Top Stories from NCPR News

Vice President Joe Biden says Fort Drum’s 2nd Brigade deserves “a hero’s welcome” for its work training security forces in Iraq. Biden made a personal visit to the Army base near Watertown yesterday. He said it’s the “dawn of a new era in Iraq” as the U.S. prepares to draw down 95,000 troops from the country. The security situation improved so much that Iraqi military and police took control more quickly than expected. That allowed the 2nd brigade to return home three months early. David Sommerstein was at Fort Drum for the vice president’s visit and has our story.

A special legislative session ended with no action on the state budget, now nearly four months late. As Karen DeWitt reports, Governor Paterson vows to keep lawmakers at the Capitol another day. More...

It’s county fair season in the North Country. And that means it’s also fried food season. Fried dough, French fries, funnel cakes. At the Lewis County fair last week in Lowville, David Sommerstein bumped into some “X-treme” frying: fried oreo cookies. He sent this Heard Up North.

Canada and the Netherlands forged deep ties over the past century. Members of the Dutch Royal Family took refuge in Ottawa during the Second World War, and it was largely Canadian forces that liberated the Netherlands from harsh German occupation.

When the war was over, a grateful Holland sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada's capital, a gesture that led to the current Tulip Festival. And tens of thousands of Dutch came to land-rich Canada seeking new homes and new lives.

At this year's Pioneer Day event in Vernon, Ontario, Lucy Martin found the local co-authors of "They Ventured Forth," a new book telling the story of the post-war Dutch migration to the townships of Osgoode and Russell.

Vice President Joe Biden comes to the North Country today, saying Fort Drum troops deserve a "hero's welcome" as they return from Iraq... It appears Governor Paterson will not face charges of witness tampering in the domestic abuse case involving one of the Governor's top advisors... Counties are revolting against Albany over the budget standoff... And the head of New York State's biggest economic development program tells the Adirondacks not to expect much from the program.

New York's state Senate and Assembly are expected back at the State Capitol this evening for a special session called by Governor Paterson.

But it’s unclear whether the Senate will actually vote on anything. In a conference call yesterday, Senate leader John Sampson wouldn’t say whether all 32 members of his Democratic majority will be there. He refused to address reports that at least one Democrat is away on vacation.

The Senate couldn’t pass the final revenue bill needed to complete the budget during the regular session in June, because one Democrat withheld his vote in order to force action on other legislation.

Sampson says he and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have been meeting with Gov. Paterson on a number of issues, and they’ll vote when those issues are settled. He said they’ve focused on a Medicaid contingency fund, and a measure to give SUNY and CUNY campuses more autonomy. But he wouldn’t give any details.

The late state budget and financial crisis are taking a toll on local governments and contracted service providers. These groups say the neediest New Yorkers are affected most by New York's budget shortfall.

They were in Albany yesterday pleading for restoration of member items and state reimbursement. And a revolt is brewing among county leaders. Karen DeWitt reports. More...

New York's top economic development official visited Saranac Lake last week to talk about the state's new Excelsior Jobs Program.

The program replaces the state's much-maligned Empire Zone program. It was signed into law last month.

Empire State Development chairman Dennis Mullen says the new program will help "targeted industries" in some areas of the North Country, but he admitted that it likely won't do much for most of the region, especially areas where the local economy relies on tourism and small businesses. Chris Knight reports.

Blue green algae blooms are being reported again on Lake Champlain. Sometimes the algae can produce toxins that can be deadly to mammals—including humans, dogs and livestock. That's why scientists on both sides of the lake monitor algae bloom from June through the summer months.

Angela Shambaugh is an aquatic biologist with Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation. She told Jonathan Brown what they're finding this week.

This week we’re celebrating summer by getting outdoors in the North Country.

In this high-tech, busy world, the Laurentian Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club would like more families to move from desktop to mountaintop. The group sponsored its first season of hikes introducing kids to mountains and trails last summer. Family excursions included hikes along beginner mountain trails — day trips into the outdoors with youngsters in mind. Todd Moe tagged along during a hike up Mount Arab and found families reconnecting with nature.

The first Mountain Arts Gathering took place at Paul Smith's College all of last week. It's a music camp for adults who have been playing for a while, or just beginning. Joel Hurd paid a visit last Thursday and sent this audio postcard.