Podcasts about plattsburgh

(Aug 25, 2025)

Ralph welcomes Ben Cohen (anti-war activist and ice cream entrepreneur) to discuss his new campaign, "Up in Arms," which advocates for a common-sense Pentagon budget. Then, Ralph speaks to Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi about her recent piece: "When will we finally admit: the Gaza death toll is higher than we've been told."Ben Cohen is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and longtime anti-war activist. He is a co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's and a prominent supporter of progressive causes. He is co-founder of Up In Arms, a public education and advocacy campaign pushing for a common-sense approach to military budgeting. In May of this year, Ben was arrested by Capitol Police after he interrupted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s testimony by screaming,”Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid.”We're up in arms because the government has taken the kindness, the heart, the soul of the American people and essentially replaced it with so many bombs that there's no rational use for them. They've turned us all into mass murderers.Ben CohenYou know, politicians starting from Reagan are fond of saying “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” And then they turn around and spend $100 billion a year on a nuclear arsenal that's capable of blowing up the entire world several times over. So they say one thing and they do another. I mean, a nuclear arsenal capable of blowing up the entire world several times over? That's not deterrence. That's delusion.Ben CohenI just go back to the moral issue of our time, which is Gaza—two-thirds of the American people don't support continuing to arm Israel. And we need to make our politicians pay the price for continuing to arm Israel… We have a midterm election coming up. If your guy voted to continue to essentially facilitate the genocide, vote them out.Ben CohenWhen you have more money than is needed, you tend to invite corruption, cost overruns, machinery that doesn't work, and I would advise that you look into why the GAO and the Pentagon auditors are being asked to do fewer audits of the military budget. Because there's almost a direct correlation between throwing money at a government program (especially at that scale) and corruption. And corruption is understandable to everybody. It's the number one political issue all over the world, when the pollsters poll.Ralph NaderArwa Mahdawi is a columnist for the Guardian and author of Strong Female Lead: Lessons from Women in Power. Here is her recent piece on the genocide in Gaza: “When will we finally admit: the Gaza death toll is higher than we've been told” (The Guardian, August 8, 2025)To be fair, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal have published some pretty devastating reports from their reporters in that area. They've put out some devastating features on what's going on [in Gaza], but it doesn't translate into editorial denunciation by these papers. And it doesn't translate into taking the next step and doing what they would do in other conflicts around the world where there isn't so much prejudice and domestic pressureRalph NaderI'm an opinion writer, but as journalists, you're always supposed to report facts. And the fact is: we have absolutely no idea how many people are dead in the Gaza Strip. But there are plenty of studies (which I reference in the article—one Lancet peer-reviewed study, one letter to the Lancet by a highly-respected scientist, one empirical study by Michael Spagat) which show that the death count is a lot higher. So I truly believe that unless you're saying “the official figure from the Ministry of Health is around 60,000 but studies show it is probably much higher,” then that's just journalistic malpractice.Arwa MahdawiI think there's just this instinct to believe that Palestinians are lying and Israelis are telling the truth. And it also goes back to…this isn't just Israel's war, this is America's war as well. And this desire to see America as the good guys—we're the good guys, the Palestinians are the bad guys. And to have this black-and-white narrative where, obviously, we're the good guys, you know, and so if the Palestinian narrative casts doubt on that, then it must be wrong.Arwa MahdawiI always suggest that people write to the media outlets and say that they want to see more Palestinian narratives, they want the media outlets to voice their concern that foreign reporters are not being let in, that more aid workers are not being let in, that pictures are not coming out.Arwa MahdawiThere are very few pictures coming out of the scale of this destruction in Gaza, but when you see the ones that do come out, it is very, very obvious that there are more than 60,000 people dead.But there seems to be this lack of curiosity with some of my peers. Why aren't they asking, “Why aren't we seeing more pictures?” There should be nonstop outrage that their press freedom is being stifled like this and so many Palestinian journalists are being slaughtered.Arwa MahdawiNews 8/22/25* Last Thursday, during an event in her