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 still has a lead pipe problem
New York still does not know where all its lead pipes are. Environmental Protection Agency data show 251,000 lead pipes have been identified in the state but nearly 950,000 additional water lines are of unknown ... more
New Yorkers losing faith in rule of law, democracy’s endurance
A new poll from Gallup and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation found 56% of Americans said the rule of law is weaker than it was a decade ago, and only 28% of people trust U.S ... more
REPORT: NY must remove plastics from baby food
A Greenpeace report found around 11,000 microplastic particles in each Danone Happy Baby Organics pouch and an estimated 5,000 in a Nestle Gerber Organics pouch. Despite widespread support, the state’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure ... more
POLL: New Yorkers have low trust in federal government
Research shows New Yorkers and the nation at large do not trust the federal government. A new Partnership for Public Service poll found distrust in government is at 56%, up from 47% last year. It ... more
NYS phasing out Regents exams as graduation requirement
After 161 years, New York State will no longer require Regents exams to graduate. The change is part of the NY Inspires initiative, which aims to reform diploma requirements for high schoolers across the state ... more
Poll: New Yorkers blame corruption for price increases
A new poll from Navigator Research found 81% of Americans believe government corruption raises prices, with many pointing to elected officials who allow waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money, and who protect large corporations ... more
Congress debates funding to fix NY, U.S. public lands
Since 2020, the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund has funded billions in unaddressed maintenance issues. More than $1 billion has gone to several New York public lands. The fund expired in 2025, ... more
NYS may see more pollution from federal vehicle standards rollback
Congress is considering resolutions to reduce state authority to limit tailpipe emissions and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering rolling back federal fuel economy regulations. According to New York state data, vehicle emissions ... more
NY disability rights groups leary of DOJ shift in disability laws
The memo reinterprets the Supreme Court’s Olmstead v. L.C. case, which affirmed that people with disabilities have the right to community services that allow them to live independently. Now the memo says the Americans with ... more
Federal judge overturns NY’s climate change superfund law
A federal judge has struck down New York’s 2024 Climate Change Superfund law. The law would have fined the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2018 — specifically, those responsible for more ... more
New York State health coverage losses under political spotlight
Healthcare advocates are taking their message on the road this week as Medicaid changes overshadow political campaigns. Events are planned in four states, including New York. Protect Our Care’s "GOP Hot Seat Summer” campaign aims ... more
Survey finds people underestimate cost of NYS child, senior care
New data found Americans underestimate care costs for kids and seniors in New York and nationwide. The Care Disconnect survey showed most Americans do not understand how much caring for an older loved one or ... more
Advocates say Upstate NY rental assistance program needs to be permanant
New York State housing advocates want a permanent statewide rental assistance program. The Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment program only helps renters outside of New York City catch up on rent payments. It began as a ... more
Poll says New York voters are worried about election integrity
New York is working to protect voting rights amid possible threats to election security in the midterms. The state included funding to protect poll workers in the 2027 state budget and lawmakers have also considered ... more
NYS elected officials: Renewables combat rising energy costs
New York elected officials view clean energy as the best way to reduce rising energy costs. The state’s Energy Research and Development Authority reported 2026 electricity costs so far have been higher than in 2024 ... more
Trump administration buys back New York’s offshore wind leases
The Trump administration is buying back New York offshore wind leases as it moves forward with plans to expand the use of fossil fuels. The company RWE U.S. Offshore is receiving more than $1 billion ... more
NYS sees increases in harmful algal blooms
New York waterways are being inundated with harmful algal blooms. The blooms form when lakes, rivers and streams warm up and become more nutrient-dense. Current data from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ... more
Doctor: NYS air quality under threat from EPA truck standards rollback
A doctor and lung expert argued New York’s air quality will worsen from proposed Environmental Protection Agency rollbacks. The agency plans to remove certain standards on heavy-duty vehicles like semitrucks, buses, garbage trucks and more ... more
REPORT: NY must tax wealthy to maintain healthcare
More than 460,000 New Yorkers lost access to their Essential Plan health coverage this month, a low-cost option provided through the Affordable Care Act. Economic activists said federal social service cuts go deeper than the ... more
