Top Stories from NCPR
1,050 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsNCPR provides locally-produced news stories from around the Adirondack and North Country regions of New York State, as well as Western Vermont, and Ontario and Quebec in Canada. 010329
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Episodes
DEC commissioner: Upgrade Adirondack trails to handle growing traffic
January 17, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.66 MB(Jan 17, 2020) Governor Cuomo's state of the state address last week included some big ideas about transforming New York's energy economy to cut greenhouse gases. It also included some smaller ideas important to the Adirondack Park. One of those proposals is a big new investment upgrading hiking trails.
Plattsburgh-made Bombardier subway cars pulled off NYC tracks for inspection
January 16, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.39 MB(Jan 16, 2020) Hundreds of new subway cars made in Plattsburgh have been pulled off the tracks in New York City because of safety concerns. Bombardier says it’s investigating a problem with its subway car doors.
As criticism grows, supporters of bail reform describe fight as a civil rights struggle
January 16, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.76 MB(Jan 16, 2020) The fight over bail reform intensified again yesterday in Albany. Supporters of the controversial new policy rallied against efforts by Republicans and some Democrats to roll back or suspend many of its provisions.
Heard Up North: Mahjong makes a comeback in Potsdam
January 16, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.01 MB(Jan 16, 2020) Maybe you’ve heard of the game, mahjong? It’s originally from China. After World War II, it became a big part of Jewish social life in the US. It’s making something of a comeback today; there’s even a scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians with it. You play with these white tiles, kinda like dominoes. Each person has a white card with symbols of all the possible winning combinations.
Plattsburgh man missing after police say he jumped into the Saranac River on Tuesday
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 832 KB(Jan 15, 2020) A search will resume in Plattsburgh on Wednesday morning after authorities say a man jumped from a downtown bridge into the Saranac River. The man’s identity hasn’t yet been released.
North Country at Work: finding inner peace with yoga therapist Mary Bartel
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.71 MB(Jan 15, 2020) Mary Bartel sits on a purple mat, legs crossed, hands together at the center of her chest. Ten students - in their 50s, 60s and 70s - do the same on their own mats, all different colors. The hardwood floor creaks as they adjust their bodies. “‘Now, the practice of yoga, which is the first sutra in the yoga sutras,” Bartel says slowly, in a soft voice. “So as we settle in and close the eyes, if that’s comfortable, with a soft gaze looking out at a single point.”
Lake Placid's main street redesign worries merchants
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.35 MB(Jan 15, 2020) We've been hearing a lot in recent weeks about the debate over redevelopment of downtown Plattsburgh and the feud over how that project will affect parking. Now a similar debate has erupted over an $8-million plan to upgrade Lake Placid's popular main street shopping district.
UPDATE: Body of Plattsburgh man discovered after police say he jumped into the Saranac River
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 832 KB(Jan 15, 2020) Update: The body of a man that jumped into the Saranac River in Plattsburgh on Tuesday was found yesterday evening. According to the Press-Republican, police found the body after sunset, around 6 pm on Wednesday. Plattsburgh Police Chief Levi Ritter told the paper the search team was doing a last-minute check of an area when they located the body. Ritter says they plan to release the man’s identity later today.
UPDATE: Body of Mooers man discovered after police say he jumped into the Saranac River
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 832 KB(Jan 15, 2020) Update: Police have identified the man who jumped into the Saranac River in Plattsburgh earlier this week. Michael Trombly, 41 of Mooers, NY was found dead Wednesday evening. According to police, Trombly was running from a parole officer on Tuesday when he jumped into the river in downtown Plattsburgh.
St. Lawrence University mourns the death of the school's long-time chaplain
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 594 KB(Jan 15, 2020) St. Lawrence University is mourning the death of its long-time chaplain, Reverend Kathleen Buckley, who passed away Sunday.
Senate Democrats facing GOP pressure to revise bail reform laws
January 15, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.34 MB(Jan 15, 2020) The backlash to New York’s new law that ends most forms of cash bail continues at the Capitol, but the Senate leader said she does not want to rush to change the reforms until they are given a chance to work.
Flooding prevention is causing low water on St. Lawrence River near Massena
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 2.24 MB(Jan 14, 2020) We’ve been talking about flooding and high water on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River for three years now. But now residents along the river between Ogdensburg and Massena are dealing with the opposite - very low water levels.
Night sky: Betelgeuse could blow up soon (in astronomical time)
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 7 minutes - 3.39 MB(Jan 14, 2020) Orion is high in the early evening in January. The red giant Betelgeuse that defines Orion's shoulder started dimming last October. That's not news; it's a variable star. But it's now fainter than it's been in a century. Observers think it may be heading toward becoming a supernova sometime in the next 100,000 years or so. Or it could be next week.
