Northern Light

(Jun 4, 2026) We join a birdwalk in Lake Placid, where organizers say the second annual Black Birders Week celebration is helping more people of color feel welcome in the outdoors; a foster dog in Ogdensburg is in the national Pet Lovers Choice Awards competition; and we remember North Country musician Dan Duggan, who died last week at 69 years old. 

(Jun 3, 2026) Now that the Adirondack rail trail is complete, crews are working on adding amenities, including to the parking area on the Lake Placid end of the trail; high school students in Saranac Lake launched a weather balloon into the atmosphere earlier this spring; and as fresh strawberries will soon appear at farmers' markets across the North Country, Chef Curtiss Hemm shares a recipe that will make them shine.

(Jun 2, 2026) State Senator Dan Stec says the budget doesn’t do enough to address rising costs for New Yorkers; we step onto the streets of Lake George, where tens of thousands of motorcyclists gathered for a block party and a motorcycle stunt show; and we have a conversation about an exhibit at an art gallery in Bloomingdale that celebrates the stuffed animals we used to love as children.

(Jun 1, 2026)

(May 29, 2026) Seneca leaders say the state has yet to follow through on the promises it made towards reconciliation; we head out for an evening paddle amid a chorus of spring peepers on Forked Lake in the central Adirondacks; we catch up with Adirondack paddlers who are through-paddling the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail; and we take a look at the community calendar.

(May 28, 2026) Kitty O'Neil breaks down how North Country farmers are coping with rising costs due to the war in Iran; the North Country's newest assemblyman says the delayed budget will mean a less productive year for Albany; and we visit a small dairy in Keeseville. North Country Creamery has become one of the Champlain Valley’s leaders in environmentally-conscious farming. 

(May 27, 2026) Some people on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation say they’re skeptical about a potential nuclear power plant being built nearby after a long and troubled history with industry polluting their environment; tense relations between the US and Canada are continuing to affect American tourism and alcohol industries; and we have tips for turkey hunting before the season wraps up.

(May 26, 2026) Nurses and other professionals at the hospital in Plattsburgh want safe staffing and limits on AI use enshrined in their new contract; over Memorial Day weekend, many people were remembering the losses caused by Agent Orange; and we’ll take a short hike through the wetlands between the Grasse and Oswegatchie Rivers.

(May 22, 2026) After 250 years, 44 Continental Army soldiers are being buried in Lake George after their remains were discovered in a construction site; the Great Adirondack Garage Sale is this weekend, spanning more than 200 miles across the park; John Warren checks on outdoor conditions ahead of Memorial Day weekend; and we hear from local organizers about this year's Black Birders Week events in the Adirondacks.

(May 21, 2026) A police training program in the Adirondacks is helping law enforcement build trust with the communities they serve; each year, restaurants and businesses from New York City pack up their products and head to the State Capitol in Albany; and we preview the newest season of NCPR’s storytelling podcast The Howl Podcast.

(May 20, 2026) A man who has been incarcerated for 25 years in New York and works as a journalist behind bars makes the case for clemency; Gov. Kathy Hochul is joining moderate Democrats in other states in securing new laws to protect immigrants after President Trump’s crackdown; and talk with NCPR Amy Feiereisel on her last day at the station after a decade.

(May 19, 2026) There are new safety protocols in place this year for assistant forest rangers after the DEC lost track of one who was later found dead in the wilderness; State officials are proposing a fall hunting season in Saratoga Spa State Park as deer populations there are rising beyond sustainable levels; and astronomer Aileen O’Donoghue guides us through what to look for when the sun goes down.

(May 18, 2026) New York State wants to see sweeping reforms after the Salmon River School District admitted to putting children in wooden boxes as discipline; state budget talks are still ongoing, and Republican lawmakers say they’re fed up; and we have a conversation about an ongoing exhibition in Plattsburgh that combines art and mental health.

(May 15, 2026) New York State is calling for sweeping reforms at the Salmon River School District after an investigation into how children with disabilities were confined in wooden boxes; Plattsburgh’s community college will hold its first graduation tonight after a relocation that saved it from closure; and John Warren with the New York Almanac brings us the forecast for the trail conditions in the Adirondacks this weekend.

(May 14, 2026) Researchers are using drones and laser-mapping technology to search for traces of a long-lost Black pioneer settlement in the Adirondacks; a New York non-profit is tackling teacher burnout through collective mental health programming; and a new anthology showcases the poems, short stories and memoirs of many of the North Country’s young writers.

(May 13, 2026) A record number of people visited Olympic venues in New York over the last year, as the state is starting to plan for how to take care of the facilities for years to come; we head to Sackets Harbor, where the library serves as a community hub for nearby military families; and we talk with a Glens Falls High School student who won a state culinary competition and is now training for nationals.

(May 12, 2026) We dig into the details of New York State's budget process with one of our New York Public News Network reporters; an educational center in the Champlain Valley wants to expand its campus to meet the rising demand for vocational training; and we have a conversation with a man who’s graduating from college this weekend, 33 years after starting his studies.

