Jun 14, 2013 — UPDATE: Saturday, June 15, 11:40 am:

Franklin County has lifted its state of emergency.

Emergency Services Director Ricky Provost says water levels are down throughout most of the County, and most roads are open. In an email Saturday morning he says, "Things are stable at this point and unless we get a bunch of rain it looks like we are out of the woods."
- Julie Grant

Friday, June 14:

The National Weather Service in Burlington says the Indian River and the BeaverRiver at the Stillwater Reservoir in the southern Adirondacks were near flood stage as of this morning (Friday).

Franklin County officials are also still operating under a state of emergency today as they watch river levels.

With more thundershowers and rain in the forecast today, Saranac Lake's Mayor Clyde Rabideau says some businesses along the Saranac River have seen mild flooding.  Go to full article

Jun 10, 2013 — Several hundred giant freighters slip through the St. Lawrence Seaway every year. They're guided by vessel traffic controllers from a squat building on top of the Eisenhower Lock in Massena.

The master control room looks straight out of Star Trek. Half a dozen big flat screens show computerized displays of real-time traffic along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.  Go to full article

Jun 13, 2013 — State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli came to Watertown on Wednesday to commend the city's leadership on its sound financial stewardship. DiNapoli's office is rolling out a program of annual fiscal "stress tests" for municipalities and school districts. And the comptroller said Watertown sets an example for prudent financial planning.  Go to full article

Jun 14, 2013 — This weekend, the state will open up portions of two recently-acquired former Finch, Pruyn and Co. timberlands in the central Adirondacks. That will mean more places to go in the Park for paddling, hiking and fishing. The access is temporary as the Adirondack Park Agency works to come up with a classification plan for the lands.

That process formally got under way this week when the APA hosted the first of eight public hearings scheduled around the state. Environmentalists are pushing for the new lands to be protected as wilderness, while sportsmen and local government officials want to see more opportunities for public access to the lands.  Go to full article

Jun 14, 2013 — People along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario will get a chance to weigh in on a new water levels plan next month. It's called "Plan 2014". Regulators say it's better for Lake Ontario property owners than a plan released last year.  Go to full article

Jun 12, 2013 — Lake Champlain is about to get a little cleaner. A new boat, a sort of waterborne honey-wagon that collects sewage from boaters' tanks, was christened yesterday in Burlington.  Go to full article

Jun 10, 2013 — For thirty-five years, Lake Placid photographer Nancie Battaglia has been one of the most prolific freelance photojournalists in America.

Her images in Sports Illustrated, National Geographic and the New York Times shape the way Americans see the Adirondacks and the Olympic village.

Battaglia has a new show this month at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts that includes photographs from history-making Olympic games and quieter images of life in the North Country.  Go to full article

Jun 11, 2013 — Eighty years ago, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps. The organization provided much needed employment to young men in the midst of the Great Depression.

From 1933 to 1942, more than two-million men helped plant trees in hundreds of parks across the country. They also fought forest fires, and built dams and public roadways. The CCC's results can still be seen today. And the memories of that era are still strong for 93-year-old James Murphy, of Massena. Murphy shared his thoughts at a CCC reunion last Sunday night in Winthrop. He told Todd Moe that he was 18 in 1938 and like many of his buddies in Buffalo, jobless.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jun 13, 2013 — Our atmosphere is about 80 percent nitrogen. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager explore the ways this common element and necessary component of all life forms interacts with the biosphere.  Go to full article

Jun 10, 2013 — As the growing season kicks into gear, flowers and vegetables are in a race against weeds. And the weeds will win, unless the playing field is knocked askew by some timely...  Go to full article

Jun 14, 2013 — Novelist Lynn McElfresh says her favorite place to write is in the Thousand Islands, at her family cottage on Grennell Island. Two sisters share the pages in her new book...  Go to full article

Jun 13, 2013 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo released legislation outlining his plan for tax-free zones Monday after spending a week in May touring upstate to build support for the proposal.

"I mean no taxes. That's what I mean when I say tax free - no business tax, no corporate tax, no franchise fee, no income tax," Cuomo told officials at the University at Buffalo.

Under the measure, any new business that sets up on or near a SUNY campus, or at selected private universities or state-owned properties will pay no taxes for up to ten years. After five years, high-wage earners will have to pay income taxes. The locations are mostly upstate.

The plan has come under fire from all sides.  Go to full article

Jun 13, 2013 — It's getting down to the wire for major pieces of legislation still pending in Albany. As the end of session approaches in Albany, there are no agreements yet on a number of hot-button issues, including women's rights and campaign finance reform.

But that's not unusual in a government where last minute deals are part of the routine.  Go to full article

Jun 12, 2013 — This week the Senate passed a five-year, nearly $500 billion farm bill. About three-quarters of that pays for the food stamp program, which would be cut by $400 million a year. Direct farm subsidies are largely replaced by subsidies for crop insurance. And there are a barrelfull of other items from land conservation to support for young farmers.

This is pretty much where things stood a year ago. But House Speaker John Boehner refused to let his chamber's version of the farm bill come to the floor for a vote. Conservative Republicans believed the bill contained too much government spending.  Go to full article

Jun 14, 2013 — Home rule legislation that would allow St. Lawrence County to raise its sales tax by one percent passed in the New York State Assembly Thursday. County legislative chairman...  Go to full article