Peru, NY, Feb 10, 2012 — NCPR kicked off election coverage with a series of stories this week. See below for more on the 23rd district race for the House of Representatives.

Politics are everywhere these days, from the bitter Republican primary fight that's playing out on our TV screens to the redistricting battle in Albany that could shake up politics right here in our own backyard. As 2012 goes on, the news and conversation will only get louder and more intense.

Most high school students can't vote, but politics plays a big role in their lives, too. And they're paying attention, at least the teens are who gathered recently in Peru to talk about government and politics. Our correspondent Sarah Harris sends this report.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Jan 27, 2012 — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced yesterday that he wants Congress to authorize a new round of base closures that could help the Pentagon save more than 500 million dollars.

That news angered Congressman Bill Owens, whose district includes the Fort Drum Army base near Watertown. Martha Foley has details.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Jan 26, 2012 — As the country buckles down for a lengthy and volatile presidential campaign, voters in the North Country are preparing for another election in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

Two years ago, the Upstate New York Tea Party was right in the thick of things. The group's chairman, Mark Barie, became a major player in the congressional battle between incumbent Representative Bill Owens, a Democrat from Plattsburgh; Matt Doheny, a former Wall Street financier who now lives in Watertown; and Doug Hoffman, an accountant and businessman from Lake Placid.

In March 2011, Barie suffered a brain aneurism and three strokes. Today, in part one of a two-part series, Chris Morris looks at Barie's road to recovery as he prepares to re-enter what's sure to be a big political fight in the 23rd District.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Jan 25, 2012 — Libraries aren't just quiet places filled with books. In the North Country, libraries serve as social hubs and community centers. These days, they're scrambling to keep pace with the changing ways that we use information and technology.

But decreases in funding are making it harder for rural libraries to juggle their many missions. Sarah Harris has our story.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Dec 23, 2011 — The US Postal Service is in crisis mode, trying to downsize while wrestling with billions of dollars in deficits. Dozens of local post offices have been targeted for possible closure. And as many as 200 mail processing centers around the country may also shut down - including facilities in Plattsburgh, Glens Falls and White River Junction, Vermont. A final decision on their fate has been put off until May, but as Sarah Harris reports, people are already talking about the jobs and the services that may be lost here in the North Country.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Aug 08, 2011 — Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy convened the first meeting of the North Country Regional Economic Development Council, at SUNY Potsdam Friday. It wasn't open to the public, but Duffy has said future meetings will be.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the North Country Council just last week. It's among 10 created around the state, and the local co-chairs say the regional approach could work.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Jul 29, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo chose SUNY Potsdam as the place to unveil his North Country economic development council. The council will compete with other regions of the state for a $1 billion pot of grant money to create jobs.

Cuomo tapped Plattsburgh based economic developer Garry Douglas and Clarkson University president Tony Collins to chair the council. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jul 06, 2011 — The idea of an Interstate across the North Country to connect Watertown and Plattsburgh is more than 50 years old. It's had different names: the rooftop highway, the Northern Tier Expressway, Interstate 98. But it's never faced any organized opposition, until now.

A group of residents in St. Lawrence County has formed "Yes Eleven." They argue that with a price tag of at least four billion dollars, and opposition from the state department of transportation, the rooftop highway is a pie in the sky.

John Danis is the co-coordinator of YES-Eleven. He told David Sommerstein the group's name references the notion that the rooftop highway is siphoning precious funds from existing infrastructure on the region's main existing artery--Route 11.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, May 30, 2011 — One of the North Country's largest manufacturers has won a contract worth more than $230 million to build buses for use in New York City.

Novabus, headquartered in Canada, will build hundreds of new buses at its plant in Plattsburgh over the next three years.

As Brian Mann reports, that will allow the company's American employees to go back to work full-time.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, May 25, 2011 — Lake Champlain rose again this week, thanks to 20 to30 mile-an-hour winds Monday that pushed water back onto some roads and waterfront.

The damages are still mounting. After weeks of high water, the lake remains at flood stage, threatening roads, homes, wells and septic systems.

Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day yesterday called this the "slowest natural disaster ever experienced" in the county.

Day predicts it'll take many weeks of effort to bring hard-hit areas back to normal, and said some of the shoreline may always look more like an ocean coastline than serene lakeshore.

Nora Flaherty talked with Day late yesterday.  Go to full article