(May 11, 2026) We get caught up on the dynamics of the New York 21st Congressional District primary races; Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she’d reached a deal on the state budget last week, but lawmakers said there’s still a lot of details to iron out; and we have a conversation with NPR’s Scott Simon about his new book that traces his life by way of the pets that he and his family have adopted over the years.

(May 8, 2026) The North Star Health Alliance has secured a $60 million loan from the state amid its ongoing financial turmoil; ahead of Mother's Day, we hear about the special bond between drag mothers and daughters; and one of the mainstays in the North Country music scene is out with a new EP today. 

(May 7, 2026) We hear from small farmers and advocates about a Farm Bill the U.S. House passed last week; a civil engineer who works on water systems across the North Country is building a network of young professionals in Lewis County; we’ll visit the Fish and Game club in Saranac Lake for an archery lesson with a master archer.

(May 6, 2026) Several North Country counties have run out of their childcare assistance funding, and a possible solution could be in the state budget that’s more than a month late; we take a look at erosion at Chimney Bluffs State Park on Lake Ontario; and Chef Curtiss joins us this morning for a recipe for a comforting sandwich, perfect for this rainy weather.

(May 5, 2026) In the coming weeks, thousands of international college students will pour into the Adirondacks to staff local businesses through the federal J-1 visa program; housing advocates want New York to expand its state law that ensures tenant protections to renters; and we’ll go birdwatching in St. Lawrence County ahead of a couple of birding events in the North Country.

(May 4, 2026) A new study from Cornell University shows that solar development may not be as detrimental to agricultural communities as previously speculated; New York State lawmakers are inching closer to finishing the state budget; and we’ll talk with a Crane School of Music grad who’s blending styles and techniques to make experimental music.

(May 1, 2026) The U.S.-Israel War with Iran has restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up fuel and fertilizer costs for North Country farmers; New York does its part to help birds migrate north safely by ordering all state buildings and offices to dim or turn off non-essential lights at night; John Warren checks on trail conditions for a cool spring weekend in the Adirondacks; and we preview an event in Clayton this weekend where kids can get their fill of big trucks, cranes and bulldozers.

(Apr 30, 2026) A non-profit based in the Adirondacks that hosts wilderness retreats for veterans is looking to establish a permanent home near Lake Titus; we take a look at how the cheese plant in Chateaugay has shaped the community for over a 100 years; and an exhibit at one of the region's most prestigious galleries is a celebration of young artists in the southern Adirondacks. 

(Apr 29, 2026) Both Prison guards and inmates say New York's correctional system is broken; scientists are predicting an early and heavy tick season; Kitty O’Neil joins us in the studio to explain how North Country farms are preparing for the growing season.

(Apr 28, 2026) The Republican running to be New York’s Governor was in the North Country over the weekend; we go to SUNY Canton, where students are learning the art of blacksmithing in a new club; and NCPR book critic Betsy Kepes reviews "Before I Forget," a novel set in the Adirondacks.

(Apr 27, 2026) We hear from North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik about her new book on antisemitism and her future after politics; some Canton residents say they’re concerned about rising property tax rates after recent re-assessment letters went out; and we have a conversation about an oral history project that's collected more than 400 stories in the Adirondack community of Keene.

(Apr 24, 2026) A Democrat running to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is facing challenges to his petitions; the Pendragon Theater in the Adirondacks unveiled its new building this week; John Warren checks on trail conditions for this last weekend of April; and Canton's Repair Fair is back again this year with more fixers and opportunities to learn repair skills.

(Apr 23, 2026) MMR vaccine rates in St. Lawrence County lag behind the statewide average; we head to Lake George, where a parking meter enforcer says he's trying to be a "helpful busybody;" and North Country PBS stations and libraries are hosting screenings of a documentary about the national fight against book bans on Thursday.

(Apr 22, 2026) President Trump's endorsement of Anthony Constantino in the NY-21 congressional race goes against the wishes of most Republican county leaders; we hear from students at Clarkson University in Potsdam about how they use AI in the classroom; and NCPR general manager Mitch Teich breaks down how recent updates with NPR will affect the station. 

(Apr 21, 2026) The union that represents prison guards says the state's correctional facilities are in a "crisis;" we take a look at how artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT are impacting education in the North Country; and astronomer Aileen O’Donoghue talks about NASA's Artemis II mission and guides us through this month’s night sky.

(Apr 20, 2026) New York's prison watchdog says it will have to cut staff and downsize efforts if lawmakers don't restore funding left out of the governor's budget; Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing a tax on second homes in New York City; and we catch up with the Clarkson University crew team at a regatta in Saratoga Springs.

(Apr 17, 2026) A pilot program in Johnsburg is helping the town's older residents make the accessibility upgrades needed to stay in their homes long-term; we go on a spring hike up Moxham Mountain near North Creek for spectacular views of the Adirondacks; and John Warren checks on trail conditions for the weekend ahead.

