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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State GOP chair calls on Brindisi to denounce impeachment inquiry
November 21, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 790 KB(Nov 21, 2019) New York State Republican Chair Nick Langworthy joined Republican congressional candidate Claudia Tenney and Trump supporters in Utica Wednesday, calling on Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) to denounce the impeachment inquiry against the president. Brindisi voted to open the impeachment inquiry last month.
State attorney general sues e-cigarette maker Juul
November 20, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.49 MB(Nov 20, 2019) New York’s attorney general is suing Juul, the nation’s largest manufacturer of electronic cigarettes, saying the “deceptive and misleading marketing of its e-cigarettes” has contributed to the youth vaping epidemic in New York state.
Stefanik says evidence clearing Trump is "not complicated" despite testimony about Ukraine squeeze
November 20, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.96 MB(Nov 20, 2019) North Country congresswoman Elise Stefanik once again played a prominent role Tuesday, defending President Trump as impeachment hearings resumed. On social media, the Republican accused Democrats of ignoring or getting facts wrong. But Stefanik showed little interest in some of the day’s most compelling testimony, which raised alarms about Trump’s behavior.
Poetry: "Yours, Marilyn" by CJ Southworth tells the story of American icon Marilyn Monroe
November 20, 2019 05:00 - 8 minutes - 4.04 MB(Nov 20, 2019)
Mayors join chorus of concerns over 2020 criminal justice reforms
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.64 MB(Nov 19, 2019) Mayors across New York state are the latest to express concerns about the bail reform and other criminal justice law changes that take effect in January.
In Canton, Gillibrand critiques Stefanik's role in impeachment hearings, expands on rural development bill
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.27 MB(Nov 19, 2019)
North Country at Work: personal trainer Seth Lang
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.45 MB(Nov 19, 2019) A mix of ’80s music played over the speakers at Fitness Revolution as personal trainer Seth Lang led one of his clients through a circuit of exercises. “All right, here we go!” Lang said. His booming voice drowned out The Pointer Sisters’ 1984 hit “I’m So Excited” as Sarah Rogers of Lake Placid lined up to grab two black, oversized ropes on the floor in the weight room. It was time for battle ropes. “OK. Feet out wide,” Lang said. “Chest forward. Tight core. And go!”
NY21: As Stefanik claims national impeachment role, Cobb donations surge past $1 million
November 18, 2019 05:00 - 8 minutes - 3.86 MB(Nov 18, 2019) The House impeachment hearings have introduced the country to a new face: Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from the North Country. But Stefanik's role has prompted a national backlash, with more than $1 million in campaign cash flowing to her Democratic rival Tedra Cobb.
Concern rises over direction of public campaign finance commission
November 18, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.77 MB(Nov 18, 2019) Reform groups say they are dismayed with the direction of a commission appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to implement a public campaign finance system for state elected offices. The commission has just two more meetings before it issues its final report.
Closing of only Star Lake grocery leaves a 20-mile food desert
November 18, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.06 MB(Nov 18, 2019) The only grocery store in Star Lake in Southern St. Lawrence County is closing this month. According to a post on the Great American’s Facebook page, the store couldn’t overcome high expenses and what they describe as “extreme competition.” Now the closest grocery store is about 20 miles away.
Missing Teenager: Police believe Chateaugay student left the area
November 17, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 611 KB(Nov 17, 2019) Police are still searching for a high school student who went missing in Chateaugay Sunday, Nov. 10. According to the state troopers, 18 year old John Sexton was last seen leaving home wearing camouflage coveralls.
This rural economics researcher says we should flip the narrative about North Country towns
November 15, 2019 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.96 MB(Nov 15, 2019)
Potsdam's Little Free Pantry: "It's filling a need"
November 15, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.53 MB(Nov 15, 2019) A church in Potsdam has opened its doors to the wider world by bringing the national Little Free Pantry movement to another North Country community.
This weekend in the Adirondacks, 11/15/19
November 15, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.07 MB(Nov 15, 2019) There is 4 to 8 inches of snow across most of the Adirondacks, with deeper snows - about 6 to 10 inches - across the Northern Adirondacks, and at higher elevations in the High Peaks.
Audio Postcard: Wild views from Watch Hill in Hamilton County
November 15, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.42 MB(Nov 15, 2019) Hamilton County is one of the wildest places in New York State. It sits entirely inside the Adirondack Park and is the least populated county in all of the Northeast. Emily Russell found a hiking trail there near Indian Lake that offers an amazing view of that wildness. She sent us this audio postcard.
For Stefanik, impeachment brings new level of national exposure
November 15, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.19 MB(Nov 15, 2019) Once known as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, the Republican has emerged as a leading voice defending President Donald Trump, drawing praise and criticism. She's also been named by Time as one of the "100 next" most influential leaders in the U.S.
Missing Teenager: Police continue search for Chateaugay HS senior
November 14, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 611 KB(Nov 14, 2019) Police are still searching for a high school student who went missing in Chateaugay over the weekend. According to the state troopers, 18 year old John Sexton was last seen leaving home on Sunday around 1 pm.
