For reasons that remain unclear, former President Donald J. Trump expressed his belief this past weekend that he expects authorities in New York state to take him into custody soon. Read More ⇒Editorial — Playing with fire: Trump urges social unrest on suspicion of pending indictment
It’s no secret that Northern New York offers many assets to attract tourists from near and far. Read More ⇒Editorial — An untapped gem: Event center planned for waterfront site in Three Mile Bay
Directly and indirectly, Fort Drum’s presence in the north country contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the local economy. Read More ⇒Editorial — Group needs support: State should step up to fund Advocate Drum organization
WATERTOWN — Individually, they often lacked enough money to sustain themselves and their families each week. Read More ⇒Jerry Moore: How Irish immigrants created sacred space
The Sapbush Run, that was the nickname of the passenger train that crawled between Utica and Watertown, via Lowville, back before the tracks were torn up. The unique moniker came from its travels through maple groves. I’ve never heard them called anything but “sugarbushes” except for that on… Read More ⇒The Sapbush Run: Part I
I don’t have COVID. That’s the good news. I have a minor medical procedure coming up that requires me to get a COVID test. Not an at-home test. One that requires me to drive to Potsdam early in the morning. Read More ⇒COVID Free and expecting changes
WATERTOWN — The people of the Emerald Isle know all too well the hardships of attaining freedom. Their patron saint exemplified this struggle. Read More ⇒Jerry Moore: St. Patrick of Ireland — history’s first abolitionist
After a three-year absence, full commuter rail service between New York City and Montreal, Québec, Canada, will resume next month. Read More ⇒Editorial — All aboard: Amtrak expected to resume Adirondack line by next month
Three cheers for the Park Team: Lisa Ruggiero, Cliff Olney and Pat Hickey. These brave City Council members deserve the gratitude of the citizens of Watertown. Read More ⇒City Council preserved this land for history
In the late winter of 2020, organizers of the North Country Goes Green Irish Festival in Watertown decided to postpone the annual event due to a health care crisis that was forcing limitations on social gatherings. Read More ⇒Editorial — Irish eyes are smiling: The North Country Goes Green Irish Festival returns this year
Thank, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for releasing the Jan. 6 video files. I find it amazing how much of a stir it has created in D.C. Read More ⇒Faith in government agencies has been lost
I just saw the Saturday matinee (March 11) of “Grease,” presented by the Norwood Norfolk Drama Club. Read More ⇒Students brought music of ‘Grease’ to life
No matter the color of your skin, your gender or the logo on your hat, one of the most common regrets people have when they are on their deathbed is that they worked too much. We question if the sacrifices to our health and relationships were worth it. Read More ⇒No cuts to either Social Security, Medicare
Spring will officially arrive in less than a week. Read More ⇒The spring season brings out the beauty of nature in Northern New York
LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) — President Joe Biden unveiled his $6.8 trillion budget proposal last week, and it drew the customary jaded responses: a work of fiction. Read More ⇒Doyle McManus: Biden’s budget was an opening bid. Where’s the Republican plan?
There’s a sense of poetic injustice when the career of a coaching legend ends on a loss — a last-second defeat at that. Read More ⇒Editorial — He bleeds Orange: Boeheim has dedicated his life to Syracuse men’s basketball
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 28 in two cases challenging the decision by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to cancel more than $400 billion in student debt. Read More ⇒Editorial — Don’t forgive and forget: Biden’s student debt cancellation plan not grounded in law
State officials doubled down on their quest to reinstate a novel coronavirus vaccine mandate for health care workers despite the fact that it’s not as necessary as it once was and appears to have no sound legal foundation. Read More ⇒Editorial — Don’t get stuck: State should scrap its vaccine mandate for health care workers
You may have noticed that on occasion, we have a listing in the Plan Your Week Calendar on the front page of this publication, called Digital Detox. Read More ⇒Take the time for some digital detox
The Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Court Street in Canton was unlocked when vandals entered the sanctum, stole three antique plaster statues of religious figures and made off with them in a pickup truck. Read More ⇒Chapel intrusion was shocking
The Goldenaires Chorus would like to thank the St.Lawrence County public for making our “singing valentines” fundraising deliveries such a great success on the 14th. Not only was the weather sunny and bright: our deliveries were well received, fun, and as special as ever. Our three quartets … Read More ⇒The Goldenaires say thank you for help
Two federal grants offered to fire departments will expire in early fall if Congress fails to renew them, and one Capitol Hill leader wants his colleagues to act on them soon. Read More ⇒Editorial — It needs a tweak: Provision in federal firefighter grant stumps some communities
WATERTOWN — Like it has in many other high-population areas across the country, crime in New York City has reached disturbing levels. Read More ⇒Jerry Moore: Unmasking the riddle of public safety
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — Our future is foreshadowed by our past, and few human activities have shaped our history more than our near-irresistible compulsion to fight each other. Read More ⇒John M. Crisp: History forecasts an inevitable major war
Local officials strongly oppose a plan by Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul to redirect federal funding in the state budget — and for good reason. Read More ⇒Editorial — Grand larceny: State may rob counties of federal funds to pay for Medicaid
NEW YORK — The moment that Nintendo investors have dreaded for years is finally here: peak Switch. Sales of its mainstay console are falling along with profits. Read More ⇒Gearoid Reidy: Nintendo must plot an exit from Switch’s uncharted territory
