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Northern Light

NCPR: North Country Public Radiowww.northcountrypublicradio.org
An update on the most important news of the North Country
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Episodes

Solar on farmland study, budget negotiations, Raquel Acevedo Klein

(May 4, 2026) A new study from Cornell University shows that solar development may not be as detrimental to agricultural communities as previously speculated; New York State lawmakers are inching closer to finishing the state budget; and we’ll talk with a Crane School of Music grad who’s blending styles and techniques to make experimental music.

May 04, 202629 min0

Iran War farmer impacts, migratory birds, ADK conditions, community calendar

(May 1, 2026) The U.S.-Israel War with Iran has restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up fuel and fertilizer costs for North Country farmers; New York does its part to help birds migrate north safely by ordering all state buildings and offices to dim or turn off non-essential lights at night; John Warren checks on trail conditions for a cool spring weekend in the Adirondacks; and we preview an event in Clayton this weekend where kids can get their fill of big trucks, cranes a...

May 01, 202630 min0

Homeward Bound, Chateaugay cheese plant, Hyde student art show

(Apr 30, 2026) A non-profit based in the Adirondacks that hosts wilderness retreats for veterans is looking to establish a permanent home near Lake Titus; we take a look at how the cheese plant in Chateaugay has shaped the community for over a 100 years; and an exhibit at one of the region's most prestigious galleries is a celebration of young artists in the southern Adirondacks.

Apr 30, 202631 min0

Blakeman in Altona, SUNY Canton blacksmithing, book reviewer Betsy Kepes

(Apr 28, 2026) The Republican running to be New York’s Governor was in the North Country over the weekend; we go to SUNY Canton, where students are learning the art of blacksmithing in a new club; and NCPR book critic Betsy Kepes reviews "Before I Forget," a novel set in the Adirondacks.

Apr 28, 202629 min0

Stefanik on new book and future, Canton tax assessment, OurStoryBridge

(Apr 27, 2026) We hear from North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik about her new book on antisemitism and her future after politics; some Canton residents say they’re concerned about rising property tax rates after recent re-assessment letters went out; and we have a conversation about an oral history project that's collected more than 400 stories in the Adirondack community of Keene.

Apr 27, 202631 min0

Amoriell petition objections, Pendragon Theater opening, ADK conditions, Canton Repair Fair

(Apr 24, 2026) A Democrat running to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is facing challenges to his petitions; the Pendragon Theater in the Adirondacks unveiled its new building this week; John Warren checks on trail conditions for this last weekend of April; and Canton's Repair Fair is back again this year with more fixers and opportunities to learn repair skills.

Apr 24, 202634 min0

St. Lawrence County vaccination rates, Lake George meter maid, "The Librarians"

(Apr 23, 2026) MMR vaccine rates in St. Lawrence County lag behind the statewide average; we head to Lake George, where a parking meter enforcer says he's trying to be a "helpful busybody;" and North Country PBS stations and libraries are hosting screenings of a documentary about the national fight against book bans on Thursday.

Apr 23, 202633 min0

Trump endorses Constantino, AI in college, NCPR station manager on NPR developments

(Apr 22, 2026) President Trump's endorsement of Anthony Constantino in the NY-21 congressional race goes against the wishes of most Republican county leaders; we hear from students at Clarkson University in Potsdam about how they use AI in the classroom; and NCPR general manager Mitch Teich breaks down how recent updates with NPR will affect the station.

Apr 22, 202633 min0

NYS prison "crisis," AI in education, this month's night sky

(Apr 21, 2026) The union that represents prison guards says the state's correctional facilities are in a "crisis;" we take a look at how artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT are impacting education in the North Country; and astronomer Aileen O’Donoghue talks about NASA's Artemis II mission and guides us through this month’s night sky.

Apr 21, 202634 min0

Prison watchdog funding in peril, state budget update, Head of the Fish regatta

(Apr 20, 2026) New York's prison watchdog says it will have to cut staff and downsize efforts if lawmakers don't restore funding left out of the governor's budget; Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing a tax on second homes in New York City; and we catch up with the Clarkson University crew team at a regatta in Saratoga Springs.

