Northern Light

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Starting this month, more people will need to meet new work requirements to stay eligible for federal food assistance benefits; Nursing homes are competing with hospitals for funding during state budget talks; and Kitty O’Neil joins us to check in on how North Country’s farms are preparing for growing season.

As the Trump administration continues its nationwide immigration crackdown, we hear from a growing network of local activists working to protect immigrants across the North Country; the Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to eliminate 25,000 vacant positions and implement the largest reorganization of its giant health care system in three decades;  and we hear about an effort to preserve the dark skies in the North Country.

We head to Lake Placid, where the most decorated cross-country skier in American history, Jessie Diggins, closed out her career on top at the World Cup Finals; state budget talks are underway at the Capitol, with top issues including changes to the state climate law and insurance policy; and we talk with a North Country painter about how he explores travel, faith and spirituality in his work, that's now on display at SUNY Canton.

It’s been almost four months since the use of wooden ‘timeout boxes’ was discovered in the Salmon River Central School District in Franklin County. Community outrage came to a boiling point at recent board meeting. Also, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says the state is working to help the company that runs the hospitals in Ogdensburg and Carthage. And, we'll preview the Festival of the Local underway in Saranac Lake! Dozens of bands from the Tri-Lakes, Plattsburgh, North Creek and beyond are doing shows every day through the end of the month at the Waterhole Music Lounge.

New York State needs more power. Some developers want to build battery storage sites in the Adirondacks, but they're facing pushback. Plus, today's North Country at Work story is about a common profession - sales - and a salesman in Schroon Lake who's selling something pretty uncommon — medical devices for mice and rats. And, local kiddos have a new space to play and learn about the North Country. The Children's Museum in Potsdam recently added a whole new floor. We check out the new interactive activities about daily Amish life, Akwesasne Mohawk music, and community theater.

Thousands of people are expected at the Cross-Country World Cup finals in Lake Placid this weekend; snowmaking is trying to catch up. Gov. Hochul's budget proposes several cuts to programs that help people with disabilities live more independent lives. We preview a series of concerts at the Crary Mills Community Center in St. Lawrence County.

Three years after the Adirondack Mountain Club bought the Cascade Ski Center outside of Lake Placid, its leadership put the property back on the market. Gwendolyn Craig, with the Adirondack Explorer, dives into what contributed to the breakdown of the ADK's ambitious plans; plus, before April showers bring May flowers, February snowstorms bring lots of March potholes. We'll tag along with a public works crew in Saratoga Springs that's patching them as fast as they can; and, we've got a good chance to see the aurora borealis this week! Astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue is our guide through the morning and evening skies this month.

The village of Saranac Lake has scrapped a plan to install surveillance cameras on its streets after residents raised concerns over privacy and a lack of input in the process; a Glens Falls photographer has built a community space to connect to share her hobby with others; we’ll head to Clinton County, where a West Chazy couple has built a successful farming business around solar grazing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Ogdensburg yesterday to announce that the city will receive $10 million to improve its downtown; a popular social media foodie, Eat Local New York, visited St. Lawrence County last week; a new novel out of Montreal takes a fresh tone to consider the role of A.I. in the arts.

Officials say they’re keeping a close eye on the region’s rivers as warm temperatures cause rapid snowmelt in the Adirondacks; there's growing momentum across Northern New York around tackling affordable housing for the local workforce; we'll talk with a former editor of Adirondack Life Magazine about his new Cold War spy novel inspired by the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Amid its ongoing financial turmoil and bankruptcy filings, the relationship between the North Star Health Alliance and a healthcare consulting group has come under scrutiny; prisons are still understaffed, family visits are limited, and inmates are enduring the consequences a year after the end of the illegal strike by thousands of guards; and we get a preview of the upcoming season of the Howl Story Slam events hosted by NCPR and the Adirondack Center for Writing.

The Firefighter Association for the State of New York is hoping to reverse a statewide decline in volunteerism with a new legislative package that incentivizes volunteering as a firefighter or EMS responder; we walk along SUNY Canton's footbridge for a nearly-spring adventure; and we get a preview of the 14th Annual Mountain Warrior Sled Hockey Tournament for para-hockey players.