Masscusetts congressional district, Congresswoman Katherine Clark – who holds the position of House Minority Whip, making her the number two Democrat in the House – called Israel's campaign in Gaza a “genocide,” per Axios. According to Zeteo, this makes Clark the 14th member of Congress to use the “g word.” Lest she be accused of bravery however, Clark quickly walked back her comments. In a statement to the Jewish News Syndicate, Clark said “last week, while attending an event in my district, I repeated the word ‘genocide' in response to a question…I want to be clear that I am not accusing Israel of genocide.” This incident illustrates the cross-cutting pressures facing Democratic Party leaders. This divide will be on the agenda again at the DNC meeting on August 26th, where among other issues, party leaders will vote on competing resolutions to lay out the Democrats' position on Gaza. Allison Minnerly, the progressive DNC delegate sponsoring the resolution to end arms shipments to Israel, is quoted saying “Our voters…are saying that they do not want U.S. dollars to enable further death and starvation anywhere across the world, particularly in Gaza…I don't think it should be a hard decision for us to say that clearly,” per the Intercept.* Even as Democrats wrestle with their position on Gaza, the politics are clearly shifting. The Reject AIPAC coalition has released a new statement saying that among Democrats, AIPAC is now a “toxic pariah.” As evidence of this, Reject AIPAC cites the fact that only 14 House Democrats attended the AIPAC-sponsored Israel trip this year. According to Mondoweiss, “In 2023, the lobbying group brought 24 House Dems to Israel over recess. In 2019, over 40 attended.” Reject AIPAC also cites the fact that Reps. Valerie Foushee and Maxine Dexter, both recipients of millions of AIPAC dollars, voted to block arms to Israel and Foushee is even now rejecting AIPAC money. As these small victories mount, the horizon of possibility for movement within the party grows ever wider.* Last week, Tom Artiom Alexandrovich – a senior department head in Israel's National Cyber Directorate – was arrested in a “multi-agency operation targeting child sex predators,” in Clark County, Nevada according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. According to Reuters, “Alexandrovich faces a felony charge of luring or attempting to lure a child or mentally ill person to commit a sex act ‘with use of computer technology.'” Yet, inexplicably, Alexandrovich was released by U.S. authorities and is back in Israel. This set off a firestorm in the U.S., with many accusing the Trump administration of facilitating Alexandrovich's release. The State Department was forced to issue a statement denying these claims, stating that Alexandrovich "did not claim diplomatic immunity and was released by a state judge…Any claims that the U.S. government intervened are false." The AP adds that the “Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not immediately return messages.” Disturbingly, the mainstream media seems to be purposely ignoring this case. While it has been covered by the Guardian, the Times of Israel, and Haaretz, there has been zero coverage in the New York Times or Washington Post, or ABC, NBC, or CBS. This media blackout adds fuel to the speculation that this case is being tamped down by the administration for political reasons.* Another troubling story regarding minors on the internet comes to us from Mark Zuckerberg's Meta AI. According to Reuters, internal documents from Meta Platforms detail “policies on chatbot behavior…[permitting] the company's artificial intelligence creations to ‘engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual,' generate false medical information and help users argue that Black people are ‘dumber than white people.'” Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan called these reports “disturbing” and cited a legal complaint filed by the FTC to the Justice Department against Snap in January, under her leadership, “charging that [Snap's] AI chatbot was creating risks and harms for young users.” Khan noted that the “DOJ hasn't filed the case or taken any steps to protect these kids,” and demanded that “Any lawmaker concerned about big tech's abuse of kids should ask what is going on.” The administration's lack of action on these issues indicates that despite their rhetorical inveighing against the tech industry, they are treating SIlicon Valley with the same kid gloves they use for the rest of corporate America, even when it affects minors.* In more positive news from abroad, the Washington Post reports that between 2022 and 2024, Mexico lifted a stunning 8.3 million residents out of poverty. This 18% drop in poverty includes a 23% decrease in extreme poverty and a 16% drop in moderate poverty. According to experts, this remarkable achievement is the result of the policies of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO, and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum, such as tripling the minimum wage and instituting a raft of social programs to aid “senior citizens, unemployed youth, students, farmers and people with disabilities.” President Sheinbaum is now plowing ahead with a new project – producing a “small, 100% electric, accessible [EV],” called the “Olinia,” to be fully manufactured and assembled in Mexico, per Mexico News Daily.