ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) An entrepreneur, academic and former undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Energy has been appointed the next leader of New York state's public university system. [full story]

Bill Stevens started day two of his hunter education class on a cold, Sunday morning in January at the Savona Rod & Gun Club in Steuben County. He played a video, then reviewed the tenets of what a responsible hunter would do in the field. [full story]

One of the North Country’s most important cultural institutions is changing its name and also searching for a new audience. The Adirondack Museum in Hamilton County announced last week that it’s rebranding itself. [full story]

The Nature Conservancy’s New York organization is giving nearly half a million dollars to help fund the Adirondack Land Trust. The two organizations have operated out of the same office space with the same staff for more than 25 years. But the land trust is now separating and will operate independently. [full story]

Getting an early start on the vegetable season can be tricky. The weather can be sunny and warm one day, chilly and windy the next. Young lettuces, spinach and other early season starts have to get through it all. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy shares advice on using row cover - that light, porous fabric - to moderate the extremes. One warning -though row cover looks like a way to protect against frost, she says it isn't. You need a little more when temperatures fall that far. [full story]

The new state budget includes over $200 million to help combat the heroin and opioid crisis. The money expands drug prevention, treatment, and recovery programs statewide. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed that part of the budget into law on Wednesday. “We are all dedicated to the same goal, which is saving lives, all too often saving young lives, from a really horrendous disease,” Cuomo said. The North Country’s portion adds up to $7 million. That will help fund 16 residential treatment beds, one community coalition, two family support navigators, an urgent access center, and other services. Local officials are taking a number of approaches. In Clinton County, officials are putting together funds to bring new substance abuse counselors into the jail. [full story]

The Second Annual Festival of Jewish Music at Congregation Beth El in Potsdam will feature the Darshan Project. The concert is Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. It's free and open to everyone.Darshan, which means "myth maker" or "seeker" is a multi-media musical ensemble from Brooklyn that combines a deep love for Jewish text and tradition with a commitment to creative inspiration. Darshan is a musical project that brings together soul-stirring melodies, mystical Middle Eastern sounds and the rap/poetry of Eden Pearlstein. Todd Moe spoke with Pearlstein about Sunday's performance. He says each song is equal parts melody, poetry, and prayer. [full story]

Environmental advocates say that New York State officials could do a better job of cleaning up pollution sites caused by the fossil fuels industry that they say in some cases, have dragged on for decades. Cuomo’s environmental aides defend their record. [full story]

Representatives of some communities on the southern shore of Lake Ontario plan to go to Washington to lobby against a new policy governing control of water levels in the Lake and the St. Lawrence River. [full story]

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (AP) More than 100 archaeologists, scholars and history buffs are gathering for a conference in an upstate New York community that's one of the most artifact-rich places in the United States. [full story]