A staff report notes that the state sold Camp Gabriels prison property Tuesday to Mohammad Ibrahim of Elmont for $210,777.

Writers, John Casserly and John Danis, co-coordinators of YESeleven write their local advocacy group is in favor of of upgrading U.S. Route 11.

 Reporter Lohr McKinstry reports that the vacuum created by the departure of Hamilton County Tourism Director Ann Melious could be filled by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.

Writer Garry Douglas, President and CEO of Plattsburgh’s North County Chamber of Commerce writes that New York voters can help protect 100 North Country jobs and add 1,500 acres of forestland to the Adirondack Forest Preserve at no cost to taxpayers by voting in favor of Proposition 5. 

The Democrat & Chronicle editorial board encourages voters to approve all six ballot proposals this year, including the Adirondack Land Swap (Proposition 5) and the Township 40 settlement (Proposition 4).

Reporter David Lombardo reports that U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, and U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, have both announced their support of the Adirondack Land Swap, Proposition 5, and the Township 40 proposal, Proposition 4.

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that the state Office of General Services appears to have a buyer for the empty Gabriels minimum security prison in Franklin County.

The Leader Herald editorial board encourages voters to approve the two statewide propositions that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot involving the Adirondack Forest Preserve.  

Writer Dave Gibson of Adirondack Wild writes that the Adirondack Land Swap proposal is really about corporate profits. He writes that the Land Swap sets a bad precedent for "our beautiful, constitutionally protected forever wild forest preserve."

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that the final three Verizon cell-phone towers are set to close a gap on Interstate 87 next year.

A staff report notes that state officials are giving the public another month to weigh in on a proposal to allow new liquefied natural gas facilities in the state for the first time in 40 years.

Reporter Lohr McKinstry reports that the H. Weight Bridge in Crown Point, Molly Nye Bridge in Keene and Lord Howe Street Bridge in Ticonderoga were red-flagged as potentially dangerous by a recent State Department of Transportation inspection and will need to be replaced or repaired.

Reporter Ted Booker reports that the north country will soon have a vast array of services and pricing options for customers of broadband and wireless carriers as the region’s 750-mile open-access telecommunications network owned by the Development Authority of the North Country plans to be linked to Albany within the next few months.

State Sens. Betty Little, Mark Grisanti and Hugh Farley write that Propositions 5 and 4 on the ballots in November are very important for the Adirondacks, and each writer supports the passage of the proposals. 

Writer Chuck Clisen writes that the Natural Resources Defense Council is urging New York voters to oppose Proposition 5, the Adirondack Land Swap, because it is a raw deal for the people of the state of New York and the constitutionally protected “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve.

Reporter Keith Lobdell reports that the Adirondack Council Executive Director Willie Janeway met with members of the Denton Publications Editorial Board Oct. 17 to talk about current issues a day after the environmental group released its annual State of the Park report.

Assembly Member Janet Duprey urges voters to approve Proposition 5, the Adirondack Land Swap amendment, and the Proposition 4, the Township 40 amendment.

Writer Charles Morrison, member of the Adirondack Committee of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club, urges New York voters to vote no Proposition 5 on Nov. 5.

Reporter Amy Heggen reports that three Plattsburgh city mayoral candidates discussed their economic plans, the need for an improved Community Development Office and opportunities to partner with SUNY Plattsburgh at a forum on Tuesday.

Reporter Shaun Kittle reports that the village of Tupper Lake has passed a resolution in support of converting rails to a trail. 

A staff report notes that the Adirondack Scenic Railroad has been repaired after a recent act of alleged sabotage earlier this month.

Reporter Shaun Kittle reports that the Tupper Lake village passed a resolution in support of converting rails to a trail. 

Letter writer Charles Morrison, a Sierra Club member from Saratoga Springs, writes that the Sierra Club, Protect the Adirondacks and Adirondack Wild all urge a "no" vote on Proposition 5, the Adirondack Land Swap, because the proposal is completely inconsistent with the intent, purpose and letter of the "forever wild" provision in the state constitution.

Reporter Ted Booker reports that a new state law signed by the governor this week limits annual increases in the state’s agricultural land assessments to 2 percent, down from a maximum of 10 percent. 

Reporter Sarah Harris reports that state environmental officials have released about 11,000 baby sturgeon into the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries in an effort to restore the sturgeon population in the region.

Writer Elizabeth Mooney writes that the New York League of Conservation Voters urges voters to approve Proposition 5, the Adirondack Land Swap constitutional amendment. 

Letter writer James McMartin Long of Caroga Lake, a member of the board of Protect The Adirondacks, writes that Proposition 5 — the Adirondack Land Swap constitutional amendment — is a raw deal and should be voted down. He writes that if it passes, it will mean that the "forever wild" forest preserve will now be up for sale. 

Letter writer John Sammon of New Hartford writes that a vote to approve Proposition 4 will allow the state to settle the land claims in Township 40 that have been simmering for 130 years. 

A staff report notes that the state Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public input on its plans to manage a pair of historic Adirondack fire towers. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that APA officials have said that they do review a project’s potential impacts on stormwater, even if the term isn’t in the APA Act.
 

