Sep 09, 2004 — 17 state senators, including North Country Senator Ray Meier, have introduced a bill that would repeal a controversial change in vehicle law approved in the state budget last month. The law would give the state, not towns and villages, the lion's share of the fines from speeding tickets and other traffic violations. Senator Meier told David Sommerstein the law is a direct result of the dysfunctional budget process.  Go to full article

Aug 24, 2004 — One of Governor Pataki's biggest line-item vetoes targeted a quarter-billion dollar grant meant to help hospitals fund capital improvement projects. The Governor also cut 12 million dollars which the legislature had budgeted for struggling nursing homes. But as Brian Mann reports, the health care industry won a big victory by blocking deep cuts to Medicaid.  Go to full article

Aug 12, 2004 — Local towns and school districts in the Adirondacks and Catskills will share $1.9 million in tax relief under the new state budget. The money will reimburse communities in St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Essex Counties for property tax breaks on land used for timber production. For more on this and other aspects of the new state budget, David Sommerstein spoke with State Senator Betty Little, a Republican from Queensbury. She says Governor Pataki has supported $3.3 million in property tax reimbursements.  Go to full article

Aug 11, 2004 — The state legislature has agreed to increase education funding by $740 million. Some of that money will come to the North Country, where school districts have been waiting until the last minute to find out how much state aid they'll have when classes start in a few weeks. David Sommerstein spoke with Janet Boyd, business manager of the Hermon-DeKalb Central School District, about the increase.  Go to full article

Aug 06, 2004 — Two men remain in custody today after police raided a mosque and two homes in Albany yesterday in connection with an alleged terrorist plot to obtain a weapon. Federal officials believe the two men arrested Thursday may be linked to al-Qaida and a militant group blamed to attacks in Iraq. Brian Shields of WAMC in Albany reports.  Go to full article

Aug 06, 2004 — Three North Country soldiers will receive the Purple Heart award today at a ceremony in Albany. The National Guardsmen will be honored as part of a ceremony dedicating a new monument that celebrates New York's Purple Heart recipeints. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Jun 28, 2004 — One of the few things that state lawmakers accomplished in a legislative session that ended without a state budget was to agree on a plan to reform the broken budget process. But doubts have been raised that Governor Pataki will go along with the legislature's plan in its current form.  Go to full article

Jun 25, 2004 — While some bills, including the one ratifying the Akwesasne Mohawk casino compact, passed at the last minute, the list of things that didn't get done this session in Albany is long: education and Medicaid funding overhauls, reform of the Rockefeller drug laws and of the state's voting system. And on top of all that, the state budget is late for the 20th straight year. David Sommerstein talked with NCPR's Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt yesterday about what many observers are calling the worst year in Albany ever.  Go to full article

Jun 24, 2004 — The state legislature yesterday ended its 2004 regular session. Governor George Pataki and the legislature have come to agreement on a few minor bills. But as Karen DeWitt reports, the major issues remain undone.  Go to full article

Jun 22, 2004 — The impasse in Albany has made an already tough budgeting year even tougher for local school districts. School boards had to estimate the amount of state aid they expect to receive next year. Still, budgets passed in most districts. But a handful failed. Those districts will have to make contingency budgets, and that means cutting thousands of dollars in programs, services, and in some cases, people. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article