Commissioners disagree on best way to devise public campaign finance
November 14, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.52 MB(Nov 14, 2019) Some members of a commission that’s creating the rules for a public campaign finance system for state elected offices are concerned that the plans being developed would be too favorable to incumbent politicians.
Akwesasne basket makers threatened by invasive emerald ash borer
November 14, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 2.1 MB(Nov 14, 2019) Basket making has been a traditional craft of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation for generations. Their baskets are typically made using thin strips of wood from black ash trees, but artisans are facing challenges as an invasive bug, the emerald ash borer, threatens their craft.
Stefanik appears unswayed by testimony that Trump politicized U.S. diplomacy
November 14, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.65 MB(Nov 14, 2019) North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik helped lead Republican efforts yesterday to defend President Donald Trump. Stefanik sits on the House Intelligence Committee, which held its first open impeachment hearing Wednesday. Stefanik appeared unswayed by testimony from government officials who say Trump's policy in Ukraine was designed to target his political rival Joe Biden.
North Country at Work: Carrie Hill on weaving together baskets and a life at Akwesasne
November 13, 2019 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.85 MB(Nov 13, 2019) From an 18-by-20 foot studio in Hogansburg, NY, Carrie Hill makes baskets out of black ash and hand-gathered sweetgrass, continuing a long Mohawk tradition in a world of social media, the emerald ash borer, and a global market. The walls of her studio are covered in long, thin strips of black ash splint. There’s a shelf of vase forms. A central table is lit by a forensic-style lamp, and covered in small tools. She's working on a few projects, one of which is a tiny, delicate ...
Trudeau Sanatorium sale continues wave of new investment in Saranac Lake
November 13, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.61 MB(Nov 13, 2019) We've been reporting over the last year on big economic development moves in Saranac Lake. The Adirondack village has seen its downtown Hotel Saranac come back to life. There's a new resort under construction on the waterfront of Lake Flower. Pendragon Theater is moving to a new location downtown. Now a group of investors are refurbishing a 64-acre campus on the edge of Saranac Lake that used to be a tuberculosis sanatorium. The property has sat largely empty for decades.
Attacking the hills with Tupper Lake Cross Country
November 13, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.01 MB(Nov 13, 2019) "Running a 5k race every week is hard. These are kids that want to run and want to get better," says Assistant Coach Amy Farrell.
Meet Vietnam veteran Greg Lee and his service dog Olivia
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.75 MB(Nov 12, 2019) Gregory Lee served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam in the late 1960s. He was injured in a battle and, after returning home to the North Country, struggled with PTSD. Now he has new help, a service dog named Olivia.
Cuomo signs 14 bills to help vets, says it\'s \"great\" that Pres. Trump also was there
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 680 KB(Nov 12, 2019) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo marched in the Veterans Day parade in New York City. He mostly avoided President Donald Trump, who also spoke at the event.
If you need federal rental assistance, you\'ll probably be waiting at least a year
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.15 MB(Nov 12, 2019)
Vaping injury explanation comes closer with Rochester research
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.13 MB(Nov 12, 2019) There\'s a little more clarity now for doctors trying to diagnose lung injuries caused by vaping. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are sharing tools to help doctors pinpoint what’s causing those injuries.
What's up in the November night sky
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 7 minutes - 3.63 MB(Nov 12, 2019) St. Lawrence University physics professor and NCPR resident astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue is a regular guest on The Eight O'Clock Hour. She drops by about once a month to give us a tour of the highlight's in the night sky.
Stefanik's defense of President Trump contradicted by some impeachment testimony
November 11, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.5 MB(Nov 11, 2019)
DAs say they need more funding to carry out criminal justice law changes
November 11, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.37 MB(Nov 11, 2019) A new law that takes effect in New York in January will give people accused of crimes more tools to mount a defense in court. But the state’s District Attorneys say changes to what’s known as the discovery laws will be costly and hard to implement.
Vietnam veterans honored at Plattsburgh ceremony
November 11, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.14 MB(Nov 11, 2019) There are nearly 50,000 veterans living throughout the North Country. A group of about 50 of them gathered in Plattsburgh last Friday for a ceremony honoring Vietnam-era vets.
Books: "The Winter Army" - the story of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II
November 11, 2019 05:00 - 9 minutes - 4.34 MB(Nov 11, 2019) A new book traces the history of the 10th Mountain Division from its inception in 1940 to its breaking of the German hold of Italy's mountains near the end of World War II.
Pushback from GOP and law enforcement to NY bail reform laws
November 08, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.88 MB(Nov 8, 2019) Sweeping reforms that will end cash bail for all misdemeanor and nonviolent felony charges in New York state take effect in January. But some law enforcement groups are objecting, saying the changes go too far and could jeopardize public safety.
