Northern Light

(Dec 9, 2025) An unoccupied tour boat on Lake George was damaged by a fire on Monday morning; we head to Bradley’s Lookout with reporter Amy Feiereisel for a short hike with a big payoff; a bill awaiting the governor’s signature would ensure librarians across New York State can fight censorship within schools; and North Country writer Tim Brooks has been studying what’s been happening to handwriting around the world in an increasingly digital society.

(Dec 8, 2025) Bills are piling up on Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk as the end of the year draws closer; Democrat State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli is running for a fifth term in next year's election; and we listen back to a conversation with longtime friends and musical collaborators Barb Heller and Danny Gotham.

(Dec 5, 2025) The North Star Health Alliance says delayed reimbursements from the state threaten patients and over 1,700 jobs; a new study from the Adirondack Land Trust is helping people with disabilities navigate which Adirondack trails are truly accessible; and it’s a big weekend for holiday celebrations throughout the North Country, and we’ll hear about one for kids in Parishville.

(Dec 4, 2025) Two North Country community colleges had the highest enrollment gains among state schools in the region this fall; we hear about what it's like to work as a home health aide; and we have a conversation with the author and illustrator of a new children's book about how each of Santa's reindeer got their names.

(Dec 3, 2025) For the first time in years, SNAP work requirements will be enforced in the North Country; we sample the Tom and Jerry holiday cocktail at the Crystal in Watertown, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary; and Chef Curtiss Hemm joins us this morning for a rich and comforting recipe, full of melty cheese.

(Dec 2, 2025) Amid one of this winter's first snowstorms, we head out with a young plow driver through Cascade Pass in the Adirondacks; a young family outside of Malone is determined to preserve their farmland by using sustainable farming methods; and NCPR book reviewer Betsy Kepes takes us out to her beaver pond to talk about a new book out of Vermont on beaver kit rehabilitation.

(Dec 1, 2025) A new state historical marker at Akwesasne Lake by Paul Smith's College is paying homage to its Indigenous history; NPR's Brian Mann sends an audio postcard from a wintry hike up Wright Peak in the Adirondacks; and we preview the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir's Soulful Christmas concert this Sunday.

(Nov 26, 2025) For some North Country communities, local food options are few and far between. This Thanksgiving, special food boxes connect families in the Indian Lake school district with regional farms; Gov. Hochul approved amendments to the Adirondack State Land Master Plan, which notably did not include a special provision for electric mobility devices in wilderness areas, and we continue the story of how the hermit thrush got its song with Mohawk artist and storyteller Dave Fadden.

(Nov 25, 2025) After the state vastly expanded eligibility for childcare programs, funds haven't been able to keep up with demand, with over half of counties running out of money; delays in federal assistance and high food prices are making it a hard start to the holiday season for many in the North Country;  and we’ll hear a Mohawk story about how the hermit thrush got its song.

(Nov 24, 2025) A new lodge at the base of Gore Mountain is ready to open, but is tied up in disputes between ORDA and the town of Johnsburg; Republican New York State Assemblyman Robert Smullen launched his campaign for the NY-21 seat last week, and he's playing up his connection to President Donald Trump; and an exhibit in St. Lawrence County explores how the work of three artists evolved after they developed Parkinson's Disease.