* Turning to domestic politics, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik finally showed up in her district on Monday after an extended period of avoiding public appearances. At a ceremony honoring a late Clinton County clerk in Plattsburgh, Stefanik was drowned out by cries of “‘You sold us out!', ‘Shame!', and ‘Unseal the Epstein files!', along with a “steady stream of boos,” according to the Daily Beast. Stefanik “left the podium after speaking for less than a minute,” and when she returned, she was booed again. Stefanik's chronic absence and chilly reception is a bad sign for her gubernatorial aspirations. In the months since she has held a town hall, her constituents held a mock town hall where they addressed an empty chair, per WRGB, and New York Democrats AOC and Paul Tonko held town halls in her district, per the Albany Times-Union.* In more political news from New York, disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo is explicitly seeking to woo New York Republicans in his independent bid for Mayor of New York City. POLITICO reports that at a fundraiser at media mogul Jimmy Finkelstein's Southampton estate, Cuomo told the crowd that he agrees with President Trump that the “goal is to stop Mamdani.” To this end, he is trying to convince Republicans that they would be “wasting [their] vote on [Curtis] Sliwa,” the Republican nominee for Mayor, “because he'll never be a serious candidate.” Cuomo also implied that he is open to an alliance with Trump, telling the crowd “Let's put it this way: I knew the president very well.” Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the Zohran campaign, is quoted saying “Since he's too afraid to say it to New Yorkers' faces, we'll make it clear: Andrew Cuomo IS Donald Trump's choice for mayor.”* In Texas, state Democrats have returned to the state, ending their attempt to defeat Governor Abbott's mid-decade redistricting scheme by denying the legislature a quorum. In a statement Gene Wu, chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said "We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape," per the BBC. The legislature is now expected to approve the redrawn congressional maps; the state Democrats plan to continue fighting them in the courts. California has vowed to redraw their own maps to compensate for the expected loss of five Democrat-held seats in Texas. New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Maryland are also considering their own redistricting plans. Vice President JD Vance was deployed to Indiana to pressure Republicans in that state to redraw their maps to favor Republicans as well, per the IndyStar. It is a sad state of affairs that American politics has been reduced to such naked power grabbing plots, but here we are.* In local news, the federal occupation of Washington, D.C. continues to deepen. CBS reports the governors of at least six Republican-led states are sending contingents from their National Guards to the capital. These include Mississippi and Louisiana, West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. Just what these troops will do in Washington remains unclear. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who is sending 160 troops, cited “monument security” and “traffic control” among their official responsibilities. The federal agents on the ground, with little to do – the DOJ itself reports as violent crime is at a 30-year low in the District – seem to be mostly just harassing residents. The Daily Beast reports ICE tore down a banner and replaced it with a dildo. A local, Amanda Moore, posted a photo of 15 federal agents calling an ambulance for a drunk girl in Dupont Circle. And, while the Lever reports D.C. corporate lobbyists pushed for the occupation, it is wreaking havoc on local businesses; Rolling Stone reports reservations at D.C. restaurants are down between 25 and 31%, to take just one example. We can only hope that this pointless, destructive farce of quasi-fascistic political theater ends sooner rather than later.* Finally, investigative reporter and Iraq war veteran Seth Harp is out with a new book – The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces – which details the double murder of Master Sergeant Billy Lavigne and Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Dumas, along with the “many more unexplained deaths…other murders connected to drug trafficking in elite units, and dozens of fatal overdoses,” at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Among other remarkable discoveries, Harp “describes a U.S. special forces k9 [unit] that was given titanium dentures and encouraged to feast on human brains in the field,” in the words of publisher and producer Chris Wade. Remember these titanium dentures whenever you hear that there is no money to pay for critical social programs. The money is there. The political will is not.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