(Apr 16, 2026) Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was on CBS Mornings this week, where she defended President Trump's threat to wipe out the entire Iranian civilization;  we speak with one in Lake George who's spent two decades building connections with his students; and the Adirondack Coast Craft Fair is back this weekend for its fifth iteration in Plattsburgh.

(Apr 15, 2026) A new report recommends strict parking limits at popular Adirondack trailheads; the state is increasing what it charges some North Country communities for cheap hydropower for the first time in more than a decade; and quilters have an opportunity to show off their hard work at a North Country quilt show this summer. 

(Apr 14, 2026) North Country business and economic development leaders laid out their concerns about tariffs and the US's relationship with Canada during Governor Kathy Hochul's recent visit to Ogdensburg; we tag along with NCPR’s chief engineer Kurt Lanning on a spring trek up Lyon Mountain to fix a transmitter; we’ll learn more about an event in Blue Mountain Lake for artists who have thought about building a business but don't know where to start; plus, the sounds of springtime.

(Apr 13, 2026) A woman from St. Lawrence County is on the team of software engineers who designed the systems for the Artemis II, the mission that went around the moon and back; new research out of Cornell shows Canadian wildfire smoke made some birds chirp and sing less., potentially exacerbating population decline; and a group in North Creek is commemorating President Teddy Roosevelt’s famous “night ride to the Presidency,” with a series of events.

(Apr 10, 2026) Downtown Elizabethtown has a new bike shop, but it's not your typical retail space; Officials hope Utica's new Empire State Trail Towns designation will bring in more tourists; John Warren checks on trail conditions ahead of a warm and wet weekend; and we take a look at community events happening around the North Country.

(Apr 9, 2026) Democrats in the state Senate want to create a tax on purchasing gold bars as another way to generate revenue; we take a look at what it's like to work in early intervention in Washington County, where a public health worker connects babies and toddlers with the resources they need to thrive; and we have a conversation about the book that follows the history of aviation in the Adirondacks.

(Apr 8, 2026) The number of land surveyors who retire each year in the U.S. is about double the number who come into the profession, and New York surveyors want to turn that trend around; able-bodied veterans are no longer exempt from SNAP's work requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Congress passed last year; and an astronomer at Clarkson University shares how new studies of gravity have helped with NASA’s current mission to the moon.

(Apr 7, 2026) Rural animal shelters in the North Country are worried new state regulations could put them out of business; Jefferson Community College in Watertown is the recipient of a grant to build an advanced manufacturing program, with the hope that Fort Drum veterans will take advantage of it; and we preview a concert this weekend in Plattsburgh by an award-winning Indian-Canadian singer.

(Apr 6, 2026) As ski season winds down, we check in with the Olympic Regional Development Authority about the growth at state-run mountains; our Albany reporters break down why New York’s state budget is late for the seventh year in a row; and we take a look at a new book on Canada’s maple syrup history and do a little sugaring of our own.

(Apr 3, 2026) The Adirondacks' only accessible campground for people with disabilities is set to close this summer as staff work to fix issues with the park’s drinking water system; weeks after an explosion injured several people and damaged the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, members say faith is helping them through; John Warren checks on Adirondack trail conditions; and NCPR’s chief engineer tries to stump Monica and Catherine with a sound quiz.

(Apr 2, 2026) Policy disagreements and election dynamics are contributing to the state's budget delay; SUNY Chancellor John King visited SUNY Potsdam to promote efforts to meet students' basic needs, like housing, food, and transportation; and we tour the sugarhouse in Lake Placid, where Cornell University is studying and innovating maple syrup technology.

(Apr 1, 2026) Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul's lead over her Republican challenger for the governor's race has dropped over the past month; we go to Parishville in St. Lawrence County to meet a woman who's helping pass on the folk tradition of rug braiding; and Chef Curtiss Hemm joins us for a recipe perfect for this April Fools' Day.

(Mar 31, 2026) Republican Anthony Constantino is under scrutiny for how he’s collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot for the 21st Congressional District race; we take a ride on the beautiful Amtrak Adirondack train that skirts right along Lake Champlain; and Ethan Shantie joins us for a preview of NCPR's poetry month contest in April. 

(Mar 30, 2026) Hundreds of people in the North Country rallied against President Donald Trump’s policies over the weekend; state lawmakers are pushing for more funding for New York's child care subsidy program; and we’ll look back at a conversation with photographer Nathan Farb, who died last week at 85.

(Mar 27, 2026) After months of financial uncertainty, the company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage got some good news about state funding this week; we head to Philadelphia in Jefferson County to meet a dedicated volunteer who is teaching sewing skills to kids; John Warren checks on trail conditions in the Adirondacks ahead of the weekend; and we have a preview of some Maple Weekend events.

(Mar 26, 2026) We remember Mike Jaworski, who thru-hiked all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in ten days in the winter; we head to Chateaugay and talk with a third-generation farmer about her experience in the modern agricultural landscape; and Get Healthy North Country classes use science and research to help people empower themselves to treat and prevent chronic diseases.