Get your daily dose of what's happening in New York's North Country, the Adirondacks, Vermont, Canada, and beyond. Host David Sommerstein presents the best stories from North Country Public Radio's award-winning newsroom. You'll hear the most interesting voices on the most important issues in the region. There's even a micro-newscast to keep you up to date. When you miss
(Jun 13, 2025) Fewer people are following their local governments than ever before, even though those boards have a direct influence on people's lives. We report from a St. Lawrence County government open house, where local officials were showing what they do but few members of the public were there to listen. Also: Governor Kathy Hochul and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sparred in a congressional hearing yesterday in a possible governor's race preview.
This episode explores the intensified federal immigration enforcement and its impact on local police cooperation in New York. A case in Rotterdam, where a minor shoplifting incident led to deportation proceedings, highlights the consequences of local agencies involving federal immigration agents. The incident has fueled a debate among state lawmakers over whether New York should limit or mandate local police assistance to ICE.
This episode revisits the 2015 Dannemora prison escape ten years later. New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang discusses the state's investigation report, highlighting security failures, staff misconduct, and system vulnerabilities that allowed the escape. She details the reforms and training implemented since 2015 to enhance prison security and addresses the ongoing challenges in preventing similar incidents.
(Jun 10, 2025) The tiny town of Long Lake is getting a big gift, the proceeds from the sale of the $125 million Whitney estate. Locals and town leaders weigh in on how they plan to manage the huge windfall. Also: ICE agents were active at multiple sites in St. Lawrence County today in what the sheriff's office called a "victim-centered investigation."
(Jun 9, 2025) The end of May was Black Birders Week, an annual national celebration that's working to make birdwatching more accessible and welcoming for people of color. We pick up the binoculars and hit the trail with a group of beginning birders in Lake Placid. Also: Members of a powerful state legislative caucus are calling on lawmakers to pass a slate of prison reform bills before the end of the legislative session.
On the 10th anniversary of the Dannemora prison break, reporter Brian Mann reflects on covering the intense three-week manhunt. He shares his unique perspective, having previously reported inside the prison, and discusses how the escape highlighted issues within the state correctional system and its lasting impact on the region and pop culture.
(Jun 5, 2025) In New York, the number of families using childcare assistance has nearly tripled in just three years. But the subsidy that's helped thousands of people is running out, and families are starting to lose the childcare they’ve come to rely on. Also: Some Democratic lawmakers in Albany want to restructure a state program that provides home care to people on Medicaid.
(Jun 4, 2025) A new report find winters on the Tug Hill Plateau are getting warmer and snowfall is getting more unpredictable. Also: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is edging closer to a run for governor of New York next year.
(Jun 3, 2025) The Whitney estate, north of Long Lake, has long been considered one of the most prized tracts of wilderness in the Adirondacks. It's been for sale, and now a developer from Texas is set to purchase the 36,000-acre property to build a new luxury resort. Also: Gov. Hochul's lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, announced he plans to challenge her for the state’s top job.
(Jun 2, 2025) If you have a physical disability or use a wheelchair, you know how difficult traversing public places in the North Country can be. Saranac Lake has commissioned a study that's looking at ways to make the village's municipal parks more accessible. Also: New York is cracking down on the 'buy now, pay later' industry with new rules to protect consumers.
(May 30, 2025) We're kicking off our series about volunteerism in the North Country with a story about how volunteers in Schroon Lake power one essential community institution - their local library. Also: Democrats in New York continue to criticize the House-passed bill that slashes funding for social services. They say tens of thousands of people in the state could lose their health care.
This episode remembers Dana Fast, a Holocaust survivor who found a home in the Adirondacks, sharing her reflections on war and life based on a past interview. It also features a North Country at Work story visiting the only tattoo shop in Lake Placid and owner Andreana Yakovides, discussing her illustrative realism style and the emotional weight of her work.
North Country Public Radio explores local efforts to combat the housing crisis, including new laws in Clinton County aimed at accelerating development and incentivizing construction. The episode also delves into the potential consequences of President Trump's proposed 50% cut to the Essential Air Service program for rural airports, examining the arguments for and against federal subsidies and the significant per-passenger costs at local airports.
(May 27, 2025) Two North Country students will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which kicks off today. They don't see themselves as rivals, but they're both hoping to go deep into the national tournament. Also: New York food banks say more people are looking for food assistance, and that cuts to SNAP, included in the recently passed House budget, would make things a lot worse.
