May 07, 2013 — E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur has had a tough year. Last fall, the State Department of Health forced it to close down, after finding numerous safety violations in the hospital lab.

Most of the problems have been corrected. The hospital has new management and a new board of directors. Now it needs the patients to return.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jan 25, 2012 — Mayors from across the state came to the Capitol to testify to a joint legislative fiscal committee on Governor Cuomo's proposed budget. While New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg went out of his way to offer support to the governor and for his budget plan, upstate mayors cities begged for a bail out.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Aug 24, 2011 — President Obama unveiled a new jobs initiative for rural America last week. Not targeting roads and bridges, but doctors and nurses. The Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick explains why federal officials believe more doctors could be good medicine for struggling rural economies.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, May 03, 2010 — Last week, President Obama turned his attention to rural America. He visited an ethanol refinery in Missouri, a small CSA farmer in Iowa, and wind turbine blades manufacturer in Iowa. The message was that while farming is important to rural communities, most rural people get their paychecks off the farm. New industries like renewable energies will be key to reviving small towns.

On Air Force One, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that rural America is facing "a silent crisis." David Sommerstein got a chance to interview Vilsack to ask what he meant. Vilsack says the recession hit rural America decades ago. He says 90% of counties with persistent poverty are in rural areas.  Go to full article

Niagara Falls, NY, May 03, 2010 — Over the weekend, Democrats from around New York state gathered in Niagara Falls to talk about rural issues. They face some tough fights in November's elections, as they work to defend state Senate and US congressional seats.

Jimmy Vielkind is a political reporter for the Albany Times Union and he was at the conference. He spoke with Brian Mann.

Note: Winning the Democratic rural conference straw poll doesn't mean that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is an official candidate for governor. He has yet to declare that he's running for the office in November.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 07, 2010 — A new analysis from Cornell University's Community and Rural Development Institute puts the North Country (socio-economically speaking) right in the ballpark of the rest non-metropolitan New York State.

The report is based on county level U.S. Census data. With some variations county to county, the region including Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex and Hamilton counties has comparable employment and poverty rates, household incomes, housing values and so on when compared to the rest of rural New York.

That'll surprise many people who live and work in the region. It surprised the researchers, according to the institute's co-director, Dr. David Brown. He is in Canton today as keynote speaker for the annual North Country Symposium at St. Lawrence University. He talked this morning with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Nov 17, 2009 — A new Associated Press poll suggests Americans hold a widely shared conviction that major health care changes are needed. But they're virtually split down the middle on whether health care plans being discussed in Congress are the right way to go. The poll suggests Americans are worried that the fine print could cost them money, and that opponents have stronger feelings on the issue than do supporters. In May, Martha Foley spoke with David Acker, CEO of Canton Potsdam Hospital, about how the health care reform conversation was shaping up for small hospitals, in rural areas like the North Country. He was back in the studio this morning, for a follow-up conversation.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Oct 15, 2009 — New York's ban on open burning took effect yesterday. With the exception of small brush and campfires, it's now illegal to burn trash, papers, plastics and even leaves anywhere in the state. The new law's provoked applause and outrage in places like the North Country, where backyard burn barrels have been a sign of everyday rural life. Supporters of the ban celebrated yesterday. And a project is ramping up to help farmers recycle the agricultural plastics many used to burn. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Aug 03, 2009 — Tonight, the St. Lawrence County legislature takes up a measure to increase the salaries of its public attorneys. The vote comes after more than half of the county's 21 lawyers have resigned in the last year. Many cited low pay and high workload for their departure. St. Lawrence may be an extreme example. But across the North Country, the recession is putting increased stress on lawyers in public defenders and district attorneys' offices. For our series, A Year of Hard Choices, David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 02, 2009 — Martha Foley talks with Jeff Yost, president and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation. He's in Canton today to speak to St. Lawrence County community leaders as keynote for the North Country Symposium.  Go to full article