Ray Brook, NY, Nov 02, 2011 — Federal judges are beginning to review changes in sentencing guidelines that will shorten the sentences of thousands of men and women jailed on crack cocaine charges. The shift could affect inmates at the Federal prison in Ray Brook.

As Brian Mann reports, drug sentencing laws have been changing, based on concerns that crack laws unfairly targeted African Americans.  Go to full article

Manlius, NY, Aug 18, 2011 — Yesterday we heard a cautionary story about "landmen" - the people who handle drilling leases and mineral rights for natural gas companies. Today, a state law some say is being used to force property-owners to sign on the dotted line.

Most people agree it's wrong to just take someone's property and give it to someone else. But there's a gray area in the rules for natural gas drilling. It's called compulsory integration.
Emma Jacobs has this report for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Feb 02, 2011 — As part of his plan to balance New York's budget over the long term, Governor Cuomo wants to close as many as ten prisons statewide.

He offered to compensate each community that loses a correctional facility with $10 million in redevelopment funds.

As Brian Mann reports, it's still unclear which prisons will close or how the North Country's prison industry could be affected.  Go to full article

Jan 06, 2011 — In his speech yesterday, Governor Cuomo fired a shot across the bow of the North Country's prison industry. For decades, correctional facilities have been used to shore up the region's economy, providing thousands of high paying, dependable jobs.

Inmate populations have been dropping the last few years, in part because of reforms to the Rockefeller drug laws last year. Those laws imposed long prison sentences even on low-level, non-violent offenders.

As Brian Mann reports, the new governor says using prisons as an economic development tool is unaffordable and morally wrong.  Go to full article

Oct 07, 2010 — Over the last 20 years, sport paddlers in the Adirondacks have been pushing the limit on the kind of water their canoes, rafts, and kayaks can navigate. They've developed new techniques and new equipment that can handle more aggressive rapids and even waterfalls. And paddlers are also waging fierce legal battles to try to open more rivers, including routes that offer access to remote wilderness areas.

Some landowners are pushing back, arguing the sport is stepping on their private property rights. As Brian Mann reports, the dispute has sparked a kind of range war on some of the North Country's most beautiful rivers.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 22, 2010 — Last week, St. Lawrence County assistant public defender Chris Curley resigned from his job. He said the reason was his caseload was too much to bear. Public Defender Mary Rain said she believes this won't be the last assistant to step down due to the taxing caseload. St. Lawrence County has increased the salary of its assistant public defenders by $3-5,000, to about $50,000. But it's still low to retain good attorneys, says Rain. And she told David Sommerstein the caseloads are just too high.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 17, 2010 — Across the North Country, border patrol road checkpoints where agents stop cars and ask passengers their citizenship have become a part of daily life. Today we have a story about another step in the creeping influence of homeland security inside the border.

It's now become commonplace for federal agents to board buses and trains across Upstate New York and ask passengers for proof of citizenship. The checks are sweeping up some drugs and illegal immigrants, but also people who are here legally. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 17, 2010 — One wrinkle in the immigration picture has been particularly difficult for foreign students and professionals working in the U.S.

There are two agencies within Homeland Security that handle visas. The one that issues them is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It says a foreign national may reapply or change a visa status "in a timely manner" before its expiration date. The visa itself may take weeks or months to process. The U.S. Border Patrol however, only looks at the expiration date.

If a person's visa has expired, that person is subject to detention. Immigration lawyer Hilary Fraser of Ithaca has defended clients caught between these two interpretations of the law. She told David Sommerstein one was a Filipino national living in Watertown.  Go to full article

Ilion, NY, Aug 02, 2010 — Essex County's veteran sherrif, Henry Hommes passed away Friday night after a battle with cancer. Hommes was re-elected last year and was serving his thirteenth year in the post. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Jul 26, 2010 — Over the last 20 years, sport paddlers in the Adirondacks have been pushing the limit on the kind of water their canoes, rafts, and kayaks can navigate. They've developed new techniques and new equipment that can handle more aggressive rapids and even waterfalls. And paddlers are also waging fierce legal battles to try to open more rivers, including routes that offer access to remote wilderness areas.

Some landowners are pushing back, arguing the sport is stepping on their private property rights. As Brian Mann reports, the dispute has sparked a kind of range war on some of the North Country's most beautiful rivers.  Go to full article