Reporter Karen DeWitt reports Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Moreland Commission has deepened its investigations in recent days due to accusations that the Governor is trying to control the panel and possibly suppress some subpoenas. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports on the benefits and potential pitfalls of Proposition 5, the Adirondack Land Swap, exploring the ideas of old growth, the second mine available to NYCO, the benefit of adding 1,500 acres of land for the 200 that would be borrowed.  

Reporter Lohr McKinstry reports that village of Keeseville voters will decide Tuesday if they want to approve the plan for how their municipality would end its existence. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the design of a 90-room hotel proposed in Saranac Lake was presented publicly for the first time last week. 

Reporter Sarah Harris reports that the three North Country communities of Lyons Falls, Glens Falls, and Fort Edward were awarded grant money from New York State yesterday to address contaminated sites in those communities called brownfields.

Reporter Michael Anich reports that the Fulton County supervisors may set aside 150,000 next year toward creation of a regional business park for Fulton and Montgomery counties. 

Reporter Jamie Munks reports that developer Dave Kenny has re-designed the look for the Courtyard Marriott hotel proposed for Canada Street in Lake George after members of the planning board were critical of the initial design at last month’s meeting.

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that representatives from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism gave a report Wednesday night on their efforts to market Saranac Lake.

Reporter Dan Heath reports that residents criticized spending during a public hearing on a local law to allow the Plattsburgh Town Council to override the state tax cap for its 2014 budget. 

Reporter Don Lehman reports that Warren County will not be buying a building to house the county Tourism Department anytime soon.
 

 A staff report notes that many of the Adirondack Park’s environmental organizations and local governments found common ground on issues of common concern, advancing agreements that better protect the park’s environment while also encouraging community development in 2013.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that Saranac Lake village planning board members like the look and design of a proposed 90-room hotel on Lake Flower, but they say the height of the nearly 60-foot building remains an issue.

Writer Dave Gibson, a partner in the non-profit organization Adirondack Wild, writes that he agrees with Bill Ingersoll’s recent post about the land swap between NYCO Minerals and New York state, which states that the land exchange represents a straight commercial transaction that lacks any public need or benefit. 

Writer Dale Holderman, Mayor of the Village of Keeseville, writes that he feels the plan to dissolve the village is flawed.

 A staff report notes that  a 2.8-mile trail to the fire tower on the summit of Loon Lake Mountain in the northern Adirondacks is complete and open to the public.

The Leader Herald reports that Gloversville city Planning Board during a special meeting Tuesday night 10/15 nominated Geoffrey Peck as new vice chairman of the board. 

Reporters Robert Barnes and Juliet Eilperin report that the US Supreme Court will take up a case that contends the EPA overstepped its authority by trying to regulate greenhouse gas emissions at power plants and factories.

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has promoted Basil Seggos to be his Deputy Secretary for the Environment, filling a position that has been empty since March. 

Reporters from the Journal News interview Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway and Communications Director John Sheehan about the Council’s support of the Adirondack Land Swap proposition and the Township 40 proposition.

A staff  report notes that a 2.8-mile trail to the fire tower on the summit of Loon Lake Mountain in the northern Adirondacks is complete and is now open to the public.

Reporter Don Lehman reports that while Americade is still the most important annual event to hotel, motel and campground owners in Warren County, a survey has found that other events had a good year and have moved up the chart in a yearly survey of lodgers.

 The Associated Press reports that while the Adirondack Land Swap proposal has strong support in the northern part of New York, environmental groups are divided. Of note: The story also appeared in Newsday, WNYT, Wall Street Journal, Post-Standard, NBC News, the Utica Observer Dispatch, Times Union and Post-Star.

Reporter Jamie Munks reports that Supervisor Fred Monroe of the Town of Chester is expecting a drop in sales tax revenue due to a decrease in the market value of property in the town.

Reporter Lohr McKinstry reports that the Essex County Ethics Board has reprimanded former County Republican Election Commissioner Derinda Sherman for handing out some absentee ballots too soon.
 

Reporter Cristine Meixner reports that a state Supreme Court judge has denied a motion by Protect the Adirondacks for a preliminary injunction against building new community connector snowmobile trails in the Adirondack Forest Preserve while its lawsuit against the APA and the DEC is being heard. 

A staff report notes that the Lake Champlain Basin Program is seeking proposals for local grants to support the implementation of the long term management plan for Lake Champlain. 

A staff report notes that the state will be awarding $1 million to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake to create a walkway. 

A staff report notes that the Department of Environmental Conservation has opened a new trail to the fire tower on top of Loon Lake Mountain in the northern Adirondacks. 

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais spoke Thursuday during a public hearing held by the Lake George Park Commission about his concerns that the proposed rules to protect the lake against invasive species may not be strong enought.

Reporter Erin Moran reports that winter tourism in the Adirondacks is looking more promising than ever in the wake of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tourism campaign which began in May.

A staff report notes that town officials in Cornwall, Vermont, want the state to stop a plan to build a pipeline through the town to a paper mill in New York.
 