Payday loans, overdraft fees, low-interest credit: New York is trying to overcome barriers to bank accounts
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.22 MB(Jan 14, 2020)
North Country's Roman Catholic church faces 20 new child victim lawsuits
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.1 MB(Jan 14, 2020)
Bread Time Stories: an SLU student's rising bread CSA
January 13, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 3.18 MB(Jan 13, 2020) A St. Lawrence University student has taken his love of baking bread to a new level, by offering shares in his CSB, Community Supported Bakery.
North Country House race fueled by national passions and cash
January 13, 2020 05:00 - 8 minutes - 3.92 MB(Jan 13, 2020) The North Country’s House race is already at a fever pitch. Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and her Democratic challenger Tedra Cobb say they have roughly $5.5 million already in their combined war chests. Which means a barrage of political ads coming at us over the next several months. Brian Mann previews the race with Todd Moe.
Even if you get federal rental assistance, it's still hard to find a home
January 13, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.39 MB(Jan 13, 2020)
This weekend in the Adirondacks, 1/10/20
January 10, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.34 MB(Jan 10, 2020) It’s been a great week for outdoor adventures, with plenty of fresh snow and good ski conditions everywhere, but that’s about to change.
Stefanik opposes war powers resolution
January 10, 2020 05:00 - 55 seconds - 439 KB(Jan 10, 2020) North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is criticizing a new measure passed by Democrats in the House that would limit President Trump's ability to go to war with Iran.
Senate Dems pass voter access bills, while GOP wants to talk about other topics
January 10, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.89 MB(Jan 10, 2020)
Cuomo addresses hate crimes, legalizing cannabis, in State of State speech
January 09, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.54 MB(Jan 9, 2020) There was a somber tone to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 10th State of the State message in a year where the state is facing a $6 billion deficit and reeling from a recent spate of hate crimes, including a stabbing incident at a rabbi’s house outside New York City.
Cuomo pushes $3-billion investment to combat climate change
January 09, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.55 MB(Jan 9, 2020)
North Country GOP legislators respond to Cuomo's State of the Sate address
January 09, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 776 KB(Jan 9, 2020) Republicans in the legislature responded to the Democratic governor’s State of the State address by pointing out major issues he didn’t include.
Mole diversity: starry noses and hairy tails
January 09, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.29 MB(Jan 9, 2020) Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager talk more about three different types of moles that inhabit the region, and their habits. The Eastern American mole and the hairy-tailed mole prefer dryer soils and consume up to half their weight a day in worms and grubs. Their star-nosed cousin prefers a wetter environment.
Cuomo's State of the State speech comes as New York faces a big deficit
January 08, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.85 MB(Jan 8, 2020) Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to deliver his State of the State message today at 1:30 pm, at a time when New York faces its worst budget deficit in a decade. Cuomo has already given a number of hints of what might be on his agenda.
Bail Reform: Reactions mixed in the North Country
January 08, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.59 MB(Jan 8, 2020) The new bail reform law that went into effect on January 1 gets rid of cash bail for most non-violent crimes. It’s a big change for the state’s criminal justice system and it's gotten a lot of push back from Republicans and a growing number of Democrats. Locals in the Glens Falls area have mixed feelings about it. Some say it's putting criminals back on the street, while others say it's a step in the right direction.
Art preview: The Hyde Collection in 2020
January 08, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 3.02 MB(Jan 8, 2020) Exhibitions at the Hyde Collection Art Museum in Glens Falls this year will include prints by Spanish artist Francisco Goya, an inside look at African American life by artist Dox Thrash, and regional art celebrating the work of Adirondack artist John Van Alstine.
Barclay replaces Kolb as Assembly GOP Leader
January 08, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 887 KB(Jan 8, 2020) The minority party Republicans in the state Assembly have a new leader. Will Barclay, from the Syracuse area, replaces Brian Kolb, who resigned after being charged with drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
Rep. Stefanik: "I oppose war with Iran"
January 07, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.69 MB(Jan 7, 2020) North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whose district includes the Fort Drum Army base near Watertown, says she opposes war with Iran. But Stefanik says it made sense for the U.S. to kill one of Iran’s top military leaders in a drone strike last week.
North Country at Work: Darren Tracy's rocky road from contractor to engineer
January 07, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.79 MB(Jan 7, 2020) Darren Tracy is a North Country native; he was born in West Stockholm, outside Potsdam, and has worked in construction in the North Country and the Adirondacks for most of his life. Over four decades, he’s helped build dams, hydro-projects, floating boathouses, prisons, schools, and libraries, through his company, West Branch Engineering and Consulting, which he runs with his wife. Construction projects include the Keene Valley Library and Lake Placid High School.
