Story of the Day

The race to replace Elise Stefanik in Congress could lead to an unpredictable four-way campaign by November. We get caught up on the politics and personalities with primaries in both parties coming up next month. Also: While Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders still differ on whether an overall budget deal has been reached, they appear to have reached a compromise on auto insurance reform.

First there was a state budget deal yesterday, then there wasn't. Our Albany reporters sort through a crazy day in Albany and look forward to what's next with the budget more than a month late. Also: We remember longtime Canton historian Linda Casserly, who died this week at 79 years old.

Gov. Hochul announced a deal on a $268 billion state budget, but the Assembly Speaker says not everything's finished. The potential agreement includes financial help for New York City and Buffalo, rebate checks for high utility bills, and an overhaul of state auto insurance laws. Also: We step into the shoes of a water and sewer infrastructure engineer in Watertown.

Climate change may alter our most beloved natural places. At Chimney Bluffs State Park with its clay pinnacles along Lake Ontario, researchers are trying to figure out how much climate change is accelerating a process of erosion that’s been going on for thousands of years. Also: St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Warren, and Herkimer counties have all run out of their childcare assistance funding. An answer could be in the state budget, but it’s more than a month late.

As the Adirondacks gear up for peak tourism season, thousands of international college students will come to the region to work through the federal J-1 visa program. Local businesses say that workforce has become crucial to getting through the summer. Also: Lawmakers are discussing the possibility of rebate checks for high electricity bills as they continue working on the state budget, which is more than a month late.

Solar panels are crucial to producing carbon-free electricity in New York. But they take up a lot of land. A new study from Cornell University shows that solar development may not be as detrimental to farmland as some people fear. Also: A sign in North Creek saying President Trump needs to be "neutralized" was vandalized. The FBI found it was not hate speech.

This is the time of year that birds migrate from their warmer winter homes back north. Lights at night can disorient and injured them. There's a movement encouraging people to turns off lights to protect the birds. Also: A North Country state lawmaker says after months of financial uncertainty, the North Star Health Alliance, which operates the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage, may have some hope for its future.

An Adirondack-based non-profit that hosts wilderness retreats for military veterans is closing in on opening a home base near Lake Titus. Its goal is to provide a safe place for veterans to heal in nature. Also: State lawmakers are close to prohibiting local jails from holding people for federal immigration agents.

Staffing levels at New York's prisons are low while the rates of violence and drug exposures are on the rise. Both guards and inmates are pleading with the state to fix what they say is a broken system. Also: Residents in Canton and across the North Country have been shocked by property reassessments that haven't kept up with actual property values.

At SUNY Canton, students have started a new club to learn the art of blacksmithing. We visit the forge, where they pound their creations into reality. Also: Gov. Kathy Hochul's Republican opponent was in Clinton County over the weekend. Bruce Blakeman says he is better for New York.

North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik is on a national tour to promote her book about claims of antisemitism at the nation's top universities. We talk with her about the new book and about her future after politics. Also: The Malone Middle School was on high alert last week after a man was seen inside the school for hours.

A Democrat running to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is facing challenges to his petitions. Stuart Amoriell says his opponent and party leaders are trying to get him off the ballot. Also: The Pendragon Theater in Saranac Lake held a ribbon cutting for its new $11 million home.

Nobody likes getting a parking ticket. But writing them can be a pretty good side gig. We meet the meter enforcer in Lake George, who says he tries to be a "helpful busybody". Also: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says she's not going to endorse anyone in the race to replace her.

Studies find 80% of college students report using AI tools in their schoolwork. But their feelings about those tools are mixed. We hear from students at Clarkson University in Potsdam. Also: School districts are getting closer to the deadline to present their budgets to voters, even as they still don't know how much money they're getting in the state budget.

Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT have become widely available to the public...and to kids. We asked people in the NCPR texting Club how that's affecting learning in schools. Also: President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Anthony Constantino today in the race to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

Last year, Gov. Hochul delivered funding for new independent oversight of conditions in state prisons. But the money is gone from this year's budget, and the prison watchdog group says it will have to cut staff and downsize efforts if lawmakers don't act. Also: Volunteer firefighters across New York state are lining up behind Governor Hochul’s push to reform auto insurance.

Aging in place is a serious housing issue for the North Country, where a significant portion of the population is over the age of 65. We’ll take a look at a Warren County pilot program hoping to help seniors stay in their homes longer. Also: new legislation could make solar power available to New York residents on a much smaller and more accessible scale.