The most essential tool to any student is a vivid imagination. Read More ⇒Editorial — Manufacturing ideas: New York Air Brake sparks creative process for middle schoolers
FORT WORTH, Texas (Tribune News Service) — There has been a debate raging within my household for months over when my oldest children (ages 6 and 7) will be permitted to watch “The Witches,” the 2020 film based on Roald Dahl’s fantasy children’s novel of the same title. Read More ⇒Cynthia M. Allen: Leave Roald Dahl alone! Classics for kids don’t need to match our delicate sensibilities
Nothing shows community spirit quite like a post-season high school basketball game. Read More ⇒Editorial — Get in the spirit! High school basketball stokes excitement for entire communities
The Feb. 5 story in the Watertown Daily Times — “Hochul’s all-electric building plan would ban gas stoves only in new builds” — should put to rest the false claims that all New Yorkers who cook with gas must soon cease to do so. Last year, fossil fuel companies and some real estate developer… Read More ⇒NYS should pass All-Electric Building Act
A few days ago, we received a video from our youngest son who was traveling from his home in New York City to a town north of the city on the train. Read More ⇒New York is large enough to be home to everyone in all regions of the state
At the end of 2021, the New York City Council passed a law that enabled non-citizens access to voting in local elections. Read More ⇒Non-citizens should not be allowed to vote
NEW YORK — For occupants of the White House, filling open slots on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors used to be little more than an afterthought — if they even remembered to do it at all. Read More ⇒Karl W. Smith: Fed appointments have become a political minefield
Hopefully this fall, there will be an addition to downtown Canton that will make an impression on generations to come. Read More ⇒Editorial — An idea for the ages: The Brown Bear Ramble in Canton will delight generations
NEW YORK — If health means wealth, as the adage has it, then America’s economic future looks grim. Read More ⇒Adrian Wooldridge: A sick America can’t compete with China
Representatives of state government should take a good look at what’s occurring with the local job market before deciding on any new policies. Read More ⇒Editorial — ‘Where are the people?’: Thousands of jobs left vacant in area due to lack of workers
Last year’s announcement that Micron Technology Inc. would open a computer chip fabrication facility just north of Syracuse boosted the prospects of revitalizing the economy of upstate New York. Read More ⇒Editorial — No more delays: Treasury must finish guidelines on tax credits for tech firms
CANANDAIGUA — Since President Joe Biden took office, horrific stories of crime and crisis at the Southern border have flooded our television screens, made the front page of our newspapers and filled our social media feeds. Americans have watched the Biden administration surrender operational… Read More ⇒U.S. Rep. Claudia L. Tenney: New Yorkers on the hook for Biden’s border crisis
Incendiary language, whether in the media or on the internet, is creating undue chaos and stress in our nation. Yet we’re told that hate speech is a constitutional right we must respect. Read More ⇒State law seeks to curtail online hate speech
I have expected medical providers to make treatment recommendations based on the best available evidence in peer-reviewed medical sources. Read More ⇒Health care falling prey to political agendas
I believe it is important that our citizens engage and make thoughtful and well-informed choices for our future. It’s true that we weren’t paying attention when all of this began. But now we are. Read More ⇒Group is pro-renewables, properly sited
March is a hopeful month for Northern New York dwellers. It is 23 degrees as I write this, and snow is threatened. But it is March and tomorrow it could be sunny and 60 degrees and the ground will still be frozen so that it won’t be muddy for a bit. Read More ⇒Colon cancer can be prevented
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE — For hour upon hour and multiple days before he gave his recent State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden repeated all 7,224 words over and over, thereby avoiding most of his usual verbal flubs. Read More ⇒Jay Ambrose: Let’s pretend that Biden says he’s sorry
Safety protocols proved necessary three years ago when the novel coronavirus pandemic began. Read More ⇒Editorial — On the hook: Massena official touts outdoor events to lure visitors to area
Kudos to Todd DeMar and Watertown City Councilman Clifford G. Olney for assisting Linda Mercer, the Factory Street building owner, in getting her building to pass the violated codes and making it available for rental to the homeless. Read More ⇒DeMar and Olney helped homeless people
I commend your recent editorial “Give it another look: IJC committee embarks on second phase of Plan 2014 review” (Our View, Feb. 18). Read More ⇒Review of Plan 2014 will improve policy
While it doesn’t resolve a serious issue afflicting this region, the reopening of an apartment complex in Watertown demonstrates the progress that’s being made on widespread homelessness. Read More ⇒Editorial — A roof over their heads: Housing issue work leads to Factory Street complex reopening
Over the course of a lifetime, I have made a considerable effort to build my love of nature. At the age of 67, I have come to have a great love for birds and a strong desire to work hard on bringing changes that will protect and make better the lives of wild birds. Read More ⇒Living lightly is the best way to save Earth
LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) — History isn’t kind to one-term presidents, at least in the short run. Read More ⇒Doyle McManus: Jimmy Carter’s presidency looks better now than in 1980. Is there a lesson for Joe Biden?
One chapter of Hallie S. Boyer’s life exposes some weaknesses in our society. Read More ⇒Editorial — A prognosis of optimism: Potsdam resident responds to health woes with courage and hope
Michael R. Cook of Akwesasne is an amazing gentleman — always there for family, friends and neighbors. Read More ⇒Over Coffee with Ellen: Local American Legion commander dedicated to caring for area veterans