Dec 21, 2004 — 2005 will be the year the controversial debate over electronic voting machines comes to New York. Under the federal Help America Vote Act, New York has to replace its old lever-action voting machines in time for the 2006 elections. New York is expected to receive $100 million to help buy the new machines. Companies that make them are spending lots of money to get noticed in Albany. According to a report released yesterday by Common Cause New York, voting machine vendors spent more than $850,000 lobbying on bills pending in the state legislature. David Sommerstein spoke with Rachel Leon, Common Cause New York's executive director. She says among the top spenders are nationally-known companies.  Go to full article

Dec 13, 2004 — In the past month, Governor Pataki has announced four deals with native tribes to resolve land claims and build casino resorts in the Catskills. Three of those agreements are with tribes from outside New York. A fifth casino deal could pop up if the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe approves a proposed land claim settlement. The deals push the number of casino plans beyond the number approved by the legislature. The Governor wants the legislature to accommodate the new plans. Martha Foley talks with David Sommerstein to sort it all out.  Go to full article

Nov 08, 2004 — State environmental officials are renewing attention to the health and environmental dangers of burning trash outdoors. The Department of Environmental Conservation has joined with 7 northeast states and the EPA in a campaign to reduce backyard burning. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 01, 2004 — Pulitzer Prize winning novelist William Kennedy is the author of eight novels, including Roscoe, Ironweed and Legs. Kennedy grew up in Albany and spent summers in the Adirondacks. He got his start as a writer at the Glens Falls Post Star newspaper. This home territory has proved a fertile ground for Kennedy's fictional world. He's created a sort of mythology of gamblers and bootleggers and politicians. But Kennedy says it took him a while to realize that his own history could was suitable raw material for his fiction. During a visit to Saranac Lake in October 2004, he spoke with Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Oct 27, 2004 — The two candidates in the 118th Assembly District in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties are making their last campaign appearances this week before next Tuesday's vote. Democratic incumbent Darrel Aubertine faces a serious challenge from Republican Scott Gray. Gray owns Gray's Flowers in Watertown and is a Jefferson County legislator. He ran unsuccessfully for this seat two years ago. He told David Sommerstein he's running again because he sees a need for change.  Go to full article

Oct 26, 2004 — Two years ago, Cape Vincent farmer and Jefferson County legislator Darrel Aubertine became the first Democrat to represent the North Country in Albany in almost 30 years. Now he's running for re-election in the 118th Assembly, or 'river', district against Republican challenger Scott Gray. Aubertine told David Sommerstein he learned in his first term how to play the game in Albany to advance North Country interests.  Go to full article

Oct 13, 2004 — In the 114th Assembly District, Plattsburgh Republican Chris Ortloff faces a challenge from Democrat Bernie Bassett, a former school principal from Morrisonville. Ortloff won his last election by a three-to-one margin. But this year, Bassett has received more than thirty-five thousand dollars in financial support from the state Democratic party, which hopes to claim a second assembly seat in the North Country. As Brian Mann reports, the campaign is being shaped by deep public anger over gridlock in Albany.  Go to full article

Oct 08, 2004 — Presidential candidate Ralph Nader brought his campaign to the state capitol Thursday. The defiant Nader urged supporters to vote their conscience and back him on Election Day. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Sep 30, 2004 — In the past, reform in Albany has been stifled by deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats. North country assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, now in her first term, says things are so broken that she'll support a bipartisan effort to bring deep changes to state government. Sayward, the former Willsboro supervisor who represents the 113th district, spoke yesterday with Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Sep 17, 2004 — While the presidential campaign is capturing all the pre-election hype and headlines, a North Country race for state Assembly is heating up. In the 118th district, first term Assemblyman and farmer Darrel Aubertine, a Democrat, is defending his seat. He faces a challenge from Republican Scott Gray, a Jefferson County legislator and Watertown businessman. Incumbents in New York enjoy almost perfect job security. Only a couple dozen incumbents have lost races since 1982. But as David Sommerstein reports, this year's legislative meltdown in the state capital makes incumbency a mixed blessing.  Go to full article