Reporter Andy Flynn reports that Gov. Cuomo has announced the Senate confirmation of his appointments to a number of state agencies and authorities, including the Adirondack Park Agency and Olympic Regional Development Authority.

A staff report notes that the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect Bicknell’s thrush as an endangered species.
 

Reporter Erica Orden reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo may end up winning in the long run even though he was unable to get some issues through the state legislature this year. Cuomo is positioning himself as a fighter as the 2014 election season begins — and as he looks ahead to 2016. 

Writer Damon Hemmerdinger, government relations chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers, writes that New York must continue to provide incentives to help reclaim toxic sites and generate new tax revenues.

Reporters Martha Foley and Brian Mann discuss the proposed constitutional amendments — on Township 40 and the NYCO Minerals land swap — and how the NYCO amendment is creating some controversy. 

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that the two Adirondack constitutional decisions facing voters this fall — on settling the Township 40 issue and on the NYCO Minerals land swap — are accompanied by four other measures on the statewide ballot, a recent record.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that a bill that would have allowed Adirondack Health to run a part-time, off-campus emergency room at its Lake Placid hospital didn’t survive Friday’s end of the legislative session in Albany.
 

A staff report notes that Adirondack Research LLC, a Saranac Lake-based ecological research firm, has been awarded a contract with the New York State DEC to assist the DEC Division of Lands and Forests’ Invasive Species Coordination Unit with the assessment and classification of non-native animals in the state. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that during last week’s legislative session, North Country lawmakers pushed sales tax hikes through for four counties. 

Reporter Fred Dicker reports that last week’s unproductive and destructive legislative session showed that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has lost his touch during his third year in office, in contrast to his first two years in office.

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that a bill currently sitting in the Senate Health Committee would amend public health law to allow AMC Emergency Department to convert to an immediate-care center. 

Reporter Keith Lobdell reports that two of the three votes needed for NYCO Minerals to continue working have been accomplished. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that the environmental groups are not happy with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision not to re-appoint veteran environmentalist Dick Booth to the APA commission.

Reporter John Broder reports that President Obama will unveil regulations limiting carbon dioxide from existing power plants, not waiting for a confirmation vote on Gina McCarthy’s nomination as EPA administrator.

A staff report notes that the NCREDC has approved its list of recommended projects to be awarded Infrastructure Funds at its meeting held at SUNY Potsdam.

A staff report notes that the Watershed Stewardship Program at Paul Smith’s college has begun for the summer season.  The stewards will be inspecting various watercraft throughout three major recreational areas in an attempt to stop the spread of invasive species.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has asked the state Senate to reconfirm three APA Commissioners and has also moved to replace two other veteran board members.

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has appointed Daniel Wilt, owner of Wilt Industries in Lake Pleasant, to the APA Board of Commissioners, and Johnsburg real estate broker Jill Broderick has been appointed to the ORDA Board of Directors.

Reporter Joe LoTemplio reports that legislation known as the Maple Tap Act has passed the Senate, providing the U.S. Department of Agriculture grants of up to $20 million per year to states that create programs to encourage landowners to open their trees to maple tapping. 

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that William "Willie" C. Janeway has outlined his plan for the future of the Adirondack Council.

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the state Nurses’ Association is condemning new legislation proposed to allow Adirondack Health to run a part-time emergency room in Lake Placid. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that a string of appointments to the boards of state Adirondack Park Agency and state Olympic Regional Development Authority are expected to be approved before the legislative session wraps up this week in Albany. 

The Times Union editorial board writes that the state needs to take a smarter approach in the future to cleaning up brownfields that doesn’t throw money at projects that don’t need it, and separates cleanup money and redevelopment money.

A state website notes that the land exchange bill between NYCO and New York State has been sent to the Rules and Judiciary committees for review and action.

Letter writer Donald Hassig of Cancer Action New York writes that Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at SUNY Albany, presented information recently on how the presence of PCBs in the environment of the Akwesasne Reserve and the Town of Massena causes harm to residents.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that state conservation Commissioner Joe Martens is at the center of some of the biggest debates in the North Country.

The editorial board at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise writes their praise of Cecil Wray for his service to the Adirondack Park during his 14 years on the APA board. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the state APA has approved plans to replace the ski patrol building at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center.  The new building will house emergency radio communications equipment for Essex County and state police. 

A staff report notes that DEC Commissioner Joe Martens says that he hopes the state Assembly will approve a land swap deal between NYCO and the state to allow NYCO to continue mining.

Reporter Jimmy Vielkind reports that poll numbers for Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have fallen dramatically, according to a poll from Siena College’s Research Institute.

Reporter Brian Mann reports that lawmakers from the North Country are pushing to add a second Constitutional amendment to the statewide ballot this November that aims to resolve a century-old land dispute in Raquette Lake in Hamilton County. 

Letter writer Bethan Maher of Utica writes that she is confident that the state will determine that the best use of the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor is to maintain its designation as a multi-use corridor with a completed rail line and blended recreational and trail opportunities.  Ms. Maher is the Executive Officer of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

A staff report notes that Protect the Adirondacks has filed a Memo in Opposition against second passage of a proposed constitutional amendment to exchange forest preserve lands in the Jay Mountain Wilderness Area in Lewis, New York with NYCO Minerals, Inc.  

Reporter Chris Knight reports that the state will temporarily open up portions of two recently-acquired former Finch timberlands while the APA works to determine a classification plan for the lands. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that environmental advocacy groups are split over a proposal to swap land in the Adirondack Park between the state and NYCO Minerals to allow NYCO to continue mining. The state Assembly is considering the bill in the final hours of this legislative session.  

A press release from state Sen. Betty Little’s office notes that a proposed constitutional amendment to allow for a land exchange between New York State and NYCO Minerals won second passage today in the Senate.  