We meet a Lake George history teacher on a mission to inspire his students. Also: North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik weighed in on President Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with the pope during an appearance on CBS earlier this week.

People in the Adirondacks have been wrestling for years with what to do about the massive influx of hikers every summer. A new report recommends strict parking limits at popular Adirondack trailheads. Also: The state is increasing what it charges some North Country communities for cheap hydropower for the first time in more than a decade.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney consolidated his power in yesterday's elections, riding his tough approach to President Trump. As the chill between the US and Canada continues, North Country business and economic development leaders say business without Canadian tourists has been difficult. Also: NCPR engineer Kurt Lanning hikes through rotten snow to get to an antenna on Lyon Mountain.

A woman from St. Lawrence County is on the team of software engineers who designed the systems for the Artemis II, which just returned to Earth after a trip around the moon. We talk with Jamie Szafran, who grew up in Edwards. Also: State police are investigating three deaths of incarcerated people at the prisons in Malone, Ogdensburg, and Gouverneur.

A new business and community space in the village of Elizabethtown is home to a thriving high-end bike shop. We meet the guys behind Solace Cycles. Also: Police are investigating whether an inmate in Malone should be criminally charged after the death of another inmate earlier this week.

New York is one of the world’s largest gold markets. Democrats in the state Senate say a new tax on purchasing gold bars could raise $600 million a year for the state. Also: We meet an early intervention counselor in Glens Falls, who connects babies and toddlers with the resources they need to thrive.

The number of land surveyors who retire each year in the U.S. is about double the number that come into the profession. That's created a shortage that surveyors in the North Country are trying to turn around. Also: Some state lawmakers are backing changes to a state environmental law that they think might be holding up the construction of new housing.

New funding will help Jefferson Community College in Watertown train people to work at the massive Micron semiconductor factory under construction north of Syracuse. Local officials hope many of those employees will be veterans from Fort Drum. Also: Animal shelters across New York are trying to adapt to new state regulations. But some are worried it could put them out of business.

ORDA, the state agency that runs the Olympic venues in the Adirondacks, had a big winter. Skier visits were up 8% at Whiteface and Gore, and a cross-country skiing World Cup brought more than 30,000 people to Lake Placid. Also: The Watertown City Council is considering job and service cuts as it puts together next year’s budget.

The John Dillon Park near Long Lake is the Adirondacks' only accessible campground for people with disabilities. But it's been plagued by closures over the years, and it's set to close again this summer to fix issues with the park’s drinking water system. Also: Weeks after an explosion injured several people at the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, members say faith is helping them through.

New York's state budget is late for the seventh straight year. Our Albany reporter Jimmy Vielkind runs through what's holding things up. Also: We remember John Peach, a longtime advocate for the St. Lawrence River, who died Monday at 76.

Rug braiding is a distinctly American art, using scraps of fabric to make colorful rugs. A woman in the St. Lawrence County town of Parishville is helping to pass on the folk tradition of rug braiding. Also: SUNY Chancellor John King visited SUNY Potsdam yesterday to promote efforts to meet students' basic needs, like housing, food, and transportation.

Republican Anthony Constantino, who's running for the NY-21 congressional seat, is under scrutiny for how he’s collecting ‘petition signatures’ to get on the ballot for the June's primary. Also: A new poll finds Democrat Kathy Hochul still holds a solid lead over Republican Bruce Blakeman in the governor's race, but she's slipped seven points since February.

Millions of people joined the third round of “No Kings” protests across the country over the weekend. In Canton, almost a thousand demonstrators rallied against President Donald Trump's policies. Also: A Democrat has dropped out of the North Country's congressional race. Dylan Hewitt had faced challenges with fundraising and gaining support from the Democratic establishment.

For over five years, a group of kids has gotten together at a church in Jefferson County to work on projects with fabric and thread. The woman who volunteers with them has won state and national awards for her dedication. Also: After months of financial uncertainty, the company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage got some good news about state funding this week.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join “No Kings” rallies across the country this weekend. In the North County, there will be rallies across the St. Lawrence Valley and Adirondacks. Also: We remember Mike Jaworski, who holds the record for thru-hiking in winter all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in ten days. He died at 35 years old earlier this month.

Starting this month, more people will need to meet new work requirements to stay eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP - what used to be called food stamps. We check in at area food pantries to see how people are adapting. Also: Nursing homes are competing with hospitals for funding during state budget talks.

