Northern Light

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.

As harvests slow down, Zach Hirsch asked local farmers to share their take on this growing season. New legislation from Washington may help local cider-makers turn better profits and batches. An environmental group says budget cuts at the state's environmental agency has meant up to 75% fewer inspections of polluters like power plants and hazardous waste sites. David Sommerstein reports of a study that will evaluate Fort Drum as a potential missile defense site. Congressman Bill Owens welcomes the "rational alternative" being discussed by Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian officials. Todd Moe shares with us some of the forgotten music of the Civil War era and John Warren shares his weekend update about trail and weather conditions in the Adirondacks this weekend.

Karen Dewitt gives us an overview of the primary night results. In the latest in the fierce debate over the historic rail corridor in the Adirondacks, the town of North Elba wants the tracks gone. This week the Dow Jones industrial average announced it will drop Alcoa; one economics professor at St. Lawrence University believes that most people shouldn't be too upset. From Natural Selections: what purpose could a lion's heavy mane serve in the desert? And we get previews of two upcoming events: tonight's talk with Pico Iyer at St. Lawrence University, and the play "No Great Mischief", which opens Friday night in Gananoque, Ontario.