Norman, OK, Aug 30, 2011 — More than two-hundred and fifty people packed the St. Lawrence County Courthouse last night for a public hearing about overriding the state property tax cap.

A brand new state law limits local governments from raising the property tax by more than 2 percent in a year. But some St. Lawrence County leaders say that's not enough to keep the county solvent and still offer many services residents count on.

They're thinking about overriding the tax cap, but in order to do that, they first need to hear from residents. Julie Grant was at last night's packed meeting in Canton:  Go to full article

Aug 29, 2011 — The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators is holding a public hearing Monday night about overriding the state's new two-percent property tax cap.

The county announced this week that it needs to issue bonds in order to meet its financial obligations this year. And leaders are considering whether to eliminate all but essential services - that means programs for the elderly, for youth, and the entire planning department would all be gone.

Some leaders say raising more money by over-riding the tax cap is the only responsible thing to do. But others say limiting property taxes is the real imperative. Julie Grant reports.  Go to full article

Aug 26, 2011 — The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators is holding a public hearing Monday night about overriding the state's new two-percent property tax cap. Board Chair Sallie Brothers says the county's financial situation doesn't look good.

She says they could cut all non-mandated services, such as alcohol and substance abuse programs, the planning department, youth programs, and nutrition services for the elderly. Or she says they could raise the property tax.  Go to full article

Canton, MO, Aug 25, 2011 — Schools are getting ready to open for the year. And this fall most have some new obligations. New York was awarded nearly $700 million from the federal government as part of President Obama's Race to the Top education program. Now districts are gearing up to put the new mandates into practice.

Stephen Todd is assistant superintendent of the St. Lawrence and Lewis BOCES, which serves 18 school districts in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. He says there are three major pieces to Race to the Top.

First, changing the core curriculum in math and English classes. "Instead of trying to teach a mile wide and an inch deep, let's teach what's essential and teach it really, really well. Instead of trying to read everything under the sun, let's make sure what we are reading, we are reading carefully and closely and deeply."

Second, says Todd: data analysis. In the past, he says, schools kept statistics about students and classrooms, but the analysis came only after the school year was over.

Todd says that's about to change: "Instead of doing an autopsy, let's do a physical. Part way through the year, we'll look at the patient. The individual student, the collective group, whether it be classroom or building. Let's see what's working, what's not working. Let's make mid course corrections, that allow us if there are problems to fix those and save the patient. So we're not doing an autopsy later, we're treating the patient as it goes along."

The third major piece of race to the top has to do with keeping closer track of teacher performance. Julie Grant visited the Canton Central Schools to find out what's changing with evaluations, and she found that both teachers and administrators are concerned about the cost in time and money.  Go to full article

Aug 19, 2011 — It's been a year of uncertainty for boaters along the St. Lawrence River. The U.S.-Canada border snakes down the St. Lawrence through the Thousand Islands past Massena, NY. When Canadian border agents seized an American fishing boat earlier this season, they upset a long held understanding of U.S. boaters. Roy Anderson hadn't docked or anchored. He had simply drifted across the international border.

Canadian border agents said Anderson hadn't checked in at a port of entry. They forced him to pay $1000 or have his boat seized. American boaters were shocked. They didn't know they needed to check in with Canada when drifting.

Anderson has since gotten most of his money back from the Canadian government. And politicians on both sides of the border are trying to provide some clarity about what is and isn't OK. Charter boat captains hope something can be done. They say the dispute is bad for business. Julie Grant went to Clayton to see firsthand the challenges of boating the border.  Go to full article

Port Charlotte, FL, Aug 12, 2011 — State University officials from Albany apologized to representatives from SUNY Canton today for removing the college's popular president without first informing school leaders. Still, SUNY officials said the plan is for one president to lead the SUNY colleges in Canton and Potsdam. Julie Grant was there, and files this report.  Go to full article

Aug 11, 2011 — If you're interested in eating locally, the folks at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake are setting up a feast of information and food today. Stefanie Ratcliffe is director of the Wild Center. She says they hold a farmer's market every Thursday, but they wanted to do more to help people find ways to eat locally and to find local food and beer producers.  Go to full article

Aug 05, 2011 — Media reports and rumors have been rampant this week about the future of SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam...particularly after the official announcement Tuesday that long time Canton college president Joseph Kennedy would be stepping down from that position. SUNY is now working to dispel rumors and clarify the situation.  Go to full article

Aug 03, 2011 — After several days of media speculation, SUNY's Chancellor announced yesterday that Canton College President Joseph Kennedy will retire at the end of this coming academic year. After that, he will become special advisor to the Chancellor.

SUNY officials say they are looking to save money, and promote collaboration among campuses, but some are seeing this as a step down the road to consolidation of the Canton and Potsdam SUNY campuses.

The loss of Kennedy angered some in the local Canton community, and the town board has voted to fight a possible merger of the two colleges. Julie Grant speaks with Canton Town Supervisor David Button.  Go to full article

Buffalo, NY, Aug 02, 2011 — First Niagara Financial Group has purchased 195 HSBC bank branches, including 71 in western New York, and a dozen in the north country. Julie Grant reports that it's unclear what will happen to those northern HSBC branches, customers, and employees.  Go to full article