At Bluff Point Golf Resort in Plattsburgh, New York, owner Paul Dame says he used to see 20 or 30 Canadian cars in the lot. Now? Just one or two. used to see — 過去常常看到（但現在不再） just one or two — 只有一兩個（口語中常用來強調數量很少） And it's not only his course. Data shows Canadians made nearly 40% fewer trips to the U.S. this summer compared to last year. Relations have soured after President Trump suggested making Canada a U.S. state and added steep tariffs. A strong U.S. dollar hasn't helped either. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

(Aug 19, 2025) Congresswoman Elise Stefanik attended a dedication ceremony in Plattsburgh yesterday, following a rare public feud with local Republicans over selecting a candidate for an upcoming special election; a statewide program that allows college students to work on and off campus is helping them find their roots in the North Country; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue is in the studio this morning to guide us through this month's night skies.

(Aug 19, 2025) Congresswoman Elise Stefanik attended a dedication ceremony in Plattsburgh yesterday. Her appearance followed a rare public feud with local Republicans over selecting a candidate for an upcoming special election. Also: Part of the reason for a road salt shortage last winter was because of a requirement to buy from an American company.

(Aug 15, 2025) We visit the man who owns a well known caboose on Route 11 between Canton and Potsdam; Plattsburgh is getting a new 24/7 crisis center to close a gap in local behavioral health services; New York lawmakers say the state should cancel plans to send taxpayer rebate checks with the state facing a big budget deficit; National Grid customers will soon see a higher electricity bill after the state Public Service Commission approved a rate hike; and, Adirondack trail conditions and what's up with those pesky deer flies?

(Aug 8, 2025) A major ski jumping event in Lake Placid has been cancelled because of infrastructure issues; thousands turned out for Plattsburgh's first-ever Michigan Fest; Alcoa and NYPA are nearing a deal to keep the aluminum giant in Massena; Plattsburgh's town supervisor will run replace Assemblyman Billy Jones; and, teen theatre in Westport and local music in Potsdam!

(Aug 8, 2025) Last weekend, more than 4,000 people celebrated Plattsburgh's local specialty, the Michigan. We take a trip to the inaugural Michigan Fest, which honored the iconic hot-dog-and-meat-sauce combo. Also: Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to condemn Republican plans to realign congressional districts ahead of next year's midterm elections.

In this episode of The Ganjapreneur Podcast, host TG Branfalt sits down with Christie and William Ashabranner, the husband-and-wife duo behind The Herb Cave, a licensed cannabis dispensary in Plattsburgh, New York. Built on values of inclusivity, kindness, and education, The Herb Cave stands out not only for its product selection and interior design, but for its genuine community connection and emphasis on customer experience. In this interview, Christie and William share the trials of opening a cannabis shop in a hesitant real estate market, how word-of-mouth and staff culture fueled their early success, and why they're building a space that goes beyond retail with events, metaphysical offerings, and plans for an eventual on-site consumption lounge. They also reflect on legacy roots, regulatory frustrations, and what it takes to earn a customer's trust in a legal market.

(Aug 4, 2025)

(Aug 4, 2025) As tensions run high between the U.S. and Canada, people on both sides of the border are coming together to affirm their friendship. Plattsburgh and Cornwall leaders actually put it in writing. Also: A new series of portraits is now on display at John Brown Farm in Lake Placid that puts a spotlight on the faces of activists throughout American history.

(Aug 1, 2025) A festival honoring Plattsburgh's culinary delicacy is taking place tomorrow. Michigan Fest celebrates the hot dog and meat sauce favorite. Officials say it's about bringing locals and non-locals together. Also: Public transit and highway advocates are getting ready to do battle over New York's new transportation master plan.

(Jul 22, 2025) Police say a Canadian man murdered his nine-year-old daughter while vacationing in the U.S.; during a town hall in Plattsburgh over the weekend, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke out against President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill and Republicans like North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who supported it; and North Words host Mitch Teich speaks with Bloomberg Opinion columnist and part-time North Country resident Francis Barry about his book, "Back Roads and Better Angels," which chronicles his journey along the more than 3,000-mile long Lincoln Highway.

(Jul 22, 2025) Big Democratic Party star power came to Plattsburgh over the weekend. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came to Republican Elise Stefanik's district to speak out against President Donald Trump's massive policy bill as a time when Stefanik is considering a run for Governor. Also: Three Democrats are lining up to challenge Republican Claudia Tenney in the 24th congressional district next year.

(Jul 21, 2025)

(Jul 11, 2025) Leaders from around the region gathered in Alexandria Bay this week for an informational session on nuclear energy; The recissions package that would claw back $9.4 billion dollars in already approved funding will likely be voted on by the Senate next week; Plattsburgh  manufacturer has received orders from two government contractors; Recent DEC rescues included two litter carry-outs and a helicopter airlift; and, a preview of the Paddle for Betterment this weekend!

(Jul 3, 2025) It's prime canoe and kayaking season, when there are races most weekends somewhere in the North Country. We join the Willard Hanmer paddling race, which is set to return to Saranac Lake this Sunday. Also: Health care professionals protested in Plattsburgh yesterday, saying Republicans' tax and spending bill will devastate the North Country's health system.

