Emily Russell

Canada relies on US trade. Here's how the country is reacting to high tariffs Amid steep tariffs imposed by the US, Canadian leaders have worked to reduce barriers to inter-Canadian trade to boost the country's economy.

I was happy to speak to Emily Russell of North Country Public Radio in upstate New York on Canadian reaction to the trade war

www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Investigation into APA director finds staff complaints are "unsubstantiated" New York's Inspector General clears Barbara Rice of wrongdoing on four complaints made in 2023.

A new report from NY's Inspector General finds that complaints of mismanagement and wrongdoing by APA executive director, Barbara Rice, are all unsubstantiated.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

I was part of the local press pool that interviewed Gov. Kathy Hochul in Saranac Lake yesterday. Story airing Monday on @ncprnews.bsky.social.
📷: Nancie Battaglia

The 2015 Dannemora prison escape revealed security cracks. What's changed? Failures, from state leadership in Albany down to prison staff in Dannemora, contributed to the 2015 escape.

From prison leadership in Albany down to staff in Dannemora, a series of failures contributed to the 2015 escape. Here's what has and hasn't been done to address those failures.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

The moment that ended the Dannemora manhunt Retired State Police Sgt. Jay Cook, now the Franklin County sheriff, says he was just doing his job when he spotted, shot and recaptured escaped convict David Sweat.

Jay Cook, who is now Franklin Co. Sheriff, recalls the moment he shot and captured David Sweat, ending the Dannemora manhunt.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

A tiny town in northern NY will inherit proceeds from $125 million ADK estate Long Lake could inherit more than $100 million from the pending sale of the Whitney estate. Locals hope the money is invested and well-managed.

Long Lake, a town of about 700 people, will inherit the proceeds from the sale of a $125 million Adirondack estate.

Locals hope the money is invested and well-managed.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks carry out a hiker who broke her leg Rangers carried the women 3 miles back to the trailhead through the night, over unstable ground and sometimes through ankle-deep water.

Last Tuesday night, Forest Rangers carried a woman about 3 miles out of the woods who had broken her leg in multiple places while hiking in the Adirondacks.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Send New York Focus a Tip New York Focus investigates how power works in the Empire State. Become a source.

New York Focus investigates the politicians, lobbyists, and monied interests that drive state policy. But we can’t do it alone.

Our reporting relies on sources who are willing to share their insight and knowledge with us.

Send us a tip: nysfocus@protonmail.com

Border crossings from Canada to the North Country are down significantly Last month, border crossings from Canada into Ogdensburg and Alexandria Bay were down by more than 31% compared to last April.

In April, border crossings from Canada into Ogdensburg and Alexandria Bay were down by more than 31% compared to last spring.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Here's how Trump's federal funding cuts are impacting the North Country Trump has slashed support for schools, for scientific research, for arts and libraries. Some North Country organizations are feeling the impat.

The Wild Center in Tupper Lake lost all 8 AmeriCorps members. Museums and other arts organizations in the Adirondacks lost grant funding.

Here's how Trump's federal funding cuts are impacting northern NY.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

UVM research reveals how old, dead trees in ADK streams are a natural climate solution Researchers from the University of Vermont studied the carbon storage of dead wood in streams in the Adirondacks and New Hampshire.

Researchers from the University of Vermont studied the carbon storage capacity of dead wood in Adirondack streams and how it serves as a natural climate solution. www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Stefanik supports Trump tariff approach, signals advocacy for EAS funding The congresswoman spoke at a news conference launching Fort Ticonderoga's celebration of the country's 250th anniversary.

Stefanik's visit to Ticonderoga came a week after President Donald Trump put forward his budget proposal, which would cut non-defense spending by $163 billion. www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Trump's 'skinny' budget would cut these major North Country programs They include reduced air service funding for North Country airports, eliminating all heating assistance, and shuttering the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Trump's budget would slash funding for North Country airports, eliminate all LIHEAP heating assistance, and shutter the Northern Border Regional Commission.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Would a run for governor put NY Rep. Stefanik's rise among Republicans at risk? Winning would be difficult in blue New York, but running could still be a low-risk, high-reward move for the six-term congresswoman, Jimmy Vielkind writes.

