Letter to the Editor, North Country Now, August 31, 2026 From Stuart Amoriell: "For those who heard me speak on the campaign trail and listened to my discussions about the issues I care deeply about, it is probably not surprising that I have some disagreements with my former primary opponent and now Democratic nominee for Congress in NY-21, Blake Gendebien. These disagreements are, at times, frustrating. Nevertheless, there is still much we can agree on, which is not somethi

Politico's New York Playbook announced today that "the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding Republican Rep. Nick LaLota’s Suffolk County district to its target list, along with the upstate district where Republican businessperson Anthony Constantino is looking to succeed outgoing Rep. Elise Stefanik. New York is viewed as critical in this year’s battle for the House majority. Some New York Democrats have suggested for months that they have a chance of flippin

To everyone that has helped us already, whether with petitioning, door knocking, phone calls, or even putting a sign in your yard - Thank you. So much is on the line this year, and the people willing to step up and meet the moment will be the ones that make the difference. We are looking forward to November, and our fight to bring the balance of power back to Congress, but we cannot do it alone. If you want to restore the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies and repeal the M

The St. Lawrence Democratic Committee has unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed Blake Gendebien to be the next member of Congress from New York’s 21st Congressional District. County Committee Chair Mike Zagrobelny said, “Blake is truly one of us. He embodies the pragmatic, hardworking ethic that all the residents of St. Lawrence County and the 21st CD deserve. Don’t be fooled by his calm demeanor; Blake is a fierce competitor who will fight for the people of the district.

Letter to the Editor in North Country Now, June 17, 2026 To the Editor: How has your electric bill been compared to even a few years ago? Creeping up? Data centers are part of the reason. According to the NY Independent System Operator (NYISO) which manages New York’s grid and electricity markets, the “explosive growth of AI-driven energy demand” is a large factor behind rising electric bills. This needs to be taken into account before approving data centers in St. Lawrence C

Visit the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections website to learn more about who can vote, the election calendar, electoral maps, and where you can vote. Let's turn St. Lawrence County blue this year!

For more information, visit the St. Lawrence County Board of Elections website.

From "Pat Ryan’s Patriot PAC endorses nearly 100 candidates across NY" by Rebecca C. Lewis, May 22, 2026. "Rep. Pat Ryan is endorsing a slate of local candidates statewide through his Patriot PAC – but don’t read into his decision to get involved too much, according to Ryan. Despite his name being on many lips for statewide office, he’s hoping to help steer a new generation of 'service-minded' Democrats for the love of the democracy game. This slate includes a total of 85 ca

Tariff policies and Trump's rhetoric aimed at Canada had dire consequences for New York's economy in 2025, state study says. Excerpt from Larry Rulison, Times-Union , April 13, 2026 ALBANY — President Donald J. Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and rhetoric aimed at Canada, the state’s most important trading partner, had dire consequences for New York’s economy in 2025, according to a new study by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. The study, released earlier this month , fo

Mark your calendars!! Tell a friend, neighbor, or family member. Bring them with you. Let's join thousands of other No Kings 3.0 protests happening across the U.S. that day to send a clear message. What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever. When our families are under attack

Our 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East asks for your support to protect coding jobs at the St. Lawrence Health System. Please consider signing this petition at the QR code to keep coding local at canton-Potsdam and Gouverneur Hospitals! CODE RED FOR HEALTHCARE! In addition, rallies will be held on Thursday, March 19, at 3:00 pm at Meadowbrook Terrace Assisted Living Center (21957 Cole Rd, Carthage, NY 13619) and at Claxton Hepburn Medical Campus Auditorium (214 King S

The St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee has announced candidate endorsements for 10 County Legislature districts. The following candidates will run as challengers to Republican County Legislators in their respective districts. ● District 3 - Adam Jarrett ● District 7 - Ginger Storey-Welsh ● District 8 - Paula Sturge ● District 11 - Amber Spinner ● District 12 - Patrick Brady ● District 13 - Setcher Krywanczyk ● District 14 - Kristy Ba

February 2, 2026 "The St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee officers oppose any 287(g) agreement between the Sheriff and ICE at this time. To be crystal clear, the timing of this resolution is terrible. It was brought forward only five days after the death of Renee Good and Alex Pretti was killed in interim. It’s happening as there is a turnover in ICE’s leadership and former ICE officials at ICE are saying the culture of ICE has changed. It’s happening as over 20 other a

From North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement. This is a long, but important post - please share widely. What is a 287(g) Agreement? 287(g) Agreements are a contract between law enforcement agencies (LEAs, e.g. county sheriffs, town/village police) and ICE that give LEAs the legal authority to do some of the immigration work that ICE does. A Little History 287 (g) Agreements have existed since 1996. They were first used in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Here’s

From the people at Stand With Minnesota . "Across Minnesota, ICE continues to stop, harass, and detain people regardless of their citizenship status. Normal life in Minnesota has been interrupted, as schools have been forced to close or go virtual, as people live in fear of leaving their homes or going to work. Minnesotans are organized and activated to respond to this violence. But they need our help. This directory of places to donate to all comes from activists on the gr

The recent resolution brought forward by Legislator Rita Curran and the decision on Monday, January 12, by the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE is an example of politics at its absolute worst. Just five days earlier, on January 7, Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer. Less than a week after her death, and as investigations by state and federal agencies continue, our board of legislators decided that now is the time to

This fact is undeniable: a 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, was killed by an ICE officer on January 7 in Minneapolis. This is all we know for sure about the tragic event. Almost immediately, Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem exonerated the agents involved without investigation, as did President Trump and others, triggering responses from Minnesota officials. Claims of injury to agents were made without evidence. The FBI is denying the Minnesota

From a story by Alex Gault in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise , December 17, 2025. OGDENSBURG — It seemed like Blake Gendebien knew every person in the Tim Hortons on the outskirts of this city. At a small table in the middle of the combined coffee shop, Subway and Valero gas station, between coolers of Red Bull and beer, Gendebien sat with his 81-year-old father Peter, greeting nearly every person who came into the building. They’re regulars at this particular shop, about 10

""Elise Stefanik's departure from the Governor's race and simultaneous retirement from Congress comes as no surprise to the County Chairs of NY 21. She is and always has been a plotting politician pretending to be a public servant. Poll numbers, Democratic wins across the state, and public sentiment have made it clear that NY and NY 21 is no haven for MAGA acolytes. While the Republicans in DC adjourn the House in the face of crippling health insurance cuts, the Democratic ca

Stefanik’s vote for Trump’s Big Ugly Bill threatens health care for 1.5 million NYers and five rural hospitals in her own district . From the New York State Democratic Committee, December 3, 2025 NEW YORK – In an interview on CNBC this morning, Elise Stefanik claimed her “ deciding vote ” to cut more than $900 billion from Medicaid would “strengthen” the program. That is false. The obvious truth that Stefanik would like to avoid: she is bragging about enacting the large