Southern Adirondacks

It’s harness racing season once again here in the North Country. At county affairs across the region, local breeders and racers are competing in a sport that’s been popular here since the 1800s.

Meanwhile, in Saratoga Springs, the sport’s backers are once again trying to expand the amount of slot-machine gambling that goes on at the harness racing track.

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway hopes to keep its so-called “racino” open until 4 am. According to the Albany Times-Union, local government officials oppose the change.

The request is now being reviewed by the state Lottery Division.

This link between harness racing and slot-machine gambling has been controversial for years. Brian Mann’s report on the debate first aired in the summer of 2008.

It’s been a classic summer so far, with plenty of sunshine and hot days. Our Adirondack bureau chief, Brian Mann, has been taking advantage of the weather, paddling and climbing.

Brian’s latest favorite discovery is Crane Mountain, in Warren County, which offers a short, fun hike along with fantastic views.

But the real prize is a gorgeous mountain pond located near the summit. Brian visited recently with his son Nicholas and sent this audio postcard.

Hundreds of runners are expected to compete in the annual "Race the Train" run in North Creek this Saturday, August 7. It's a fundraiser for the "Dollars for Scholars" program. The money helps local students pursue their college studies. Todd Moe spoke with organizer Ann Arsenault about the 9th annual race. She says a new addition this year is a pasta dinner for runners on Friday night.

This Thursday night kicks off the 2010 season of concerts at St. Williams on Raquette Lake. The first performer channels folk and jazz, but with decidedly Brazilian, Cuban, and Peruvian influence. Joel Hurd profiles the music of Jean Rohe.

The mayor of Lake George says he’ll drink a glass of water from the lake. That in itself wouldn’t ordinarily be much of a news story. But it’s been slightly less than one year since thousands of gallons of raw sewage spewed into the Lake. Village mayor Robert Blais says it happened last July 4 weekend at Shepard Park, a popular swimming beach on Lake George. Blais says it was a blow to the community, which was barred from a favorite free beach. And many people in the area worried about their drinking water and their livelihoods. Todd Moe has more.

The Hyde Collection art museum in Glens Falls celebrates American artist Andrew Wyeth this summer. Wyeth passed away in January, 2009, and the exhibit will unravel some of the myths about the legendary artist, and offer an evaluation of his contribution to art of the 20th century. The exhibit was organized by the Hyde's executive director David Setford and deputy director Erin Coe. Todd Moe spoke with Setford about Wyeth and his art, including the Hyde's own work by Wyeth purchased by the museum's founder in 1937.

A Queensbury man faces a charge of reckless operation after a fatal collision yesterday with kayakers on Lake George. Warren County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Robert Smith says 73-year-old Donald Peltier apparently did not see the man and woman paddling separate boats on the lake’s choppy water. The body of 63-year-old Peter Snyder, of Troy, NY, was pulled from the lake around 8 o’clock Wednesday night. His wife, Bonita Hagan, was also thrown into the water by Peltier’s motorboat. Martha Foley has more.

A panel of scientists—meeting this week in Glens Falls—is trying to determine whether the massive PCB dredging project on the Hudson River is effective and practical.

General Electric and the Environmental Protection Agency disagree on this key point—and that disagreement raises questions about funding for the multi-billion-dollar project.

Researchers said PCBs caused cancer and lawmakers banned the chemicals in 1977. But—for decades before the ban—GE plants in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls used the lubricant. And lots of it went into the Hudson, in the plants’ waste water. Jonathan Brown has more.

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AP - As a young lawyer, Pete Grannis helped organize the first Earth Day celebration in New York City - just a few months before he was hired to put teeth into enforcement at a new environmental agency created by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.

Later, after 30 years in the state Assembly, Grannis rejoined the Department of Environmental Conservation as commissioner in 2007. This week, he's traveling around the state in an electric car, visiting the sites of environmental success stories to mark the 40th anniversary of both Earth Day and the DEC.

Grannis says the DEC has made great strides over the past four decades, but is now hobbled by the state’s fiscal crisis - the DEC budget has been cut $32 million dollars and the staff reduced by 400 in the past 18 months.

Grannis was in Lake George yesterday to give the good news about the Adirondacks. Since the first Earth Day, he said, acid rain levels in the Adirondacks have fallen and species such as moose and bald eagles have returned. The DEC commissioner said a recent analysis found that acid rain levels dropped in all 48 Adirondack lakes that are monitored on a long-term basis. And he said wildlife such as moose, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and ospreys have re-established themselves in the North Country, and beaver and otter populations are flourishing.

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(AP) _ A New York judge has refused to dismiss negligence claims against state inspectors who certified the capacity limit for a Lake George tour boat before it capsized in 2005, killing 20 of the 48 on board.

State Court of Claims Judge James Ferreira says there are issues to determine at trial, including whether the inspectors are immune from claims.

Ferreira says testimony showed inspectors simply extended the Ethan Allen's the capacity limit of 48 year to year, though they had authority to change it and order stability tests after the 40-foot boat was modified.

He's also refusing to immediately grant the claims against the state.

The boat tipped over in clear, sunny weather, sending screaming tourists into the Adirondack lake. Most of them were senior citizens from the Midwest on a fall foliage tour.