May 25, 2005 — President Bush visited western New York Tuesday to garner support for his ideas on changing the nation's Social Security system. Bud Lowell reports from Rochester.  Go to full article

Apr 19, 2005 — President Bush said last week it's "sad" that he can't count on his e-mails to his daughters remaining private. Commentator Ted Tate, a Star Lake resident, says his life isn't all that private in post-nine-eleven America, either.  Go to full article

Mar 23, 2005 — A report published this week in the Washington Post suggests that the Environmental Protection Agency may have excluded internal research when developing a controversial new mercury rule. According to the newspaper, a Harvard study suggested that tougher mercury control standards might have been cost-effective.  Go to full article

Mar 18, 2005 — The Senate voted 52-48 yesterday to reject President Bush's proposed 15 billion dollar federal Medicaid cuts. They supported a bill sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton to form a bipartisan commission of experts to explore broader health care reform.  Go to full article

Mar 18, 2005 — President Bush's budget proposes consolidation of 18 housing and community development programs under a new Commerce Department umbrella. Martha Foley talks with St. Lawrence County Housing Council director Fred Hanss, who warns the change could mean the loss of millions of dollars now used for rural housing and revitalization projects.  Go to full article

Mar 10, 2005 — The Bush Administration suffered a major defeat yesterday in the Senate. The Clear Skies initiative failed to pass a key committee vote, thanks in part to opposition from Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clear Skies had been hailed by the power industry and by some pro-environment groups as a way to replace outdated pollution control laws. Opponents described the plan as a gift to coal-fired power plants in the Midwest that are blamed for much of the acid rain and Mercury pollution that hits the north country. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Feb 10, 2005 — The White House spending plan for next fiscal year calls for a new toll system on the U.S. side of the Seaway to raise 8 million dollars. The Great Lakes shipping industry says the move could hurt businesses and cost jobs. But Seaway Administrator Albert Jacquez says he doesn't expect tolls to affect traffic levels.  Go to full article

Feb 09, 2005 — The North Country's Republican Congressman, John McHugh, talks with Martha Foley about President Bush's proposed budget.  Go to full article

Jan 27, 2005 — The big environmental groups are assessing President George W. Bush's record on the environment. Mostly, they're giving him poor marks. But after the Bush win in November, the real question is whether enough people care about the low rankings. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Lester Graham reports.  Go to full article

Dec 02, 2004 — Because Canada's federal government regulates drug prices, name brand medications are far cheaper north of the border. The Bush Administration -- and the American drug industry -- have worked to block re-importation of prescription drugs. The Food and Drug Administration describes the practice as illegal and unsafe. Critics say drug companies just want to protect their profits. And with tens of thousands of Americans already buying their medications north of the border, the Federal government faces growing pressure to shift its policy. As Brian Mann reports, several states are already experimenting with pilot programs designed to make drug imports from Canada more reliable.  Go to full article