r e g i o n a l n e w s
NCPR News Staff: Nora Flaherty
Digital Editor, News
Nora Flaherty began her career in public radio as a reporter and on-air host at Michigan Radio, where she did stories on environmental issues, housing, the arts, among other things. Nora moved to New York City in 2005, and became a producer at WFUV. At WFUV, Nora hosted a weekly interview program and reported on the long-term issues faced by September 11th survivors, education, and less serious topics like fairy tales, freak shows and pop music.
At NCPR, Nora has hosted the daily news program All Before Five, and reported on local politics, the arts, agriculture and entrepreneurship. She has recently taken on a new role as Digital Editor for News.
Nora’s work has won awards from the Associated Press, New York State Broadcasters Association, and Public Radio News Directors, Inc., as well as a Gracie Award.
A serious dog person, Nora loves hanging out with her "pack" (her husband and their two dogs), cooking, and driving in foreign countries. E-mail
Stories filed by Nora Flaherty
Inside the Capitol, twists and turns lead to the passage of many laws. Photo: Holley St. Germain, Creative Commons, some rights reserved
How the $#%@# does a bill become a law in NYS?
Jun 19, 2013 — As New York's legislative session wraps up this week, some of the major issues we've been hearing about for the last while remain unresolved, and it's looking like at least some of them aren't going to get resolved in this session.
Of course bills often come together and pass the legislature at the last moment, so what's going to happen in the next couple days is anyone's guess. But how is all of this happening? Turns out it's much more complicated, and less transparent, than what you might remember from Schoolhouse Rock. Go to full article
Of course bills often come together and pass the legislature at the last moment, so what's going to happen in the next couple days is anyone's guess. But how is all of this happening? Turns out it's much more complicated, and less transparent, than what you might remember from Schoolhouse Rock. Go to full article
Hammond, NY, where the crime is alleged to have taken place. Image: maps.google.com
Hammond man faces felony charges after cross burning
Hammond, NY, Jun 12, 2013 — After allegedly burning a cross on his lawn and shouting racial slurs at the guest of a neighbor, Ryann Wilson, of the St. Lawrence County town of Hammond, is facing felony aggravated harassment charges.
Wilson is being held at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility with a $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Officer Robert Rusaw of the correctional facility says Wilson is headed to court Wednesday to face the harassment charge. Go to full article
Wilson is being held at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility with a $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Officer Robert Rusaw of the correctional facility says Wilson is headed to court Wednesday to face the harassment charge. Go to full article
Farmer John Peck, of Peck Homestead Farm in Champion, in Jefferson County, is worried about how steadily rising property taxes are affecting his livelihood. Photo: Joanna Richards
Could the two percent ag land tax cap hurt non-farmers?
Jun 07, 2013 — New York farmers are closely watching the fate of a bill in Albany that would cap assessments of their land at a two percent increase per year. That's compared to the current 10 percent per year.
Agricultural land is assessed according to the crops growing on it. And corn and soybean prices have been soaring. But lots of farmers might not see profits from those high prices, and many say they're paying a lot more in taxes, without taking in a lot more money. Go to full article
Agricultural land is assessed according to the crops growing on it. And corn and soybean prices have been soaring. But lots of farmers might not see profits from those high prices, and many say they're paying a lot more in taxes, without taking in a lot more money. Go to full article
House on County Route 11 in Depauville, NY. The house has since burned down, and photos can be found on the house's page at OABNNY. Photo: Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York
Watertown man preserves "Old Abandoned Buildings" with web site
Apr 29, 2013 — We've all driven down the highway in the North Country and been amazed that some structure by the side of the road was still standing. Maybe it used to be a barn, a house, or a gas station, but it's been left to the elements, and these days it's an old abandoned building.
For the past eight years, Jefferson County resident and web designer Marc Mosher has been chronicling just such buildings on a web site called "Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York" (also known as OABNNY.) He describes the site as a combination of photography, urban exploration, and history.
Mosher grew up exploring abandoned buildings with his father, and when he got older he combined that interest with his profession to create OABNNY in 2004. He answered our questions about OABNNY via email. Go to full article
For the past eight years, Jefferson County resident and web designer Marc Mosher has been chronicling just such buildings on a web site called "Old Abandoned Buildings of Northern New York" (also known as OABNNY.) He describes the site as a combination of photography, urban exploration, and history.
Mosher grew up exploring abandoned buildings with his father, and when he got older he combined that interest with his profession to create OABNNY in 2004. He answered our questions about OABNNY via email. Go to full article
TC Boyle. Photo: Spencer Boyle, via TCBoyle.com
TC Boyle: Back in Potsdam again
Apr 24, 2013 — Writer TC Boyle will be at SUNY Potsdam Thursday evening for a reading as part of Potsdam's Lougheed Festival of the Arts. He'll also be introducing student writers on Friday night.
