Jun 10, 2013 — Several hundred giant freighters slip through the St. Lawrence Seaway every year. They're guided by vessel traffic controllers from a squat building on top of the Eisenhower Lock in Massena.

The master control room looks straight out of Star Trek. Half a dozen big flat screens show computerized displays of real-time traffic along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.  Go to full article

Jun 04, 2013 — A group campaigning to stop Massena Memorial Hospital from privatizing has collected more than 500 petition signatures. They're trying to convince town leaders to retain hospital ownership.

Because it's government-owned, Massena Memorial is one of a few hospitals in New York that currently pays into the state pension system. Hospital leaders say pension costs have been rising at an unsustainable rate, and they could save millions of dollars by changing the ownership structure.

Mark Kotzin is leading the charge against the change. He's spokesperson for the Civil Service Employees Association, which represents about 200 employees at the hospital.

Kotzin says government-ownership is better for the community than privatizing the facility.  Go to full article

May 24, 2013 — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's farewell tour swung through Massena yesterday. One of the few Republicans in President Obama's cabinet, LaHood announced he was stepping down last January.

Obama's nominee to replace LaHood, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, breezed through a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

LaHood has overseen the St. Lawrence Seaway for four years. As David Sommerstein reports, he said the Seaway will always occupy "a niche" in the nation's infrastructure.  Go to full article

May 22, 2013 — Mohawk tribal chiefs joined Governor Cuomo in Albany yesterday to announce a new deal on casino exclusivity.

They signed off on settling a long-running dispute over revenues from the Mohawks' Akwesasne Casino near Massena. In return, the Mohawks will get exclusive gaming rights in the 8-county North Country region.

David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley to sort out what the deal means for the North Country and the Mohawk land claim.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, May 21, 2013 — The federal trust in charge of finding a new life for the General Motors property in Massena say the process is more marathon than sprint. But as David Sommerstein reports, they're hopeful a lift from a railroad giant will help.  Go to full article

May 17, 2013 — We've reported for months - years even - that the Great Lakes, from Superior to Ontario, are at historically low water levels.

So we were surprised to get the news this week that regulators are lowering the gates at the Iroquois Dam near Ogdensburg because the St. Lawrence River is too high.

It's quite a puzzle.  Go to full article

Apr 24, 2013 — A Malone-based company will have to install new equipment to detect leaks at gas stations it owns across the North Country. Federal officials already fined Adirondack Energy $46,000.  Go to full article

Apr 05, 2013 — Update: The EPA released its final plan for the Alcoa Grasse River cleanup late this morning. More information is at The Inbox.

Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment.  Go to full article

Apr 01, 2013 — The company that built Massena will keep its plants open there for at least another 30 years.

Alcoa announced Saturday it will invest $42 million to modernize its East plant and build a new smelting the line. The company will also guarantee at least 900 jobs. In return, Alcoa will get low cost electricity from the hydropower dam on the St. Lawrence River.

The deal hinges on how the Environmental Protection Agency decides to clean up PCBs Alcoa and Reynolds dumped in the Grasse River decades ago.

David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley for more on the deal.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 08, 2013 — A local environmental firm was selected for the next cleanup phase of General Motors' contaminated site in Massena.  Go to full article