Cara Chapman

3 weeks ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Cara Chapman

A college in St. Lawrence County will soon offer one of its undergraduate programs 100 percent online. SUNY Potsdam’s public health bachelor’s degree will transition from fully in-person to a fully remote format this fall. Professor Kelly Bonnar says most public health training occurs at the graduate level.

3 weeks ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Cara Chapman

The Plattsburgh Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market is going medieval. This Saturday, it’ll host the first ever Little Plattsburgh Renaissance Faire. The family-friendly event will feature local food, themed vendors and even armored fighting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Organizer Matt Gorman is involved in historical reenactments, with a focus on old Norse culture. He says he wanted to bring something fun to the farmers' market space.

1 month ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Cara Chapman

We have the results for how two North Country spelling standouts fared in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week. Leah Rini, a homeschooled eighth grader in Clinton County’s Beekmantown school districtl, competed at Scripps for the second and final time. She made it to round six and was eliminated for misspelling fabella, a bone that can be embedded within the muscle behind the knee of some mammals. Rini tied 15 other spellers for 58th place.

1 month ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Cara Chapman

Two students from the same region in a national competition. That’s your basic recipe for a rivalry. Right? Not when you ask Leah Rini how she feels about fellow competitive speller Micah Sterling. "It’s all about the word that you get specifically onstage, not whether or not you beat someone else," Rini said. Or, as Sterling’s dad, Sean Sterling, puts it: "They’re not competing against each other, they’re competing against the dictionary.

1 month ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Cara Chapman

The City of Plattsburgh's Common Council approved the appointment of a new—and controversial—chief of police last Thursday in a 5-1 vote. Formerly a lieutenant, Jarrod Trombley assumed his new role Friday, making him the latest leader of a department that's had a revolving door of chiefs over the last several years. One police chief resigned in 2021 after being placed on administrative leave. A former Warren County sheriff served as interim leader for more than a year.