Top Stories from NCPR

Here’s Trish Hartka of Massena with a moving story of family, and specifically, grandparents in her life, at the Howl Story Slam Grand Slam at Pickens Hall.The Adirondack Center for Writing is co-sponsor of the Howl Story Slams [full story]

Much of human activity has a big downside for the natural environment. But sometimes, the problems we pose to nature can give a leg up to certain species. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss the upside of light pollution and cigarette butts. [full story]

Here’s Lucy Thill, our youngest storyteller, who first wowed us at the age of 10 with a hilarious story at the Saranac Lake slam, and came back to do it again at the Howl Story Slam Grand Slam at Pickens Hall.The Adirondack Center for Writing is co-sponsor of the Howl Story Slams [full story]

A couple of decades ago, David Madsen moved back to a plot of woods and meadows in rural Ontario, just north of Brockville. It's land that his father purchased in the early 1960s. [full story]

Many Republican members of Congress on break in their home districts are facing angry protests this year. Some are opting out of public meetings, including North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik. Western New York Congressman Tom Reed held four town hall meetings Saturday. He says he doesn't regret it, despite some raucous exchanges. [full story]

In their latest report on activity in the North Country, New York state Forest Rangers have documented another rash of accidents and deaths involving snowmobilers. [full story]

After Brian Mann skied in to Avalanche Lake, he invited friends to share their photographs of their trips on the classic winter trail. [full story]

The state Legislature is off this week, but the session so far has featured an unusual amount of protests and arrests, and more actions are expected when lawmakers return.Twice in the first few weeks of the 2017 legislative session, protesters have been arrested at the state Capitol. Eight people were arrested in late January. They were demonstrating against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s veto of a bill that would have provided funding for legal services for indigent New Yorkers. “We want lawyers!” they shouted. [full story]

As we’ve been hearing this week, a growing number of refugees are giving up on the idea of applying for asylum in the U.S. and instead, they’re trying their luck in Canada. Hundreds of people have illegally crossed the border to seek asylum in Canada in recent months. And a lot of people are crossing through isolated areas in northern Clinton County.Refugee advocates say people are fleeing the U.S. because of President Trump’s immigration policies. On Monday, Zach Hirsch was in Quebec to see what happens when they arrive. [full story]

Yesterday was another big day for illegal border crossings in northern Clinton County. On Roxham Road in the town of Champlain a family of four crossed into Canada, and they were immediately detained by Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officers helped a woman in the group carry her baby and a stroller into a police SUV. [full story]