NCPR Regional News Archives

Health officials warn people in the North Country to watch for mumps. Three cases of the virus were confirmed in the past few weeks at SUNY Plattsburgh... Governor Paterson signs a bill into law to ease end-of-life decisions for loved ones... The author of Three Cups of Tea—and builder of schools in Afghanistan—visits Fort Drum with a message of hope... And New York's counties mobilize to aid struggling farmers.

This month, planes are leaving Fort Drum’s Wheeler-Sack airfield with soldiers bound for Afghanistan. About 4,000 troops of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade are a part of President Obama’s surge announced late last year. With roadside attacks and bombings up in Afghanistan, the departure is a painful one for many Fort Drum families. But recently, the author of the best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea, paid a visit to the spouses of Fort Drum’s officers. Greg Mortenson builds schools in Afghanistan. As David Sommerstein reports, he brought a sense of hope and purpose to an Army base that’s been ground down by repeat deployments. More...

State lawmakers have just ten days, according to their own time line, to agree on a state budget closing a more than $9 billion gap. Karen DeWitt reports.

The New York State Senate is considering a controversial measure that would give more legal rights to New York farm workers. The bill would allow farm laborers to unionize more easily. It would also guarantee workers at least one day of rest each week and provide for overtime pay.

The bill has strong backing from a variety of labor, immigrant and religious groups, including New York's State Catholic Conference. But the bill is broadly panned in upstate agricultural areas. It’s vehemently opposed by the New York Farm Bureau, which says it would quote —cripple — New York agriculture. Upstate lawmakers from both parties are against it.

Opposition in the state Senate is led by Darrel Aubertine, a Democrat from a long line of Jefferson County dairy farmers. He made his case yesterday on The Capitol Pressroom, a daily program produced by public radio station WCNY. Martha Foley has more.

County officials from across New York state met in Albany yesterday, urging lawmakers to drop a new farmworker rights bill. They also called for state officials to reinstate funding for farms and agriculture programs. Brian Mann has details.

A landowner in the Adirondack town of Black Brook is suing the Adirondack Park agency in federal court. Leroy Douglas alleges the agency conspired illegally with the Adirondack Council and with other environmental activists. He's asking for tens of millions of dollars in compensation.

This suit follows years of tension between the APA and a group of landowners and local officials in Black Brook. Douglas argues the park agency has become "a tool of environmentalists and wealthy downstate interests." He filed a similar lawsuit in November in state court. Earlier this month, the Adirondack Council urged a judge to dismiss the state court case, arguing that it had been filed in "bad faith."

Speaking before this latest suit, Adirondack Council spokesman John Sheehan described Douglas's allegations as an effort to "silence" green groups in the Park. APA officials have also denied repeatedly that any illegal or improper behavior occurred.

School gardens are more than a source of local food for the cafeteria. These gardens, planted and tended by students and staff, are being integrated into the educational curriculum to teach children not only about plants, nature and the environment, but other subjects as well. Danielle Pipher, a farm to school educator in Vermont, says gardens can teach kids about history, economics, social studies, math and art. Pipher will lead a workshop on school gardens on March 30th at St. Lawrence University. She spoke with Todd Moe about how to start a school or community garden.