Governor Andrew Cuomo made a surprise visit to the Adirondacks yesterday to discuss the Finch Pruyn Land deal. Brian Mann joins Todd Moe in the studio to talk about the governor's visit. A budget watchdog group says a 10 year infrastructure spending plan released earlier this year lacks transparency and specific details. Sarah Harris attends a workshop at in Canton that seeks to demystify the process of navigating the new health insurance exchange. David Sommerstein reports on the North Country Grown Cooperative, which is trying to build a distribution system for local food in our region. In advance of the upcoming Artists at Work Studio Tour, Todd Moe visits some of the galleries that will be open this weekend.

The NCREDC gives a big boost to two major hotel projects in Saranac Lake. In Sackets Harbor, a shared kitchen space is helping food producers grow their businesses. In the wake of last week's Navy Yard shooting in D.C., Senator Charles Schumer urges Veterans Affairs to offer better mental health services. Ron Spooner, a 31 year Army veteran, speaks with David Sommerstein about his photos of a 10th Mountain Division "duck" vehicle, which he took himself in 1955. On this week's installment of Natural Selections: What does it take to restore "green tree reservoirs", flood-plain forests that have been reduced 80 percent in size by human encroachment? And Todd Moe speaks with Professor Brett McCloud about the upcoming Rural Skills and Homesteading Festival; and Chris Winters, organizer of the Artists at Work Studio Tour. Both events are this weekend.

The second public hearing held by Governor Cuomo's commission to probe public corruption featured testimony from long time government reform groups. Yesterday the North Country's Regional Economic Development Council released its new list of priorities for the next round of funding. Lucy Martin speaks with one Ontario family farmer about growing up farming while others water skied on the lake overlooked by his farm. With the final steps in the closure of the Paper Mill in Newton Falls new artisan businesses perhaps represent the next phase in Adirondack industry. Local artist Marion Bradish sat down with Todd Moe to discuss her recent career transition towards art full time.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state Thruway plans to offer more places to pull over and use cell phones. Cuomo also says he will support a November ballot referendum to allow new gambling casinos in NY. Also: what if we've adopted planning and zoning rules that are making neighborhoods and downtowns less appealing? Randall Arendt, conservation design planner and writer on rural development, speaks with Brian Mann.In the town of Essex, 41 malnourished horses have been seized by the county's Animal Cruelty Task Force. At a seminar in Perth, Ontario, Phil Laflamme talks with Lucy Martin about what it takes to do beekeeping without accidentally making the bees' situation worse. And today's Heard Up North captures an impressive visual guide to the small farms in our region. The display was set up at last weekend's Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs.

One of the people killed in the recent attack on a shopping mall in Kenya is the poet Kofi Awoonor, who once taught creative writing at Stony Brook University. Brian Mann reports on the aftermath of a massive tanker train's derailment in Quebec in July. At an approaching hearing on government corruption, reform groups say they will call for scrutiny of some of Governor Cuomo's campaign contributions. Meanwhile, NY legislators who are also attorneys will not disclose their private clients. Also, Natasha Haverty and David Sommerstein report on the first ever Farm Aid in Upstate New York. And CCE's Amy Ivy has some suggestions for dealing with frost.

Several area airports have received state grants to improve their infrastructure. Developers of the approved Adirondack Club and Resort in Big Tupper are holding off on breaking ground until litigation filed with the Adirondack Park Agency is settled. North Country farmers spoke with government officials about lessening restrictions and bureaucracy. New wording in casino legislation might help win votes and John Warren shares his outdoor recreation preview for this weekend in the Adirondacks.

A soldier from Fort Drum died protecting a Polish soldier from a suicide bomb in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan. Mary Rain, the Republican candidate for County District Attorney, criticizes incumbent Nicole Duv

Ogdensburg City Hall was packed yesterday with people who are against a proposal to close the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center. The federal budget sequester might mean more personnel cutbacks at Fort Drum. Critics of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad are dissatisfied with the way state officials have gathered public opinion about the rail corridor. Captain William Swenson, a former 10th Mountain Division soldier, will receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during a 2009 battle in Afghanistan. New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is looking for entrepreneurs to invest in, as part of a partnership between the state's pension fund and private equity managers. Todd Moe talks with Potsdam Museum Curator Mimi Van Deusen about this weekend's Sandstone Festival. We also get a rare conversation with "Horse Whisperer" Chris Irwin, who is visiting Lake Placid this week. And a Heard Up North: underwear is the medium for one pair of traveling artists.

Environment New York publishes its list of America's dirtiest power plants, including the five worst in our state. Also, Senator Charles Schumer is making his case to name upstate New York one of a half-dozen testing sites for drones. And almost a year after the Cuomo Administration announced a review to determine whether hydro fracking could be done safely in NY, little information has been released, and an anti-fracking group is suing the state to find out what it has found so far. David Sommerstein takes a look at a new school lunch program, focused on providing children with healthier options. Many schools have been opting out of the program. Plus: Connie Meng has a theater review of "No Great Mischief", and food historian Abigail Carroll discusses her new book, Three Squares: The Invention of the American Meal.

New York's office of Mental Health plans to close 65 inpatient beds at an Ogdensburg psychiatric center as part of a larger plan to create what the state calls "centers of excellence." The mayor of Saranac Lake plans to partner with NCCC on the construction a Welcome Center, raising some eyebrows in the community. State GOP Chairman Ed Cox is already working on finding a Republican candidate to challenge Governor Andrew Cuomo. Connie Meng, our resident theater critic, reviews "Proud," a play that skewers both ends of the political spectrum. And Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy offers some tips on preserving some plants through the cold weather.