Top Story: More flu vaccine reaches North Country

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

More flu vaccine is reaching public health departments across the North Country. As we've reported, flu outbreaks swept through many schools and universities throughout northern New York and Vermont. The federal Centers for Disease Control say the flu is now widespread across the U.S.Production and delivery of the H1N1�or swine flu�vaccine has been slower than originally predicted. Flu clinics�where people could get immunized with a flu shot or nasal spray�have been canceled or postponed. Now, in many places, they�re back on. Jonathan Brown reports.

Top Story: NY's Enck appointed to top EPA post

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Late last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that Judith Enck has been chosen as Regional Director for the district that includes New York state. That means she�ll have oversight over environmental projects along the St. Lawrence Seaway, the dredging of the Hudson River � as well as dozens of smaller superfund sites across the North Country. Until this month, Enck served as Governor David Paterson�s deputy secretary of the environment. She has also been an environmental activist in New York. Brian Mann spoke about Enck's appointment with Martha Foley.

Top Story: Flu hits Canton Central Schools

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Canton Central Schools are now seeing a steep rise in the number of absences due to the flu. Superintendent Bill Gregory says, district wide, 174 students were out Monday. That number rose to nearly 200 on Tuesday. And Wednesday, 224 kids were out. That's 16 percent of the school's student population. Gregory says the majority of these absences were due to flu symptoms.Public health departments are no longer testing each individual to confirm infection by the H1N1 virus or swine flu. But all flu symptoms are considered potentially dangerous, due to the lack of seasonal flu cases and several deaths�across the state and around the world�caused by this strain of influenza.Most people who contract the H1N1 virus recover without complications after a few days' rest. But children remain among the groups hardest-hit by swine flu. Late last week, Jonathan Brown got a tour of the Canton district from those that know it best, a school nurse and members of the custodial staff. These are the people who had been trying to hold the line on the flu and keep it from spreading.

Top Story: Lake Placid's Hoffman concedes defeat in NY-23; conservative "tea party" movement suffers blow

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This summer Doug Hoffman, an accountant from Lake Placid, erupted into a national political phenomenon. With the backing of national conservative figures from Sarah Palin to Rush Limbaugh, Hoffman defied the Republican Party and tried to capture the NY-23 House seat. He managed to scuttle Republican Dede Scozzafava's campaign, but fell short last night. Brian Mann reported on the scene in Saranac Lake.

Top Story: Plattsburgh Democrat Bill Owens scores historic upset in 23rd

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

For the first time since before the civil war, much of the North Country woke up this morning with a Democratic Congressman. Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman, 49 to 46 percent, in the 23rd district special election, with 88% of precincts reporting. Republican Dede Scozzafava, who abruptly dropped out over the weekend, still captured 6% of the vote. Hoffman conceded last night. The historic race featured millions of dollars in attack ads, appearances by the nation�s biggest political figures, and a fight for the identity of the Republican party. David Sommerstein was at Owens headquarters in Plattsburgh and has this story.

Top Story: Prince Charles and Camilla tour Canada

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

As Americans head to the polls today, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are in Canada for an 11-day tour, including appearances in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. It's the Prince of Wales' sixteenth visit to Canada, but his first since marrying Camilla. Royal watchers are pleased to see the famous couple first-hand. But for other Canadians, the tour revives questions about whether kings and queens should still have a place in Canada. Lucy Martin reports.

Top Story: North Country voters head to the polls

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

It�s Election Day: an off-year election day. The special election for the North Country�s 23rd district congressional seat wasn't expected to get much attention. But a lot of things happened that weren't supposed to in this race. The campaign started with three candidates, and ends with two: Democrat Bill Owens and surprise contender Conservative Doug Hoffman. Republican Dierdre Scozzafava is out, though she was the early favorite in a district that hadn't elected a Democrat in over a century. Hoffman started a distant third and was viewed as a spoiler at best, cutting away at Scozzafava's support and perhaps opening the door for Owens. This past weekend, Scozzafava abruptly quit the race after falling in the polls under persistent attacks, mostly from Hoffman supporters on the Conservative right, who accused her of being too liberal because of her support of abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Scozzafava backed Owens, and campaigned for the Democrat. Voters have the final say of course. Martha Foley spoke with Brian Mann at a polling place in Saranac Lake this morning.

Top Story: GOP's Scozzafava campaigns for Dem Owens; Conservative Hoffman holds momentum

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Over the weekend, shockwaves ran through the North Country�s political culture. First Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the special election to replace Congressman John McHugh. Then, on Sunday, Scozzafava announced that she is endorsing Democrat Bill Owens. The Republican and the Democrat appeared together at campaign event yesterday at the VFW hall in Canton. Owens, an attorney from Plattsburgh, remains locked in a tight race with third-party Conservative Doug Hoffman, an accountant from Lake Placid. Brian Mann followed developments as they unfolded and has our story.

Top Story: 23rd race short on environmental talk

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The race to replace John McHugh in Congress has been characterized more by what the three candidates aren�t saying than what they are saying. Republican Dede Scozzafava, Democrat Bill Owens, and Conservative Doug Hoffman have barely touched on many local issues, especially environmental ones. At a public forum Wednesday night in Plattsburgh, Scozzafava and Owens responded to questions about expanding the St. Lawrence Seaway, acid rain, and manure run-off from dairy farms. You can hear those answers at the link below. David Sommerstein reports on some other environmental issues left off the campaign trail.

Top Story: DiNapoli says state shortchanged road and bridge fund $20b since 1991

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

New York State's financial controller went public yesterday with a damning report that sheds light on why the Crown Point bridge across Lake Champlain fell into disrepair. This report�titled "Highway Robbery"�finds that nearly $20 billion of the state's Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund were used for so-called "operational expenses" at the Department of Motor Vehicles and to pay off the state's debts. That's nearly two-thirds of the Fund, siphoned off since it was created in 1991.DiNapoli says only a third of the money in the Fund went to road and bridge projects. The sub title of his report is�quote�"Ailing roads and bridges robbed of 65 percent of Highway and Bridge trust fund money." DiNapoli told Jonathan Brown the now-closed Crown Point Bridge is just one example of how this diversion of funds could affect all New Yorkers.

Top Stories from NCPR

Top Story: More flu vaccine reaches North Country

Top Story: NY's Enck appointed to top EPA post

Top Story: Flu hits Canton Central Schools

Top Story: Lake Placid's Hoffman concedes defeat in NY-23; conservative "tea party" movement suffers blow

Top Story: Plattsburgh Democrat Bill Owens scores historic upset in 23rd

Top Story: Prince Charles and Camilla tour Canada

Top Story: North Country voters head to the polls

Top Story: GOP's Scozzafava campaigns for Dem Owens; Conservative Hoffman holds momentum

Top Story: 23rd race short on environmental talk

Top Story: DiNapoli says state shortchanged road and bridge fund $20b since 1991