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NCPR News Staff: Brian Mann
Adirondack Bureau Chief
Brian Mann grew up in Alaska, where he fell in love with public radio. In 1999, Brian moved to the Adirondacks and helped launch NCPR's news bureau at Paul Smiths College. "I love the chemistry of water and mountains," Brian says. "But I'm also pretty crazy about village life in the north country. It's the kind of place where you know your neighbors." Brian lives in Saranac Lake with wife Susan and son Nicholas. He's a frequent contributor to NPR and also writes regularly for regional magazines, including Adirondack Life and the Adirondack Explorer. E-mail Stories filed by Brian Mann
The Via Rail/Amtrak train "Maple Leaf" (shown here near Niagara Falls) makes the Toronto to New York City run. Photo: Diego Torres Silvestre, Creative Commons, some rights reserved
Canada disrupts Al Qaeda-supported "major terror plot"
Apr 23, 2013 — Canadian officials say they have disrupted a "major" terror plot involving two men in Montreal and Toronto who were planning to derail a VIA passenger train.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the pair were working with support from Al Qaeda elements based in Iran. Sources in the US say the men were planning to attack a train traveling from Toronto to New York City.
This news comes at a time when concerns are rising about terrorism activity based in Canada. Go to full article
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the pair were working with support from Al Qaeda elements based in Iran. Sources in the US say the men were planning to attack a train traveling from Toronto to New York City.
This news comes at a time when concerns are rising about terrorism activity based in Canada. Go to full article
Speed skater Bridie Farrell says she was sexually abused by a much older skater, with some of the assaults occurring in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs (Photo: Milwaukee Public Radio)
Sex abuse charge rocks US speedskating
Apr 22, 2013 — Correction: NCPR mistakenly reported that Andy Gabel resigned as president of the US Speedskating federation because of the accusations leveled against him. In fact, Gabel left that post in 2010. He resigned from US Speedskating's Hall of Fame committee following the public charges. We regret the error.
Two top women athletes are accusing the former president of US Speedskating of sexual abuse in the 1990s.
The charges were first leveled by Bridie Farrell, a skater from Wisconsin, who says she was fifteen years old when the abuse occurred. Farrell says some of the sexual assault occurred during training sessions in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs. A second skater has since come forward, claiming that she, too, was assaulted. Go to full article
Two top women athletes are accusing the former president of US Speedskating of sexual abuse in the 1990s.
The charges were first leveled by Bridie Farrell, a skater from Wisconsin, who says she was fifteen years old when the abuse occurred. Farrell says some of the sexual assault occurred during training sessions in Lake Placid and Saratoga Springs. A second skater has since come forward, claiming that she, too, was assaulted. Go to full article
"Milk Not Jails" is the brain child of activist Lauren Melodia, who spent a year in Canton and Ogdensburg Photo: MNJ Facebook page, used by permission
What if NY invested more in dairy farms and less in prisons?
Apr 18, 2013 — This week we've been looking at the fortunes of the North Country's dairy industry and some of the hurdles faced by farmers and processors.
Over the last few months, our Prison Time Media Project has also been looking at the way prisons shape communities and the local economy in the North Country.
There are more than a dozen state and Federal prisons in the region, along with eleven county jails. That makes corrections work one of our top employers.
One activist group based in Brooklyn thinks these two issues -- prison jobs and the dairy industry -- should be linked in people's minds, as we think about ways to grow the rural economy. That group's called "Milk Not Jails." Go to full article
Over the last few months, our Prison Time Media Project has also been looking at the way prisons shape communities and the local economy in the North Country.
There are more than a dozen state and Federal prisons in the region, along with eleven county jails. That makes corrections work one of our top employers.
One activist group based in Brooklyn thinks these two issues -- prison jobs and the dairy industry -- should be linked in people's minds, as we think about ways to grow the rural economy. That group's called "Milk Not Jails." Go to full article
Fewer inmates have meant fewer prisons. It turns out Camp Gabriels was part of a slow but important national trend. Source: Save Camp Gabriels
NY, US see dramatic drop in prison inmate population
Apr 16, 2013 — New York state officials say the state's prison population is expected to drop again this year by nearly 800 inmates.
The Department of Corrections will close two more prisons this year, bringing to a total of nine the number of correctional facilities shut down since 2011.
Inmate populations in New York have been edging downward for more than a decade. But a report from the Justice Department suggests that for the first time in decades, fewer Americans nationwide are being sent to prison.
