Aug. 28, 2020

COVID-19 still is in our community and impacting the North Country in a variety of ways. Listen to Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio, Night Editor Ben Rowe and Sports Editor Joey LaFranca discuss the Essex Center nursing home outbreak, coronavirus cases at SUNY Plattsburgh and the potential reopening plans for scholastic sports. And stay tuned for a few teases for some funny stories on an upcoming episode. Joey also announces that the Press Pass Podcast is now on iTunes and SoundCloud.

Episode 5: Aug. 21, 2020. We are back to talk about some local news topics, including new COVID-19 updates, schools reopening and nursing home dilemmas. Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio, Sports Editor Joey LaFranca and Staff Writer Cara Chapman open the episode before we swap out Cara and call on Staff Writer Ben Watson for some sports talk and plenty of it. Joe, Joey and Ben talk about the NBA and NHL bubbles and what it's been like to watch those games, and we also chat about the unwritten rules of baseball and if they should be followed. We wrap things up by discussing what's next for the local sports scene. We already know college sports will not begin until early January next year, and as far as high school sports, we should see some new guidance from the state and NYSPHSAA some time next week.

Episode 4: Aug. 14, 2020. We are all over the place with this episode of the Press Pass Podcast and have many voices of the newsroom making appearances. Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio is fresh off vacation and is joined by Night Editor Ben Rowe, Sports Editor Joey LaFranca and Staff Writer Cara Chapman. The quartet engages in discussion about Joe Biden's recent vice presidential pick, Kamala Harris, as well as the 2020 election as a whole. Schools reopening also works its way into the episode as Joe, Ben, Joey and Cara talk about what various plans look like in the North Country. On a lighter note, Joe talks about his vacation to Maine and an in-depth discussion regarding whoopie pies takes place. And just when you think the fun is over, you realize it's just beginning as Joey serves as a game show host for a sports trivia contest between Ben and Staff Writer and Paginator Sage Lewandowski. The competition is intense, and quite honestly, it's one of the greatest sports trivia moments of all time.

Episode 3: Aug. 7, 2020. Get ready to go back in the time machine as Night Editor Ben Rowe discusses his weekly Looking Back feature that appears every week in the Press-Republican and showcases local news from the past 100 years. Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio, Sports Editor Joey LaFranca and Staff Writer Ben Watson join the podcast. Things get very interesting when we discuss a story of a local man 100 years ago who apparently volunteered to be run over by a 4,300-pound vehicle. That story alone is enough reason to listen to our third episode.

Episode 2: July 31, 2020. We're back for Episode 2 of the Press-Republican's Press Pass Podcast. Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio, Night Editor Ben Rowe and Sports Editor Joey LaFranca are back again, and Press-Republican Publisher John Celestino and Staff Writer McKenzie Delisle make their first appearances on the show. John discusses his first year in the North Country and what his observations have been since making his way to our region. We give an update on the Press-Republican's Candy Bar Stars bracket, and John gives a take on the Crunch bar that alarms and disappoints Joey. After a bit of fun banter, McKenzie brings her voice to the show and tells a little bit about her role at the Press-Republican. Joe, Ben, Joey and McKenzie then discuss ongoing developments of the Altona party held July 17 that has impacted our region heavily. We hope you all enjoy the podcast, and we look forward to future episodes.

Episode 1: July 24, 2020. That's right. The Press-Republican has started a podcast. This was an idea we had back in March, and now, we have made what was once just an idea a reality. We got a mic, and now, we are ready to roll. In this first episode, listen to Editor-in-Chief Joe LoTemplio, Night Editor Ben Rowe and Sports Editor Joey LaFranca embark on a wide range of discussion, including the Press-Republican's candy bar bracket, an upcoming mini-series on how the ongoing border closure is affecting Rouses Point and what this podcast will be about moving forward.