Top Stories from NCPR

The fourth annual Lake Champlain International Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday at the Strand Theater in Plattsburgh. There are over 40 films from all over the world and from right here in the North Country. This year's theme is journey and perseverance. Lots of directors and special guests will be in town for the screenings and other events, which include a 72-hour, cell phone film-making contest. Michael Devine is an associate professor of English at SUNY Plattsburgh and one of the festival organizers. He spoke with Zach Hirsch this week.

The U.S.-Canada border bisects sovereign Mohawk territory in Akwesasne, along the St. Lawrence River near Massena. That line has defined the native reservation to outsiders ever since.

A new exhibit in the Brush Art gallery at St. Lawrence University in Canton draws attention to the complex nature of ethnic, religious and racial identities. "Multitudes, an art exhibition in the age of the #muslimban" explores themes of solidarity and intersection with Muslim, black, brown, gender-based refugee and immigrant communities.

The race for district attorney is one of the most-watched in St. Lawrence County this fall, after years of turmoil and turnover in the prosecutor's office. Now, one of the candidates is taking heat for jumping into a melee on Facebook last year - the night Donald Trump was elected president.

President Trump's transgender military ban is on hold. Yesterday a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that halts the President's directive prohibiting transgender people from serving in the military. That means for now, transgender troops can serve openly.

An environmental groups says 25 more mothballed tanker cars have arrived in the Adirondack Park. Iowa Pacific and the Saratoga North Creek Railroad are now storing roughly 50 industrial rail cars on track in a remote area of Essex County in the town of Minerva.

21 SUNY Plattsburgh students face criminal misdemeanor charges for alleged hazing at the Pi Alpha Nu fraternity.

Wall Street profits are up by one-third over the same period last year, the New York state comptroller said.Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said the gain of $12.3 billion is good news for New Yorkers with retirement accounts invested in the market, as well as the state's pension fund.

Drifts of fallen leaves, plus the last round of lawn clippings, plus the remains of the frosted vegetable garden, plus a few shots of good soil - it all adds up to a great opportunity for compost.Whether you're a veteran with a chance to start a new bin, or a beginner wondering about the basics, Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy has the how-tos and whys of successful compost. One basic rule: no animal protein and nothing oily.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a conference call with California Gov. Jerry Brown, singled out two New York GOP congressmen for criticism after they voted for a budget measure that clears the way for a vote on the Republican plan to overhaul the tax system.