The Adirondack Experience Museum in Blue Mountain Lake will debut a new permanent exhibit dedicated to the region's Black history next year; we head to the Champlain Valley for a snowshoe hike up Whipple Mountain Loop on the Twin Valleys property outside of Wadhams; and Chef Curtiss Hemm joins us to share a versatile vinaigrette recipe that can add vibrancy to any dish.

We take a closer look at the candidates’ sources of funding as the race for the 21st congressional district seat heats up; a dog team in the Adirondacks offers rides on frozen Mirror Lake in Lake Placid; and we talk with Kitty O'Neil about how biosolids and PFAS affect farms.

The Saranac Lake school board voted last week to close Bloomingdale elementary, a decision that one board member called "profound and painful;" Utility bills are soaring for many in the North Country, and State Assemblyman Michael Cashman met with seniors in Plattsburgh who are asking for relief; we have a conversation with a married couple in the Adirondacks who are responsible for building dozens of breathtaking set designs for theater, opera and television shows.

Following President Trump’s State of the Union address this week, we’re checking in on how people around the North Country feel about the president a year into his second term; we talk with a worker in the Adirondacks’ hospitality and marketing industry about why it's not just pushing paperwork; and the consistently cold temperatures bode well for Lake Placid’s annual ‘Ice Out’ fundraiser.

Nearly half a million New Yorkers will soon have to prove they’re working or looking for work to stay on federal food assistance benefits; Champlain Area Trails, or CATS, recently acquired a 700-acre property in Essex County; and we have a conversation with a Black gospel scholar about how the genre has evolved ahead of his visit to St. Lawrence University tomorrow.

A reporter’s investigation found the state police have no clear standard for disciplining troopers, and troopers found guilty of misconduct were given lax or inconsistent treatment; leaders of the state legislature’s transportation committees are supporting more funding for upstate transit agencies; and NCPR's Chief Announcer, Shelly Pike, stops by to give a shout-out to three guys in Canton who pitch in and smooth out the ice on the community skating rink.

The Essex County Land Bank was established just three years ago in hopes of alleviating a growing affordable housing crisis; New York state lawmakers and leaders are hyper-focused on addressing hunger at the state level after federal funding cuts to food assistance programs; a bookseller in the Adirondacks shares a few recommendations from regional writers; and Catherine tries to stump Monica in a sound quiz.

The Olympic Regional Development Authority has voted to spend millions of dollars on a 30-year maintenance plan for its facilities; We head to the frozen Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, where local park officials clear space for people to skate and walk in the wintertime; and we have a conversation with an author of a new young adult spy novel, who drew inspiration from her time substitute teaching in Adirondack schools.

The APA approved plans for a new housing development in Lake Placid at its meeting yesterday; Black lawmakers and other lawmakers of color in Albany are highlighting key priorities, like more education funding, affordable housing and progress on issues like sentencing reform; and John Warren checks trail conditions in the Adirondacks ahead of a snowy weekend.

The Olympic Regional Development Authority says it doesn't have a long-term plan to care for its facilities in Lake Placid; people living north of Syracuse are concerned about the wastewater that could come from the massive Micron semiconductor chip plant; and as the Winter Olympics wind down in Italy, we have a conversation with a filmmaker about his own portrait of many of the athletes in the years ahead of the games.

Some residents in the village of Fort Edward are raising concerns about a proposal to allow a nearby incinerator process PFAS-contaminated soil; we venture to a snowy forest in Essex, where a young teacher says she's found her calling in a forest Kindergarten; and we have a conversation about a recent memoir that traces one woman’s hard fought fight to rehab a derelict house in Indian Lake.

Glens Falls first female mayor says she's focused on housing, development, and long-term planning; Utica is celebrating the reopening of a historic ski hill following a $2 million renovation of its snowmaking and lift equipment; and astronomer Aileen O’Donoghue guides us through the night sky.

We hear from one woman about a lifetime of working with the skills that were passed down to her; a duo from the Plattsburgh area is sharing the stories of everyday Americans at their musical theater concert this weekend; and we have a conversation about the origins of Friday the 13th and why there's a lot more to superstition than what meets the eye.

