NCPR's Story of the Day

(May 30, 2025) We're kicking off our series about volunteerism in the North Country with a story about how volunteers in Schroon Lake power one essential community institution - their local library. Also: Democrats in New York continue to criticize the House-passed bill that slashes funding for social services. They say tens of thousands of people in the state could lose their health care.

(May 29, 2025) We remember Dana Fast, a Holocaust survivor who lived in the Adirondacks until her death earlier this month. Also: North Country at Work visits the only tattoo shop in Lake Placid.

(May 28, 2025) As part of his goal to reduce federal spending, President Donald Trump wants to cut funding for rural airports in half. What would that mean for the North Country, where all five regional airports are federally subsidized? Also: Clinton County is trying to make building new housing easier, in hopes of alleviating the region's housing shortage. We'll explain how.

(May 27, 2025) Two North Country students will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which kicks off today. They don't see themselves as rivals, but they're both hoping to go deep into the national tournament. Also: New York food banks say more people are looking for food assistance, and that cuts to SNAP, included in the recently passed House budget, would make things a lot worse.

(May 23, 2025) Racing season kicks off tonight at the Mohawk International Raceway. Every summer, people and whole families bring race cars from all over the North Country, Quebec, and beyond to compete on the dirt track in Akwesasne. Also: This summer, two more Adirondack lakes will be treated with an herbicide to kill an invasive plant.

(May 22, 2025) The Plattsburgh city council installed a new police chief last week. But some residents are concerned about workplace misconduct allegations against him that still haven't been fully resolved. Also: Voters in most North Country school districts approved their school budgets Tuesday, including Watertown's spending plan that contains a controversial provision that upset the area's pre-K providers.

(May 21, 2025) In the 19th century, a hill in the Adirondacks was named after the settlers who lived nearby. But because they were Black, the hill was named for their race, not their family. Last weekend, that historical injustice was undone. It's now called Murry Hill. Also: Gov. Hochul called the residential boarding school system "sanctioned ethnic cleansing" when she apologized to the Seneca Nation yesterday.

(May 20, 2025) New York state and local leaders are warning that Medicaid cuts included in Trump's policy bill will have outsized impacts on the North Country. Republicans, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, say they're not cuts at all. Also: The major wind power project in the ocean off of Long Island is back on after President Trump reversed course.

(May 19, 2025) Biking is one of life's great pleasures. But it can be hard for older people to get on a bicycle. A nonprofit in Plattsburgh wants to bringing people of all ages and abilities together through the joy of cycling. Also: Governor Kathy Hochul is going to the Seneca Nation in western New York tomorrow to apologize for the state's role in a boarding school that tore apart indigenous families and culture.

(May 16, 2025) The Watertown City School District is at odds with the child care providers who run its pre-K program. Those providers are calling for residents to vote down the school's budget next week. Also: New York is making it easier for adult learners to pursue a free associate's degree at community colleges.

(May 15, 2025) The editor-in-chief of one of the North Country's daily newspapers retired last week after forty years in local journalism. Joe LoTemplio says he's grateful for his sources and Plattsburgh Press-Republican colleagues. Also: As Republicans in Congress move forward with President Trump's tax and budget bill, some New York GOP lawmakers are holding out over tax reductions known as SALT.

(May 14, 2025) President Trump's federal funding cuts are having impacts across the North Country, from arts to education to mental health. We talk with orgs that are having to adjust their programs and deal with uncertainty. Also: Some state lawmakers want Albany to better protect food safety as federal agencies are losing funding and staff.

(May 13, 2025) Science has documented the role downed logs play in capturing carbon in the forest floor. New research in the Adirondacks is looking at how decomposing logs in streams and riverbeds play their own role. Also: State lawmakers are holding a special hearing about New York's troubled prison system tomorrow, amidst increasing violence against both inmates and corrections officers.

(May 12, 2025) Business owners in Lake George are worried the young foreign workers they rely on every summer may get caught up in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Why J-1 visa holders may get held up this summer. Also: Speaking with reporters in Ticonderoga Friday, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik voiced support for President Donald Trump's tariff approach, but said she wanted full funding for rural airports in the North Country.

