Northern Light

Governor Andrew Cuomo has released legislation outlining his plan for tax-free zones. It's getting down to the wire for major pieces of legislation still pending in Albany. Franklin County has declared a state of emergency because of flooding along the Salmon River.Lawmakers in Albany have a dwindling number of hours to push through a huge backlog of bills. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says Watertown is in good fiscal health. Find out why Nitrogen is such an important component of all life forms from Dr. Curt Stager in this weeks Natural Selections

A man faces felony aggravated harassment charges after allegedly burning a cross on his lawn and shouting racial slurs at the guest of a neighbor. A new boat that collects sewage from boaters' tanks was christened yesterday in Burlington.Owens has problems with the recently passed farm bill and is seeking a compromise. Are too many domestic violence victims going to prison? Governor Cuomo has released a bill to extend public financing of political campaigns to statewide races.

Women's groups are putting pressure on the New York Senate over abortion rights. Gillibrand looks to balance privacy and security in the wake of the NSA scandal. 93 year old James Murphy of Massena reflects on his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s with Todd Moe.

The 2013 Farm Bill is expected to get a final vote in the US Senate this evening. Governor Cuomo faces perhaps his biggest challenge at the end of session. Find out how one Olympic Games started a lifetime career for Nancy Battaglia. Join Connie Meng for a theater review of "Like Wolves" at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. In this weeks Heard Up North, join operations specialist Brian Wood in the control room of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Also, find out how to get the best of weeds in this weeks Gardening Conversation.

New York farmers are closely watching the fate of a bill in Albany that would cap assessments of their land at a two percent increase per year. New York's bass fishing season kicks off on June 15, and North Country tourism and business leaders are banking on it being the biggest ever.State officials say they'll hold a public review of the Adirondack rail plan. The Colton Museum will remember World War II history tonight with an evening of music and stories from the 1940's.On this weeks Heard Up North find out what it's like to win $2,000,000 dollars and catch what is going on this weekend in the Adirondacks with John Warren.

With half a dozen bomb hoaxes at schools in the last month, school leaders seek answers. One of the state's top environmental officials is now director of the Adirondack Council this spring. Cuomo says he wants just three destination gambling centers for now and on this weeks Natural Selections learn how cliff swallows living in a high traffic area have adapted to survive the conditions.

Lucy Martin discusses a 10-year book project with Donnna Naughton on a Barnes Island nature walk in late May. Are Tupper Lake schools "educationally insolvent"? Agriculture advocates welcome progress on a bill that would slow rising property taxes for farmers.Governor Cuomo has released legislation for his 10 point women's agenda. Unionized workers at the State University of New York have agreed to a mostly flat labor deal. The SUNY colleges in Canton and Potsdam have hired a joint chief information officer and the state Senate approved a bill to encourage construction of green homes in the state.

With only three weeks to go, find out what is still ahead for the New York State legislature. Mark Kotzin, the spokesperson for the CSEA, represents about 200 employees at the hospital and tells why we need to keep MMH public. Anbaric Transmission of Massachusetts hopes to build an underwater transmission line from Plattsburgh to Burlington. ReEnergy Holdings has retrofitted the plant on Fort Drum to burn biomass instead of coal, creating dozens of new jobs in the north countrySno Kone Joe was accused of stalking and harassing rival Mr. Ding-A-Ling and has been denied a permit in Groverville, NY. In this weeks Adirondack Attic, Andy Flynn takes a closer look at some of the artifacts from Arto Monaco, creator of the Land of Makebelieve in Upper Jay

The Air Force has a released a new environmental impact statement indicating a noise increase in Burlington if the F-35 plane is based there. The CEO of CVPH and executive vice president for Fletcher Allen Partners sits down with Brian Mann to talk about North Country healthcare.Anti cancer groups are seeking to ban the sale of candy-flavored cigars. Governor Andrew Cuomo says that he is confident talks with the Mohawk community will reach an accord over land issues. Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley there's still time to grow from seed in this weeks Gardening Conversation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo attempts to build political support for a new network of tax-free zones around many of the state's colleges and universities. New ads spin the pros and cons of Cuomo's tax-free plan. Adirondack Health's Board of Trustees has postponed the Lake Placid ER conversation. Hundreds of people packed the Burlington Unitarian Universalist Church last night to protest against the F-35. A Thousand Islands based green group is using a 1950s era technology to protest a water levels plan from the same decade. Repair work on an Adirondack road that was postponed earlier this month will begin next week. Join a chestnut tree flowering party in this week's Heard Up North and catch what is going on this week in the Adirondacks with John Warren.