New York's junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, was officially nominated for re-election Friday at a meeting of the State Democratic Party in Albany, where she said she will serve out her entire six-year term if she wins the race in November.

An offensive social media message has sparked outrage and protests at SUNY Plattsburgh. On Snapchat, a student wrote a message about lynching African Americans. And the incident has revived some big conversations about race and how people of color are treated in Plattsburgh. Many students of color say the college has failed to help them feel safe. Now, some students are calling on the president and other top officials to resign.

Traditional Arts in Upstate New York opens a new exhibition, "Instrumental Stories" in Canton Saturday afternoon. The exhibit features old and new musical instruments in Northern New York. It explores the people who make and keep them; how they connect people to their heritage, to regional traditions, and to each other. It's the culmination of a 2017 research project surveying different ways people, from native Americans to immigrants, have kept music and other community traditions alive through musical instruments.An opening reception for the exhibit at The TAUNY Center on Saturday, from 1-3 pm, will include live music, refreshments and a craft activity for kids. There will also be a special instrument presentation by luthier maker Dave Nichols, who will share some of his custom designed instruments and the stories behind their creation. Over the coming months, the exhibit will be accompanied by programs highlighting people, practices, and themes central to the exhibit. Todd Moe followed TAUNY Director of Research and Programs Camilla Ammirati, into the archives to see some of the over 200 instruments that are documented in the exhibit.

A commercial radio station is making a comeback in the North Country after years of financial trouble and dead air.WNBZ first signed on in Saranac Lake in the 1920s and it was an anchor of the community for decades. Ted Morgan, the most recent owner, ran into financial trouble, and many of the station's frequencies went dark. But two local radio personalities have been working to reboot the FM station in the Plattsburgh area, and 106.3 is now live. The new hosts introduced themselves with a mystery.

Seasonably cold weather will bring summit temperatures on Saturday and Sunday into the teens, with windchills near zero. Another warming beginning later Sunday will begin to raise the levels of rivers and streams - many of which are full of ice. There will be increasingly slush and puddle conditions on frozen water bodies after Sunday.

Some Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a measure that would make anonymous political ads on Facebook and other social media illegal. They say the ads are being abused to falsely represent their positions on issues.

The North Country's congressional race could soon have another big name in the contest for the Democratic primary. Businessman and former MSNBC television host Dylan Ratigan says he may enter the race.

Glass is basic stuff - melted sand, pretty much. But your lovely crystal decanter or goblet gets its heft and clarity from a big dose of lead, up to one-fourth by weight. That lead can leach out into liquids containing alcohol, such as wine or brandy - significant enough amounts to be a health risk if stored in crystal over a long period of time.Martha Foley and Curt Stager clear up the differences between glass and crystal, and explain how lead can become transparent.Natural Selections is a regular Thursday feature of the The Eight O'Clock Hour on NCPR. Get it delivered to your device automatically. Subscribe to the Natural Selections podcast.

American soldiers serve in conflicts all over the world, but because military operations happen quietly in the background, civilians don't always know what the troops are doing. Fort Drum's commander is conducting an outreach campaign designed to change that by letting the public know about the 10th Mountain Division's work at home and abroad.

Plattsburgh's City Police Chief says he'll retire at the end of the month. Ken Parkinson was appointed chief less than a year ago. Mayor Colin Read says the timing is unrelated to other recent resignations in the city.