r e g i o n a l n e w s
NCPR News Staff: Julie Grant
Reporter and Producer
Julie Grant grew up on the north shore of Long Island, NY, and moved to the Midwest to attend Miami University. She stayed in Ohio to start her career as a public radio reporter, host, and news director. Julie covered city hall, the statehouse, and loads of political stories. She focused on education coverage for many years, and then turned her attention to environmental issues. Julie was Ohio correspondent for The Environment Report, and covered agriculture, wetlands, chemicals in everyday products, and many other issues.She has traveled to Egypt, India, and around the U.S. for documentary work and public radio stories, and has won many awards through the years. Julie is excited to be back in New York with her family--even though it's much further north this time! Email Julie
Stories filed by Julie Grant
Banford Elementary School in Canton. Photo: Canton Central School
North Country schools face uncharted ground
Apr 11, 2013 — Many North Country school districts are facing uncharted territory. They're going bankrupt, and at the same time have more mandates to fulfill.
The annual North Country Symposium is focused on the state of education, and how it's affecting the rest of the community. Keynote speaker John Sipple is director of the New York Center for Rural Schools at Cornell University.
He says there are no easy answers, and that the schools are inextricably intertwined with the community - they rise and fall together. Go to full article
The annual North Country Symposium is focused on the state of education, and how it's affecting the rest of the community. Keynote speaker John Sipple is director of the New York Center for Rural Schools at Cornell University.
He says there are no easy answers, and that the schools are inextricably intertwined with the community - they rise and fall together. Go to full article
Loretta Thayer at her hamburger place, the Silver Leaf. Photo: Julie Grant
A safe haven, and homemade pie, at the Silver Leaf
Apr 05, 2013 — North Country highways are full of diners, cafes, and coffee shops. The sign on the Silver Leaf in DeKalb Junction calls it a diner. But owner Loretta Thayer says it's really a hamburger joint.
She decided to open the place after the September 11th attacks. Thayer is 80 now, and the place is still running. Go to full article
She decided to open the place after the September 11th attacks. Thayer is 80 now, and the place is still running. Go to full article
North Country schools get high marks
Apr 04, 2013 — An education advocacy group has issued report cards to schools across New York, and the North Country had some high marks for student performance.
Abraham Wing Elementary school in the Glens Falls area ranked first in the state for student performance among low income districts. Voters in Abraham Wing recently voted no on a proposal to merge with Glens Falls Central School.
No middle or high schools from the region were among the top 10 in their categories. But many North Country high schools received a mark of "A" for student performance. Go to full article
Abraham Wing Elementary school in the Glens Falls area ranked first in the state for student performance among low income districts. Voters in Abraham Wing recently voted no on a proposal to merge with Glens Falls Central School.
No middle or high schools from the region were among the top 10 in their categories. But many North Country high schools received a mark of "A" for student performance. Go to full article
Senator Charles Schumer with workers at the Alcoa East facility on April 1, 2013. Photo: Julie Grant
Schumer calls on EPA to finalize Alcoa clean-up cost
Apr 02, 2013 — U.S. Senator Charles Schumer visited the Alcoa East plant in Massena Monday. He came to announce that the aluminum-maker is prepared to start the first phase of a $600 million modernization plan, that will secure 900 jobs in Massena.
But there's still a catch. Before Alcoa begins construction, it wants a price tag on clean up the Grasse River. The company previously polluted the river.
Schumer used his speech to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to approve a final cost of the clean up, so Alcoa can move forward. Go to full article
But there's still a catch. Before Alcoa begins construction, it wants a price tag on clean up the Grasse River. The company previously polluted the river.
Schumer used his speech to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to approve a final cost of the clean up, so Alcoa can move forward. Go to full article
Photo: freefotoUK CC some rights reserved
State budget boost not enough for NNY schools
De Kalb Junction, NY, Mar 29, 2013 — North Country school districts did better in the final state budget than expected.
