Story of the Day NCPR

We remember the legacy of forest ranger and trans activist Robbi Mecus, who died in a climbing accident in Alaska last week. People who knew her best say she was an irreplaceable leader in the Adirondack community. Also: A court ruling this week paves the way for the use of an herbicide to fight an invasive species in Lake George.

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.