The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has triggered a backlash across the country. In the Adirondacks, a network of activist groups is growing to protect local immigrants. Also: Nonprofits in underserved communities across New York are hoping for another round of funding in the state budget.

More than 35,000 people attended the Cross-Country World Cup finals over the weekend in Lake Placid, the largest sporting event there since the 1980 Olympics. Jessie Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in American history, retired and closed out her career on top. Also: The Watertown Airport is asking for community donations to support TSA workers who aren't getting paid due to the partial government shutdown.

Another superintendent is gone at Salmon River as the school district deals with the aftermath of the disclosure that it used wooden boxes to discipline children. Many parents say they've lost faith in their schools' leadership. Also: New legislation would tighten the procedures for people who visit New York state prisons.

Thousands of people are expected in Lake Placid this weekend for the World Cup finals for cross-country skiing. We get an update on how the venue is making sure there's enough good-quality snow for the races. Also: Saranac Lake elected its first female mayor yesterday in a landslide election for Democrats.

Energy storage is becoming an increasingly important part of an electric grid that can help slow the effects of climate change. In the Adirondacks, there's been pushback to battery storage sites, even though they're safer than ever. Also: Saranac Lake voters will cast their ballots today for mayor and two seats on the village board of trustees.

Just three years after the Adirondack Mountain Club bought the Cascade Ski Center outside of Lake Placid, it put the property back up for sale. We dive into why the ADK's ambitious plans for the property broke down. Also: More than two dozen community projects in the Adirondacks were awarded state funding last week, focusing on housing, accessibility, and planning.

The company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage says, without state funding in the very near future, it will have to take “drastic cost-cutting measures". But New York's health commissioner says North Star is in charge of restructuring itself, not the state. Also: An Indigenous cultural center in the Adirondacks is adding 600 acres of land to its property, one of the largest returns of private land to Indigenous people in state history.

Governor Hochul says the state needs more time to meet its mandated climate goals because of estimated costs to consumers. But experts argue the price of climate change may be steeper. We dig into the politics and the science behind New York's climate law debate. Also: The Saranac Lake village board approved a lease for the Adirondack Park Agency to move its headquarters from Ray Brook to the village.

The village of Saranac Lake has voted to scrap a plan to install surveillance cameras on its streets. The decision comes after residents raised concerns over privacy and a lack of input in the process. Also: The state officially shut down one of three state prisons in Malone on Wednesday.

A popular Upstate New York foodie on social media was making the rounds of restaurants in St. Lawrence County last week. We meet the guy in the mechanic shirt who's behind Eat Local New York. Also: Governor Hochul visited Ogdensburg yesterday to announce that the city will receive $10 million to improve its downtown.

As momentum grows around building workforce housing, a new initiative aims to fill in North Country development gaps. Also: Saranac Lake has passed a resolution that limits cooperation between the village’s police department and federal immigration agencies.

A year after the end of the illegal "wildcat" strike by thousands of corrections officers, prisons are still understaffed, family visits are limited, and inmates are enduring the consequences. We look at the crisis facing New York's prison system as taxpayers continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into paying the National Guard to step in. Also: The relationship between the North Star Health Alliance and a healthcare consulting group based in Maine has come under scrutiny after a recent court filing.

Kelsey O'Driscoll from Glens Falls thought her days as an athlete were over when she suffered a broken spine in an accident. Today she's set to compete in skiing at the Paralympics in Italy. Also: As AI companies plan new data centers, one rural town near Ithaca has banned data centers.

Fire chiefs across New York are raising attention about a dire decline in the number of volunteer firefighters. They hope a new legislative package will incentivize the next generation of firefighters and emergency responders. Also: A soothing audio postcard from the covered footbridge over the Grasse River in Canton.

Next year, the Adirondack Experience museum in Blue Mountain Lake will debut a new permanent exhibit dedicated to the Adirondacks' Black history. We visit the museum and hear from the curator working to bring the show to life. Also: A New York state lawmaker wants to ease the state's liquor laws during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

This cold, snowy winter has provided many delights for those who love the season. It's been a great winter for the dog sled teams on frozen Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. Also: Gov. Hochul says the family of a blind Buffalo man who died after he was released by U.S. border patrol deserves answers.

