Apr 09, 2009 — A new report details the billion dollar trafficking of untaxed cigarettes into Canada from the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation near Massena. The investigation by the Center for Public Integrity documented 5 to 10 unlicensed tobacco factories in Akwesasne and on the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal.

Smugglers carry cigarettes across the Canadian border and sell them in Ontario and Quebec for $20 a carton. A legally taxed carton costs $80 to $90. The Canadian government estimates it is losing $1.6 billion a year in taxes while health care costs associated with smoking are rising. William Marsden of the Montreal Gazette reported the story. He told David Sommerstein the tobacco smuggling has attracted more organized crime and drugs to an already porous region of the U.S.-Canada border.  Go to full article

Apr 03, 2009 — The State Senate approved sweeping changes to the Rockfeller drug laws last night as a part of the state budget. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 19, 2009 — Gang activity, including illegal drug trade, is up sharply in Glens Falls. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Mar 11, 2009 — Governor David Paterson told Rockefeller Drug Law reform supporters that the strict thirty four year old drug penalty law is likely to be repealed this year. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 05, 2009 — If the state Senate does vote to reform the Rockefeller drug laws this year, it would cut dramatically the number of inmates behind bars in New York. But state Senator Betty Little is still fighting to save Camp Gabriels, a prison camp near Saranac Lake that employs more than a hundred people. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Feb 05, 2009 — While much of the debate over prisons in Albany centers on the Rockefeller drug laws, inmate advocates are also hoping to revive education behind bars. The Correctional Association of New York, an inmate advocacy group, released its own report last week. The Association argues that offering prisoners access to college programs will cut dramatically the number of men and women who return to a life of crime after their release. Brian Mann spoke with Robert Gangi, executive director of the Correctional Association, who says education used to be a key part of prison life.  Go to full article

Oct 21, 2008 — Authorities arrested 20 people yesterday on drugs and weapons charges in St Lawrence County. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Sep 17, 2008 — Officials in an Adirondack school district have launched an anti-alcohol and drugs network. "Safe Homes" was unveiled at the start of the school year in Lake Placid and Wilmington. It gives parents a new way to build a network of home supervision for teens and their friends. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Mar 05, 2008 — Fort Drum's main headquarters is getting ready to take control of the south-central area of Iraq. Major General Michael Oates, the base's commander, will lead more than a thousand troops to Iraq in May. While they're there, three other 10th Mountain Division brigades will be preparing to deploy this fall. Yesterday, General Oates gave some members of the media a tour of a training war room that's a replica of the real thing in Iraq. David Sommerstein was there and has this report.  Go to full article

Oct 17, 2007 — Less than ten years ago, the US Geological Survey found household drugs and chemicals in almost every body of water they sampled. Each year since then, at least twenty studies come out showing these chemicals can affect the hormone systems of wildlife, and some studies have begun to look at effects on humans. Kinna Ohman reports that, despite all this, little has been done to address the issue.  Go to full article