(Jul 1, 2025)

(Jul 1, 2025) The Adirondack Park Agency headquarters' potential move to Saranac Lake has created a lot of controversy and accusations against the APA's director, Barbara Rice. A new report by NY's Inspector General cleared Rice of any wrongdoing. Also: Two new lawsuits filed against the city of Plattsburgh challenge the police department and its newly appointed chief.

(Jun 26, 2025) Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was in Plattsburgh yesterday to announce new funding for a local nonprofit; registration to be a volunteer observer for New York's annual loon census is open; and a conversation about how the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts transitioned to a new home in Blue Mountain Lake this summer.

(Jun 26, 2025) One of New York's top Democrats was in Plattsburgh yesterday to deliver funding for a big project in the city. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie brought an additional $1.5 million dollars for the construction of the Plattsburgh YMCA's new home. Also: With summer finally kicking in, we got for a swim in Tirrell Pond near Blue Mountain Lake.

(Jun 20, 2025) Plattsburgh officials are again calling on the federal government to address failing infrastructure at the former Air Force Base; Glens Falls' mayoral race will be decided on the June 24 primaries; NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says President Trump should pursue diplomacy, not war, in the Israel and Iran conflict; Assemblyman Robert Smullen says he's considering a run for NY-21 if Elise Stefanik runs for Governor; Indian Lake will be celebrating monarch butterflies this weekend; and, a preview of the EP of ‘The North Country's Premier Post-Outlaw Country Band.'

(Jun 20, 2025) Officials in Plattsburgh are again calling on the federal government to take action on failing infrastructure at the former Air Force Base there. They say the costs and stakes are rising. Also: The race for mayor of Glens Falls will be settled in a Democratic primary on Tuesday. We have a profile of the candidates.

When Scott Dukette left his hometown of Plattsburgh, New York, to attend college, he never imagined he'd return for more than the occasional family visit. But as retirement approached, Scott and his wife, Barbara, couldn't pass up the chance to buy a home directly on Lake Champlain—for just $210,000. Now, they spend their summers soaking up life on what's known as “the Adirondack Coast” or “the poor man's Vermont.” Although Plattsburgh may seem secluded, there is plenty to do including lounging on a beautiful beach, and it is not far from Montreal, Canada; Burlington, Vermont; and Lake Placid, New York. Find out more about the Dukettes' lakeside adventure on Episode 212 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. #retirethere #retiretherepodcast #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire #retireearly #bestplacetoretire #retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #genxers #plattsburgh #plattsburghnewyork #plattsburghny #lakechamplain #adirondackcoast #poormansvermont #adk #adirondackmountains #adirondackpark #lakegeorge #adirondacks #upstateny #saratogasprings #lakegeorgeny #newyork #iloveny #lakeplacid #upstatenewyork #ny #lakelife #saratoga #adks #adklife #adirondacklife

(Jun 13, 2025) NY's Governor testified in front of Congress about immigration policies; NY-21's Stefanik is supporting a northern border bill; St. Lawrence County hosted an open house to show the community all the ways the government serves them this spring, with few attendees; Emily Russell takes us on a trail run on Wellesley Island; Elizabethtown concerts this weekend feature an oddball instrument combo: the saxophone and clarinet; and, NoCo communities are out and proud this Pride Month. We'll get a preview of events in Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Lake George and beyond.

(Jun 2, 2025)