Saranac Lake is mourning the planned closure of an elementary school in a decision a district board member called "profound and painful." It comes amidst a long-term trend of declining student enrollment across the Adirondacks. Also: State lawmakers are advancing a package of immigration bills with new urgency after a blind refugee detained by federal agents was found dead last week in Buffalo.

President Donald Trump tried to make his case to the nation in his State of the Union this week, as polls show many of his initiatives are unpopular with Americans. We check in with North Country voters on how they rate the President one year into his second term. Also: The Malone town council has appointed a Republican to fill a vacancy on the board in a move that's been controversial in the community.

Champlain Area Trails recently acquired the Twin Valleys Outdoor Education Center in Essex County. The almost 700-acre property is now open to the public for recreation, and CATS has big plans for the space in the future. Also: A state trooper escaped serious injury when she was struck by an out-of-control car on a Franklin County highway.

A New York Focus investigation found the state police has no clear standard for disciplining troopers, and troopers found guilty of misconduct were given lax or inconsistent treatment. We talk with the reporter who sorted through the documents. Also: Some state lawmakers, including Adirondack Senator Dan Stec, are questioning the continued use of the National Guard to help staff state prisons.

The Essex County Land Bank was established just three years ago in hopes of alleviating a growing housing crisis in the eastern Adirondacks. We take a look at what a land bank is, and how any community can rack up some wins for affordable housing by starting its own. Also: The ICE immigrant detention center in Batavia is over capacity and at its highest population in months.

After skepticism and debate, the Olympic Regional Development Authority got approval from its board to hire a consultant last week. That's to make a long-term plan for the authority's vast infrastructure, which officials say they don't know how to maintain. Also: we take a wintry stroll on frozen Mirror Lake.

It's Black History Month. In Albany, Black lawmakers and other lawmakers of color in Albany used the occasion to highlight key priorities like more education funding, affordable housing, and sentencing reform. Also: The APA approved a new 22-unit housing development in Lake Placid at its meeting yesterday.

New York has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Olympic venues in Lake Placid in recent years. But the agency that runs them says it doesn't have a long-term maintenance plan. The board will vote tomorrow on to do next. Also: Civil liberties groups are pushing back on Governor Hochul's proposed ban on A.I.-generated campaign attack ads.

There are some schools in the North Country that take their kids outside almost all day, in any weather. We meet a young teacher who says she's found her calling in a forest kindergarten in the Adirondacks. Also: Two North Country high school girls hockey teams are heading to the state frozen four tournament.

Glens Falls is on the upswing, with new businesses, new construction, and a new mayor. We talk with Diana Palmer about her focus on housing, development, and long-term planning. Also: An explosion at Abundant Life Church just outside of the village of Boonville sent several people to the hospital with serious injuries.

The freestyle aerials ski jumping competition kicks off tomorrow in Italy. Many of the athletes were training in Lake Placid last month. We hear what it's like to jump and flip and turn 50 feet in the air. Also: The controversial Tesla factory in Buffalo, the key part of the "Buffalo Billion" economic development project, is finally meeting its job requirements.

How did Friday the 13th come to be associated with superstitions and bad luck? A Jefferson County folklorist breaks down how the day became what it is today. Also: Mayors across Upstate New York say it’s critical that lawmakers provide more state aid to their cities this year.

New York's schools are a year away from having to start transitioning their fleets to electric buses. But school officials say it's going to be a challenge, and they're hoping lawmakers will make changes. Also: We hear from a Saranac Lake school bus driver about the unexpected perks of this essential job.

The Winter Games are well underway in Milan and Cortina. We check in with former NCPR reporter Brian Mann, who's covering the Olympics for NPR. Also: we remember Margot Ernst, a major philanthropist in the Adirondacks and for public radio. She died Sunday at the age of 80.

Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing several initiatives for farmers who are feeling squeezed by tariffs, but lawmakers have questions about the spending. Also: The company that runs the hospitals in Carthage and Ogdensburg is declaring bankruptcy.

A new state proposal could change how people with disabilities experience the Adirondack wilderness. It's forcing officials to weigh accessibility goals against concerns over motorized vehicle use on protected lands. Also: We have an update on North Country luge athletes competing in the Winter Games in Italy.

A small state park in Colton has become home to some of the best cross-country skiing in the North Country. The secret sauce? A dedicated volunteer crew at Higley Flow State Park. Also: The deadline to change party affiliation to be able to vote in primaries is coming up on February 14th.

