Top Stories from NCPR

Pat Dominie was born in Russell to a dairy farming family in 1935. She can remember her grandparents working exclusively with horses to plow and hay. Over the course of her lifetime, Pat was an eyewitness to huge changes in the dairy industry here in the St. Lawrence Valley, from five-cow farms to 2,000-cow operations, early tractors to thousand-gallon milk tanks.

More details are emerging about a major car wreck near Pulaski this week that killed four people including a Watertown physician and three ambulance drivers from St. Lawrence County.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation yesterday directing roughly $45 million to communities hit by flooding along the St. Lawrence River and the shore of Lake Ontario. The measure also includes an additional $10 million for damage caused by storms and flooding caused by past storms.During an appearance yesterday in Niagara County, Cuomo also called for new leadership for the International Joint Commission that regulates water levels on the Great Lakes.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was in Elizabethtown in Essex County yesterday after spending the 4th of July holiday in Lake Placid. She was asked about Republican plans to cut or phase out the expansion of Medicaid - that's a policy North Country congresswoman Elise Stefanik supports. Gillibrand argued that Medicaid offers an important safety net for elderly and low-wage families in the North Country.

The holiday week will keep parking areas and popular campsites full early, especially in the High Peaks. The shuttle is running between Marcy Field and the Garden Parking Area, but through Labor Day weekend, consider visiting less popular areas of the Adirondack Park.

Later this summer, the new Tappan Zee Bridge will be named in honor of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, the current governor's father. But the renaming of the bridge came with a bit of controversy.Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially proposed renaming the bridge in honor of his late father in the waning hours of the 2017 legislative session. The Senate approved the measure, which also has a provision that honors longtime Sen. Bill Larkin, a Korean War veteran.

A new comedy makes its east coast premiere this weekend at the Depot Theatre in Westport.Todd Moe talks with Boston playwright James McLindon about his play, "A Brief History of Penguins and Promiscuity," which starts Friday night.He says, despite the title, there are no penguins on stage.

Wes Williams aka Maestro Fresh Wes brought hip hop to the pop charts in Canada in the 1980s at a time when rap was still mostly an American thing.

Environmental groups in the Adirondacks have joined the coalition lobbying against the idea of a constitutional convention. Their main worry is that the "forever wild" clause of the state constitution - Article XIV - could be amended without proper deliberation or scientific study. David Gibson heads a group called Adirondack Wild. Gibson spoke about the prospects of a convention with Brian Mann.

There's new music out this month from three well-known Adirondack folk musicians. "Get Crackin'" is the third album from the trio of Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn & Dan Duggan, collectively known as Jamcrackers. It's humor, harmony and poignant reminders to take care of the planet.Todd Moe spoke with Dan Duggan about the new album. Duggan says it's dedicated to the next generation of folk singers and anyone concerned about clean air, water and a healthy environment.