After growing up in Westchester County, Boyle graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1968. Go to full article
After growing up in Westchester County, Boyle graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1968. Go to full article
A homecoming ceremony at Fort Drum. NCPR file photo
SUNY-Fort Drum program to train those on the "front lines" with returning soldiers
Apr 02, 2013 — A new program from SUNY Oswego is looking to train people who work with Fort Drum's soldiers in the basics of mental health and counseling. It's starting with a course that's being taught right now at Fort Drum, "Trauma management and stewardship."
Fort Drum is home to the 10th Mountain Division, one of the most heavily deployed units in the US. When those soldiers return home from overseas, they can suffer from a range of physical and mental problems connected to their service, like post-traumatic stress disorder, mental issues associated with bodily injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Go to full article
Fort Drum is home to the 10th Mountain Division, one of the most heavily deployed units in the US. When those soldiers return home from overseas, they can suffer from a range of physical and mental problems connected to their service, like post-traumatic stress disorder, mental issues associated with bodily injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Go to full article
The Black River Rollers strike a pose. Photo: Nora Flaherty
What's so great about roller derby?
Watertown, NY, Mar 18, 2013 — Roller derby has a surprisingly long history: It first emerged as a contact sport in the late 1930s; started broadcasting on TV in the late '40s; and had a bit of a TV revival in the '80s and '90s.
The sport as we know it today is mostly an all-female, woman-organized amateur sport. This most recent incarnation got its start in the early 2000s, in Austin, Texas. Go to full article
The sport as we know it today is mostly an all-female, woman-organized amateur sport. This most recent incarnation got its start in the early 2000s, in Austin, Texas. Go to full article
TAUNY Executive Director Jill Breit at the TAUNY Center's Folk Store in Canton. Photo: Nora Flaherty
How the North Country can support artists, grow economy
Canton, NY, Feb 25, 2013 — The North Country's Regional Economic Development Council has been one of the most successful in the state. It's received top awards twice now, for projects that range from renovating an historic building in Port Henry, to making improvements to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, to treating wastewater in Malone.
Several of the projects the state funded aim to improve the North Country's economic outlook through the arts. One of these is "Invisible Factory", a project whose goal is to support regional artisans, and help them make a living from what they do.
"Invisible Factory" is a partnership between Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, in Canton, and the Adirondack North Country Association, in Saranac Lake.
Nora Flaherty stopped by TAUNY, to learn more about Invisible Factory. Go to full article
Several of the projects the state funded aim to improve the North Country's economic outlook through the arts. One of these is "Invisible Factory", a project whose goal is to support regional artisans, and help them make a living from what they do.
"Invisible Factory" is a partnership between Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, in Canton, and the Adirondack North Country Association, in Saranac Lake.
Nora Flaherty stopped by TAUNY, to learn more about Invisible Factory. Go to full article
A tanker trucks transports water for hydrofracking operations in Susquehanna County, Pa. In his letter, Dr. Nirav Shah says some other states didn't seriously study health concerns before allowing hydrofracking. Photo: Marie Cusick
NYS fracking health study won't make its deadline
Albany, NY, Feb 12, 2013 — It looks like the decision on whether to allow large-scale hydraulic fracturing in New York state will probably be delayed. In a letter this afternoon, State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah wrote his department needs more time to investigate fracking's potential health impacts. Shah said that's because the issues they're considering are very complex. Go to full article
Elvis definitely still in De Peyster
Tarrytown, NY, Jan 08, 2013 — Today is Elvis Presley's birthday...he was born on this day in 1935. But for some, every day is about celebrating the King.
Shirley Gagnon is one such fan. She's the owner of the "Memories of Elvis" museum in De Peyster. The museum got its start as Shirley's personal collection of Elvis memorabilia, but when the collection got too big for Shirley's family home next door, she and her husband bought a mobile home and "Memories of Elvis" was born.
The museum opened to the public in 1997, and since then people have come from as far as England to see Shirley's collection of Elvis plates, dolls, clocks, tapestries, and much, much more. Go to full article
Shirley Gagnon is one such fan. She's the owner of the "Memories of Elvis" museum in De Peyster. The museum got its start as Shirley's personal collection of Elvis memorabilia, but when the collection got too big for Shirley's family home next door, she and her husband bought a mobile home and "Memories of Elvis" was born.
The museum opened to the public in 1997, and since then people have come from as far as England to see Shirley's collection of Elvis plates, dolls, clocks, tapestries, and much, much more. Go to full article
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2013 North Country Public Radio, 
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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