Apr 20, 202633 min0

Johnsburg seniors' accessibility; Moxham Mountain hike, ADK conditions

(Apr 17, 2026) A pilot program in Johnsburg is helping the town's older residents make the accessibility upgrades needed to stay in their homes long-term; we go on a spring hike up Moxham Mountain near North Creek for spectacular views of the Adirondacks; and John Warren checks on trail conditions for the weekend ahead.

Apr 17, 202629 min0

Stefanik defends Trump's Iran threats, Lake George teacher, ADK Coast Craft Fair

(Apr 16, 2026) Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was on CBS Mornings this week, where she defended President Trump's threat to wipe out the entire Iranian civilization; we speak with one in Lake George who's spent two decades building connections with his students; and the Adirondack Coast Craft Fair is back this weekend for its fifth iteration in Plattsburgh.

Apr 16, 202631 min0

ADK High Peaks overcrowding plan, North Country electric rates, quilt show

(Apr 15, 2026) A new report recommends strict parking limits at popular Adirondack trailheads; the state is increasing what it charges some North Country communities for cheap hydropower for the first time in more than a decade; and quilters have an opportunity to show off their hard work at a North Country quilt show this summer.

Apr 15, 202629 min0

Tariff impact in the North Country, spring trek up Lyon Mountain, "Artist as Entrepreneur"

(Apr 14, 2026) North Country business and economic development leaders laid out their concerns about tariffs and the US's relationship with Canada during Governor Kathy Hochul's recent visit to Ogdensburg; we tag along with NCPR’s chief engineer Kurt Lanning on a spring trek up Lyon Mountain to fix a transmitter; we’ll learn more about an event in Blue Mountain Lake for artists who have thought about building a business but don't know where to start; plus, the sounds of springtime.

Apr 14, 202629 min0

NASA scientist from St. Lawrence County, wildfire bird chirping, Teddy Roosevelt biographer

(Apr 13, 2026) A woman from St. Lawrence County is on the team of software engineers who designed the systems for the Artemis II, the mission that went around the moon and back; new research out of Cornell shows Canadian wildfire smoke made some birds chirp and sing less., potentially exacerbating population decline; and a group in North Creek is commemorating President Teddy Roosevelt’s famous “night ride to the Presidency,” with a series of events.

Apr 13, 202629 min0

Elizabethtown bike shop, Utica Trail Town, ADK conditions, community calendar

(Apr 10, 2026) Downtown Elizabethtown has a new bike shop, but it's not your typical retail space; Officials hope Utica's new Empire State Trail Towns designation will bring in more tourists; John Warren checks on trail conditions ahead of a warm and wet weekend; and we take a look at community events happening around the North Country.

Apr 10, 202629 min0

Proposed gold bar tax, early intervention in Washington County, Aurora Pfaff

(Apr 9, 2026) Democrats in the state Senate want to create a tax on purchasing gold bars as another way to generate revenue; we take a look at what it's like to work in early intervention in Washington County, where a public health worker connects babies and toddlers with the resources they need to thrive; and we have a conversation about the book that follows the history of aviation in the Adirondacks.

Apr 09, 202629 min0

Land surveyors, veterans' SNAP benefits, Clarkson astronomer on gravity

(Apr 8, 2026) The number of land surveyors who retire each year in the U.S. is about double the number who come into the profession, and New York surveyors want to turn that trend around; able-bodied veterans are no longer exempt from SNAP's work requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Congress passed last year; and an astronomer at Clarkson University shares how new studies of gravity have helped with NASA’s current mission to the moon.

Apr 08, 202630 min0

Animal shelter regulations, Jefferson Community College Micron grant, Kiran Ahluwalia

(Apr 7, 2026) Rural animal shelters in the North Country are worried new state regulations could put them out of business; Jefferson Community College in Watertown is the recipient of a grant to build an advanced manufacturing program, with the hope that Fort Drum veterans will take advantage of it; and we preview a concert this weekend in Plattsburgh by an award-winning Indian-Canadian singer.

