The Hudsonian

Lindsay Powers || Staff Writer || Issue 17

The President of the HVCC Student Senate, Caris Kraty, was awarded the Norman R McConney Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence. Kraty is one of 48 students who were awarded the EOP Student Excellence award.

The Award for EOP Student Excellence recognizes students across the SUNY System’s personal and professional achievements. Students need to have a 3.0 GPA or higher and demonstrate perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity and in overcoming significant challenges. Students must be nominated by their schools’ EOP for high academic merit and personal growth. The award is in honor of Norman R. McConney Jr., and former Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, who helped establish the EOP in 1967.

Kraty, who is in her second year at HVCC and has been the President of Student Senate and the Black and Latino Student Union since 2024, is a board member of the Faculty Student Association and is the treasurer of the EOP club. Additionally, Kraty volunteers as a peer mentor, helping new students transition into the college environment. 

In a statement made by HVCC, Kraty said, “EOP is more than support; it is opportunity in action. Coming to this country from Liberia at a young age, I had big dreams but limited resources. Through Hudson Valley, SUNY, and EOP, I found mentors, leadership opportunities, and a community that reminded me my circumstances do not define my potential. This award reflects what happens when access meets empowerment. EOP gives students the tools to rise, to lead, and to create brighter futures for ourselves and our communities.”

According to the EOP, Kraty demonstrated resilience and commitment to her professional goals throughout her time at HVCC, and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in media studies at SUNY New Paltz.

Isabelle Holt || Editor-in-Chief || Issue 17

Authorities have identified the two pilots killed in a late night runway collision at LaGuardia Airport as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, both early in their aviation careers.

The crash occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, when a regional passenger flight operated by Jazz Aviation, an Air Canada Express carrier, collided with an airport fire truck while on the runway. The flight had departed from Montreal and was carrying dozens of passengers. In total, 41 people were injured and transported to local hospitals. Operations at the airport were suspended until Monday afternoon.

Air Canada Plane after crash, CNN

Officials described the loss of the two pilots as particularly tragic given their youth and promising futures. Forest, 30, was originally from Québec and had pursued aviation from a young age, beginning his flying experience as a teenager and later training on bush planes in the Saguenay region. He joined Jazz Aviation in late 2022.

Gunther, a recent graduate of Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, had only recently begun his professional career as a pilot. The institution announced it would lower flags to half-mast in his memory, expressing condolences to his family and former classmates.

Among the survivors was a flight attendant who was ejected from the aircraft during the crash yet remarkably survived. She was discovered still strapped to her seat some distance from the wreckage and is currently being treated for multiple injuries. Family members described her survival as extraordinary.

The collision also injured two firefighters who were inside the truck at the time of impact. Audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there were urgent attempts to halt the vehicle moments before the crash.

Preliminary findings from investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board indicate that both the aircraft and the fire truck had been cleared to access the same runway. Officials are examining a range of contributing factors, including communication procedures and equipment limitations.

Investigators have also pointed to potential technological shortcomings. A ground radar system designed to detect runway conflicts did not provide a warning, and the fire vehicle reportedly lacked a transponder that could have improved its visibility to controllers.

Speaking on the broader context, transportation officials emphasized the need for modernization within the U.S. air traffic control system. Concerns have also been raised about staffing levels and workload pressures in control towers, particularly during busy or complex operations.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to review cockpit recordings, air traffic communications, and operational protocols. No final determination has been made regarding the cause of the accident.

Isabelle Holt || Editor-in-Chief || Issue 17

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for enforcing labor law and overseeing union elections in the private sector, is entering a significant new phase of leadership. At the center of this shift is James Murphy, a longtime agency insider who has now risen to serve as chair.

Murphy’s appointment follows his confirmation to the board in December 2025 as part of a broader wave of nominees advanced by President Donald Trump. He was officially sworn in on January 7, 2026, helping restore the board’s quorum after nearly a year in which it lacked enough members to fully function.

With more than four decades of experience at the NLRB, Murphy brings deep institutional knowledge to the role. He began his career at the agency in 1974 and has served in multiple legal and advisory positions, including as chief counsel to former chairman Marvin Kaplan. His long tenure has made him a familiar figure within labor law circles, though his elevation also signals a broader ideological shift in how the board may operate moving forward.

The NLRB plays a critical role in American workplaces. Established in 1935, the agency enforces the National Labor Relations Act, protects workers’ rights to organize, and adjudicates disputes between employers and unions. When the board lacks a quorum, it cannot issue decisions, leaving cases unresolved and slowing enforcement of labor protections. That was the reality for much of 2025, when internal and political conflicts left the agency effectively stalled.

Murphy’s leadership comes as the board regains full operational capacity, and as its political balance shifts. His confirmation, alongside fellow Republican appointee Scott Mayer, established a Republican majority on the five member panel. This change is expected to influence the direction of federal labor policy, particularly after several years of more union friendly rulings under the previous administration.

Early signs of that shift are already emerging. With a new majority in place, the board has begun reconsidering policies related to employer liability, union organizing rules, and workplace standards. Supporters of the changes argue they will provide clarity and reduce regulatory burdens for businesses, while critics warn they could weaken protections for workers and unions.

Murphy now steps into the chairmanship at a moment when the NLRB faces both opportunity and scrutiny. The agency is not only working through a backlog of cases but also navigating broader legal and political debates over its authority and independence. Questions about presidential power over independent agencies, and the limits of that authority, continue to shape the environment in which the board operates.

As chair, Murphy’s role will be both administrative and symbolic. While the position does not carry sweeping unilateral power, it does influence the board’s agenda, priorities, and tone. With the NLRB once again able to act, his leadership will help determine how federal labor law is interpreted and enforced in the years ahead.

For workers, employers, and unions alike, the implications are significant. The decisions made under Murphy’s tenure could reshape organizing efforts, workplace rules, and the balance of power between labor and management across the country.

Prajeeth Rangamudri || News Editor || Issue 17

Spending and transparency have come under scrutiny due to a recent issue regarding the new Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) at Hudson Valley Community College. The problem started when Steve McLaughlin, the executive of Rensselaer County, denied a $1.9 million payment intended for project contractors. 

According to Times Union reporting, the payout was meant to offset additional expenses brought on by a seven-month stop-work order in 2025. McLaughlin, however, claimed that building had begun without the necessary permissions and questioned why contractors should be compensated for work that might not have been approved. 

HVCC Plans New Building, Programs To Help Fill Shortages In Skilled Trade Workers, Glens Falls Business Journal

The county Legislature, which first authorized the payment, will probably override the veto. 

The ATEC project, which is anticipated to cost more than $60 million, is intended to serve as a significant workforce training facility at Hudson Valley Community College. Some officials attribute the additional expenses to equipment leases, pay hikes, and delays, while others point to the project’s initial management. 

All things considered, this situation raises questions about how big projects are managed and whether taxpayer funds are being spent appropriately. Many will be keeping a close eye on how these problems are resolved as the project progresses.