Surveys of state and Federal prisons nationwide show the number of inmates actually declined over the last three years - the first downward trend in a generation. Go to full article
The Department of Corrections will close two more prisons this year, bringing to a total of nine the number of correctional facilities shut down since 2011.
Inmate populations in New York have been edging downward for more than a decade. But a report from the Justice Department suggests that for the first time in decades, fewer Americans nationwide are being sent to prison.
Surveys of state and Federal prisons nationwide show the number of inmates actually declined over the last three years - the first downward trend in a generation. Go to full article
Brian Mann on a rope and wire bridge above the forest in Costa Rica. Photo: Susan Waters
Costa Rica's jungle, in sound and pictures
Apr 15, 2013 — Mud season is a time when droves of people from the North Country flee to other parts of the world, escaping last-minute snow squalls and getting a head start on summer.
This year, our Adirondack bureau chief, Brian Mann, fled the mountains for a week in Costa Rica. He brought back this audio postcard. Go to full article
This year, our Adirondack bureau chief, Brian Mann, fled the mountains for a week in Costa Rica. He brought back this audio postcard. Go to full article
Veteran peace activist Martha Swan Photos: Jimm Collin and St. Lawrence University
One anti-Iraq War protestor says she didn't do enough
Westport, NY, Mar 22, 2013 — Over the last decade, one of the most prominent anti-war protesters and peace-and-justice activists in the North Country has been Martha Swan.
Swan, who lives in Westport, heads an organization called "John Brown Lives."
She sat down this week to talk about the ten-year anniversary of the Iraq War with Brian Mann. Go to full article
Swan, who lives in Westport, heads an organization called "John Brown Lives."
She sat down this week to talk about the ten-year anniversary of the Iraq War with Brian Mann. Go to full article
Chateaugay [Correctional facility closure] would not be included in the budget.
Breaking: Chateaugay prison closure "off the table" in budget deal
Mar 21, 2013 — The state correctional facility in Chateaugay won't be closed under a budget deal being finalized in Albany.
That's according to Dan Macentee, spokesman for state Senator Betty Little.
According to Macentee, Little was told late Tuesday that "Chateaugay [closure] would not be included in the budget."
"The Democrat's proposal" to mothball the facility and spare a downstate prison "has caused a lot of concern in the community," Macentee added.
"I can understand the angst in the community." Go to full article
That's according to Dan Macentee, spokesman for state Senator Betty Little.
According to Macentee, Little was told late Tuesday that "Chateaugay [closure] would not be included in the budget."
"The Democrat's proposal" to mothball the facility and spare a downstate prison "has caused a lot of concern in the community," Macentee added.
"I can understand the angst in the community." Go to full article
It would be devastating to our town and throughout Franklin County. It would have a ripple effect.
Updated: Will the new state budget whack a North Country prison?
Mar 21, 2013 — Update 10 am: The state correctional facility in Chateaugay won't be closed under a budget deal being finalized in Albany. That's according to Dan Macentee, spokesman for state Senator Betty Little. Latest details of this breaking story.
It remains unclear this morning whether the budget deal now being finalized in Albany will affect a North Country prison.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders unveiled a broad outline of the spending plan last night, without offering specifics.
Democratic lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly have proposed cutting funding for the state correctional facility in Chateaugay in northern Franklin County.
That differs from Cuomo's executive budget proposal, which targeted prisons in Manhattan and in Dutchess County. Go to full article
It remains unclear this morning whether the budget deal now being finalized in Albany will affect a North Country prison.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders unveiled a broad outline of the spending plan last night, without offering specifics.
Democratic lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly have proposed cutting funding for the state correctional facility in Chateaugay in northern Franklin County.
That differs from Cuomo's executive budget proposal, which targeted prisons in Manhattan and in Dutchess County. Go to full article
Photo: freefotoUK CC some rights reserved
How will rural schools fare under new NYS budget?
Albany, NY, Mar 19, 2013 — State Senator Betty Little says she's keeping an eye on three big issues in the final hours of budget talks in Albany: Aid for cash-strapped rural schools, the minimum wage hike, and the planned closure of at least two state prisons in New York. Go to full article
NY State Sen. Betty Little. NCPR File Photo: Mark Kurtz
Little: Budget deal could target North Country prison
Mar 19, 2013 — The budget deal now in its final stages in Albany is likely to include the elimination of at least two state prisons.
State Senator Betty Little says she worries that a third correctional facility in Franklin County could be targeted for closure. Go to full article
State Senator Betty Little says she worries that a third correctional facility in Franklin County could be targeted for closure. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