A staff report notes that the Adirondack Park Agency will consider a series of upgrades at Whiteface Mountain Ski Center which would include a new ski patrol building and the installation of antenna systems for Essex County’s public safety radio communications system. 

A press release notes that the Adirondack Council has announced its support for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed Constitutional Amendment known as the Forever Wild clause. 

Writer John Warren writes that while the Adirondack Council has approved the constitutional amendment to allow a land swap by NYCO Minerals, other environmental activist organizations are opposing the decision.

Reporter Jon Alexander reports that the state Senate passed a bill to allow NYCO Minerals to swap land with the state in order to continue mining, and a leading Assembly Democrat agreed to shepherd the bill through the Assembly. 

A staff report notes that area politicians gathered on June 7 at Rogers Memorial Park to show their support of proposed federal legislation aimed at curbing the introduction of invasive species into local waterways. 

Reporter Dave Gibson reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has some important decisions to make on whether to leave the current membership of the APA as it is or to nominate 1-6 new members to replace those serving on expired terms. 

Reporter Jeff Meyers reports that the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program will host its annual volunteer training sessions in aquatic invasive plant identification and survey techniques at three locations later this month. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that state officials will begin a series of public hearings focused on how to manage the former Finch timberlands this week.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that a Wild Forest classification of the former Finch lands would be the least restrictive of the four classifications to be discussed at a series of public hearings.

A staff report notes that the Adirondack Park Agency Board of Commissioners will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at APA Headquarters in Ray Brook on Thursday, June 13 at 9 a.m. 

The Press-Republican editorial board writes that while the proposed closure of the Lake Placid emergency room is in the best interest of Adirondack Health economically, it would affect the community’s reputation as a world-class sports and convention venue.

Reporter Anthony F. Hall reports that a program monitoring wave conditions, marine life and pollution levels, similar to the one IBM is testing in Ireland’s Galway Bay, would balance economic growth and environmental protection in the Adirondack Park. 

A staff report notes that Protect the Adirondacks has released a report analyzing public use of the 200 largest lakes and ponds in the Adirondack Park.

A staff report notes that as former Finch land is opened to the public in Hamilton and Essex counties, the Adirondack Park Agency plans public hearings on classifying the land.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that the state DOT and DEC along with the Adirondack Park Agency will begin holding public meetings this summer to look at the environmental and economic impacts of various options for the controversial rail corridor that traverses the Adirondacks. 

Reporter James Odato reports that a lawyer is asking for a review of potential violations of election law in the deal that Gov. Andrew Cuomo made with the Oneida Indians regarding its casino. 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that Willie Janeway has taken over as director of the Adirondack Council 

 Reporter Jon Alexander reports that Washington County supervisors have again turned down a proposed local law that would ban the transport or introduction of invasive species into the county’s ponds, lakes and rivers.

Reporter Mike Lynch reports that the state Department of Environmental conservation is working on a stewardship plan that will increase access to the OK Slip Falls and Blue Ledges tract. 

Reporter Arthur Cleveland reports that local reaction has been mixed to a proposed law that would require all boaters to obtain a safety certificate before operating a motorized boat. 

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that Deputy Comptroller Pete Grannis said that a program meant to help clean up brownfields is too expensive and needs to be scaled back. He says that too much money has gone to develop expensive properties, leaving cleanup of community projects out in the cold.

Reporter Casey Seiler reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval ratings have dropped to a new low. Voters give him a 53 percent-30 percent job approval rating.  

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that a binational agency is poised to take another step towards revising the way water levels are managed on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.  

Reporter Sarah Harris reports that a Massachusetts company wants to build an underwater transmission line from Plattsburgh to Burlington, giving New York state energy producers access to a new market. 

Reporter Phil Brown reports that the Adirondack Park Agency has scheduled a hearing in New York City on various options for classifying of 21,200 acres of former Finch Pruyn land and up to 24,200 acres of adjacent Forest Preserve. 

Reporter Andy Flynn reports that tourism officials in Hamilton County have begun preparing for the Adirondack Challenge whitewater races and festival to be held on July 21.

Reporter Peter Bauer reports that Protect the Adirondacks has released a report showing that there are relatively few opportunities for motor-free experiences on the biggest, most accessible lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks.
 

Reporter Pete Klein reports that the Town of Long Lake is joining forces with a group of area towns calling themselves the Upper Hudson Recreation Hub, formed to lobby for a Wild Forest classification of former Finch Pruyn timberlands. 

Letter writer Joe Mercurio, president of Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates, who lives in Saranac Lake writes that ARTA’s primary objective with respect to the Remsen-Lake Placid Rail Line has been to facilitate good public policy.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise editorial board writes that given the strength of the resistance from Lake Placid, Adirondack Health was wise to delay its decision to cut costs by converting the emergency department at its Lake Placid hospital into an urgent care clinic. 

A staff report notes that deliberations have commenced for the appointment of seven of the eight board of directors positions for the Adirondack Park Agency. 

Letter writer Scott S. Thompson of Beaver River writes that the rail trail in the Adirondacks would open up many possibilities for the region. 

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that the trustees at Adirondack Health have decided to spend up to 60 days giving further study to the plan to convert the emergency room at the Adirondack Medical Center site in Lake Placid into an urgent-care center. 
 

Reporter Brian Mann reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo barnstormed across Upstate New York yesterday, trying to build political support for a new network of tax-free zones around many of the state’s colleges and universities. 

The Associated Press reports that New York conservation officials say a state-record-breaking catch of a brook trout is a sign that lakes in the Adirondacks are recovering from acid rain pollution.

Letter writer Albert Colone of Oneonta writes that the greatest impediment to development throughout upstate is the terrible structure of government.