(May 9, 2025) Volunteerism is down across the country, yet volunteers still play crucial roles in North Country communities. As we launch a series spotlighting the region's volunteers, we hear about some of the people our listeners told us to profile. Also: Federal cuts in President Trump's so-called "skinny budget" could eliminate popular North Country programs, including rural air service and heating assistance.

(May 8, 2025) Second homes and short-term rentals have gobbled up much of the available housing in the Adirondacks, leaving year-round families with few options. One couple is rehabbing homes specifically as long-term rentals for local Adirondackers. Also: A conversation with the chairman of New York's Republican Party, which is gearing up for a big election cycle in 2026.

(May 7, 2025) Some Akwesasne Mohawk students at SUNY Canton have been working on a project they hope makes campus more welcoming for Native Americans. It's been working, and they celebrated with an indigenous-themed trivia night. Also: The property in Massena left behind by General Motors has won a national recognition that could help it find a new manufacturer.

(May 6, 2025) What does welcoming and belonging mean for different people across the Adirondacks? NCPR and Adirondack Explorer asked that question to people at listening sessions this spring in North Creek, Old Forge, and Tupper Lake. We report back on what people said. Also: Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul are already trading barbs in what could be next year's race for governor.

(May 5, 2025) Weed's been legal in New York for a few years now. So what's it like to farm it? We visit a young couple in the Champlain Valley that's made cannabis a business. Also: All passengers on US airlines will need a REAL ID document to fly starting May 7.

(May 2, 2025) Lake trout disappeared from Lake Champlain by 1900, the victims of pollution, overfishing, and the invasive sea lamprey. Biologists have engineered a remarkable comeback, and now the fish are thriving on their own and stocking efforts are winding down. Also: Fort Drum generates almost $2 billion for the North Country economy, making it the largest single-site employer in the region.

(May 1, 2025) If you want to hike to Indian Head or climb Gothics or Upper Wolfjaw, you'll need to have a reservation starting today. The DEC says the system at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve is now permanent after a few years of evaluation. Also: Spring turkey hunting season and fishing for several cool water fish kick off today.

(Apr 30, 2025) The Adirondacks are home to a large number of New York's bears. We talk with a bear expert about why they're a fascinating and still mysterious animal, and how people can help keep them wild. Also: State lawmakers say there are still some loose ends to tie up in state budget talks, even though Governor Hochul announced a tentative deal Monday.

(Apr 29, 2025) It's been more than two decades since a Republican won statewide office in New York. With Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said to be considering a run for governor, we talk with a political science professor about her chances. Also: Gov. Hochul and New York state lawmakers have struck a tentative budget deal. We sort through what's in and what's out.

(Apr 28, 2025) Democrats in Albany are looking to close up to 5 more prisons in the next year, in part to alleviate the shortage of corrections officers. We talk to a researcher who studied why New York and two other states account for a third of all prison closures around the US in recent decades. Also: The section of Route 56 that connects Potsdam to Tupper Lake may reopen as soon as Tuesday. It's been closed for nearly 2 months after a sinkhole caused a major reconstruction of the road.

(Apr 25, 2025) Farms are getting busy as the temperatures warm and the Earth springs back to life. On sheep farms, it's lambing season, a time of rebirth and hope and tiny cute baby lambs. as Also: Glens Falls basketball star Jimmer Fredette announced his retirement from the sport this week.

(Apr 24, 2025) New York state is suing President Donald Trump's administration over its tariff policies. Those tariffs could raise prices in the state for everything from clothes to fireworks. Also: the decades-old Mohawk land claim could be settled for good if Congress ratifies an agreement between the Mohawks of Akwesasne and New York state.

(Apr 23, 2025) The Upstate New York dairy industry is getting a historic jolt. Chobani is building a massive new yogurt plant outside Rome that will increase demand for farmers' milk. Also: St. Lawrence County could join a regional police team that responds to high-risk situations.

(Apr 22, 2025) Two years after a drag queen story hour controversy shut down the Lake Luzerne library, new board members and staff are working to rebuild the library - and its reputation with the community. Also: Two Democratic lawmakers held an event in Plattsburgh to pressure Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to oppose Medicaid cuts in the GOP's budget plan.