The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal for USA hockey remains a huge tourist draw to Lake Placid. The village unveiled a new attraction last weekend, a statue of coach Herb Brooks. Also: Governor Hochul has tapped former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate to become the next lieutenant governor.

Late last year, the health care group that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage said they were in danger of closing due to financial problems. Since then, the North Star Health Alliance's CEO has resigned, and the state says it's still not fulfilling its obligations to get critical funding. Also: Dozens of people were trapped in gondolas at the Gore Mountain ski area today when the system malfunctioned.

As much of the country is expressing outrage over ICE's aggressive immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, St. Lawrence County lawmakers approved a plan for the sheriff's department to collaborate with ICE. Hundreds of people showed up at a public meeting last night to oppose the plan. Also: Gov. Hochul discussed her plan to ban such agreements with ICE on NPR this morning.

As tensions continue to rise over the presence of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in communities across the country, Gov. Kathy Hochul took her strongest stance yet against ICE on Friday. It comes as St. Lawrence County is voting tonight on a controversial measure to work with ICE. Also: Amid upcoming changes to federal food assistance, a new grant fund is helping Adirondack pantries upgrade their capacity to meet rising demand.

A high-tech event recently honored the Miracle on Ice Olympic legacy in Lake Placid with hologram reenactments. We visit the famous hockey arena with fans wanting to recapture the energy of that game in 1980. Also: Hundreds of people in the North Country are planning to remember Alex Pretti with vigils over the weekend. He's the nurse who was shot and killed by ICE agents last week.

The DEC has updated its management plan for brook trout in Adirondack Ponds, in part to limit the threats from climate change and the use of live baitfish. Also: Jefferson County's sheriff is warning residents to be prepared for icy roads and arctic cold after the lake effect dumped more than four feet of snow on the region.

Last month, Warren County wired $3 million to a contractor for roadwork. Turns out it was a fraudulent account, and the county is trying to get the money back. The incident has sparked a blame game within county government. Also: New York has one of the highest child poverty rates in the country, and it's struggling to improve it.

The St. Lawrence Seaway's giant freighters that slip through the Thousand Islands are an awe-inspiring sight. We meet a longtime mariner who piloted those ships here and around the world. Also: The CEO of the health care company that runs the hospitals in Carthage and Ogdensburg has resigned, days after he laid off more than a hundred people.

People in the western part of the North Country say they are continuing to struggle with affordability, according to an annual survey of communities. Also: We take a sub-zero snowshoe trek out to a frozen waterfall in the northern Adirondacks.

A replica portrait of George Washington owned by Clarkson University sold at auction today for $2.8 million. We hear the fascinating story behind the portrait that was one of the inspirations for the dollar bill. Also: The Adirondack Park Agency approved a battery storage site near Great Sacandaga Lake at its meeting yesterday.

The St. Lawrence County sheriff's department is considering a partnership with ICE, the agency in charge of the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown. Some lawmakers are concerned, as ICE's aggressive tactics have become one of the nation's biggest controversies. Also: A vacancy on the town council in Malone is prompting accusations of partisanship and disenfranchising voters.

In the North Country's tourism communities, local workers, like nurses, teachers, and kitchen staff, have found it increasingly difficult to buy a home in recent years. One of those people recently found his long-term home in a new workforce housing project in Keene. Also: Our Albany correspondent Samuel King explains what's in Gov. Hochul's $260 billion budget plan.

911 dispatchers help handle traumatic incidents every day. They can face mental health challenges due to the stress of their jobs. We visit the dispatch center in St. Lawrence County for an inside look. Also: The company that owns the hospitals in Carthage and Ogdensburg is laying off more than a hundred people.

Our Albany correspondent shared what he saw last week about who is with and against Governor Kathy Hochul's agenda for 2026. Also: Joe Hackett guided trips in the Adirondacks for more than 40 years and wrote a column for nearly 20 years, known as "The Adirondack Gadabout.” He died in Ray Brook last week.

Ahead of the Winter Games in Italy, Jamaican bobsledders are back at Lake Placid’s Olympic sliding track, where the team has trained for decades. We meet the team’s newest generation, who is hoping to capture the country’s first Winter Olympic medal. Also: Environmentalists are disappointed with some of Gov. Hochul's proposals for 2026, including her plans to build new nuclear power plants.

