Northern New Yorkers didn't like finding out they were among the most unhealthy residents of the Empire State.

They also had some strong opinions about new security procedures at state prisons and the latest in the drunk driving case against Watertown City Councilwoman Roxanne Burns.

Unhealthy North Country

A new study indicates that the north country ranks near the bottom when it comes to healthy lifestyles among New York's 62 counties.

Robin Carassco wrote: "It all comes down to choices. It's not what you eat as much as how much you chose to eat. My dad always said that we should eat to live and not live to eat."

Jeannette Porcheddu says: "I think people make choices on what they can afford. It has gotten to a point where it is cheaper to eat out than to grocery shop and if they do grocery shop, it's cheap meals such as pasta, etc."

Roxanne Burns

Watertown City Councilwoman Roxanne Burns testified at a suppression hearing in city court that she did not drive drunk and felt intimidated by police following a December incident at the Ives Hill Country Club that damaged a railing and her vehicle.

Heather Cox says: "And how does she plan to explain away the 'hit & run' and leaving the scene of a property damage accident part of her problem? Did the railing bully her too?"

Fred Goslin wrote: "If you or I ... or any one of us of a lower social standing did this we would be in jail right now."

Prison Security

The state corrections department is beginning a pilot program photographing all visitors to state prisons.

Cee Flowers said: "This is going way too far. They do not need a picture on file to make things safer, photo ID should be enough. How do we know what anyone can or will do with those photos?"

David Ackley says: "I would usually define this as an invasion of innocent people's privacy, but if you are visiting an inmate, who is obviously there because they broke the law, they not only gave up their liberties, but so do you as a visitor."