Apr 07, 202631 min0

Ski season debrief, late state budget check-in, maple sugaring and book talk

(Apr 6, 2026) As ski season winds down, we check in with the Olympic Regional Development Authority about the growth at state-run mountains; our Albany reporters break down why New York’s state budget is late for the seventh year in a row; and we take a look at a new book on Canada’s maple syrup history and do a little sugaring of our own.

Apr 06, 202631 min0

John Dillon closure, Boonville church explosion aftermath, sound quiz

(Apr 3, 2026) The Adirondacks' only accessible campground for people with disabilities is set to close this summer as staff work to fix issues with the park’s drinking water system; weeks after an explosion injured several people and damaged the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, members say faith is helping them through; John Warren checks on Adirondack trail conditions; and NCPR’s chief engineer tries to stump Monica and Catherine with a sound quiz.

Apr 03, 202631 min0

State budget delay, SUNY Chancellor in Potsdam, maple syrup tech tour

(Apr 2, 2026) Policy disagreements and election dynamics are contributing to the state's budget delay; SUNY Chancellor John King visited SUNY Potsdam to promote efforts to meet students' basic needs, like housing, food, and transportation; and we tour the sugarhouse in Lake Placid, where Cornell University is studying and innovating maple syrup technology.

Apr 02, 202629 min0

Northern Light, 4/1/2026

(Apr 1, 2026) Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul's lead over her Republican challenger for the governor's race has dropped over the past month; we go to Parishville in St. Lawrence County to meet a woman who's helping pass on the folk tradition of rug braiding; and Chef Curtiss Hemm joins us for a recipe perfect for this April Fools' Day.

Apr 01, 202631 min0

Constantino petition scrutiny, ADK Amtrak postcard, NCPR poetry month contest

(Mar 31, 2026) Republican Anthony Constantino is under scrutiny for how he’s collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot for the 21st Congressional District race; we take a ride on the beautiful Amtrak Adirondack train that skirts right along Lake Champlain; and Ethan Shantie joins us for a preview of NCPR's poetry month contest in April.

Mar 31, 202629 min0

Canton "No Kings" protest, childcare funding push, remembering Nathan Farb

(Mar 30, 2026) Hundreds of people in the North Country rallied against President Donald Trump’s policies over the weekend; state lawmakers are pushing for more funding for New York's child care subsidy program; and we’ll look back at a conversation with photographer Nathan Farb, who died last week at 85.

Mar 30, 202629 min0

North Star update, Philadelphia volunteer, ADK conditions, Maple Weekend

(Mar 27, 2026) After months of financial uncertainty, the company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage got some good news about state funding this week; we head to Philadelphia in Jefferson County to meet a dedicated volunteer who is teaching sewing skills to kids; John Warren checks on trail conditions in the Adirondacks ahead of the weekend; and we have a preview of some Maple Weekend events.

Mar 27, 202630 min0

Mike Jaworski remembrance, Chateaugay farmer, Get Healthy North Country

(Mar 26, 2026) We remember Mike Jaworski, who thru-hiked all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in ten days in the winter; we head to Chateaugay and talk with a third-generation farmer about her experience in the modern agricultural landscape; and Get Healthy North Country classes use science and research to help people empower themselves to treat and prevent chronic diseases.

Mar 26, 202630 min0

SNAP work requirements, nursing home funding, Kitty O'Neil on spring weather

(Mar 25, 2026) Starting this month, more people will need to meet new work requirements to stay eligible for federal food assistance benefits; Nursing homes are competing with hospitals for funding during state budget talks; and Kitty O’Neil joins us to check in on how North Country’s farms are preparing for growing season.

Mar 25, 202630 min0

North Country immigration aid, VA reorganization, dark sky community

(Mar 24, 2026) As the Trump administration continues its nationwide immigration crackdown, we hear from a growing network of local activists working to protect immigrants across the North Country; the Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to eliminate 25,000 vacant positions and implement the largest reorganization of its giant health care system in three decades; and we hear about an effort to preserve the dark skies in the North Country.

Mar 24, 202630 min0
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