Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing a plan that he says could cut property taxes in New York by requiring county leaders to develop a cost-cutting plan and letting voters decide whether it’s a good idea.As governor, Cuomo does not directly control local property taxes. But he wants to require county executives to do something about the state’s rates, which are highest in the nation. Under his plan, the county leaders would develop cost-cutting blueprints and put them on the ballot so voters could decide whether they want the reductions or not. [full story]

For some, a high school job might conjure up ideas of waiting tables, babysitting, and delivering pizza. But for Saranac Lake kids seventy years ago, the town's cure industry often provided an after-school gig, whether that meant serving food to patients, working in maintenance at a sanatorium, or renting out a room in their family's home. [full story]

Low salaries are causing high staff turnover in places that care for people with disabilities. "Our direct support professionals are being underpaid, and we as employers are not receiving the revenue to raise their salaries to a level that they rightfully deserve," said Daphne Pickert, CEO for NYSARC of St. Lawrence County. [full story]

The new Republican-dominated Congress is already working to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It isn’t clear when that will happen. The New York Times reports president-elect Donald Trump “demanded” yesterday that his fellow Republicans act immediately to repeal and replace Obamacare. [full story]

GardenShare was founded on a simple idea: those who have more than enough to eat share with those who don't. In the beginning, gardeners planted an extra row for food banks. The organization's mission has broadened, particularly in the last two years under Executive Director Gloria McAdam. Its motto? "Healthy food. Healthy farms. Everybody eats." [full story]

Not every school in the North Country can boast its own flock of sheep or herd of horses. But at North Country School, daily homework includes farm chores, even in the dark winter months. The boarding school, just outside of Lake Placid, expects all of its students to lend a hand on the campus farm: collecting eggs, weeding the garden and working with horses.The farm and garden curriculum is one of the school’s signature programs. Twice a day, before breakfast and dinner, the students feed livestock and check barn conditions. In the spring, there's all-school maple syrup production, and garden and chicken harvests in early autumn. [full story]

There’s a simmering controversy on the northern border of the United States, and it’s all about water. For the first time in over 50 years, the U.S. and Canada are changing the way they regulate water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. It’s an attempt to meet changing and sometimes conflicting concerns from the shipping industry to environmentalists. [full story]

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing that New York state allow ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. The ride-sharing services have been trying unsuccessfully to expand to areas outside of New York City. Upstate and parts of Long Island are among the last places in the country not to have access to companies like Uber and Lyft. [full story]

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher says Cuomo’s proposal to offer free college tuition to many New Yorkers would be “a huge boost” to the SUNY system. Speaking yesterday in Buffalo, Zimpher said it wouldn’t cause a capacity problem a SUNY schools. But she said it would encourage more young people and adults to seek a higher degree. [full story]

It isn't just the deep cold of winter, it's also the combination of temperature swings and dry wind that hurt shrubs and trees in winter. We can't do anything about the weather, but understanding the limits of "hardiness" and which species tolerate severe conditions best can help. Cooperative Extension'sAmy Ivy has some tips and suggestions. [full story]