People with disabilities and their advocates are gathering in Albany this week to press state lawmakers on key priorities; New York schools are a year away from electric bus requirements, but school officials say it's going to be a challenge; and we get a preview ahead of the Empty Bowls fundraiser in Keene Valley this weekend.

The North Star Health Alliance is filing for bankruptcy after months of financial instability, employee layoffs, and the resignation of its CEO; Margot Ernst, a leader in the Adirondack philanthropic community and a passionate public radio supporter, died Sunday at 80 years old; and we’ll check in with longtime NCPR reporter Brian Mann, who is in Italy covering the Winter Games for NPR.

Gov. Hochul is proposing several initiatives for farmers who are feeling squeezed by tariffs, but lawmakers have questions about the spending; many bald eagles migrate south during winter to northern Pennsylvania, where eager birders try to get a glimpse of America's bird; and we'll check in with a snowmobile club in southern St. Lawrence County for more details on their poker run this week.

A new state proposal could change how people with disabilities experience the Adirondack wilderness; Democratic state lawmakers are pushing the New York for All legislation, an alternative to the bill to limit federal immigration agents' authority; and the Twitchell Lake Association in the southern Adirondacks has spent months compiling the lake's social, natural, and even legal history, and are publishing it all on a new website.

A small state park in Colton has become home to some of the best cross-country skiing in the North Country, thanks to some dedicated volunteers; local government leaders in Clinton County say they’re optimistic about the economic outlook of the region; and we’ve got a preview of the Empire State Winter Games this weekend.

A new statue in Lake Placid honors the legacy of Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 Olympic hockey team; we board a Saranac Lake school bus to learn about the unexpected perks of the essential job; and we have a profile of American skier Jessie Diggins, who is competing in her last Olympics before coming to Lake Placid for a World Cup competition.

St. Lawrence County lawmakers voted to allow its sheriff's department to sign an agreement with ICE; Gov. Kathy Hochul says she wants to change New York State law to ban local enforcement from signing those kinds of agreements; and we learn more about what it takes to create a new Canadian English dictionary.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says she's proposing legislation that would ban agreements between local police departments and federal immigration authorities; a skeleton race in Lake Placid has become the subject of intense controversy that could determine whether a US sledder can compete in the Olympics in Italy; and we talk about some sayings that help us get through the winter.

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; a high-tech event earlier this month honored the Miracle on Ice Olympic legacy in Lake Placid with hologram reenactments; and we tag along at St. Lawrence Nurseries' Wassail party, an ancient tradition meant to bless the orchards for the growing season.

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; we follow one archaeologist’s journey to preserve historical objects while having a steady job; and folks at a bookstore in Lake Placid are hosting a low-pressure singles’ night this weekend.

A fraud case in Warren County has stirred up infighting and sparked a blame game within county government; We visit the New York State Talking Book and Braille Library to learn how it helps visually impaired people access reading materials; and we have a conversation with Canadian author Giles Blunt about his historical novel set in the Saranac Lake cure cottage era.

Advocates hope that recent policy changes will start to make a difference in New York's child poverty ranking; we talk to a longtime mariner who piloted freighters on the St. Lawrence Seaway and around the world; and we sit down with NCPR book reviewer Betsy Kepes at the Gouverneur public library to dig into the latest book from Adirondack environmentalist, Bill McKibben.

David Sommerstein makes a sub-zero but sunny trek to Lampson Falls for an audio postcard; people in the western part of the North Country say they are continuing to struggle with affordability, according to an annual survey of communities; and as the Pentagon rolls out tougher fitness standards and punishments for troops who fall short, some advocates are criticizing approaches that emphasize discipline over support.

The Adirondack Park Agency approved a battery storage site near Great Sacandaga Lake at its meeting yesterday; Clarkson University has owned a historic portrait of George Washington for decades, and it's being sold at auction today; and we’ll get a preview of a storytelling event in Canton this weekend, hosted by NCPR and the Adirondack Center for Writing.

St. Lawrence County is considering a partnership between the sheriff's department and ICE; Malone's town council is leaving a board seat unfilled; and we discuss farm and ag groups' policy priorities for the coming state legislative session with Kitty O'Neil.

