Albany, NY, Jan 03, 2012 — Experts say exploration of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale is expected to keep rising in 2012. But they say landowners may find that signing lease deals isn't as easy as in years past.

Drillers have swarmed in recent years to the Shale that lies beneath Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio. Pennsylvania is the center of activity, with more than 3,000 wells drilled in the past three years and thousands more planned.

Other states are opening up to the drilling, which often entails hydrofracking. That's when drillers drill down, and then horizontally into the bedrock. They use a mix of water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure to smash open the shale and release the gas.

New York has delayed issuing regulations to allow large scale hydrofracking.

Jerry Simmons is executive director of National Association of Royalty Owners. The group represents landowners who sell their mineral rights to energy companies. He says New York property owners would already get less for a well then their neighbors in Pennsylvania did a few years ago.  Go to full article

Youngstown, OH, Jan 03, 2012 — Ohio leaders are prohibiting the use of four hydro-fracking waste-water wells from opening, after a series of earthquakes. Julie Grant reports that the state is concerned there's a link between the two.  Go to full article

Machias, NY, Jan 02, 2012 — The Tug Hill area will get the lion's share of the lake effect snow - more than 2 feet - over the next couple of days. Bill Hibbert is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo. He says we're in the midst the biggest lake effect snowstorm this winter. Hibbert says it's coming because it's cold out there.  Go to full article

Colton, CA, Dec 30, 2011 — Town leaders in Colton say the north country is putting too much emphasis on a so-called Rooftop Highway, and not enough on short term economic development projects. The highway idea, which some have dubbed I-98, is to build a four lane interstate from Watertown around to Plattsburgh.

Colton Town Supervisor Lawrence Patzwald says there are many ways to boost the region's economy.  Go to full article

Dec 23, 2011 — A lot of people don't want to get caught up in the consumerism of the holidays. But often family and friends expect to get gifts from loved ones. Julie Grant spent time with one family where gift-giving is a real struggle.  Go to full article

Dec 20, 2011 — The water resources of the Great Lakes could help revive the economy, Brian Mann reports as part of WBEZ's Front and Center series. The Potsdam Synagogue wants to add menorah's to holiday displays.  Go to full article

Potsdam, , Dec 20, 2011 — Like most of America, the North Country is lit up with Christmas decorations at this time of year. While it brings joy to many people, it can make others feel like outsiders. Julie Grant reports about an effort by the synagogue in Potsdam to make the season more inclusive - by adding menorahs to holiday displays.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Dec 15, 2011 — Watertown police continue to work with the Watertown City School District to find out who threatened to bring a gun to school earlier this week.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Dec 14, 2011 — A lot more kids made it to school today at Watertown High School, than did yesterday. About 50% of students stayed home yesterday after rumors on Facebook led many to believe a student would be coming to school with a gun. Absenteeism was at about 25% today.  Go to full article

Utica, NY, Dec 09, 2011 — The Polar Express train ride to see Santa Claus might have been even more memorable than usual - when it went off the rails on the way to the North Pole last night. More than 300 children and adults were on the train. The Utica Fire Department says there was one minor injury, but otherwise no one was hurt.

Molly Hartnett of Manlius was on board with her two grandchildren. She says they hadn't even had hot chocolate yet, when the incident occurred.

"We had pulled out of the station, probably riding about two minutes, very slowly. And bang, bang, bang, it felt like we were being hit or run over by things, and felt like we were in a dip or pothole or something."

Hartnett says the train quickly came to a stop, and it was announced that the train had gone off the tracks. Utica police say four cars derailed.

Hartnett says they waited for a long while, but everyone was in good spirits because Santa's elves were singing and telling jokes. And before they knew it, she says Santa himself was on board, taking his time to talk with each of the children.

"It was really exciting. I think the kids didn't understasnd what was going on, but they knew that something had happened to the train. And Santa told my grandson that Rudolph and the other reindeers had been playing reindeer games, and had gotten into a game of tag football and knocked the train off the tracks."

The passengers eventually boarded buses back to the Utica station. Utica police say an investigation is up the Railroad police. Adirondack Scenic Railroad officials say tonight's two scheduled Polar Express trips have been canceled, but they expect to have the tracks fixed in time for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. trip.  Go to full article