Reporter Sean Ewart reports that a change in the number of cows a farm can have before needing to comply with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation rules could help small farms expand.

Reporter Thom Randall reports that Adirondack Day at the Legislative Office Building featured an expo of Adirondack recreational opportunities, locally grown food, brewery beer, as well as displays detailing educational and economic resources and local history.

Reporter Glenn Blain reports that the state Assembly is expected to approve a measure to allow New Yorkers to begin voting nearly three weeks before a general election and two weeks before a primary at locally designated polling places. 

Reporter Mike Lynch reports that the Adirondack Challenge whitewater and flatwater rafting competitions will be held on July 21 in Indian Lake. 

Writer Peter Bauer writes that the restrictive shoreline regulations throughout the Adirondacks are in place to protect the water quality, not about aesthetics. And it is all the more important in an era of climate change. He suggests that it would be great for the frozen-in-time APA to adopt Queensbury’s stormwater protection codes. 

Reporter David Storey reports that a program has been launched by the Adirondack Landowners Association to educate boaters in the Adirondacks on ways to reduce the spread of invasive species. 

Writer Philip Terrie, an Adirondack and environmental historian, writes that there are longstanding problems with the Adirondack Park Agency that should have been fixed forty years ago and weren’t. 

A staff report notes that "Adirondack Day" is planned for the Capitol where organizations will showcase the features of the region. 

Reporter Phil Brown reports that The state attorney general’s office has won the bulk of its lawsuit against Hudson River Rafting Company and its owner, Patrick Cunningham.  

A staff report notes that New York state closed on 9,300 acres of the former Finch, Pruyn lands in the Adirondacks Tuesday, April 23, for $6.3 million. This acquisition complements the state’s purchase of the 18,318-acre Essex Chain of Lakes property in late 2012. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the APA is getting some backlash following a decision to scrap strict rules it initially required to be followed in order to upgrade emergency communications towers on four summits in the Adirondack Park. Environmentalists are concerned that without the strict rules, Bicknell’s thrush songbirds would be adversely impacted.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that permit inquiries and applications to the APA are increasing, with cell tower documents leading the way. 

Writer Phil Brown writes that Christopher Amato, a former DEC official, says that the DEC should designate the Essex Chain as a Canoe Area — which would prevent motorized access — rather than designate it as Wild Forest, which would permit motorized access.

A staff report notes that the Lake George Park Commission voted unanimously to let the public comment on its draft plan to limit the spread the invasive species into Lake George. You can download the plan here (http://www.lgpc.state.ny.us/PDF/LG%20AIS%20Plan.pdf) and the comment period ends on June 25, 2013.

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that public access to OK Slip Falls is expected to start in late May or early June. 

The Denton Publications editorial board writes that no area of the state would be helped more by casinos than the Adirondacks. They would bring jobs, tax revenue and people.

Reporter Ted Booker reports that the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency is seeking funding for environmental studies needed to develop land for a corporate park at Watertown International Airport. 

The City & State editorial team has ranked DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens as the 66th most powerful player in Albany politics. 

Reporter Gordon Block reports that the state DEC is planning a number of events ahead of the release of the state Wildlife Viewing Guide.

Reporter Jaegun Lee reports that US Sen. Bill Owens vowed to prevent the creation of a fee that would be charged to travelers to cross the US/Canadian border because it could be a detriment to the regional economy. 

Reporter Joseph Spector reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lost significant support upstate. A new poll from Siena College shows that upstate voters "prefer someone else" to Gov. Cuomo by 52 percent to 42 percent.

State Sen. Betty Little, with Sen. Hugh Farley as co-sponsor, has introduced a bill for the second time that would authorize the state Legislature to settle the land dispute in Township 40. 

Reporter Thomas Kaplan reports that a new Siena College poll reveals that more than 80 percent of voters believe more lawmakers will be arrested for ethical misdeeds. Eighty-two percent support term limits, and 54% say candidates should not run on more than one line. 

The Associated Press reports that state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli called for for limiting or ending tax incentives on restoring brownfield properties while extending liability protections and streamlining regulations for developers.

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that Essex County supervisors are not happy that the Adirondack Park Agency permit for the expansive radio communications project includes conditions that limit construction.

Reporter Steve Virkler reports that Inter-County Legislative Committee of the Adirondacks is meeting in Lowville to discuss the state budget’s effects on counties and towns in the Adirondacks.

Reporter Daniel Flatley reports that Jefferson County towns are looking for good projects in which to invest revenue earned from bed tax money. 

The Adirondack Journal editorial board writes that much more needs to be done to bring high-speed Internet to needy areas of the Adirondack Park. 

A staff report notes that SUNY Adirondack has named Kristine Duffy, a vice president at SUNY’s Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, as its next president.

Reporter Erica Orden reports that a new Quinnipiac University poll shows an increase in overall approval for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, even though he got poor marks for efforts to clean up legislative corruption. 

Reporter Keith Whitcomb reports that the US Forest Service in Vermont is planning a number of "prescribed fires" in the Green Mountain National Forest in order to improve wildlife habitat.

