NCPR Top Stories of the Week

Prisons are a significant part of the economy and of the cultural fabric of the North Country. Some families have been working as corrections officers for three generations. Some communities are known as prison towns. And in other parts of New York, our region is sometimes called “Little Siberia” because of its network of state and federal prisons. New York Times reporter Adam Liptak says those prisons are worth a second look. In a new series of articles called "The American Exception," he raises challenging questions about our society's prison policies. Liptak spoke about his reporting in-depth with Brian Mann.

The United States and Canada are trying to figure out how to keep new invasive species out of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. 185 have already snuck in, costing the region billions of dollars a year. Many hitchhiked in the ballast tanks of foreign ships. Both countries want the public to know they’re doing something about the problem. So they invited journalists to the port of Montreal to see how ballast tanks are tested for invasive species. David Sommerstein reports.

Dr. Curt Stager describes the differences between two variations of the white-throated sparrow - the white-striped form and the tan-striped form. Though the birds are from the same species and are complementary in some ways, their looks and behaviors are very different. Martha Foley asks: which is more competent?

It's been a tough year for Republicans. Last night in Mississippi, the GOP lost yet another congressional seat in a district that was once seen as safe conservative territory. It's the third straight defeat for Republicans in off-season special elections. They also face a new scandal here in New York, with Staten Island Congressman Vito Fossella confronting allegations of adultery and drunk driving. No strong Democratic challenger has emerged to face North Country Congressman John McHugh. But speaking with reporters Brian Mann and Chris Knight, McHugh acknowledged that his party is struggling.