NCPR's Story of the Day

(Apr 17, 2026) Aging in place is a serious housing issue for the North Country, where a significant portion of the population is over the age of 65. We'll take a look at a Warren County pilot program hoping to help seniors stay in their homes longer. Also: new legislation could make solar power available to New York residents on a much smaller and more accessible scale.

(Apr 16, 2026) We meet a Lake George history teacher on a mission to inspire his students. Also: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik weighed in on President Donald Trump's ongoing feud with the pope during an appearance on CBS earlier this week.

(Apr 15, 2026) People in the Adirondacks have been wrestling for years with what to do about the massive influx of hikers every summer. A new report recommends strict parking limits at popular Adirondack trailheads. Also: The state is increasing what it charges some North Country communities for cheap hydropower for the first time in more than a decade.

(Apr 14, 2026) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney consolidated his power in yesterday's elections, riding his tough approach to President Trump. As the chill between the US and Canada continues, North Country business and economic development leaders say business without Canadian tourists has been difficult. Also: NCPR engineer Kurt Lanning hikes through rotten snow to get to an antenna on Lyon Mountain.

(Apr 13, 2026) A woman from St. Lawrence County is on the team of software engineers who designed the systems for the Artemis II, which just returned to Earth after a trip around the moon. We talk with Jamie Szafran, who grew up in Edwards. Also: State police are investigating three deaths of incarcerated people at the prisons in Malone, Ogdensburg, and Gouverneur.

(Apr 10, 2026) A new business and community space in the village of Elizabethtown is home to a thriving high-end bike shop. We meet the guys behind Solace Cycles. Also: Police are investigating whether an inmate in Malone should be criminally charged after the death of another inmate earlier this week.

(Apr 9, 2026) New York is one of the world's largest gold markets. Democrats in the state Senate say a new tax on purchasing gold bars could raise $600 million a year for the state. Also: We meet an early intervention counselor in Glens Falls, who connects babies and toddlers with the resources they need to thrive.

(Apr 8, 2026) The number of land surveyors who retire each year in the U.S. is about double the number that come into the profession. That's created a shortage that surveyors in the North Country are trying to turn around. Also: Some state lawmakers are backing changes to a state environmental law that they think might be holding up the construction of new housing.

(Apr 7, 2026) New funding will help Jefferson Community College in Watertown train people to work at the massive Micron semiconductor factory under construction north of Syracuse. Local officials hope many of those employees will be veterans from Fort Drum. Also: Animal shelters across New York are trying to adapt to new state regulations. But some are worried it could put them out of business.

(Apr 6, 2026) ORDA, the state agency that runs the Olympic venues in the Adirondacks, had a big winter. Skier visits were up 8% at Whiteface and Gore, and a cross-country skiing World Cup brought more than 30,000 people to Lake Placid. Also: The Watertown City Council is considering job and service cuts as it puts together next year's budget.

(Apr 3, 2026) The John Dillon Park near Long Lake is the Adirondacks' only accessible campground for people with disabilities. But it's been plagued by closures over the years, and it's set to close again this summer to fix issues with the park's drinking water system. Also: Weeks after an explosion injured several people at the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, members say faith is helping them through.

(Apr 2, 2026) New York's state budget is late for the seventh straight year. Our Albany reporter Jimmy Vielkind runs through what's holding things up. Also: We remember John Peach, a longtime advocate for the St. Lawrence River, who died Monday at 76.

(Apr 1, 2026) Rug braiding is a distinctly American art, using scraps of fabric to make colorful rugs. A woman in the St. Lawrence County town of Parishville is helping to pass on the folk tradition of rug braiding. Also: SUNY Chancellor John King visited SUNY Potsdam yesterday to promote efforts to meet students' basic needs, like housing, food, and transportation.

(Mar 31, 2026) Republican Anthony Constantino, who's running for the NY-21 congressional seat, is under scrutiny for how he's collecting ‘petition signatures' to get on the ballot for the June's primary. Also: A new poll finds Democrat Kathy Hochul still holds a solid lead over Republican Bruce Blakeman in the governor's race, but she's slipped seven points since February.

