Congressman Bill Owens comments on the budget impasse, warning that the shutdown might spill over into the upcoming fight over raising America's debt ceiling. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the shutdown will depress New York's already struggling economy. Among civilian workers in Fort Drum, who were deemed non-essential and sent home yesterday, there is "a general feeling of disgust," says Loren Zeilnhofer of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 400. Meanwhile, somewhat overlooked is the federal Farm Bill, which has expired. New York's lead lobbyist for farmers is in Washington is figuring out what to do next. In local news, CSX plans to increase the speed at which its trains pass through Canton, making local officials uneasy. And in Andy Flynn's latest installment of the Adirondack Attic series, we hear from Joe Wiegand, the country's premier Teddy Roosevelt reprisor.

As of midnight, much of the federal government is shut down due to the budget impasse over the Affordable Care Act. NCPR sent Zach Hirsch to the streets of Ogdensburg to gauge public opinion about the impasse and the shutdown. Meanwhile, online health insurance exchanges are still open today, as planned. Lisa Sbrana, a lawyer with the New York State Health Plan Marketplace, explains how the exchange will work in our state. Brian Mann has a special report on the aftermath of a tanker train explosion in Lac Megantic, which occurred nearly three months ago. A new poll finds language on a ballot amendment to portray the expansion of casino gambling in a positive light is working. NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state may have money for you and it's waiting at a place called "The Office of Unclaimed Funds." Aileen O'Donoghue, who teaches physics at St. Lawrence University, has an update on the current highlights in the night sky.

Today we remember Bill Knoble, one of the North Country's most celebrated artisans, who passed away last week. An anti-gambling group challenges Governor Andrew Cuomo's claims about the benefits of opening new casinos in New York. A biologist at St. Lawrence University studies a special kind of collar that may stop cats from catching songbirds. And in today's conversation with CCE horticulturist Amy Ivy, we learn about the positives and negatives of purchased topsoil.

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