Winning the race for NY governor would be difficult for a Republican, but running could still be a low-risk, high-reward move for Rep. Stefanik.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Stefanik 'strongly considering' run for NY governor; Hochul says 'bring it on' Rumors have been swirling for weeks about North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik’s next political move after President Donald Trump took her out of the running for UN ambassador last month.

From @ncprnews.bsky.social: Rumors have been swirling for weeks about North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik’s next political move after President Donald Trump took her out of the running for UN ambassador last month.

www.wrvo.org/2025-05-07/s...

The U.S. went through a prison-building boom decades ago. But today, many prisons are closing down, and that's hit some economies in rural America especially hard.
Hear my story today on @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/05/07/n...

Stefanik "strongly considering" run for NY governor, Hochul says "bring it on" Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul could face off in next year’s gubernatorial election.

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul could face off in next year’s gubernatorial election.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Trump says he's ending federal funding for NPR and PBS. They say he can't In an executive order, President Trump directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS. They say he can't. PBS chief Paula Kerger calls it "blatantly unlawful".

It is not clear that the president has the authority to make such orders to CPB under the law.

From @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social

Hiker reservation system at Adirondack Mountain Reserve is now permanent The reservation system out of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) has been a pilot program since 2021, but it became permanent this year.

From today through Oct. 31, if you want to hike in one of the most iconic sections of the Adirondacks, you need to reserve a spot ahead of time.

The hiker reservation system at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve became permanent this year.

www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Forest Rangers extinguished a 14-acre fire in the southern Adirondacks The fire was reported in Lake Luzerne in Warren County on Thursday, April 24. It burned across 14 acres and was extinguished later that day.

According to the DEC, the fire was reported in Lake Luzerne in Warren County on Thursday, April 24. It burned across 14 acres and was extinguished later that day.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

NY's prison boom brought jobs Upstate. Now the region is paying the price NY opened more prisons than most other states during the 1980s and '90s, aimed at boosting rural economies. Now it's closing more, too.

NY opened more prisons than most other states during the 1980s and '90s to boost rural Upstate economies. Now it's closing more, too, with five more potentially on the chopping block.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Saranac Lake joins nationwide pro-Democracy, anti-Trump Hands Off rally About 100 people rallied in Saranac Lake, joining Potsdam and hundreds of other towns around the US in the Hands Off anti-Trump protests.

About 100 people rallied in Saranac Lake, joining Potsdam and hundreds of other towns around the US in the Hands Off anti-Trump protests.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

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Stefanik, a Trump Ally, Might Run Against Gov. Hochul Next Year Representative Elise Stefanik, a six-term congresswoman, has talked with Republicans about a 2026 bid for governor of New York.

Breaking News: Representative Elise Stefanik, a six-term congresswoman and a leading Republican ally of President Trump, is said to be considering a run for governor of New York.

A man in his late 50s was reported overdue last Tuesday after hiking Seward Mountain. Ten hours after the search began, rangers found the man at the Ouluska Pass lean-off along the Northville Placid trail. According to the DEC, the man was tired, but in good health.

Trump is dismantling the Dept. of Education. What does that mean for the North Country? Federal funding each year usually represents between 2% and 8% of local school budgets.

One of Trump’s big campaign promises was to eliminate the US Dept. of Education. We dove into what this means for New York schools and North Country districts.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

North County orgs concerned over gutting of federal museum and library agency The Institute of Museum and Library services laid off its entire staff at the end of March.

Organizations in the North Country are sounding the alarm about the potential impact of federal cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, known as IMLS.
www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/5...

Mother and 3 Children Detained by ICE at Upstate N.Y. Farm Are Released The family was returned to New York after being taken into custody last month and held at a detention center in Texas, officials and advocates said.

The @nytimes.com used reporter Catherine Wheeler's photo and cited her and Amy Feiereisel's ongoing reporting on the ICE deportation, rally, and return of three local children.
Local news matters. Support your public radio station today ➡️ ncpr.org/givenow
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/n...

A moment of peace from a walk in the woods in the Adirondacks.

In honor of Forest Ranger Robbi Mecus and Transgender Day of Visibility, a Progress Pride flag was raised at DEC headquarters in the Adirondacks today.

We'll have a story on NCPR on Friday.