Eric is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and currently works as a Litigation Attorney at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers. Not only have I known Eric since I was 5, but hearing his riveting journey to the Law was a full-circle moment for me, and an excellent episode that anyone can learn from! Eric and I started before his introduction with his first run-in with Law School at Touro Law Center. Eric always wanted to be a Lawyer since he was 5 years old, with many of his relatives being Lawyers, and working in his Uncle's Law Office since he was young. Following his graduation from Plattsburgh, Eric would head off to Touro Law Center. Although after his father, my legendary lifetime lacrosse coach, was struck with cancer in the fall, Eric would miss out on the GPA minimum in his first semester and would be dismissed. But this wouldn't stop him, as the following fall, he would land himself at the University of Baltimore School of Law. With a new city to explore and having the prior experience of 1L, Eric would excel in his first year and beyond in Law School. Eric and I would discuss the various experiences he had throughout Law School, and how he came to find out that Personal Injury Litigation would be the path for him. Finally, we spoke about his post-Law School experiences and where he works today at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers. He spoke about identifying a company's culture and learning how to build up cases. He emphasized asking questions and always being available to help at any opportunity. This episode with Eric was a sentimental one for me, and I would be remiss not to shout out the entire Suris family for all that they have done for me and my family throughout the years! With that being said, you don't want to miss this one! Eric's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsurisBe sure to check out the Official Sponsors for the Lawyers in the Making Podcast:Rhetoric - takes user briefs and motions and compares them against the text of opinions written by judges to identify ways to tailor their arguments to better persuade the judges handling their cases. Rhetoric's focus is on persuasion and helps users find new ways to improve their odds of success through more persuasive arguments. Find them here: userhetoric.comThe Law School Operating System™ Recorded Course - This course is for ambitious law students who want a proven, simple system to learn every topic in their classes to excel in class and on exams. Go to www.lisablasser.com, check out the student tab with course offerings, and use code LSOSNATE10 at checkout for 10% off Lisa's recorded course!Start LSAT - Founded by former guest and 21-year-old super-star, Alden Spratt, Start LSAT was built upon breaking down barriers, allowing anyone access to high-quality LSAT Prep. For $110 you get yourself the Start LSAT self-paced course, and using code LITM10 you get 10% off the self-paced course! Check out Alden and Start LSAT at startlsat.com and use code LITM10 for 10% off the self-paced course!Lawyers in the Making Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Lawyers in the Making Podcast at lawyersinthemaking.substack.com/subscribe

(May 22, 2025) The Plattsburgh city council installed Jarrod Trombley as its new police chief last week, and some residents expressed concern over past workplace misconduct allegations against him; locals in Glens Falls hope the opening of a new event and market center called The Ed signals a fresh start for the city; and for Mental Health Month, we're putting the spotlight on what makes farmers more vulnerable to mental health challenges.

(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 19, 2025)

(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 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 8, 2025) Dozens of prisons were built in Upstate NY during the boom decades ago, but now the prison bust is impacting rural economies; in today's North Country at Work story, we talk to a couple trying to make a difference amid the Adirondacks' housing shortage by investing in long-term rentals; and the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh will hold its second artisan market of the year this Saturday.

More than 50 years ago, a group of Native Americans chose to leave the reservations where they lived to form a new community near Plattsburgh. Frustrated with the overcrowding, drugs, and alcoholism they had just fled, they built their new settlement, called Ganienkeh, with the goal of following a traditional way of life. A land dispute between the group, a nearby town, and the state led to state troopers policing the area for three years until the Mohawks and the state reached an agreement, moving Ganienkeh to its permanent home. The story is told through the documentary, "This Land," which will be screened at the Rochester International Film Festival. This hour, we talk with the team behind the film and residents of Ganienkeh about their remarkable story of reclaiming their land and their culture. Our guests: Raiewate Herne, Ganienkeh community member Tyler Hemlock, Ganienkeh community member Darryl Martin, Ganienkeh community member Mike Bradley, documentary filmmaker and director, producer, and editor of "This Land"

(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 its reputation with the community; North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik wants the U.S. Department of Education to investigate a school district in Saratoga County; and a new art exhibition in Plattsburgh spotlights the work of women artists.

(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.

Primary sources can often feel irrelevant and difficult to navigate for students. In this episode, Jessamyn Neuhaus joins us to discuss how student-created photographs can provide a personalized learning experience and foster a deeper connection to history and the university archives.  Jessamyn is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and Professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University. Prior to this, she served as Director of the SUNY Plattsburgh Center for Teaching Excellence and was also a Professor in the History Department at SUNY Plattsburgh. Jessamyn is the author of Geeky Pedagogy: a Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to be Effective Teachers and the editor of Picture a Professor: Interrupting Biases about Faculty and Increasing Student Learning. See is also the editor of Teaching History: A Journal of Methods. Jessamyn also regularly serves as keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. A transcript of this episode and show notes may be found at http://teaforteaching.com.