This weekend in the Adirondacks, 11/8/19
November 08, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 936 KB(Nov 8, 2019) Numerous secondary and back country roads remain closed from last week's high wind and historic flooding event. Damage was extensive in the backcountry. Some new slides have been reported in the High Peaks.
Industrial design and fine art meet in the work of Robert Kasprzycki in Blue Mountain Lake
November 08, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 2 MB(Nov 8, 2019) Bob Kasprzycki says his creative knack began as a child drawing cartoons. He's spent most of his career as an industrial designer, and is mostly a self-taught artist. These days he lives in central New York, but often visits the Adirondacks for creative inspiration. His show titled "Serenity," continues this month at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake. There's an opening reception on Saturday night.
Ever been bowhunting? A Potsdam expert takes you along
November 08, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 2.19 MB(Nov 8, 2019)
NY creates task force to address overcrowding in Adirondack High Peaks
November 08, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.37 MB(Nov 8, 2019) Governor Andrew Cuomo and the DEC are creating a new task force to address overuse of the High Peaks Wilderness by hikers and campers. The move comes as state officials are also assessing damage to back country trails and roads across the Adirondacks from the Halloween storm.
The evolution of breathing
November 07, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.67 MB(Nov 7, 2019) All creatures breathe in some fashion, but how the job gets done has changed from fish to amphibian to reptile to mammal. Curt Stager and Martha Foley chart the evolution of animal respiration. Natural Selections airs each Thursday morning on NCPR as part of The Eight O'Clock Hour.
N.Y. politicians, party leaders react to election results
November 07, 2019 05:00 - 3 minutes - 1.75 MB(Nov 7, 2019) There were mixed reactions Wednesday from New York's politicians and political parties on this year's election results.
Heard Up North: Making the grade with a ska-punk music video
November 07, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.07 MB(Nov 7, 2019)
What the North Country GOP's strong showing Tuesday may mean for 2020
November 07, 2019 05:00 - 4 minutes - 1.98 MB(Nov 7, 2019) Tuesday's election didn't have marquee races here in the North Country. It was mostly a day of local votes across the region. But taken together it was a strong night for the Republican Party, which flipped Clinton County's legislature from Democratic Party control.
Results from Election Day 2019 in the North Country
November 06, 2019 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.92 MB(Nov 6, 2019) Election Day was a bit of a sleepy event; there were no national or statewide races on the ballot, but voters decided dozens of key local and regional races. We're waiting for official results on the four new State Supreme Court judges for the fourth judicial district, which includes much of our region. Watertown has a new mayor; and voters in Massena decided overwhelmingly to sell the hospital to St. Lawrence Health System.
As Cuomo says he supports fusion voting, commission heads toward ending practice
November 06, 2019 05:00 - 1 minute - 709 KB(Nov 6, 2019) Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he’s a supporter of fusion voting, or allowing candidates to run on multiple party lines, even though a commission that he and the Legislature appointed appears headed toward ending the practice.
Election night dinners: A nonpartisan tradition endures in a partisan era
November 06, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.34 MB(Nov 6, 2019) Election day is all about voting, but here in the North Country election night is all about eating and gathering with neighbors. There were community suppers in church basements, fire stations and grange halls all over the region. Normally these dinners are a chance to put political differences aside. But this is a time of deep polarization for the country. So we set out to measure the mood and see how people are feeling about our democracy.
Chef Curtiss: a favorite Thanksgiving side dish
November 06, 2019 05:00 - 6 minutes - 2.81 MB(Nov 6, 2019) It’s autumn. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, Chef Curtiss Hemm says now is the time to start planning the big meal, including the side dishes.
North Country at Work: Sally Strasser runs the movie theater in Tupper Lake
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.35 MB(Nov 5, 2019) The Adirondack State Theater in Tupper Lake is cozy. It’s got two screens, one on each floor. From the lobby, you can hear the faint thuds and crashes of an action movie playing downstairs.
NY health officials still can't name cause of deadly vaping illness, as cases mount
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 2 minutes - 1.27 MB(Nov 5, 2019) State health department officials, testifying at a Senate hearing, say they still don’t know the exact cause of the vaping related respiratory illness that has sickened over 1800 across the nation including 156 New Yorkers, and caused 38 deaths.
As Trump impeachment goes public, Stefanik again blasts process
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 41 seconds - 331 KB(Nov 5, 2019) Update: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik will appear Tuesday morning on the national program Fox and Friends, one of the shows most closely watched by President Donald Trump. In a tweet sent late yesterday, Stefanik said she will share her views on what she describes as "the partisan impeachment process" targeting Trump.
Books: "Sabrina and Corina" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
November 04, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 2.59 MB(Nov 4, 2019) On November 20, the 25 finalists for the National Book Award will gather at a grand gala in New York City. One winner will be chosen from each of the five categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, works in translation and young people’s literature. Our book reviewer, Betsy Kepes, has a special interest in the National Book Awards this year. She told Todd Moe that she has, so to speak, a horse in the race.