J.D. Allen
Managing EditorA native Long Islander, J.D. is WSHU's managing editor. He also hosts the climate podcast Higher Ground.
J.D. has reported for public radio stations across the Northeast. He has experience investigating the climate crisis at WSHU, healthcare and small businesses for "Long Island Business News" and real estate and land-use for The Express News Group newspapers in the Hamptons. J.D.'s a lecturer at Stony Brook University, Quinnipiac University and Suffolk County Community College. He's also a leader at the regional chapter of Society of Professional Journalists. J.D. holds a B.A. in journalism and sociology from Stony Brook University and an M.S. in communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
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Over two dozen advocacy groups, including Riverhead teachers from Long Island, rallied outside the state Capitol in Albany to push for legislation to prevent tax revenue from being taken away from schools by local Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs).
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Rich Daly, of Mastic Beach, is the world’s fastest ice carver, according to Guinness World Records. He carved 225 blocks of ice — a whopping 70,000 pounds — for Port Jefferson’s fifth annual Ice Festival on Saturday.
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Ask your NPR station to play Higher Ground's third special program distributed nationally by American Public Media from January to May 2024.
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A bite-sized look at what we’re hearing: A series of winter storms that blew through Connecticut have pressured federal officials to work fast to protect vulnerable communities from flooding. Also, a special grand jury has been considering new charges for the suspected Long Island serial killer related to a fourth set of remains found in the Gilgo Beach area — identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, of Norwich, Connecticut.
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A New York state task force charged with reforming the response to 911 calls from those in mental health crises held its first meeting of the New Year on Long Island last week. The group was created after the police killing of Daniel Prude.
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Officials said Brookhaven plans to keep the Yaphank-based landfill open until 2027 or early 2028 to accept waste burned into ash at incinerators owned by waste-to-energy company Covanta. That would also require the town to seek an extension of its state-issued permit when it expires in 2026.
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A bite-sized look at what we’re hearing: Coastal Connecticut and Long Island saw flurries over the weekend, but could see significant flooding as another storm system brings more heavy rain and strong winds to the region Tuesday into Wednesday. Also, professional women’s hockey comes to Bridgeport.
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A bite-sized look at what we’re hearing — that that you might have missed while celebrating the New Year — Ed Romaine has been officially sworn-in to his term as Suffolk County executive. Also, Bridgeport is monitoring for health and environmental impacts from an explosion on Friday.
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A bite-sized look at what else we’re hearing: Connecticut’s false ticket scandal will rack up $250,000 in legal fees for the state. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has finished his two-year service. Also, students are encouraged to learn cursive.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Hauppauge on Tuesday to announce nearly $450 million for clean water initiatives statewide — $20 million of which will help install treatment equipment that will protect drinking water from emerging contaminants on Long Island. An additional $30 million was made available for the state's septic system replacement program.