Champlain Valley NY

(03/09/12) Vermont's Champlain Islands are smack in the middle of Lake Champlain's northern end. Isle La Motte is the westernmost of those islands. It's isolated and rural. Living there, you might travel to New York State to see a doctor, or go to the grocery store.

But, Isle La Motte joins other towns across Vermont in town meeting day, when citizens come together to have their say on issues big and small. Sarah Harris spent town meeting day on the island and has our story. more

(03/09/12) Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward's announcement last week that she won't seek another term has potential candidates mulling their options. As of today, at least seven people have expressed moderate to serious interest in running for her seat.

The district includes Essex, Hamilton, Warren and part of Saratoga counties. Redistricting proposals could cut out Hamilton County in favor of Washington County. Chris Morris reports. more

(03/09/12) Veteran North Country Republican Teresa Sayward, who won't seek another Assembly term, says she's leaning toward voting for President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential race. Sayward made the surprise statement during an interview on YNN's program "Capital Tonight."

Sayward has been an advocate of gay rights and supported same-sex marriage in New York, describing it as a "civil rights issue." During the interview with YNN, Sayward complained that Republicans on the national stage are pushing a religious agenda that, in her view, meddles too far in people's private lives.

Sayward, a former town supervisor from Willsboro, served 10 years in the Assembly as a Republican. A race is now underway to fill her seat, with at least seven candidates considering a run.

(03/09/12) The House Agriculture Committee convenes a hearing this morning on the federal Farm Bill at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake.

The hearing is one of only four scheduled for outside Washington DC so far on the bill. It comes at the invitation of Rep. Bill Owens of Plattsburgh. The public is welcome.

See the live webcast via the link below, and hear more this afternoon on All Before Five. more

(03/06/12) Town meeting day in Vermont is one of the few examples of direct democracy in our country. It's a state holiday, and townspeople turn out to elect municipal leaders and approve local budgets.

This year local issues at town meeting reflect national debates. In Franklin, Vermont, voters will determine whether prayer should be allowed at town meeting. And 52 towns will vote on whether to pass a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United.

In Burlington, the state's largest city, Vermonters are headed to the polls to elect a new mayor. Sarah Harris has more. more

(03/02/12) The race for New York's 114th Assembly District seat, currently held by Republican Janet Duprey, is heating up fast.

This week, Clinton County businessman David Kimmel said he feels compelled to get involved in the political process again. He ran two years ago on the Conservative line but lost to Duprey, who won the race handily.

Kimmel joins a field that already includes conservative Republican Karen Bisso, an educator from Plattsburgh. Meanwhile, Democrat Rudy Johnson of Malone, the other candidate in that 2010 Assembly contest, says he hasn't made a decision whether to run again. Chris Morris reports. more

(02/24/12) The US Postal Service plans to close the Plattsburgh customer service mail processing center on Veteran's Lane, and move its operations to an Albany facility. 55 jobs will be lost.

It's part of a national plan to close processing plants affecting more than 100,000 jobs nation wide. There's no specific date for the Plattsburgh closure yet. Martha Foley has more. more

(02/23/12) Imagine racing over a frozen lake on a wind-powered sled, hitting speeds that top forty miles an hour. Ice sailing is a big sport in winter and the north end of Lake Champlain has a growing reputation as one of the best venues in the northeast. Our Champlain Valley correspondent Sarah Harris headed out on the ice to give it a try and has our story. more

(02/23/12) More North Country school have declared fiscal emergencies. Beekmantown Central School in Clinton County has unveiled a plan that would slash 43 jobs and the district's entire interscholastic sports program.

The Plattsburgh Press Republican reports the district faces a $3.2 million shortfall. Superintendent Scott Amo told a gathering Tuesday evening that "reductions in people are inevitable."

In Jefferson County, Lyme Central School officials have appealed to Gov. Cuomo change the way the state distributes school aid to give more to rural schools. In a letter quoted in the Watertown Daily Times, Superintendent Karen Donahue wrote, "I've witnessed great reductions in state aid, federal aid, and now a capped tax levy...now our students are suffering. They face the unfortunate circumstances of living in the wrong zip code."

More than 100 parents, students, and teachers gathered at the Canton High School auditorium last night. At least three busloads of them from Canton, Potsdam, and possibly other school districts are heading to Albany next week. They were meeting to learn what they'll do when they get there. more

(02/23/12) The US Postal Service announced Thursday that it plans to close the Plattsburgh customer service mail processing center on Veteran's Lane, and move its operations to an Albany facility. It's one of more than 230 consolidations the USPS announced. There aren't any retail operations at the Plattsburgh site. more