Give Now NCPR relies on
Your Donations

NCPR Newscast

This text will be replaced
Launch in player
(updated: 03/09/12)

Top Stories podcast:

This text will be replaced

Next News
Martha Foley and Todd Moe bring you all the news of the region weekdays at 8 am. Tune in for The Eight O'Clock Hour.
NCPR Online small logo In Box Blog

Lake Champlain bridge opening festival this weekend

This weekend marks the official grand opening of the Lake Champlain bridge from Crown Point to Addison, Vermont. ... more

Fair or not, the next president will own the recovery

One of the basic rules in American politics is that life just ain't fair.  Elected officials get credit for things... more

Morning Read: 24 months to fix state education mandates?

The Plattsburgh Press-Republican has a fascinating story in this morning's paper, pointing to the fact that... more

Re-purposing in the real world

My book club is currently reading "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis. Self-published in 2007, the book... more

Editorial Cartoon:

r e g i o n a l   n e w s

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day: Click to enlarge
Crabapples are in full bloom on Main Street, Lake Placid. Photo: Sue Cameron.
Caption
Today's Photo: Full size | Submit

National & Global News

NPR Hourly Newscast
This text will be replaced
A state court in Indianapolis granted a Chinese immigrant $50,000 bond in a case that has mobilized advocates for women's rights and abortion rights nationwide. The case could set a precedent for the prosecution of pregnant women whose infants die.
 
Campaigns, political parties, interest groups — they're all ramping up to register millions of potential voters. The Pew Center on the States estimates there are 51 million unregistered Americans who are eligible to vote. The belief is that...
 
As Latinos became America's largest minority, their population growth significantly slowed. And Mexican immigration, which contributed the overwhelming majority of illegal entries, has come to a halt.
 
An oil boom in the American heartland has created an oil glut in the middle of the country. Now, a pipeline that has been pumping crude oil from Texas to the Midwest will reverse its flow, reducing the bottleneck — and potentially creating...
 
With an initial market capitalization of more than $100 billion, Facebook could have a distorting effect on some mutual funds, at least in the short term.
 
 
Canada Top Stories
World Service
Story Begins
Critics say constitutional amendment won't do the job of reforming redistricting
It defies everything this country is about.
(03/12/12) Legislative leaders and Governor Cuomo are working on a constitutional amendment to reform redistricting in New York. But critics say in its present form, the proposal won't accomplish its goal. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has this report: more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Farmers gather in Saranac lake for Farm Bill hearing
Birdsfoot Farm in Canton, NY
Birdsfoot Farm in Canton, NY
(03/09/12) About 300 people showed up for Friday's farm bill forum at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake. The US House Agriculture Committee hearing was one of only 4 to be held outside Washington, DC.

The Farm bill is rewritten every four years--the last time the massive set of regulations was authorized was in 2008. The current farm bill expires in September. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
All Before Five: 03/09/12
(03/09/12) Julie Grant checks in from the farm bill hearing in Saranac Lake. Sarah Harris reports on Vermont's town meeting day. And a war-of-1812 coat unexpectedly resurfaces at a Potsdam museum:

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Republican Sayward leaning Obama's way
NY Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward. Photo: Mark Kurtz
NY Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward. Photo: Mark Kurtz
(03/09/12) Veteran North Country Republican Teresa Sayward, who won't seek another Assembly term, says she's leaning toward voting for President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential race. Sayward made the surprise statement during an interview on YNN's program "Capital Tonight."

Sayward has been an advocate of gay rights and supported same-sex marriage in New York, describing it as a "civil rights issue." During the interview with YNN, Sayward complained that Republicans on the national stage are pushing a religious agenda that, in her view, meddles too far in people's private lives.

Sayward, a former town supervisor from Willsboro, served 10 years in the Assembly as a Republican. A race is now underway to fill her seat, with at least seven candidates considering a run.

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Crowded field eyes Sayward seat
(03/09/12) Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward's announcement last week that she won't seek another term has potential candidates mulling their options. As of today, at least seven people have expressed moderate to serious interest in running for her seat.

The district includes Essex, Hamilton, Warren and part of Saratoga counties. Redistricting proposals could cut out Hamilton County in favor of Washington County. Chris Morris reports. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Town meeting day: VT voters decide issues big and small
Tara Liloia in front of Isle La Motte town offices. Photos: Sarah Harris
Tara Liloia in front of Isle La Motte town offices. Photos: Sarah Harris
Town meeting day sign.
Town meeting day sign.
(03/09/12) Vermont's Champlain Islands are smack in the middle of Lake Champlain's northern end. Isle La Motte is the westernmost of those islands. It's isolated and rural. Living there, you might travel to New York State to see a doctor, or go to the grocery store.

But, Isle La Motte joins other towns across Vermont in town meeting day, when citizens come together to have their say on issues big and small. Sarah Harris spent town meeting day on the island and has our story. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Federal court may redraw state legislative lines, as deadline draws near
Proposed NYS Assembly and Senate district lines may be redrawn by court.
Proposed NYS Assembly and Senate district lines may be redrawn by court.
(03/09/12) It's coming down to the wire on redistricting in New York. A federal court has already usurped a gridlocked state legislature and drawn new congressional lines. Now it's on track to redraw state legislative lines, too, if the Assembly and Senate do not agree on a bill by March 15th. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Gillibrand foe George Maragos says he'll spend own money to gain senate seat
George Maragos campaigning at an NYC street fair. Photo: Maragos campaign
George Maragos campaigning at an NYC street fair. Photo: Maragos campaign
(03/09/12) The front-running Republican challenging US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand admits he faces an "uphill battle" against the Democratic incumbent.

George Maragos - a former banker and now Nassau County Comptroller -- says he'll spend his own money to try to level the field. Martha Foley has more. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Cuomo says he'll push through pension changes if legislature won't agree
(03/09/12) Governor Andrew Cuomo is threatening to force pension reform through the state legislature if it doesn't agree to his proposals as part of the state budget. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends Story Begins
Harrietstown supervisor faces harassment allegation
Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller
Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller
(03/09/12) A town supervisor in Saranac Lake is considering resigning amid allegations that he sexually harassed the town's former bookkeeper.

The Harrietstown town board agreed in December to have its insurance company pay Brenda LaPierre $30,000 to settle a sexual harassment complaint she filed last year against Larry Miller. Miller's been the town's supervisor since 2002.

As Chris Knight reports, those involved are saying little about the case because of a confidentiality agreement that's part of the settlement. more

Download audio | (0) Comments |
Story Ends


Adirondack News Fund Founding Supporters: Paul Smith's College, The College of the Adirondacks · Wildlife Conservation Society · Adirondack Medical Center Foundation · Adirondack Museum · Niagara Mohawk Foundation · Schumann Foundation · John A. Sellon Charitable Trust · several anonymous individual donors