(Mar 30, 2026) Millions of people joined the third round of “No Kings” protests across the country over the weekend. In Canton, almost a thousand demonstrators rallied against President Donald Trump's policies. Also: A Democrat has dropped out of the North Country's congressional race. Dylan Hewitt had faced challenges with fundraising and gaining support from the Democratic establishment.

(Mar 27, 2026) For over five years, a group of kids has gotten together at a church in Jefferson County to work on projects with fabric and thread. The woman who volunteers with them has won state and national awards for her dedication. Also: After months of financial uncertainty, the company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage got some good news about state funding this week.

(Mar 26, 2026) Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join “No Kings” rallies across the country this weekend. In the North County, there will be rallies across the St. Lawrence Valley and Adirondacks. Also: We remember Mike Jaworski, who holds the record for thru-hiking in winter all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in ten days. He died at 35 years old earlier this month.

(Mar 25, 2026) Starting this month, more people will need to meet new work requirements to stay eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP - what used to be called food stamps. We check in at area food pantries to see how people are adapting. Also: Nursing homes are competing with hospitals for funding during state budget talks.

(Mar 24, 2026) The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has triggered a backlash across the country. In the Adirondacks, a network of activist groups is growing to protect local immigrants. Also: Nonprofits in underserved communities across New York are hoping for another round of funding in the state budget.

(Mar 23, 2026) More than 35,000 people attended the Cross-Country World Cup finals over the weekend in Lake Placid, the largest sporting event there since the 1980 Olympics. Jessie Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in American history, retired and closed out her career on top. Also: The Watertown Airport is asking for community donations to support TSA workers who aren't getting paid due to the partial government shutdown.

(Mar 20, 2026) Another superintendent is gone at Salmon River as the school district deals with the aftermath of the disclosure that it used wooden boxes to discipline children. Many parents say they've lost faith in their schools' leadership. Also: New legislation would tighten the procedures for people who visit New York state prisons.

(Mar 19, 2026) Thousands of people are expected in Lake Placid this weekend for the World Cup finals for cross-country skiing. We get an update on how the venue is making sure there's enough good-quality snow for the races. Also: Saranac Lake elected its first female mayor yesterday in a landslide election for Democrats.

(Mar 18, 2026) Energy storage is becoming an increasingly important part of an electric grid that can help slow the effects of climate change. In the Adirondacks, there's been pushback to battery storage sites, even though they're safer than ever. Also: Saranac Lake voters will cast their ballots today for mayor and two seats on the village board of trustees.

(Mar 17, 2026) Just three years after the Adirondack Mountain Club bought the Cascade Ski Center outside of Lake Placid, it put the property back up for sale. We dive into why the ADK's ambitious plans for the property broke down. Also: More than two dozen community projects in the Adirondacks were awarded state funding last week, focusing on housing, accessibility, and planning.

(Mar 16, 2026) The company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage says, without state funding in the very near future, it will have to take “drastic cost-cutting measures". But New York's health commissioner says North Star is in charge of restructuring itself, not the state. Also: An Indigenous cultural center in the Adirondacks is adding 600 acres of land to its property, one of the largest returns of private land to Indigenous people in state history.

(Mar 13, 2026) Governor Hochul says the state needs more time to meet its mandated climate goals because of estimated costs to consumers. But experts argue the price of climate change may be steeper. We dig into the politics and the science behind New York's climate law debate. Also: The Saranac Lake village board approved a lease for the Adirondack Park Agency to move its headquarters from Ray Brook to the village.

(Mar 12, 2026) The village of Saranac Lake has voted to scrap a plan to install surveillance cameras on its streets. The decision comes after residents raised concerns over privacy and a lack of input in the process. Also: The state officially shut down one of three state prisons in Malone on Wednesday.

(Mar 11, 2026) A popular Upstate New York foodie on social media was making the rounds of restaurants in St. Lawrence County last week. We meet the guy in the mechanic shirt who's behind Eat Local New York. Also: Governor Hochul visited Ogdensburg yesterday to announce that the city will receive $10 million to improve its downtown.

