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(Apr 1, 2025) The state budget is officially late, and our Albany reporters break down the hold-ups; NPR's Brian Mann and NCPR's David Sommerstein take an Adirondack hike that's both spring and still winter; and North Country Public Radio wants to invite you to celebrate National Poetry Month with us.
(Dec 12, 2024) If federal lawmakers don't take action before the end of the year, Medicare's telehealth coverage will soon expire, which would have big impacts for rural providers and North Country seniors; David Sommerstein sends an audio postcard from Rainbow Falls and Inman Gulf on the Tug Hill Plateau, where more than five feet of snow made for a winter wonderland; and as the news comes down that Lake Placid is officially the back-up site for sliding sports in the 2026 Winter Olympics, we meet a woman whose job it is to transport bobsleds and luge sleds from the finish line back to the track at Mt. Van Hoevenburg's bobsled run.
(Oct 16, 2024) A team of rescuers from New York, including four Adirondack Forest Rangers, spent two weeks in North Carolina during and after Hurricane Helene; we listen back to an audio postcard from when Radio Bob and David Sommerstein had to lug an aluminum pipe up Blue Mountain to improve reception for our transmitter there; and we preview this Saturday's Piano by Nature concert at the Essex Quarry.
(Sep 6, 2024) A hike up Goodnow Mountain in Newcomb for the annual lighting of the fire towers. Also: NCPR's David Sommerstein and Amy Feiereisel give us a preview of the Adirondack Canoe Classic, known as the 90-miler, from the starting line in Old Forge.
(Jul 10, 2024) What role does social media play in the lives of children today, and how controlled should it be? More on new legislation and how North Country families deal with social media; David Sommerstein introduces us to some of the lesser known musicians playing at the Ottawa Blues Festival, which runs through this Sunday; and, as the remnants of Hurricane Beryl push through the North Country, New York's commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services talks about the state's plan for forecasted flooding today.
(Jan 15, 2024) A conversation with our editor, David Sommerstein, about how we got into this story, what we found, and what's next.
(Jan 12, 2024) On this week's North Words, Mitch features a conversation between news director, David Sommerstein, and podcast hosts Emily Russell and Zach Hirsch.
(Jun 5, 2023) In late March, two families drowned in the St. Lawrence River. They'd come from India and Romania, and were trying to cross into the United States. Their bodies were found in Akwesasne Mohawk territory, and a Mohawk man who's believed to have been transporting them by boat is still missing. David Sommerstein spoke with the editor of Akwesasne's Indian Time newspaper about how the drownings affected the Akwesasne Community.
(Jan 30, 2023) A tribute to the people who do the things that bring us joy and delight in everyday life. David Sommerstein remembers the man who groomed cross-country ski trails on the golf course in Canton. He died last spring. Also: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Fort Drum today.
(Dec 28, 2022) The lake effect snows have finally worn themselves out. We check in with the Thousands Islands, which were hard hit from the weekend storm. Also, David Sommerstein sends a postcard from Buffalo, which was much harder hit and the city is still paralyzed by a travel ban.
(Jun 10, 2022) There may be a verdict in Nick Hillary's civil rights case against the Potsdam police by this afternoon, so here's a special look at what happened at the trial this week in Albany. Natasha Haverty was NCPR's reporter on the scene and talked about the case with SOTD host David Sommerstein.
(May 16, 2022) Former NCPR reporter Brian Mann is back in the North Country after a month reporting for NPR in Ukraine. He talks with David Sommerstein about being assigned to cover a war zone and the role of journalism in the conflict. Also: The latest from Buffalo, where police are prosecuting the grocery store shooting as a hate crime against the Black community.
The coronavirus pandemic has led dairy farmers to have to dump their milk. Yet, a trip to the grocery store will often find milk shelves bare. David Sommerstein of NCPR explains why. Also, host Tonya Mosley talks with a Washington D.C.-based child care provider about the challenges she's facing during the COVID-19 crisis.
(Nov 7, 2018) All the questions of the 2018 campaign are answered, for now. Stefanik cruises. Democrats lock down Albany. And the North Country is all but shut out of power. Brian Mann and Lauren Rosenthal join David Sommerstein for this post-election episode.
(Nov 5, 2018) To get you prepared to vote on Election Day, Lauren Rosenthal, Brian Mann, and David Sommerstein look back through the fierce campaign in the 21st Congressional district and size up the big picture for Congressional elections in the North Country.
(Nov 1, 2018) Rep. Elise Stefanik doubles down on her opposition to an assault weapons ban. Tedra Cobb served on the St. Lawrence County legislature at a complicated time. And Lynn Kahn gets frustrated with the rhetoric of her two major party opponents. Lauren Rosenthal, Brian Mann, and Zach Hirsch join David Sommerstein as we race to the finish line in NY-21.
(Oct 25, 2018) Republican Elise Stefanik, Democrat Tedra Cobb, and Green Lynn Kahn shared a stage for the first time this week. And it got heated. Plus, a first look at voter registration. Brian Mann and Zach Hirsch join David Sommerstein.