Reporter Brian Kidwell reports that an Albany-area renewable company will be taking yard waste from the city of Ogdensburg and will chip it up to make fuel for its green energy plant at Fort Drum. 

A staff report notes that two investors are buying the former Pfizer research plang near Plattsburgh and moving a Texas manufacturing business there.

Reporters Steve Virkler and Martha Ellen report that Lewis, St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties all saw increases in sales tax for the first quarter of the year.

A staff report notes that more than 3,000 riders attended the 10th annual Snirt run. 

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that the state APA has approved an outdoor "Wild Walk" at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that the efforts to remove the emerald ash borer — which includes clearcutting forests — might cause a constitutional crisis when dealing with Adirondack Forever Wild forests. 

Reporter Shannon Green profiles the APA’s James Townsend, who recently replaced John Banta as the agency’s general counsel.  

Reporter Chris Morris reports that the only gas station in the Essex County town of Wilmington could remain open as the owner is talking with other entities to buy or lease the location. 

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that the environmental advocacy group Protect the Adirondacks  has gotten approval to pursue a lawsuit to stop snowmobile-trail grooming on connector trails in the Adirondacks.

A staff report notes that the APA is planning the annual Local Government Day Conference on April 24-25 in Lake Placid.

Reporter Martha Ellen reports that the replacement of a bridge used on a community connector snowmobile trail will continue despite the continuation of a lawsuit by Protect the Adirondacks. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of building community connector trails on land deemed Forever Wild.

Reporter Kenneth Lovett reports that a proposal to curtail use of drones by law enforcement in New York has gained bipartisan support in the state legislature. 

Reporter Ted Booker reports that payments to farmers under the Milk Income Loss Contract program will not be available until May. 

A staff report notes that 300 BOPE officers were engaged in actions on Wednesday morning to combat drug trafficking in the North Zone. * 

A staff report notes that the Nature Conservancy is selling 130 acres of land purchased from Finch to a private boys camp. 

Reporter Danny Hakim reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing increased criticism following two corruption cases last week as traditional allies are turning on him, complicating his claim that he has transformed Albany. 

Reported David Sommerstein reports that EPA took the cheaper cap-and-contain PCB cleanup plan in the Grasse River project in order to save 900 jobs at the nearby Alcoa plant. 

Reporter Martha Ellen reports that a forum at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, hosted by U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, focused on a number of cross-border initiatives including: easing the flow of trade; encouraging cross-border law enforcement; streamlining and promoting trusted traveler and commerce programs; supporting smaller business trade by reducing paperwork, among others.

Reporter Fred Dicker reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is preparing to ask Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to resign following the most recent corruption and bribery arrests in the legislature. Cuomo reportedly is hoping to replace Silver as speaker with a Rochester-area lawmaker. 

Reporter Nick Reisman reports that on the Capitol Pressroom radio show, Gov. Andrew proposed a number of reform proposals and denied that there was a plan to oust Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. 

Reporter Martha Ellen reports that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a record of decision on 18 acres of the contaminated 54-acre Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. property in Star Lake, which calls for maintaining a site cover (pavement or grass), developing for commercial or industrial use only, and a site management plan that identifies all restrictions and controls.

Reporter Chris Morris reports that the sole gas station in Essex County’s Town of Wilmington will stay open for a little while longer, according to the current owner. 

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that members of a coalition of environmental groups are seeking campaign reform in order to turn the tide against the successes that business and industry groups have had on legislation recently. 

A staff report notes that state Sen. Betty Little of Queensbury is proposing a bill that would increase existing child tax credits and the state’s dependent exemption for income taxes, as well as restore funding for the STAR rebate check.

Reporter Mike Lynch reports on a significant change in the 46er program — requiring members to fill out an online questionaire rather than send in journal entries. 

Writer Peter Bauer writes about the population myths surrounding the impacts of environmental protection. Ultimately, he writes, the "minor population losses in the Adirondack Park are not the result of economic conditions, but rather larger national demographic and social trends."
 

Reporter Chris Morris reports that the only gas station in the Essex County town of Wilmington is closing. 

Reporter Martha Ellen reports that St. Lawrence County’s attempt to raise its sales tax was held up by the Assembly when a state Senate-sponsored bill was not included in the final budget agreement.

A staff reports that the state DEC has released guidance on staying safe by preventing conflicts with coyotes and bears. 

Reporter Ted Booker reports that US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced a bill that would restructure the milk pricing system proposed in the farm bill — giving dairy farmers a well-deserved boost.

Reporter Tim Fenster reports that U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer is urging federal environmental officials to move ahead on their proposed cleanup of the Grasse River in order to support and strengthen the economy of the north country. 

Reporter Jacob Tierney reports that the Alcoa plant in Massena, NY, will move ahead with a $42 million upgrade that will preserve at least 900 jobs in the region. 

Reporter John Ferro reports that the right for organizations to bring federal lawsuits based on the potential for environmental harm is in question after a US Supreme Court ruling stating that the potential for environmental harm must be  “certainly impending” in order to have standing.

A staff report notes that fracking supporters are calling for an investigation into whether the celebrity antifracking group started by Yoko Ono is violating New York’s lobbying law.