State senator Patty Ritchie says schools in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties got $7 million more than the Governor had proposed, and a total of $25 million more than last year.
But many districts still struggling with to make ends meet.
Ann Adams is superintendent at the Hermon-DeKalb Central School. She says her district is on track to go broke in 2015.
So, the final state budget numbers are good news: an extra $140,000. Go to full article
State senator Patty Ritchie says schools in Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties got $7 million more than the Governor had proposed, and a total of $25 million more than last year.
But many districts still struggling with to make ends meet.
Ann Adams is superintendent at the Hermon-DeKalb Central School. She says her district is on track to go broke in 2015.
So, the final state budget numbers are good news: an extra $140,000. Go to full article
Photo: freefotoUK CC some rights reserved
Jefferson County school district could cut 23 jobs
Mar 27, 2013 — State budget numbers released late Tuesday show the General Brown Central School District in the Jefferson County town of Dexter will get a seven percent hike in state aid this year. Go to full article
Photo: barjack CC some rights reserved
Police chiefs defend year-old illegal gun tip line
Mar 26, 2013 — Let's look back now at a story reported late last week. New York state Assembly member Steve McLaughlin of the Capital Region issued a press release taking issue with a state tipline for people to report illegal possession of firearms. McLaughlin said the tipline would pit neighbor against neighbor, and he used it to criticize New York's new gun control laws.
Some North Country lawmakers agreed with him. And comments by these leaders went viral.
We reported about it at NCPR. Then we heard from Governor Cuomo's office, which said the tipline wasn't a new program, and it wasn't part of the New York SAFE Act. It's been in place for the past year. Go to full article
Some North Country lawmakers agreed with him. And comments by these leaders went viral.
We reported about it at NCPR. Then we heard from Governor Cuomo's office, which said the tipline wasn't a new program, and it wasn't part of the New York SAFE Act. It's been in place for the past year. Go to full article
North Country lawmakers assess state budget
Mar 22, 2013 — As leaders in Albany hammer out the final shape of the state budget, North Country lawmakers are focused on how the changing funding numbers will affect schools, services, and people here.
Senator Joe Griffo of Rome says there's already some good news in the budget. Go to full article
Senator Joe Griffo of Rome says there's already some good news in the budget. Go to full article
Interim presidents appointed at SUNY Potsdam, Canton
Rensselaer, NY, Mar 20, 2013 — The State University of New York colleges in Canton and Potsdam each will have a new interim president starting June 1. The SUNY Board of Trustees approved the appointments Tuesday. Go to full article
Advocates for New York State's hungry rally at the Capitol in Nov., 2012 for an increase in the state's minimum wage. Some social services agencies are concerned about a wage hike. Photo: Karen DeWitt
Minimum wage hike pinches social service budgets
Mar 20, 2013 — As state lawmakers and Governor Cuomo finalize the state budget, it looks like New York will raise the minimum wage gradually over three years.
Under the emerging agreement, the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage would increase to $8 an hour in January, to $8.75 at the beginning of 2015, and reach $9 an hour by the end of 2015.
If it happens, it would mean a wage jump of 24 percent in three years. Business leaders have expressed concern about the increased costs, while labor unions, religious, and anti-hunger groups are pushing for the hike.
Social services agencies in the North Country say increasing the minimum wage could help some people, but it also gives them reasons for concern. Go to full article
Under the emerging agreement, the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage would increase to $8 an hour in January, to $8.75 at the beginning of 2015, and reach $9 an hour by the end of 2015.
If it happens, it would mean a wage jump of 24 percent in three years. Business leaders have expressed concern about the increased costs, while labor unions, religious, and anti-hunger groups are pushing for the hike.
Social services agencies in the North Country say increasing the minimum wage could help some people, but it also gives them reasons for concern. Go to full article
« first « previous 10 21-30 of 277 stories next 10 » last »
©
2013 North Country Public Radio, 
St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.org
NCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • 
American Public Media • 
Public Radio International
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