We meet someone who has found a home in a recently-completed workforce housing project in the high peaks of the Adirondacks; we listen as cold settles into the woods during an arctic front that's bringing frigid air to the North Country; and volunteers at the observatory in Tupper Lake are sharing an Emmy award with NASA for their coverage of the 2024 solar eclipse.

We break down reactions from the right and left following Gov. Hochul's State of the State address; Micron has broken ground in Onondaga County on what’s billed as the largest private investment in New York history; and we remember NCPR's longtime theater critic, Connie Meng, who died last week at 86 years old.

A group of anti-Trump protestors gathered at Canton’s main intersection this week; we meet the newest generation of Jamaican bobsledders who are working to get to the Winter Olympics in Italy; and John Warren checks on weekend trail conditions in the Adirondacks.

People with disabilities and advocates are hoping for more progress on inclusive housing and higher wages for support professionals during the coming legislative session; officials in Jefferson County say a new transit system will start up this year; and an all-volunteer group of musicians is coming together in Potsdam this weekend to celebrate the everyday heroes in our communities.

We break down the biggest topics highlighted in Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State speech; the North Country's Republican lawmakers react to the governor's 2026 policy agenda, and we have a conversation with renowned bluegrass guitarist Jake Eddy, who is teaching a class and performing in Saranac Lake next week.

Thousands of fans watched the top aerial skiers in Lake Placid over the last two days; the Trump Administration is restructuring the U.S. Army, and changes could affect the mission and actions of soldiers at Fort Drum, near Watertown; and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue guides us through what to look for in this month's night sky.

Ahead of Gov. Hochul's State of the State address, we talk with reporter Amy Feiereisel about preliminary details of a plan to expand childcare access; New York State is trying to find ways to keep vaping products out of the waste stream; and a conversation with the author of a new book about the New York City subway system's secret history.

The North Star Health Alliance says it can meet its payroll this week but officials say there are still financial challenges ahead; a new, free program at Clarkson University is training young adults for jobs in home energy efficiency; we hear about what it took to start a Glens Falls marketing firm that’s making sure you know about every festival, artist, and small business the city has to offer, and John Warren checks on trail conditions in the Adirondacks this weekend.

As lawmakers gather in Albany for the legislative session, some state officials are decrying the Trump Administration's freezing of child care funds; ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway are still stuck due to icy conditions, and it's forced the Seaway to extend its navigation season; and NCPR’s station manager Mitch Teich joins us for a conversation about the end of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and for an update on NCPR’s finances following the end of our federal funding.

As ice forms on many of the region's waterways, we visit the East Branch of the Ausable River; Lake Placid is now hosting a World Cup ski event that was originally planned for Utah, after the Northeast’s strong start to winter; and we have a preview of an artist exhibit in North Creek.

At the Upstate New York airport where the captured Venezuelan president Maduro was flown into the US, there was mixed reaction to the US incursion into the country; A luge athlete based in Lake Placid won her second gold medal of the season last weekend; and we hear the hundred year old hockey mystery of the Ontario man who replaced a legendary Montreal goalie during a NHL game, then never played again.

Political will and public opinion for a statewide universal childcare program are at an all-time high, but lawmakers are hesitant to embrace the price tag; the iconic theater at the New York State Capitol Complex, known as the Egg, is reopening this week after six months of renovations; and a longtime resident of the North Country shows us his trick for clearing off snow from the roof of his house.

We hear a refresher on ice safety; Mt. Van Hoevenberg is keeping the full moon ski parties alive this winter after Cascade Ski Center closed earlier this year; and John Warren checks on outdoor conditions for the first weekend of the year.

We hear from a State Farm Bureau official about how the change of farm overtime hours affects operations; a new SUNY program matches formerly incarcerated people with internships to help them with the difficult process of finding a job after they're released from prison; and we revisit one of our favorite stories of the year featuring local drag performers.

Warren County has been a leader in reducing its use of road salt during winters; the death of a Saratoga County resident helped to inspire new statewide regulations on an over-the-counter herb that could have negative health effects; and a sociologist wants people to recognize that Ottawa is more than just Canada’s national capital.