South Burlington, VT, Oct 05, 2012 — Last spring the Air Force announced that Burlington was one of two preferred sites for a fleet of new F-35 fighter jets. The F-35s are a lot louder than the F-16s that currently take off and land from Burlington International Airport.

Many area residents are worried about the noise from the jets and its effect on their property values. Others are glad that the F-35 would guarantee a continued Air Force presence in Burlington.  Go to full article

Ray Brook, NY, Jun 05, 2012 — RAY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) - State troopers in northern New York are taking part in this week's commercial vehicle enforcement program being conducted along the nation's borders with Canada and Mexico.

During the annual International Road Check, New York State Police commercial vehicle enforcement units and their police counterparts across the U.S., Canada and Mexico conduct comprehensive inspections of commercial vehicles along major highways.

This year's 3-day program begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday.

New York state troopers from Troop B, based in the Adirondacks, are participating in the North Country. The troop includes three New York counties along the U.S.-Canada border: St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton. State police officials say a number of checkpoints will be set up this week across the region.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Feb 27, 2012 — New York civil rights advocates want a meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo following a decision by the attorney general's office not to investigate the New York Police Department over its monitoring of Muslim students following the Sept. 11 attack.

The Associated Press reports that in a letter yesterday, the New York Civil Rights Coalition refuses to accept the decision by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Schneiderman's office said there were legal obstacles that prevented the probe.
The coalition writes that the governor must direct state authorities to investigate the surveillance.

The Associated Press reported last week that the New York Police Department kept close watch on websites and blogs maintained by Muslim student associations across the northeast U.S., including at SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University.

The surveillance reportedly took place in 2006 and 2007. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has faced a firestorm of criticism. But he continues to defend the police department, saying the city needs to be vigilant against terrorism.

Susan Stebbins is an anthropology professor at SUNY Potsdam. She's also special assistant to the president for diversity. The surveillance reportedly took place in 2006 and 2007. But Stebbins tells Julie Grant the college is just finding out about it now. (NCPR did request an interview with the New York Police Department, but didn't hear back for this story.)  Go to full article

Dec 28, 2011 — Three upstate New York cities rank in the top 20 most secure places to live in America.
Rochester, ranked second. Buffalo ranks as the 6th and the Albany metro area clocked in at 12th.
How did three snow-friendly upstate cities landed in the top 20? The challenging weather helped.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Dec 08, 2011 — Canadian Prime minister Stephen Harper says the border security deal unveiled yesterday in Washington DC is the biggest step forward in trade with the US since the North American Free Trade Agreement was penned in the 1990s.

The deal is designed to streamline border crossings and synchronize the way both nations track people seeking to immigrate to North America.  Go to full article

Canton, OH, Nov 11, 2011 — Immigrant rights advocates and the New York Civil Liberties Union are accusing the Border Patrol of abusing its authority by questioning train and bus passengers about their citizenship, and for targeting people in the North Country and in towns miles away from any international crossing. Julie Grant reports.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Sep 15, 2011 — US Attorney General Eric Holder was in Lake Placid yesterday speaking at the Northern Border Summit. He told the gathering of Federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials that more needs to be done to stop smuggling and other criminal activity on the US-Canada border. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 09, 2011 — In the years since the September 11 attacks, life has changed along the U.S. - Canadian border. What used to be an informal crossing, has become militarized, and its changed the lives and expectations of people who live nearby. Julie Grant takes a look back at some of ways life has changed along the border, and whether it's making Americans safer.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, May 18, 2011 — Sen.Chuck Schumer says Homeland Security will begin tapping into Canadian military radar later this year to detect low-flying aircraft used to smuggle drugs from Canada into the United States.

Schumer also says a border security task force of several U.S. and Canadian agencies will be established in Massena by October. At a hearing he chaired in Washington yesterday, New York's senior senator questioned Department of Homeland Security officials about new initiatives to balance commerce with fighting drug trafficking. Ryan Morden has more from Washington.  Go to full article

Fort Drum, NY, Mar 16, 2011 — The 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum has spent much of the last decade in Afghanistan, fighting Al Quaeda and the Taliban.

More than five hundred soldiers and reservists from the North Country are currently serving in that country.

But New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the time has come for President Barack Obama to set a clear time-table for bringing the troops home. Todd Moe has details.  Go to full article