Jan 26, 2005 — The population in New York's county jails is rising fast, by almost 25% in the last five years. It comes at a time when state officials are pressuring counties to close aging facilities. The result is an explosion in new jail construction. In the North Country, the price tag will well exceed a hundred millions dollars. Warren and Washington counties have opened new jails in the past two years. St. Lawrence, Essex, Herkimer, and Clinton counties are in the planning stages. As David Sommerstein reports, the costs of building the new facilities and housing inmates will fall on local taxpayers.  Go to full article

Oct 04, 2004 — Construction of one of the largest wind farms in the East is expected to begin on the Tug Hill Plateau next spring. The project had been delayed for several years because a renewable energy tax credit was stuck in Congress. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Oct 01, 2004 — The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe says it may charge a toll for drivers and Seaway ships to cross its territory. The move would be in retaliation for the federal government enforcing a gas tax that could cost the tribe millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs. As David Sommerstein reports, tribal officials say the tax threatens non-native economies too.  Go to full article

Sep 23, 2004 — When one thinks of business on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation near Massena, casinos, cigarettes, and gas stations usually come to mind. Because native people are exempt from taxation, those commodities have been rare bright lights in an otherwise bleak economic picture in Indian Country. A new federal tax regulation threatens to devastate Akwesasne's gas station industry. As David Sommerstein reports, it may also endanger a fragile entrepreneurial economy that's sprouting up alongside the mainstays.  Go to full article

Mar 30, 2004 — While Albany haggles over how to reform education aid, school superintendents have more bad news about their budgets for next year. From Carthage to Crown Point, school budget projections call for teacher cuts, reduced athletic and extracurricular programs, even school closings, while still asking for double digit tax increases. Jim Dawson is the northern New York representative to the state board of Regents, which sets education policy in New York. He spoke with David Sommerstein during a visit to Massena. He says the Regents are calling for an $880 million increase in state aid to schools.  Go to full article

Feb 06, 2004 — Convenience store owners want the state government to collect taxes on cigarettes sold on native lands. They've begun what they say is a grass roots campaign to try to convince the public that the taxes should be collected. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Nov 19, 2003 — An international human rights commission is reviving a 15 year-old Mohawk trade dispute with Canada. The case centers on whether Akwesasne Mohawks in the U.S. can carry goods duty-free across the border to trade with other native tribes. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 16, 2003 — Mohawk tribal chiefs spoke publicly yesterday for the first time since signing a landmark memorandum of understanding with Governor Pataki Monday. If it survives a long approval process, the deal would settle land claims, allow a Mohawk casino in the Catskills, and establish tax parity with non-native convenience stores. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 16, 2003 — David Sommerstein talks with Mohawk Chief Alma Ransom about why she signed the historic, but controversial, memorandum of understanding with Governor Pataki.  Go to full article

May 13, 2003 — Governor Pataki and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe yesterday broke a two decades old impasse when they signed an agreement to settle the tribe's land claims in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. The deal also addresses tobacco and gas sales to non-natives and a Mohawk-owned casino in the Catskills. David Sommerstein has more.  Go to full article