News stories tagged with "terrorism"

(02/27/12) 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.)

(05/03/11) Governor Andrew Cuomo says there is heightened security at "critical infrastructure" in New York City and New York State, following the capture and death of Osama bin Laden. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details: more

(07/03/08) Last month, the Bush administration lost a major Supreme Court fight over the treatment of prisoners held at the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Court ruled that inmates held at the facility must be allowed to challenge their detentions in civilian court, and they must be presented with the evidence against them. The rules are known broadly as "habeas corpus" rights. Civil liberties advocates praised the decision. Critics say prisoners labeled as "enemy combatants" by President Bush shouldn't enjoy legal protections. Over the weekend, one of the attorneys who challenged the Bush Administration's terror policy spoke at a church in Keene Valley. Occasionally, North Country Public Radio broadcasts an excerpt of a speech given on an important topic in the North Country. This morning, we'll hear from Emi MacClean, who works for an organization called the Center for Constitutional Rights.

(10/02/07) Just days after a scathing Federal report found big gaps in security along the US-Canada border, a coalition of New York state, Quebec Provincial, and local officials from the North Country say they plan to step up their efforts to stop illegal traffic. New York State Homeland Security Secretary Michael Balboni held a meeting yesterday in Plattsburg. As Brian Mann reports, they say better communication is the first step.

(09/28/07) Investigators for the Government Accountability Office say they were able to smuggle fake contraband designed to look like a dirty atomic bomb into the United States. The GAO is the investigative arm of Congress. In a report released yesterday, GAO officials say they crossed easily at seven different remote rural sites, including four unidentified spots on the US-Canada border. As Brian Mann reports, there's a growing bipartisan consensus that the Bush Administration's strategy for security on the northern border isn't working.

(06/12/07) Federal officials say a border officer who waved a man with a dangerous strain of tuberculosis through the Champlain crossing north of Plattsburgh has "retired." As Brian Mann reports, the officer had been widely criticized by the media and by officials within the Department of Homeland Security.

(07/04/06) Tonight's fireworks show in St Regis Falls was designed and handmade by Peter Henry, a pharmacist at Adirondack Medical Center. He makes fireworks out of his home workshop in Brighton. But new federal regulations on sales of explosive chemicals are making it harder and harder for him to continue his hobby. Gregory Warner paid Pete a visit last Friday.

(12/06/05) Vice President Dick Cheney is heading for Watertown today for a meet-and-greet with troops just back from Iraq. It's part of a concerted effort to shore up public support for the Iraq war. Martha Foley reports.

(11/14/05) Immediately after the terrible events of 9/11, this country and some other western nations commenced what is called the "War on Terrorism". That has entailed a variety of measures, including public relations, diplomacy, shipping suspected terrorists abroad of interrogation, and invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Commentator Paul Willcott has a suggestion for another effort that is being overlooked at our peril.

(06/24/05) Governor Pataki refused to criticize comments made by President Bush's top aid, Karl Rove, at a Conservative Party dinner in New York Wednesday night. Karen DeWitt reports.