(Mar 31, 2025)

Champ the Lake Champlain MonsterThis week we dive into the legend of Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster, exploring over 300 reported sightings dating back to 1609 when Samuel de Champlain claimed to witness a 20-foot serpent-like creature.We chronicle key evidence including Sandra Mansi's famous 1977 photograph, sonar readings capturing unusual shapes, and alleged echolocation recordings from cryptozoologist Katy Elizabeth.Throughout the episode, we discuss theories about whether Champ could be a prehistoric survivor like a plesiosaur or tanystropheus, citing Lake Champlain's substantial depth of 400 feet as a potential habitat. We also look at alternative explanations for the Lake Champlain cryptid, including large sturgeon (which can reach 27 feet), groups of otters swimming in formation creating a serpentine illusion, or partially submerged logs moved by underwater currents called seiches.Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordShop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merchWant to send BTB something? Ship it here: 3570 Executive Drive, Suite 218, Uniontown, Ohio 44685Keywords: Lake Champlain monster sightings, Champ cryptid evidence, Lake Champlain cryptozoology, Champ monster legend, Lake Champlain creature, Champ prehistoric survivor, Lake Champlain Nessie, Champ monster photos, Lake Champlain monster history, Champ lake monster mysteries, serpent-like creature, humps, Button Bay, Dennis Hall, Middlebury register, Plattsburgh, hydrophone, cryptozoological research, Fort Henry, Otter Creek, Vermont history, petrified remains, PT Barnum, Roadtrippers magazine, Sandra Mansi photograph, mass sightings, Ethan Allen boat, underwater commotion, fishing community

(Mar 18, 2025) More than a hundred people gathered in Plattsburgh on Saturday to protest potential cuts to federal safety net programs; Researchers at Cornell University have created the Avian Flu Resource Center to track bird flu in New York; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue joins the show to guide us through this month's morning and evening skies. 

(Mar 6, 2025)

Hosts Jo Firestone & Manolo Moreno play listener-created games with callers!Games played: Dr. Social Meatia submitted by Sara Cherny from Chicago, Illinois, Short Kingz submitted by Michael Miller from Phoenix, Arizona, and Mulder, She Wrote submitted by Luke McNeill from Quincy, MassachusettsCallers: Sara from Chicago, Illinois; Jenna from Chicago, Illinois; Barbara from Boston, Massachusetts; Alex from Atlanta, Georgia; Patricia from Plattsburgh, New York; Andrew from Kansas City, KansasOutro theme by Brady Brown from Stillwater, OklahomaManolo's new cartoon, Starcreeper, is available at moslo.xyz 

(Feb 7, 2025) We'll hear from residents on both sides of the US-Canadian border what they think of a potential trade war; Border Patrol agents were at a school in Carthage earlier this week; Warren County officials want the federal government to pay for anticipated special election; a busy weekend expected in the Adirondacks; and, a Montreal folk group, Le Vent du Nord, is doing a concert in Plattsburgh on Sunday.

(Feb 6, 2025) Lake Placid is hosting World Cup ski jumping this weekend and a local raised money for the women's prize money; we head back in time, before there was an Adirondack Park, to explore the life of an early guide and perhaps the Adirondacks' first "forest ranger"; and students in Adirondack Regional Theatre's Youth Winter Camp will premiere their original play, "The Magic Before Us," tonight at the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh.

Joe Ferris is a Professional Caricature Artist and owner of The Caricature Shop in Plattsburgh, NY.   Check out Joe's work HERE  

(Jan 13, 2025)

(Jan 3, 2025) The City of Plattsburgh's new mayor was sworn in yesterday; stacking the last hay of the season in the Adirondacks; New York's cannabis sales reached a milestone of $1 billion dollars recently; a provision in the Pentagon budget bill cuts off gender-affirming health care for military dependents under 18; and, we revisit a story about illegal crossings from Canada.

(Jan 3, 2025) Farmers have spent the late fall and early winter putting up hay for their animals. We join a cheese dairy farm in the Adirondacks as they toss bales into the barn. Also: The City of Plattsburgh's new mayor was sworn in Thursday. Wendell Hughes signaled a new chapter of harmony between the city council and the mayor's office.

(Dec 23, 2024)

(Dec 17, 2024) An Adirondack climate scientist has been tracking the first freeze of Lower St. Regis Lake for decades; Wednesday is the last day to check out an exhibition of local artists in Plattsburgh; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue tells us what to expect in the morning and evening sky this month.