Watch and listen to the October 25 Morning Brief. This 74-second narrated video covers the forecast and three of today’s five headlines. The five full written stories follow below.
SACKETS HARBOR, NEW YORK. A reopened Thousand Islands Bridge remains the subject of a sheriff’s investigation, a statewide Halloween traffic-safety campaign begins today, and unemployment claimants face an approaching service deadline. Here are five Northern New York developments for Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Thousand Islands Bridge reopens after overnight search
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Thousand Islands Bridge at about 11:15 p.m. Friday prompted an hours-long closure of both travel lanes. Law enforcement officers, fire personnel and the Coast Guard searched the area. The bridge has since reopened, but the sheriff’s office says its investigation continues.
The agency has released no further details and says there is no threat to the public. That leaves the reason for the abandoned vehicle and the result of the search unconfirmed. Residents with relevant information are asked to contact the sheriff’s office; travelers should rely on current bridge and traffic notices rather than the earlier closure report.
Halloween-week impaired-driving patrols begin across New York
State Police and local law-enforcement agencies are increasing patrols against impaired and reckless driving beginning Sunday and continuing through Saturday, October 31. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee funds the statewide campaign. Officials say it may include additional DWI patrols and sobriety checkpoints, alongside attention to speeding and distracted driving.
During last year’s Halloween campaign, officers issued 44,545 citations statewide, including 1,210 for impaired driving and 8,701 for speeding, according to the governor’s office. The announcement does not identify specific North Country checkpoints. Drivers heading to local events should plan a sober ride and watch for pedestrians, especially as Halloween approaches.
Unemployment claimants face November 2 system cutoff
North Country residents receiving unemployment insurance have an approaching statewide service deadline. New York’s Department of Labor says its claims system will close for an upgrade at 5 p.m. Monday, November 2, and is expected to be unavailable for nine to 12 calendar days. During that period, online and telephone unemployment services will be unavailable and benefit payments will be delayed.
The department asks claimants to file or certify for the week ending November 1 before the November 2 cutoff. It says a missed claim can be backdated in the new system and eligible payments can be requested after service returns. Claimants must continue to record at least three work-search activities each week during the outage. The agency has not promised an exact reopening date. This is an approaching deadline from previously published guidance, not a newly announced shutdown.
Clarkson women’s hockey wins sixth straight game
Clarkson University’s women’s hockey team beat Providence 6–1 at Cheel Arena in Potsdam on Saturday, extending its winning streak to six games. Sara Manness scored twice and Jessie Pellerin assisted on three goals. The Golden Knights held Providence without a shot on goal during the second period.
The win moved Clarkson to 8–2. The team opens ECAC play next weekend with road games at Harvard and Dartmouth. Saturday’s result adds momentum entering the conference schedule, but those upcoming games have not yet been played.
Watertown’s juried fall art show opens at Paddock Mansion
The North Country Arts Council’s 78th annual juried Fall Art Show opened Friday at the historic Paddock Mansion in Watertown. The exhibition brings together work by artists from the North Country and elsewhere in New York State. The council selected Watertown native Francis E. Sweet as this year’s featured artist.
The council says the show remains available at the mansion and online through November 14, with much of the work offered for sale. Visitors should check the mansion’s published hours before making an in-person trip; the listing does not establish Sunday visiting hours. The online exhibition offers another way to explore the work while the show continues.
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