(Mar 10, 2026) As momentum grows around building workforce housing, a new initiative aims to fill in North Country development gaps. Also: Saranac Lake has passed a resolution that limits cooperation between the village's police department and federal immigration agencies.

(Mar 9, 2026) A year after the end of the illegal "wildcat" strike by thousands of corrections officers, prisons are still understaffed, family visits are limited, and inmates are enduring the consequences. We look at the crisis facing New York's prison system as taxpayers continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into paying the National Guard to step in. Also: The relationship between the North Star Health Alliance and a healthcare consulting group based in Maine has come under scrutiny after a recent court filing.

(Mar 6, 2026) Kelsey O'Driscoll from Glens Falls thought her days as an athlete were over when she suffered a broken spine in an accident. Today she's set to compete in skiing at the Paralympics in Italy. Also: As AI companies plan new data centers, one rural town near Ithaca has banned data centers.

(Mar 5, 2026) Fire chiefs across New York are raising attention about a dire decline in the number of volunteer firefighters. They hope a new legislative package will incentivize the next generation of firefighters and emergency responders. Also: A soothing audio postcard from the covered footbridge over the Grasse River in Canton.

(Mar 4, 2026) Next year, the Adirondack Experience museum in Blue Mountain Lake will debut a new permanent exhibit dedicated to the Adirondacks' Black history. We visit the museum and hear from the curator working to bring the show to life. Also: A New York state lawmaker wants to ease the state's liquor laws during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

(Mar 3, 2026) This cold, snowy winter has provided many delights for those who love the season. It's been a great winter for the dog sled teams on frozen Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. Also: Gov. Hochul says the family of a blind Buffalo man who died after he was released by U.S. border patrol deserves answers.

(Mar 2, 2026) Saranac Lake is mourning the planned closure of an elementary school in a decision a district board member called "profound and painful." It comes amidst a long-term trend of declining student enrollment across the Adirondacks. Also: State lawmakers are advancing a package of immigration bills with new urgency after a blind refugee detained by federal agents was found dead last week in Buffalo.

(Feb 27, 2026) President Donald Trump tried to make his case to the nation in his State of the Union this week, as polls show many of his initiatives are unpopular with Americans. We check in with North Country voters on how they rate the President one year into his second term. Also: The Malone town council has appointed a Republican to fill a vacancy on the board in a move that's been controversial in the community.

(Feb 26, 2026) Champlain Area Trails recently acquired the Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center in Essex County. The almost 700-acre property is now open to the public for recreation, and CATS has big plans for the space in the future. Also: A state trooper escaped serious injury when she was struck by an out-of-control car on a Franklin County highway.

(Feb 25, 2026) A New York Focus investigation found the state police has no clear standard for disciplining troopers, and troopers found guilty of misconduct were given lax or inconsistent treatment. We talk with the reporter who sorted through the documents. Also: Some state lawmakers, including Adirondack Senator Dan Stec, are questioning the continued use of the National Guard to help staff state prisons.

(Feb 24, 2026) The Essex County Land Bank was established just three years ago in hopes of alleviating a growing housing crisis in the eastern Adirondacks. We take a look at what a land bank is, and how any community can rack up some wins for affordable housing by starting its own. Also: The ICE immigrant detention center in Batavia is over capacity and at its highest population in months.

(Feb 23, 2026) After skepticism and debate, the Olympic Regional Development Authority got approval from its board to hire a consultant last week. That's to make a long-term plan for the authority's vast infrastructure, which officials say they don't know how to maintain. Also: we take a wintry stroll on frozen Mirror Lake.

(Feb 20, 2026) It's Black History Month. In Albany, Black lawmakers and other lawmakers of color in Albany used the occasion to highlight key priorities like more education funding, affordable housing, and sentencing reform. Also: The APA approved a new 22-unit housing development in Lake Placid at its meeting yesterday.

(Feb 19, 2026) New York has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Olympic venues in Lake Placid in recent years. But the agency that runs them says it doesn't have a long-term maintenance plan. The board will vote tomorrow on to do next. Also: Civil liberties groups are pushing back on Governor Hochul's proposed ban on A.I.-generated campaign attack ads.