Top Stories from NCPR

A historic landmark in St. Lawrence County will receive top honors at an event in New York City this week. Heuvelton's Pickens Hall will be given the Preservation League of New York State's 2017 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award on Wednesday. Built in 1858 by John Pickens, the three-story stone building contained a post office, meeting hall, General Store, and a concert hall. In 2003, the Heuvelton Historical Association bought the dilapidated building from St. Lawrence County for $1. The $2.75 million needed to restore the building came from state grants and private donations.Last year, just before a grand re-opening of the historic third floor Opera House, Todd Moe spoke with Heuvelton Historical Society President David Kingsley who oversaw the renovation project for the last 12 years. He'll be in New York City tomorrow night to accept the award. Kingsley says the historic space boasts some of the latest sound equipment and stage lighting. [full story]

Some lawmakers are pressing the state’s comptroller to divest the state’s pension fund from the fossil fuel industry. But Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said he believes he can be more effective in changing the companies’ behavior by acting from the inside.A worldwide movement to encourage public institutions like universities and municipalities to divest from the fossil fuel industry is targeting the state’s pension fund. Mark Dunlea with the group Divest New York said with an administration in Washington that essentially does not believe in climate change, it’s more important than ever for states like New York to take steps. [full story]

At a town hall forum in Plattsburgh last night, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik faced a tough crowd. Most people in the audience were outraged and anxious, and they had a lot of questions about health care. They wanted Stefanik to explain her vote to repeal and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act. As Stefanik responded to each question and defended her stance on issues, some in the crowd wondered if she was really listening. [full story]

Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River continued to rise several inches over the weekend, nearing historic records. And residents are holding their breath. The high water is threatening homes, marinas and docks from the Buffalo area to the Thousand Islands. [full story]

It's time to tackle perennials — dividing, replanting, moving, and cleaning out the grass and weeds. That's what the calendar says. But continuing cold rain and occasional snow showers don't add up to ideal gardening weather. It's just not much fun out there, and messing around when the dirt is wet makes weeding harder and is bad for soil structure, according to Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy. So wait till weather clears, then follow her practical tips on how to proceed. [full story]

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has approved Ontario's request for federal assistance for communities affected by the weekend's heavy floods.He says the Wynne government asked for "additional flood mitigation resources" to help in its battle against the flooding.Those resources will not include military personnel — like those deployed in Quebec's flood zone. [full story]

Every year, the group John Brown Lives honors activists who work in the spirit of the great abolitionist. [full story]

Vermont has taken a step closer to legalizing marijuana. But don’t expect cannabis dispensaries or legal homegrown plants anytime soon. [full story]

A sports giant who revitalized American bobsled racing was found dead Saturday in his room at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. Steven Holcomb, from Park City, Utah, was 37 years old. [full story]

Rain and strong winds are expected to continue through the weekend, with cold rain and possibly snow by Sunday at higher elevations. Summit temperatures will be in the 30s to near freezing this weekend with wind-chills in the 20s. Be sure to watch the weather closely if you’re headed into the mountains or onto the region’s waters. [full story]