NCPR's Story of the Day

(May 20, 2026) A man who has been incarcerated for 25 years in New York makes the case for clemency. John J. Lennon became a nationally recognized journalist from inside prison, writing for the Atlantic, Esquire, and the New York Times. Also: The state's school districts had been set to begin a transition to electric buses next year. Now, lawmakers say a proposal to push back that mandate will be included in this year's state budget.

(May 19, 2026) New safety protocols are in place this year for assistant forest rangers. The changes came after the DEC lost track of an assistant ranger who was later found dead in the wilderness. Also: Democrats say they're bullish on flipping a North Country congressional seat because Republicans are in the middle of a bitter primary.

(May 18, 2026) We hear from parents and community members around the Salmon River school, as they try to make sense of why educators confined children in wooden boxes as punishment. Also: With the state budget still unfinished, our Albany reporters take stock of what leaders still have to do.

(May 15, 2026) The state education department found the Salmon River school district confined at least five children with disabilities in wooden boxes last year. But the state and the school board still haven't released the investigation's findings to the public. Also: Lawmakers had to pass another budget extender as state budget talks will stretch into next week.

(May 14, 2026) The 19th-century settlement of Black pioneers near Lake Placid called Timbuctoo is now largely lost under dense Adirondack forest. A team of researchers is using drones and laser-mapping technology to search for archeological remnants to recover its history. Also: A new bill in Albany would give school districts in the North Country and across the state more time to transition to electric buses.

(May 13, 2026) Since the COVID pandemic, there's been a 20% enrollment increase at community colleges that focus on trades. An educational center in the Champlain Valley wants to expand its campus to meet the rising demand for vocational training. Also: There was a record number of visits to Olympic venues in New York over the last year.

(May 12, 2026) It may still be a week before lawmakers in Albany settle on a final state budget. Our Capitol reporter Jimmy Vielkind breaks down exactly what's at stake, what's the holdup, and what a late budget actually means for you.

(May 11, 2026) The race to replace Elise Stefanik in Congress could lead to an unpredictable four-way campaign by November. We get caught up on the politics and personalities with primaries in both parties coming up next month. Also: While Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders still differ on whether an overall budget deal has been reached, they appear to have reached a compromise on auto insurance reform.

(May 8, 2026) First there was a state budget deal yesterday, then there wasn't. Our Albany reporters sort through a crazy day in Albany and look forward to what's next with the budget more than a month late. Also: We remember longtime Canton historian Linda Casserly, who died this week at 79 years old.

(May 7, 2026) Gov. Hochul announced a deal on a $268 billion state budget, but the Assembly Speaker says not everything's finished. The potential agreement includes financial help for New York City and Buffalo, rebate checks for high utility bills, and an overhaul of state auto insurance laws. Also: We step into the shoes of a water and sewer infrastructure engineer in Watertown.

(May 6, 2026) Climate change may alter our most beloved natural places. At Chimney Bluffs State Park with its clay pinnacles along Lake Ontario, researchers are trying to figure out how much climate change is accelerating a process of erosion that's been going on for thousands of years. Also: St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Warren, and Herkimer counties have all run out of their childcare assistance funding. An answer could be in the state budget, but it's more than a month late.

(May 5, 2026) As the Adirondacks gear up for peak tourism season, thousands of international college students will come to the region to work through the federal J-1 visa program. Local businesses say that workforce has become crucial to getting through the summer. Also: Lawmakers are discussing the possibility of rebate checks for high electricity bills as they continue working on the state budget, which is more than a month late.

(May 4, 2026) Solar panels are crucial to producing carbon-free electricity in New York. But they take up a lot of land. A new study from Cornell University shows that solar development may not be as detrimental to farmland as some people fear. Also: A sign in North Creek saying President Trump needs to be "neutralized" was vandalized. The FBI found it was not hate speech.

(May 1, 2026) This is the time of year that birds migrate from their warmer winter homes back north. Lights at night can disorient and injured them. There's a movement encouraging people to turns off lights to protect the birds. Also: A North Country state lawmaker says after months of financial uncertainty, the North Star Health Alliance, which operates the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage, may have some hope for its future.

(Apr 30, 2026) An Adirondack-based non-profit that hosts wilderness retreats for military veterans is closing in on opening a home base near Lake Titus. Its goal is to provide a safe place for veterans to heal in nature. Also: State lawmakers are close to prohibiting local jails from holding people for federal immigration agents.

(Apr 29, 2026) Staffing levels at New York's prisons are low while the rates of violence and drug exposures are on the rise. Both guards and inmates are pleading with the state to fix what they say is a broken system. Also: Residents in Canton and across the North Country have been shocked by property reassessments that haven't kept up with actual property values.

(Apr 28, 2026) At SUNY Canton, students have started a new club to learn the art of blacksmithing. We visit the forge, where they pound their creations into reality. Also: Gov. Kathy Hochul's Republican opponent was in Clinton County over the weekend. Bruce Blakeman says he is better for New York.

(Apr 27, 2026) North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik is on a national tour to promote her book about claims of antisemitism at the nation's top universities. We talk with her about the new book and about her future after politics. Also: The Malone Middle School was on high alert last week after a man was seen inside the school for hours.

(Apr 24, 2026) A Democrat running to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is facing challenges to his petitions. Stuart Amoriell says his opponent and party leaders are trying to get him off the ballot. Also: The Pendragon Theater in Saranac Lake held a ribbon cutting for its new $11 million home.

(Apr 23, 2026) Nobody likes getting a parking ticket. But writing them can be a pretty good side gig. We meet the meter enforcer in Lake George, who says he tries to be a "helpful busybody". Also: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says she's not going to endorse anyone in the race to replace her.

(Apr 22, 2026) Studies find 80% of college students report using AI tools in their schoolwork. But their feelings about those tools are mixed. We hear from students at Clarkson University in Potsdam. Also: School districts are getting closer to the deadline to present their budgets to voters, even as they still don't know how much money they're getting in the state budget.

(Apr 21, 2026) Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT have become widely available to the public...and to kids. We asked people in the NCPR texting Club how that's affecting learning in schools. Also: President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Anthony Constantino today in the race to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

(Apr 20, 2026) Last year, Gov. Hochul delivered funding for new independent oversight of conditions in state prisons. But the money is gone from this year's budget, and the prison watchdog group says it will have to cut staff and downsize efforts if lawmakers don't act. Also: Volunteer firefighters across New York state are lining up behind Governor Hochul's push to reform auto insurance.

(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.