Comptroller DiNapoli on Medicaid payment deferral and the budget deficit
January 07, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 683 KB(Jan 7, 2020)
Democrats show cracks over support for criminal justice reforms
January 07, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 2.01 MB(Jan 7, 2020)
Bread Time Stories: baking and breaking bread with young ones
January 06, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.98 MB(Jan 6, 2020)
Medicaid provider cuts fix just a small percentage of budget deficit
January 06, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.44 MB(Jan 6, 2020) Over the New Year’s holiday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York’s health care providers will see a 1% drop in the reimbursements they receive for the government-funded Medicaid health care program.
Minor earthquake shakes southern Adirondacks Friday night
January 06, 2020 05:00 - 59 seconds - 466 KB(Jan 6, 2020) A minor earthquake shook the southern Adirondacks over the weekend. The 1.8 magnitude quake hit near North Creek in Warren County around 10 p.m. Friday.
Stefanik praises decision to kill top Iranian military leader
January 06, 2020 05:00 - 1 minute - 586 KB(Jan 6, 2020) North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is praising President Donald Trump for his decision to kill a top Iranian military leader.
This weekend in the Adirondacks, 1/3/20
January 03, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.17 MB(Jan 3, 2020) Expect wintry mixed precipitation out there this weekend, with the possibility of some snow Saturday night - keep an eye on the weather for that storm. Trails are covered in snow and ice and are very icy in places, and covered in deep snow at others, especially at higher elevations.
Adirondacks: A winter trek on Pharoah Mountain framed by ice and wind
January 03, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.87 MB(Jan 3, 2020)
Chef Curtiss: Comfort food for Game Day or weekday dinner
January 03, 2020 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.8 MB(Jan 3, 2020) It might look complicated, but Chef Curtiss Hemm says his Chicken Enchiladas recipe is simple and perfect for the big game, or a quick work week dinner. And, hey, it's comfort food season, right?
Moles: tiny sharks "swimming" under your lawn
January 02, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.38 MB(Jan 2, 2020) Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager reveal some interesting facts about the insectivores that tear up your lawn every year - moles. The star-nosed mole, one of three species in the region, is semi-aquatic, but all varieties are lightning-fast foragers.
IJC's special winter management may help lower Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River
January 02, 2020 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.44 MB(Jan 2, 2020) High water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River will remain a big concern for shoreline communities. In response, New York State created the REDI commission, which plans to improve infrastructure and make communities more resilient to flooding.
Anti-Semitic attacks lead to renewed call for stiffer hate-crime law in New York
January 01, 2020 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.08 MB(Jan 1, 2020) Chris Bolt, WAER. A spate of assaults against Jewish people in New York and New Jersey has caused one State Senator to renew his call for stiffer charges and punishment. Senator Joe Griffo of Rome calls recent incidents appalling and unacceptable. He’s proposing changes that might help law enforcement.
Adirondack labor shortage hits hard at nursing, retirement homes
January 01, 2020 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.98 MB(Jan 1, 2020) There's a growing labor shortage in a lot of industries here in the North Country - but one of the most pressing problems is in local nursing and retirement homes. Reporting by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise about the Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake found a growing scramble for workers who have the proper temperament and background for working with seniors.
Political newcomer joins state Senate 45 race
December 31, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 632 KB(Dec 31, 2019) Another Republican has joined the race for the 45th district state Senate seat, which stretches from St. Lawrence County all the way to the Glens Falls area.
New laws in New York in 2020
December 31, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.42 MB(Dec 31, 2019) On Jan. 1, several new laws take effect in New York, including major changes to the criminal justice system.
North Country at Work: The joys of being a small district superintendent in the ADKS
December 31, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MB(Dec 31, 2019) When Gail Else was offered the Superintendent job for Elizabethtown-Lewis, she was serving as principal at St. Lawrence Central High School. Gail grew up in Massena, but had always hoped to work inside the Blue Line.
Bread-Time Stories: learning to love fresh-baked bread as a child
December 30, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.31 MB(Dec 30, 2019) Our occasional holiday series, "Bread-Time Stories," continues with a tale from Mitch Bresett-McCormick, a North Country native who grew up learning to bake as a child. We're sharing stories of baking and breaking bread with family, friends and community, and how bread plays a part in daily life and holiday celebrations. Mitch says he has lots of memories of his mom’s fresh-baked bread, especially in the winter months and during holidays.
Bread Time Stories: learning to love fresh-baked bread as a child
December 30, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.31 MB(Dec 30, 2019) Our occasional holiday series, "Bread Time Stories," continues with a tale from Mitch Bresett-McCormick, a North Country native who grew up learning to bake as a child. We're sharing stories of baking and breaking bread with family, friends and community, and how bread plays a part in daily life and holiday celebrations. Mitch says he has lots of memories of his mom’s fresh-baked bread, especially in the winter months and during holidays.
Cuomo catching up on vetoes as year ends
December 30, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 573 KB(Dec 30, 2019) Governor Andrew Cuomo is using the final days of the year to catch up some of the remaining 935 bills passed by the legislature earlier this year. The governor has left some of the more controversial vetoes to last.