Top Stories from NCPR

Brockville will re-open its historic railway tunnel during a big celebration with parades and parties the weekend of August 12th. As part of Canada's 150th anniversary, Brockville renovated the half-kilometer tunnel as a tourist walkway, with a new paved floor and state-of-the-art lighting. City leaders hope the nearly $4-million repurpose project will benefit local recreation, tourism and economic development.The tunnel, which runs under City Hall, connects the waterfront with the north side of the city. It's Canada's first railway tunnel, designed to move freight more efficiently from dockside to Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Completed in 1860, it was acquired by the city in 1983. Todd Moe visited the railway tunnel during restoration work this summer, and spoke with Dave LeSueur, the city councilor who chairs the Brockville tunnel committee. He says the tunnel will now be used more like a pedestrian path, but finishing touches will include railway tracks stamped into the concrete path.

The first Olympic gold medal won by the United States in canoeing has ties to the Adirondack region. In August 1880, the American Canoe Association was founded on the shores of Lake George, and in 1948, an ACA member captured silver and gold medals for the U.S. during the Summer Olympics in London.

After a rainy start to summer, the weather over this last week has been perfect for getting outdoors. It's a great time for pond swimming or working in the garden. Brian Mann spent part of a recent Sunday exploring the Soda Range above Keene. It's a loop of rocky bluffs and high forests, sometimes known as Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge.

The Plattsburgh Common Council voted to shrink the city's government by eliminating four departments last week, laying off at least four people. It was a dramatic showdown after months of tension and debate over the city budget. Still, a lot of people appeared to be caught off guard by Mayor Colin Read's proposal to cut the departments, including some of the officials losing their jobs, and some of the city councilors voting on the measures. Here's a closer look at what happened and what may be next.

Giant Hogweed is an invasive plant that can be dangerous to your health and the environment. New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has a hotline to call if you think you see the plant. The state even has a Giant Hogweed Control Crew.

Here's a story with a tricky ending. "The Man, the Snake. and the Stone," found in Idries Shah's "Caravan of Dreams," comes originally from the Sufi oral tradition. You never know what what might be under a rock, or in a clever man's mind.

(Jul 31, 2017) Regina "Gina" Willette drives hours to see her clients, often works in the middle of the night, and has caught a lot of babies. She's a midwife. And for a long time, she's been the only licensed home birth midwife in the region.

We've been looking at how conservative media is treating major issues, from healthcare to the investigation of Russian meddling in last year's presidential campaign. These days there are often stark differences in the way Americans, including people right here in the North Country, see and experience the same events. One of the thinkers grappling with this complicated reality is Arlie Russell Hochschild, a sociologist at the University of California Berkeley. She spent five years in rural Louisiana researching a book about conservative culture called "Strangers In Their Own Land: Anger And Mourning on the American Right."We spoke with Hochschild about her book and her experiences.

Tomatoes got a cool, slow start this year, but with sunshine and warmer temperatures now, they're catching up. Of course, there are some key problems to keep an eye out for. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy reminds us about septoria and early blight, and the much more threatening late blight.And there's a caterpillar to look for: the tomato hornworm. It's wonderfully (or tragically) well camouflaged. You might just see the damage it's done first.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed more details this week about how the newly named Mario Cuomo Bridge on the Thruway over the Hudson River will be financed.We know that the former Tappan Zee Bridge will be replaced by the new Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge, in honor of the current governor's late father. But we don't know the final price tag of the project, which spans the Hudson River between Rockland and Westchester counties.