Champlain Valley NY

(02/07/12) Legislators haven't had a raise since 1999, and some, led by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, have said recently that it's about time.

But a new poll finds a majority of New Yorkers don't think giving the state's top politicians a pay raise is a good idea right now. Neither do some of the North Country's representatives at the Capitol. Martha Foley has more. more

(02/07/12) A new report finds that the project that will carry power under Lake Champlain to the New York City area will create more than 1,000 jobs.

London Economics International recently released its analysis of the macro-economic impacts of the Champlain Hudson Power Express project. more

(01/27/12) Mark Barie says he won't let his health stop him from waging war with his political rivals in the upcoming 23rd Congressional District campaign.

Barie, who chairs the Upstate New York Tea Party, suffered a brain aneurism and three strokes last March. As we reported yesterday, it's been a tough road to recovery for Barie, both physically and mentally.

In part two of our series, Chris Morris talks to Barie about the upcoming race and what the big issues will be for the Tea Party.

(01/26/12) As the country buckles down for a lengthy and volatile presidential campaign, voters in the North Country are preparing for another election in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

Two years ago, the Upstate New York Tea Party was right in the thick of things. The group's chairman, Mark Barie, became a major player in the congressional battle between incumbent Representative Bill Owens, a Democrat from Plattsburgh; Matt Doheny, a former Wall Street financier who now lives in Watertown; and Doug Hoffman, an accountant and businessman from Lake Placid.

In March 2011, Barie suffered a brain aneurism and three strokes. Today, in part one of a two-part series, Chris Morris looks at Barie's road to recovery as he prepares to re-enter what's sure to be a big political fight in the 23rd District. more

(01/25/12) Libraries aren't just quiet places filled with books. In the North Country, libraries serve as social hubs and community centers. These days, they're scrambling to keep pace with the changing ways that we use information and technology.

But decreases in funding are making it harder for rural libraries to juggle their many missions. Sarah Harris has our story. more

(01/25/12) These are tough times, as libraries grapple with changing technology and shrinking budgets. But librarians in Clinton County say their work is more important than ever. Sarah Harris talked with Stan Ransom, Frances Fairchild, Betsy Brooks, Eva Jankowska and Jacqueline Madison, all librarians in Clinton County. more

(01/13/12) There was freezing rain across much of the North Country again early this morning, with temperatures hovering from around freezing to about 40 in Watertown. By 9 a.m., rain had changed to snow in Canton and Watertown. There's a winter weather advisory as well, including a lake effect snow warning for east of Lake Ontario.

But the National Weather Service says we don't have to worry about a repeat of the ice storm of '98. Then, five days of sleet and freezing rain brought powerlines down across much of the region, knocking power out for up to three weeks. more

(01/09/12) Invasive plants and animals have been a big problem in the North Country for decades, from Eurasian watermilfoil in Lake George to zebra mussels in the St. Lawrence River. But farmers in the Clinton County town of Peru are wrestling with a new invasive animal - and this one weighs three hundred pounds and comes with razor-sharp tusks.

Feral pigs or boars have established a breeding population on the eastern edge of the Adirondack Park. Scientists fear the animals could spread fast, wiping out native animals and damaging crops. Brian Mann has our story. more

(01/09/12) There's open ground across much of the North Country. Temperatures are up above freezing one day, and may fall into the teens or single digits the next. It's hard to get a handle on this winter. But one thing is for certain, fluctuating temperatures combined with a lack of snow cover isn't good for the yard or garden. Amy Ivy, horticulturist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service of Clinton and Essex County, explains why in her weekly conversation with Martha Foley.

(01/06/12) Bombardier transportation has temporarily laid off about 100 workers from its assembly plant in Plattsburgh.

The company let go about 60 production workers and 40 temporary workers on Tuesday. About 210 people are still working at the plant. more