(Oct 18, 2018) Glens Falls area baker Matt Funiciello reinvigorated the Green party in the North Country. Can this year's candidate, Lynn Kahn, do the same? Plus, Paul Ryan, campaign fundraising data dive, and Coffee Shop. Lauren Rosenthal and Brian Mann join David Sommerstein.
(Oct 11, 2018) When a private citizen wanted to moderate a town hall on health care, Rep. Elise Stefanik's office put pressure on that citizen's employer, SUNY Canton. Plus, Tedra Cobb issues an apology while on the stump in Plattsburgh. Lauren Rosenthal and Zach Hirsch join host David Sommerstein. Send us your feedback and questions - david@ncpr.org
(Sep 20, 2018) North Country media largely agree that Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is very hard to pin down for an interview on the important issues of the day. Do voters care? David Sommerstein and Brian Mann discuss. And we hear from an Ogdensburg voter who's not at all plugged into what's happening in politics. Send voice memos of your questions about NY-21 to david@ncpr.org
(Sep 13, 2018) In our first episode of North Country in the House, Lauren Rosenthal, Brian Mann, and David Sommerstein catch you up on what's happened so far in the North Country's race for Congress. And we hear from our first voter in our "Coffee Shop" segment. Send voice memos of your questions or comments to david@ncpr.org
(Oct 3, 2016) In episode 17 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, and Brit Hanson look into reactions to Hillary's not guilty verdict, including takes from legal experts about the prosecution's insistence that Hillary is the killer.
(Sep 28, 2016) In episode 16 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Brit Hanson, and Lauren Rosenthal talk about the verdict, the reaction from both sides and from Garrett Phillips' family.
(Sep 26, 2016) In episode 14 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, and Brit Hanson try to answer some of your questions about DNA and fingerprints, the person in the window, and who's actually prosecuting this case.
(Sep 23, 2016) In episode 13 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, and Brit Hanson discuss the closing arguments in the trial. Judge Felix Catena, serving as judge and jury, said he will issue a verdict next Wednesday or Thursday.
(Sep 21, 2016) In episode 12 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Brit Hanson, and Lauren Rosenthal cover the final day of testimony. Hillary's daughter faces tough questioning from the prosecution, investigators come under a microscope, and we hear from Nick Hillary's friends.
(Sep 20, 2016) In episode 11 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein and Lauren Rosenthal discuss Tuesday's testimony through the lens of the very different kinds of cases the two sides are making, and the way they're making those cases. Also, the prosecution rests its case, and the defense calls for dismissal again.
(Sep 14, 2016) In episode 8 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, the defense asks for a mistrial again. Neighbors testify what they saw and heard during the 30 minutes Garrett Phillips is believed to have died. And a witness saw someone looking out of the apartment window. David Sommerstein and Brit Hanson discuss the day in court.
(Sep 13, 2016) In episode 7 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Brit Hanson, and Lauren Rosenthal discuss an extraordinary day in court. The defense asks for dismissal after discovering a potentially key piece of evidence the prosecution did not provide, as obligated under law. And then the trial continued.
(Sep 12, 2016) In episode 6 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, and Brit Hanson review what happened in the first day of testimony. Lawyers on both sides gave their opening statements, and Tandy Collins, the mother of the victim, testified for almost two hours.
(Sep 7, 2016) In episode 4 of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial, we cover the first day of jury selection. Ten jurors were selected and sworn in - eight women, two men. David Sommerstein, Lauren Rosenthal, and Brit Hanson talk about how the attorneys framed "a reasonable doubt", the role circumstantial evidence may play, and the introduction of race and prejudice as issues in the trial.
(Sep 6, 2016) In our second episode of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary Trial podcast, the trial finally starts. But first, David Sommerstein and Martha Foley take a look back at what happened after a young boy named Garrett Phillips was killed in Potsdam and what's driving national interest in this case.
(Sep 6, 2016) This third episode of Day By Day: The Nick Hillary podcast covers the first day of proceedings in the courtroom. David Sommerstein and Brit Hanson discuss the ongoing debate over DNA evidence, a petition the defense considers a sign of bias among potential jurors, and the attorneys' estimates of how long the trial will take.
(Produced by ) A few weeks ago, Shea was visiting beautiful SUNY Potsdam in upstate NY to make a presentation about audio documentaries to students at the school, an audio pep rally recruiting students for a cool project he's working on with prof. audrey sprenger (you'll hear more about that in the coming months ... enjoying the mystery?). David Sommerstein, a supercool reporter with , came out for the presentation, too (that's David in the photo above). After the presentation--flattering us to no end (truly, we're still blushing)--David interviewed Shea about Big Shed and ran this really nice piece. The summed up the presentation this way: "Sound is really cool and everyone should grab a microphone and recorder and try their hand at making radio. After the lecture, he and David Sommerstein ducked into a stairwell to escape the rain and chat about why he prefers radio to other media." Thanks for the story, David, and for letting us re-cast it here. Ps. Woohoo!!!! -- We're going to the October 25-28 in Chicago . Big Shed will be presenting a listening session Wednesday night. Hope to see some of you there. Check out the