David Sommerstein

1 month ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | David Sommerstein

A company that was going to build a liquid hydrogen plant in Massena and employ 90 people is abandoning the project. Air Products, an industrial gases and chemicals company, announced Monday it is canceling the $500 million dollar project because a hydrogen production tax credit is no longer available. The company also said the hydrogen market was developing slower than expected. Air Products also canceled projects in California and Texas.

2 months ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | David Sommerstein

A state prison in western New York went on lockdown earlier this week after inmates took control of three dormitory areas for several hours. State corrections officials told the New York Public News Network that staff at Collins Correctional Facility, south of Buffalo, spotted an inmate with two cell phones, which are considered contraband, early Wednesday. When force was used to get the phones, inmates became agitated and staff left the dorm after encountering “various potential threats”.

2 months ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | David Sommerstein

David SommersteinPrison in western New York locked down after contraband cell phone incidentA state prison in western New York went on lockdown earlier this week after staff responded to a threat in three dormitory areas for several hours. State corrections officials say staff at Collins Correctional Facility, south of Buffalo, spotted an inmate with two cell phones, which are considered contraband, early Wednesday.

2 months ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | Jimmy Vielkind |David Sommerstein

The special election to replace Elise Stefanik in Congress has become a political football in Albany and Washington. Late Monday, Albany Democrats put on hold a bill that would delay the special election until June or even November, possibly leaving the North Country without a representative in Congress for months. That plan drew bipartisan outcries in our region.

2 months ago | northcountrypublicradio.org | David Sommerstein

State Senator Dan Stec says the state needs to do more to prevent contraband from getting into state prisons. The Republican's call comes after two dozen staff members at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone were hospitalized due to possible exposure to a synthetic drug. State prison officials haven't confirmed what the substance was. In a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Stec said he visited Upstate after the incident and found gaps in security he called "alarming".