(May 23, 2025) Racing season kicks off tonight at the Mohawk International Raceway. Every summer, people and whole families bring race cars from all over the North Country, Quebec, and beyond to compete on the dirt track in Akwesasne. Also: This summer, two more Adirondack lakes will be treated with an herbicide to kill an invasive plant.
This episode discusses the Plattsburgh City Council's controversial appointment of a new police chief facing past misconduct allegations and unresolved investigations. It also covers the results of North Country school district budget votes, including the controversial Watertown budget impacting pre-K providers and the rejected Keene budget. Finally, it touches on how recent federal funding cuts affect New York programs like Medicaid, AmeriCorps, and SUNY.
(May 21, 2025) In the 19th century, a hill in the Adirondacks was named after the settlers who lived nearby. But because they were Black, the hill was named for their race, not their family. Last weekend, that historical injustice was undone. It's now called Murry Hill. Also: Gov. Hochul called the residential boarding school system "sanctioned ethnic cleansing" when she apologized to the Seneca Nation yesterday.
(May 20, 2025) New York state and local leaders are warning that Medicaid cuts included in Trump's policy bill will have outsized impacts on the North Country. Republicans, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, say they're not cuts at all. Also: The major wind power project in the ocean off of Long Island is back on after President Trump reversed course.
(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 16, 2025) The Watertown City School District is at odds with the child care providers who run its pre-K program. Those providers are calling for residents to vote down the school’s budget next week. Also: New York is making it easier for adult learners to pursue a free associate's degree at community colleges.
(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.
This episode discusses the impacts of President Trump's federal funding cuts in the North Country, affecting arts, education, and mental health. It covers concerns about food safety due to FDA cuts and the struggles of organizations adjusting to program changes and uncertainty. The episode also highlights the challenges faced by local farms and the increased reliance on private funding.
(May 13, 2025) Science has documented the role downed logs play in capturing carbon in the forest floor. New research in the Adirondacks is looking at how decomposing logs in streams and riverbeds play their own role. Also: State lawmakers are holding a special hearing about New York's troubled prison system tomorrow, amidst increasing violence against both inmates and corrections officers.
This episode discusses concerns in Lake George regarding potential disruptions to the J-1 visa program and its impact on the summer tourism workforce. It also covers Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's support for President Trump's policies, including tariffs and funding for rural airports, as well as her appearance at the Fort Ticonderoga anniversary celebration.
(May 9, 2025) Volunteerism is down across the country, yet volunteers still play crucial roles in North Country communities. As we launch a series spotlighting the region's volunteers, we hear about some of the people our listeners told us to profile. Also: Federal cuts in President Trump's so-called "skinny budget" could eliminate popular North Country programs, including rural air service and heating assistance.
(May 8, 2025) Second homes and short-term rentals have gobbled up much of the available housing in the Adirondacks, leaving year-round families with few options. One couple is rehabbing homes specifically as long-term rentals for local Adirondackers. Also: A conversation with the chairman of New York's Republican Party, which is gearing up for a big election cycle in 2026.
(May 7, 2025) Some Akwesasne Mohawk students at SUNY Canton have been working on a project they hope makes campus more welcoming for Native Americans. It's been working, and they celebrated with an indigenous-themed trivia night. Also: The property in Massena left behind by General Motors has won a national recognition that could help it find a new manufacturer.
This episode discusses the upcoming New York gubernatorial race between Elise Stefanik and Kathy Hochul. It also covers insights from listening sessions held across the Adirondacks regarding diversity, belonging, and community challenges. Key issues include housing shortages, racism, and the need for welcoming environments.
This episode covers a lawsuit against Trump's wind energy policy, the Real ID deadline, and features a story about Sticky's Weed Farm, a cannabis microbusiness in the Champlain Valley run by a young couple. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of growing cannabis in New York after legalization and reflect on their journey in the emerging industry.
This episode discusses the remarkable comeback of lake trout in Lake Champlain, detailing the efforts to combat pollution, overfishing, and invasive species. It also covers Fort Drum's economic impact on the North Country and the controversy surrounding Kehlani's canceled concert at Cornell University. The episode highlights the successful restoration efforts and ongoing monitoring to ensure the trout population's sustainability.
