Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Payton Gendron, the teenage gunman who killed 10 people in the horrific Buffalo Tops Market shooting on May 14, 2022, pleaded guilty to state charges, including multiple counts of first-degree murder and domestic terrorism motivated by hate. In the wake of the racially motivated shooting, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a […]
As opioid related deaths continue to skyrocket across New York, many are left wondering what can be done to solve this problem. State and local leaders face some tough decisions on how to combat the opioid epidemic. Elected officials acknowledge that, just as there is no single reason why addiction […]
As the end of New York state’s gas tax holiday draws closer, some lawmakers are proposing making it permanent. Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville, is asking his colleagues to return to Albany before the end of the year to pass a permanent cap on the state’s gas tax. Suspended since June, […]
The MTA could be rapidly approaching a “fiscal cliff,” according to a new report by the group Reinvent Albany. As of October 2022, Metropolitan Transportation Authority monthly transit ridership remains at about 65 percent of 2019 levels. The MTA is receiving nearly $16 billion in total federal emergency aid related […]
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that since mobile sports wagering became available back in early January, New York has collected $542 million in taxes through the end of October, surpassing every other state in the nation. There was also an additional $200 million collected in licensing fees from the sportsbooks such […]
New York voters overwhelmingly approved $4.2 billion in new borrowing to fund the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act by a margin of 59 percent to 29 percent, with 12 percent leaving the ballot question blank. The bond act will direct funds to four major areas: […]
On October 5, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law S.8763A / A.9824 that gives public water suppliers the ability to seek legal action against polluters for legal claims that were previously barred due to a three-year statute of limitations. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. James Gaughran, D-Northport, and Assemblyman […]
The most recent Siena College poll finds strong support among likely state voters for a proposal to borrow $4.2 billion for environmental protection and clean energy projects. Siena College pollsters asked “On the ballot this year is a proposal to authorize the sale of up to $4.2 billion of state […]