Top Stories from NCPR

The annual and perennials look stellar in spring and early summer when their flowers burst forth and are at their freshest and most colorful. But by midsummer, they start to look bedraggled and a little lackluster.

The country is deeply divided right now, half a year after President Donald Trump took office. But New York Senator Charles Schumer describes himself as an optimist and says there is still a lot that can get done in Washington. Schumer is one of the country's most powerful Democrats. During his visit to the Adirondacks last week, he talked about bipartisanship and finding a new vision for his party. Brian Mann covered Schumer's visit. Here is a page from his reporter's notebook.

New York state stands to lose nearly $1 billion if President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to "let Obamacare fail" and cut key health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.Trump has the power to end the subsidies, known as cost-sharing reductions, and he's said he'll withhold the payments as a way to pressure the U.S. Senate to find a way to repeal and replace the ACA.

Hundreds of Haitians are fleeing U.S. to seek asylum in Canada this summer. Many have temporary protected status in the U.S. But that's set to expire in January, and the federal government has told many Haitians they should prepare to go back to their country. The announcement came a few months ago, and seems to have caused a panic. So many people have gone to Quebec that Montreal's Olympic stadium has been converted into a shelter, according to news reports.

Consider visiting less popular areas of the Adirondack Park this month. Popular trailheads, parking areas, and campsites are filling early, especially in the High Peaks. Thunderstorms are expected - including some that could be severe - through tonight in the mountains, which will threaten setting up camp this afternoon and evening, and negotiating rivers and streams. Forecasts are calling for the possibility of hail, and localized flash flooding.

Christopher Wray was confirmed last week by the Senate to be the new director of the FBI. The 50-year-old former federal prosecutor replaces James Comey, whom President Donald Trump fired in May as Comey led an investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The Adirondack Experience museum in Blue Mountain Lake is adding a billboard-sized sign to its collection. The sign calling for the elimination of the Adirondack Park Agency has been a local landmark in Warrensburg in the southern Adirondacks for more than a decade. Now it will be seen by tourists and local visiting the museum's new exhibit.

Making jam from summer fruit is not as complicated as it might sound. It's a combination of fruit, sugar, a bit of lemon juice and some pectin. Of course, it's even easier when someone shows you how. So, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Learning Farm in Canton is opening up its new commercial kitchen to canning lessons this season. The classes begin next week and continue into November. Maria "Flip" Filippi, Extension Local Foods Program Leader, says she hopes the classes will help demystify the canning process and demonstrate how to safely preserve garden produce. Todd Moe got the sweet assignment of visiting the kitchen this week as Filippi and Nutrition Educator Melissa D'Angelo were canning some strawberry-rhubarb jam.

The state Board of Elections quietly voted this week to turn over some data about New York's voters to a Trump administration panel looking at whether there was mass voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election.The move makes New York the first state to comply with the controversial request, after officials initially said they would resist the request.

Kristen Rozelle has been making art since she was five. Right now, she has two paintings on display in the SLC Arts Member Show at the Gibson Gallery in Potsdam. Claire Mendes and Kelsey Mattison met up with Kris at an art workshop for children at the Norwood Public Library. She talks about the transformative power of art and why it means so much to her to share it with the kids.