Rensselaer, NY, Sep 14, 2011 — After months of talk, and relatively few details, Governor Cuomo's regional economic development councils have begun their work on his new plan to revive new York's economy.
Cuomo is pushing a fast-track approach that pits regions across New York against each other in a competition for state funding. There's been mixed reaction to the plan.  Go to full article

Sep 13, 2011 — Flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Irene may force Essex County to borrow money to make it through the end of this year. Jay Supervisor Randy Douglas chairs the Essex County Board of Supervisors.

Douglas said he couldn't put a dollar figure on the total damages to county infrastructure. But he said individual projects relating to Irene will cost towns in the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Go to full article

Sep 13, 2011 — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was in the Adirondacks once again Monday morning, this time to announce the reopening of state Route 73 outside Keene Valley.

Appearing in the tiny hamlet of St. Hubert's, Cuomo was joined by Joan McDonald - commissioner of the state Department of Transportation - as well as local and state lawmakers.

Cuomo stressed that reopening Route 73 is vital to the area's economic health, especially with fall foliage season right around the corner.

Chris Morris was on hand for Monday's ribbon cutting and has this report.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Sep 13, 2011 — The North Country Economic Development Council wants to hear from people about how to improve the region's economy. The group is among 10 regional councils appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. They're under a November deadline to come up with a plan to compete for millions of dollars in state grants and loans.

The North Country council opened its regular Monday meeting in Potsdam to the public yesterday before heading on to Plattsburgh last evening for the first of seven more public meetings.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 07, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says he does not think the 2% property tax cap enacted into law earlier this year will put a damper on local governments' efforts to raise funds to clean up flood damage from tropical storm Irene. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has more:  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 07, 2011 — The State University of New York surprised the Canton-Potsdam communities last month with the news that it will put one president in charge of SUNY Canton and Potsdam colleges as part of a new initiative to share services. The plan is for SUNY Canton president Joe Kennedy to resign at the end of the academic year, with Potsdam President Jon Schwaller presumably holding the new office.

Canton leaders were dismayed that Kennedy, who's led an 18 year resurgence of the former Ag and tech school, was forced out. At a stormy meeting in early August, college council members at both schools challenged the decision, and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher's authority to merge the presidencies.

There's been push-back from local and state politicians. A week ago the SUNY Canton chapter of the United University Professions organized a public protest that drew some 200 people in support of Kennedy.

Martha Foley sat down with Kennedy recently to talk about the new plan. He said it's hard to see how the shared presidency will work. And he said the news took him by surprise, too.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 07, 2011 — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is due to release its final version of an environmental impact statement on hydro fracking in New York this morning. The report is being eagerly anticipated by both environmentalists and the natural gas industry.  Go to full article

Manila, , Sep 07, 2011 — Governor Cuomo unveiled a new state flag to memorialize the New Yorkers and others who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers. He says the flag will be flown at the memorial site in lower Manhattan as well as at the State Capitol. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Sep 06, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says Rt. 73 from the Adirondack Northway to Keene Valley -- one of the most important travel corridors in the region -- will reopen within ten days.

He made the announcement Monday during a visit to Keene to inspect recovery efforts following tropical storm Irene. He also praised the community for rebuilding quickly but acknowledged that a lot of work remains to be done. Brian Mann was there and has our story.  Go to full article

Sep 06, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo made his second visit to Keene yesterday following Irene and widespread flooding in the Ausable River valley.

The trip was part of his effort to mobilize thousands of volunteers for a "Labor for Your Neighbor" day as communities across the state recover from the tropical storm. Brian Mann was in Keene for the governor's stop. He tells Martha Foley the governor got high praise from local people exhausted by the last eight days of assessment and clean-up.  Go to full article