Sep 04, 2009 — The Potsdam Courier-Observer broke news yesterday that the septic system of the Walmart Supercenter in Potsdam failed more than three months ago. Since then, Walmart has been trucking thousands of gallons of its sewage almost every day to the wastewater treatment system in Canton.

The retail giant has been in contact with state environmental officials. But local leaders were left in the dark. Now the village of Canton says it will stop accepting the sewage today. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Aug 07, 2009 — It's been an up-and-down week for an embattled North Country retail chain. Hacketts reopened its store in Massena this week. Its parent company finished paying off a $5 million debt. But new lawsuits against the company have emerged, including one from the family that is the retailers' namesake. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Gouverneur, NY, Jul 24, 2009 — Republican candidate for the 23rd congressional district, Dede Scozzafava, explains to David Sommerstein that she has no connection to her brother's venture capital firm, Seaway Valley Capital Corp., which owes $192,000 in state and federal taxes.  Go to full article

Ann Arbor, MI, Apr 17, 2009 — Chances are, you haven't bought a new car this year. Auto sales are down across the board, including in the small car and electric-gas hybrid markets. Now some dealers and automakers are proposing a way to move some of those more fuel efficient cars: increase the gas tax. Samara Freemark explains why the same people who sell cars might want to make driving them more expensive.  Go to full article

Apr 16, 2009 — Six national clothing and sporting goods companies are trying to force a North Country department store into bankruptcy. The creditors say Hacketts department store owes them $1.6 million. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Lowville, NY, Feb 18, 2009 — This week, we take a snapshot of one North Country community and how it's being affected by the recession. Lowville is the seat of Lewis County. It's a cute village tucked in the Black River valley, between the Tug Hill Plateau and the western Adirondacks. The area has one of the highest concentrations of dairy farms in the state. There's also manufacturing jobs in the dairy and paper industries. And the Tug Hill relies heavily on snowmobile tourism for money. Unemployment is typically high. In December, the unemployment rate had climbed to 9%. Still, many small businesses populate Main Street. David Sommerstein inquired in Lowville's "gift shop district" about the effects of the recession.  Go to full article

Jan 06, 2009 — Under a new state law, large stores and retail or grocery store chains in New York will have to provide collection bins for used carry out bags.
Lots of supermarkets encourage shoppers to carry re-usable bags. The new law goes further, to try to make sure those plastic bags still in use are recycled. Julie Grant reports.  Go to full article

Dec 23, 2008 — There are two shopping days left before Christmas, and Saranac Lake merchants are offering an incentive to "buy local". The Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is handing out shopper passports to help keep local residents shopping for their holiday gifts at local stores. The idea was prompted by the Community Store last month. Todd Moe talks with Kathy Steinbrook, co-owner of Scotts Florist, about the "buy local" campaign this winter.  Go to full article

Dec 18, 2008 — Governor David Paterson wants a major overhaul of the controversial Empire Zone development program. Empire Zones offer tax breaks to hundreds of businesses in the North Country. But the program has been plagued for years by accusations of mismanagement and spiraling costs. As Brian Mann reports, state officials plan to scrap the benefit for retail stores and make it harder for all companies to qualify.  Go to full article

Sep 22, 2008 — The retail giant Walmart is suing the town of Ticonderoga. The lawsuit in State Supreme Court claims the town's $6.9 million assessment of the Walmart Supercenter there is more than twice what it should be. The move comes months before Walmart will have to pay full taxes after 10 years of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes. Walmart has challenged assessments of its big boxes across the country. Ticonderoga town officials say the property's probably undervalued because the assessment was made when the Supercenter opened in 1998. Town Supervisor Bob Dedrick told David Sommerstein he was very surprised.  Go to full article