Mar 08, 2005 — More than 60% of Americans are overweight or obese. That number is even higher in the North Country. Most alarming is that obesity among children is skyrocketing. Health officials are calling it an epidemic. They warn overeating will shorten our life expectancy if the problem goes unchecked. Last week, the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative held a forum to discuss why North Country residents are so overweight, and what can be done about it. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Jan 15, 2003 — The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton is sponsoring a local history essay contest with a goal of unearthing hidden history in the North Country. Todd Moe talks with Bart Harloe, one of the coordinators of the writing contest that looks into history "from the bottom up".  Go to full article

Oct 01, 2002 — The binational board that regulates water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River announced last week it will release more water from the St. Lawrence to accommodate ships arriving at the Port of Montreal. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Sep 30, 2002 — The Raquette River has seen several incarnations of economic development in the North Country: first fishing and logging, then sandstone mining and hydroelectric generation. A group of businesses and citizens want to start a new economic era for the state's second largest river based on tourism and recreation. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Sep 30, 2002 — North Country political veteran June O'Neill has been chosen to chair the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Sep 25, 2002 — When Ames Department Stores close their doors for good in a dozen North Country communities later this fall, they'll leave behind a retail void. Small town residents will have to drive to larger towns to find everyday goods from socks to Christmas lights to dish drainers. Many areas are scrambling to find other retailers to fill the gap - the so-called "big boxes" like Target or Walmart. The village of Potsdam is one such place. But in the meanwhile, it's using college students to do market research to help local stores fill the Ames niche and keep shoppers close to home. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Sep 18, 2002 — The North Country dairy industry is built on manufacturing. Most of the milk cows produce is turned into something else - cheese, butter, yogurt, milk powder. The relationship between dairy farmers and the processing plants they sell their milk to is a symbiotic one. But like all close relationships, there can be tension, even outright feuds. In the second part of our series on dairy in the North Country, David Sommerstein looks at the relationship from one processor's point of view, who says the future lies in the two groups becoming one.  Go to full article

Sep 17, 2002 — In this first part of our series on the dairy industry in the North Country, David Sommerstein looks at the price of milk as seen through the eyes of one mid-size dairy farmer.  Go to full article

Aug 30, 2002 — The North Country's colleges and universities are welcoming a near record number of new students to their campuses this year. That's good news for tight budgets. But as David Sommerstein reports, schools have different ways of dealing with the influx of students.  Go to full article

Aug 28, 2002 — David Sommerstein hitches a ride on Jim Benvenuto's "Gypsy Wind" near Chippewa Bay, following in the wake of rumrunners, hermits, and other river rats.  Go to full article