Story of the Day NCPR

If you've raised kids in Plattsburgh, or are a kid yourself, you probably know "Mr. Ben." A profile of the children's librarian who's introduced the love of reading to loads of kids in the city. Also: Election officials are struggling to hire enough people to work the polls this year.

Tahawus was a mining town built deep in the Adirondack wilderness. In the 1960s, everything in the town was either moved or buried. How it came to be, and why it disappeared. Also: Today is the first day of turkey hunting season, and the first day for catching several species of fish.

It's migration season for birds, and New York is taking official action to help them fly safely. The Lights Out program is dimming the lights on all state buildings, and encouraging the public to get involved, too. Also: Over the weekend, former students from the Ivy Ridge boarding school in Ogdensburg called for something to be done about allegations of physical and mental abuse in the "troubled teen" industry.

We remember Adirondack Forest Ranger and LGBTQ community leader Robbi Mecus. Mecus died in an ice-climbing accident in Alaska last Thursday. She had become one of the forest rangers' most influential and respected members.

The Netflix documentary "The Program" exposed alleged physical, mental, and sexual abuse students were subjected to at a former boarding school near Ogdensburg. We talk with the filmmaker, who is also a former student, about what happened at Ivy Ridge. And we talk with people in Ogdensburg about grappling with Ivy Ridge's legacy.

For the last two months, a nonprofit SPCA near Plattsburgh has been caring for almost 50 dogs seized in an alleged animal cruelty case. The organization's leaders say they've been stretched thin, but things are turning a corner as they ready the dogs for adoption. Also: Environmental groups say they'll push the New York State Assembly to approve a key climate change bill before the session ends in June.