(Apr 21, 2025) A natural gas pipeline through Upstate New York was thought to be dead. But President Trump mentioned the project in a recent conversation with Gov. Hochul. Environmental advocates say they're ready to fight it again. Also: Hundreds of people hit the streets in Saranac Lake and Potsdam over the weekend for another protest against President Donald Trump.

(Apr 18, 2025) Every Thursday, there are free archery lessons at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club. Our Adirondack reporter Emily Russell takes up a bow and aims for the mark. Also: Federal immigration agents detained at least twelve people at a chick hatchery in Jefferson County.

(Apr 17, 2025) A young couple has revived a once-defunct restaurant in Tupper Lake. We meet the couple behind The Woodshed. Also: Clinton Community College's impending move to SUNY Plattsburgh's campus is official. College leadership says it's a game-changer after fiscal and accreditation challenges.

(Apr 16, 2025) New York's prison system still has a severe staffing shortage after a wildcat strike earlier this year. A breakdown of how the state is planning to fill those positions. Also: New York State lawmakers have reached a tentative deal on a key issue holding up the state budget - the rules of discovery in court.

(Apr 15, 2025) We meet the woman behind the new transmitter map that's on the new NCPR tote bag available during our spring fundraiser. Nancy Bernstein's maps have become iconic in the Adirondacks in places like Adirondack Explorer magazine. Also: A student at SUNY Plattsburgh has had their student visa revoked by the federal government.

(Apr 14, 2025) The state budget is two weeks late. Gov. Hochul says she's willing to wait to get a change she says will help prosecutors better charge criminals in court. Also: Two of the North Country's state lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that would allow fired COs to return to work.

(Apr 11, 2025) The diner is a classic slice of Americana. Everyone has their favorite, maybe even their favorite booth. We hear from a woman who grew up in her family's diner as a child in the quaint village of Croghan. Also: A St. Lawrence County dairy farmer is still actively campaigning for Congress in NY-21. Democrat Blake Gendebien says he thinks it's possible Congresswoman Elise Stefanik could resign before the mid-terms next year, setting off a special election.

(Apr 10, 2025) President Donald Trump has said in no uncertain terms that he wants to eliminate the federal Department of Education. Our education reporter Amy Feiereisel looks at what that could mean for North Country school districts. Also: State education officials are pushing back on the Trump administration's demand for an end to DEI programming in public schools.

(Apr 9, 2025) Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is trying to return to politics by entering the New York City mayoral race. While supporters say he did a lot for the state, critics say he didn't take it well when they openly disagreed with him. Also: Trump cuts to a federal agency that supports libraries and museums could trickle down to those institutions in the North Country.

(Apr 8, 2025) One of the challenges the Adirondacks face in drawing more diverse tourists to stay, shop, and visit here is that some people of color don't feel safe recreating outdoors. A Rochester-based woman is working to show her community that they can belong in the Adirondacks. Also: Gov. Hochul says the family detained on a Jefferson County dairy farm and sent to Texas were in "a living hell". But now they're back home after federal immigration officials released them.

(Apr 7, 2025) About a thousand people protested in Sackets Harbor over the weekend after a mother and three children were detained on a local dairy farm. Today, federal immigration officials confirmed they were sending the family home from Texas. Also: A popular Medicaid program could get a pause in a reorganization that worried people with disabilities.

(Apr 4, 2025) This week marked one year since the death of one of the Adirondacks' most respected and skilled forest rangers. About 100 people gathered in Ray Brook Monday on Trans Day of Visibility to remember ranger Robbi Mecus. Also: Two workers were detained at a dairy farm in St. Lawrence County last week as federal immigration agents continue their crackdown across New York.

(Apr 3, 2025) The detention of seven employees from a Jefferson County dairy farm is sending a chill through the dairy community. We talk with farmers and ag experts about the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown and the farmers' need for legal, year-round workers. Also: Border Czar shed some new light and raised new questions about those detentions in a local interview.

(Apr 2, 2025) The community of Sackets Harbor is calling for the return of three children who were detained during a dairy farm investigation by federal immigration officials last week. The school superintendent says the loss has left the school feeling sad, powerless, and confused. Also: People's reactions are mixed to the news that Elise Stefanik will remain the North Country's Congresswoman instead of going to the United Nations.