The cost of hiring aides for people with disabilities has been spiraling up, and it's been harder than ever to find people to do the job. That's why advocates are hoping for more progress this year in Albany on higher wages for support professionals. Also: Two events this month in Lake Placid will honor the 1980 Olympic hockey team that won gold at the Winter Games.

Gov. Hochul's State of the State agenda will have big impacts on people across the North Country. We look at how her proposals on child care, nuclear energy, immigration, and affordable housing could affect our region. Also: Reaction from around the state to the Governor's plans as she enters an election year.

Gov. Hochul is keeping affordability central to her agenda as she heads into an election year. A summary of the plans she laid out in her State of the State speech today. Also: An American who grew up in Lake Placid won a freestyle aerials World Cup on her home turf. The sights and sounds from last weekend's jumping competitions.

Gov. Hochul is expected to feature plans for a more affordable child care system in her State of the State address tomorrow. We dig into what that would actually mean for North Country families and childcare providers. Also: New DEC guidelines could make state lands more accessible for people using mobility devices.

If you’ve hung out in Glens Falls, gone to a local festival, or checked out a new business, or discovered an emerging artist in the area...there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the work of the woman who markets much of the city. Also: The North Star Health Alliance has scraped together the funds for three payroll cycles since announcing it was on the brink of closure last month.

Huge freighters are stuck in ice on the St. Lawrence River. We talk with a St. Lawrence Seaway observer about the obstacles the waterway now faces to shut down for the winter. Also: The superintendent and some staff have been removed from the Salmon River school district after the public learned children were put in windowless boxes as a disciplinary measure.

Drought and thin snowfall in the West is benefitting an Olympic venue in the Adirondacks. Lake Placid is now hosting a World Cup ski event that was moved from Utah due to lack of snow. Also: The U.S. Border Patrol says it detained a Venezuelan woman in Malone last week for being in the country illegally.

A luge athlete based in Lake Placid won her second gold medal of the season last weekend. Summer Britcher is on track to be one of the USA's top athletes for competition in the Winter Games next month in Italy. Also: We meet the New York Public News Network's new correspondent in Albany, Samuel King.

Political will and public opinion for universal child care are at an all-time high in New York. The question is if lawmakers can embrace the multi-billion dollar price tag. Also: Gov. Hochul wants to put in place more protections for children using social media and online gaming.

A fun Adirondack winter tradition was in danger of disappearing when the Cascade Ski Center outside Lake Placid closed down. But the state's Mt. Van Hoevenberg rallied and is keeping the Cascade's full moon ski parties alive. Also: No more styrofoam coolers. That's one of several new laws taking effect in 2026.

People who are released from prison often have trouble finding a job and a home, as well as discrimination because of their criminal record. A new SUNY program matches formerly incarcerated people with internships to help them with the difficult transition of returning to civilian life. Also: New York recorded the highest number of flu cases in a single week.

Enrollment in New York's public schools has been steadily decreasing for years now. A new analysis by Cornell University finds that decline is accompanied by an increase in charter schools and homeschooling. Also: After six months of renovations, the iconic theater at the New York State Capitol Complex, known as the Egg, is reopening.

In New York, Warren County has become a leader in reducing its use of road salt during winter. We hear from the county's superintendent of public works on how his department has made that happen in recent years. Also: Lake Placid will now host a World Cup ski event originally planned for Utah because there's not enough snow out West.

Last week, the state approved a new energy plan for the next 15 years. The planning board's chair argues it balances the need for carbon-free emissions with the realities of today's energy grid. Critics say it doesn't go far enough. Also: Gov. Hochul signed a set of prison reforms into law last week to expand video footage at all 42 of the state's correctional facilities.

Long before European settlers came to the Adirondacks, indigenous people lived there for thousands of years. We hear from the authors of a new book about how archaeological evidence is reshaping what we know about indigenous Adirondack history. Also: Watertown residents are dealing with a boil-water order that is expected to last into Christmas due to turbidity in the city's water supply.

On Friday, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik shocked the North Country and the nation when she announced she was dropping her campaign for governor and not running for Congress again. We sort through how it happened and what it might mean for the future of North Country politics. Also: New York's latest energy plan says the state will not reach a milestone climate goal by 2030.

An updated version of Story of the Day with the surprise announcement that North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik will not run for Governor or Congress next year. Also: The holiday season is a time to spend with family, and to remember family who are no longer with us. In northern Clinton County, there's something called a "wind phone", where people can talk to those they've lost...out loud.