A staff report notes that this week on New York Now, WMHT’s Matt Ryan heads to the Adirondacks to investigate the controversy over the fate of a historic rail trail connecting two tourist hotspots, and how a land dispute in one of the region’s most scenic locales is about to be settled — or perhaps not — by voters in a statewide referendum.
 

Reporter Stephen Williams reports that, judging by comments made at a public hearing held on Thursday,  the public is in favor of plans to impose mandatory boat inspections on Lake George to keep acquatic invasive species out of the lake.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the Adirondack environmental community is divided over support of the Adirondack Land Swap ballot proposal. Some groups say that valuable land will be lost, but others say that more land will be gained than lost.  

A staff report notes that New York state Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine, who announced his resignation last week, will be joining the staff of the state comptroller as a special assistant for external affairs.
 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision to meet with only select stakeholders to discuss the classification of the former Finch timberlands during his trip to the Adirondacks two weeks ago has raised a few eyebrows.

Reporter Thom Randall reports that various concerns over establishing a Business Improvement District in Lake George were raised by citizens at a public hearing Monday Oct. 7, and their questions prompted the village board to delay a pending proposition to create such an entity by at least 30 days. 

Reporter Jessica Collier reports that the town of North Elba board members gave conceptual approval Tuesday to letting a hotel developer use its parking lot at the Saranac Lake Town House. 

Writer Mike Prescott urges New York State voters to vote yes to Proposition #4, the Township 40 Amendment, on Nov. 5. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the APA will not be taking any action on the classification of the former Finch timberlands at its monthly meeting in Ray Brook on Thursday. 

Reporter Brian Mann begins a two-part series looking in-depth at the NYCO ballot proposal, interviewing Mark Buckley, NYCO’s environmental safety manager. He notes that supporters of the swap say that more ecologically valuable tracts would be added to the forest preserve if the proposal is passed. 

Reporter Joe LoTemplio reports that state and local leaders are urging New York voters to support a statewide proposition this November that would allow construction of four new casinos. 

Reporter Thom Randall reports that Warren County leaders are considering relocating their entire Tourism Department to a site off Northway Exit 20 near the outlet malls.  

A staff report notes that Six Flags has announced that it has purchased the remaining ownership interests in the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park. 

A staff report notes that the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday it “fully endorses” two “Adirondack Park land swap” ballot propositions on the Nov. 5 election ballot.

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that New York state Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine will officially step down tomorrow Oct. 9.

A staff report notes that the state DEC and its partners have constructed new parking lots, opened some recreational corridors and roadways for motorized use and installed informational kiosks that provide access and enhance the usage of specific public use areas in the Sable Highlands. 

A staff report notes that voters in New York state will be asked to consider six proposed amendments to the state constitution on the Nov. 5 ballot this year.  Two of the amendments include the settling of competing claims of title between the state and private parties to land located in the forest preserve in the town of Long Lake and the forest preserve land exchange between the state and NYCO Minerals, Inc.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that a state Supreme Court justice has rejected an attempt by Protect the Adirondacks to halt construction of a trio of community connector snowmobile trails in the Adirondack Forest Preserve because they have already been substantially completed. 

Writer Pete Nelson writes his support for the APA, noting that the adversarial language and criticism being used to frame the agency does a disservice to the public servants that work there.

A staff report notes that the Cuomo administration has confirmed the resignation of New York state Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine. 

Writer Jeff Farbaniec writes that  the Adirondack Club and Resort developers need to stop using the Big Tupper Ski Area as a pawn.

Reporter Ian Pickus reports that WAMC Northeast Public Radio, in partnership with Skidmore College, recently opened a new Southern Adirondack news bureau, located on the Saratoga Springs campus. 

The Press-Republican editorial board writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new legislation requiring operators of all powered boats to pass an eight-hour safety course is a little over-zealous.

A  staff report notes that the New York State DEC has announced that a number of new facilities and access opportunities on the Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Lands in Franklin and Clinton counties are now available for public use.

Writer G. Robert Cooley of Scotia, member of the Gooley Club board, writes his response to Charles C. Morrison’s Sept. 26 letter on the Essex Chain Lakes’ upcoming classification. 

A staff report notes that local lawmakers have given the go-ahead for a $54.93 million project at Plattsburgh International Airport that will almost triple the size of the current terminal. 

Writer Wayne Tucker, board member for Adirondack Scenic Railroad, writes his response to a recent article regarding the Harrietstown board’s resolution to the state to remove the railroad tracks. 

Reporter Jamie Munks reports that plans for a zip line on French Mountain are still in the works two years after the project was first proposed, but the project is waiting on a sign-off from the Adirondack Park Agency. 

A staff report notes that Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve will host its annual meeting of members and supporters at The Grange in Whallonsburg on Saturday, October 5.

A staff report notes that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed legislation to improve safety for boaters in New York’s waterways by requiring safety classes for all boat operators.
 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that while a growing number of environmental activists and government officials say the regulations that shape the Adirondack Park’s environment are outdated, a major APA reform would be a tough sell in Albany.

The Associated Press reports that Martin Brand has been promoted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to lead its Region 3 office, which covers the lower Hudson Valley.

Reporter Kenneth Lovett reports that for the first time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval ratings have dropped below 50%.