Top Stories from NCPR

The New York State legislature chose Barbara Underwood, the acting Attorney General, to replace the former AG Eric Schneiderman for the remainder of the term, which ends December 31. Underwood will be the first woman to hold that office.

A mosaic of Merrickville, Ontario's history will be presented during 15 events this summer. Founded by William Merrick in 1793, the village sits along the Rideau Canal, southwest of Ottawa. This year marks its 225th anniversary.Merrickville has a history that included mills and manufacturing. Today it's best-known as a tourist destination. Much of Merrickville's charm is that its main street and many of its commercial buildings are still intact and resemble life in the 19th and early 20th centuries.The village's landmark is the historic Blockhouse near the Rideau canal locks. The two-story stone structure was built to defend the canal in the aftermath of the War of 1812.Michael Whittaker is one of the organizers of Merrickville's 225th anniversary events this summer. He'll give a lecture on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion on two early Loyalist settlers - Roger Stevens and William Merrick.

Peter Crowley is at the heart of the media world in the Adirondacks. He's managing editor of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise in Saranac Lake. He'll be joining us regularly to talk about news and issues he's seeing in the Adirondacks. Today he talks with Martha Foley about a recent congressional candidates forum in Saranac Lake, and describes the big show in Saranac Lake this summer: the federal Superfund project dredging of Lake Flower, right in the heart of the village.

If you are looking for a less-traveled moderately easy hiking trail in the High Peaks region, our Adirondack bureau chief Brian Mann has a new favorite. It's the Bear Den Mountain Trail that leads toward Nippletop and Dial. He made the trek and sent an audio postcard.

Both major political parties hold their state conventions later this week. The Democrats and the Republicans are holding their events simultaneously, on May 23 and 24, with the Republicans in New York City and the Democrats in Long Island.

The first hospital in St. Lawrence County was opened in 1885 by an order of Canadian Catholic nuns - that may seem like the set-up to a joke, but it's actually the opening chapter of one of Northern New York's largest hospitals, and the genesis of a very unique nursing school. The hospital was called the Ogdensburg City Hospital and Orphan Asylum, and it was originally built and run by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart of Ottawa, who also opened hospitals in Plattsburgh and Alaska.

Gardening conversation intro

More than 1.4 million veterans of all ages rely on government food assistance, but food insecurity is disproportionately common among post 9/11 veterans.

There is just one USDA-approved mobile meat canner in the country. It belongs to the Mennonite Central Committee. Church members spend the year traveling across the U.S. and Canada, canning meat in Mennonite communities, and shipping it to people in need all over the world. The mobile meat canner stopped in Lowville last month.

There remains deep snow and thick ice on and near summits in the High Peaks, where winds 35-45 mph and rain, heavy at times, is forecast for Saturday. DEC has issued its annual mud advisory, asking hikers to postpone trips to higher elevations until trails dry.