New York State

Policy

Bipartisan push grows to backfill federal cuts to food stamps in state budget

Lawmakers and organizations are concerned climate issues and other policy stalemates are hogging up the budget limelight.

News & Politics

Politics

Buffalo Common Council Member Leah Halton-Pope likely to replace Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Peoples-Stokes, the No. 2 Democrat in the Assembly, will announce her retirement on Wednesday, paving the way for a hand-picked successor.

Budget

Policy

Business as usual: Lawmakers pass second one-week budget extender

Lawmakers popped back to Albany for a few hours to pass a bill to fund state government for another week as talks drag on.

Personality

Personality

5 things to know about Lee Zeldin as he tops Trump’s list for AG

It’s unclear if the 2022 New York gubernatorial candidate and current EPA administrator will be picked to be the nation’s top prosecutor, but just in case …

Technology

Policy

Across NY, debate about the inevitability of driverless cars begins

Waymo is crouched at the gates, and labor and worker advocates are hell bent on keeping them out.

Technology

Policy

Where does Waymo operate now?

The self-driving car company has an eye on New York City, but its cars are already ferrying people in other cities.

Budget

Policy

The astroturf war in New York over car insurance reform

The fight over the incredibly technical topic is pitting two powerhouse industry lobbies against one another.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: To keep New York safe, Albany must protect victims and witnesses from ICE

Local law enforcement should never enforce civil immigration law or allow victims and witnesses to be turned into targets for ICE.

Health Care

Policy

Lawmakers, state officials scramble to help 450,000 New Yorkers set to lose health insurance

New Yorkers making between 200% and 250% of the federal poverty line on the Essential Plan will lose their health benefits on July 1 unless state leaders act.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: New York must protect cancer patients’ access to biomarker testing

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget would weaken the evidence-based standards in New York’s biomarker testing law, putting patient access at risk.

Health Care

Policy

Helen Keller’s family members irate over changes to communication bill of rights proposal

The proposed changes to the bill have also caused a rift between the chairs of the Assembly and Senate committees on disabilities.

News & Politics

Politics

Blakeman denied public matching funds in decision criticized as partisan

The Democrat-majority state Public Campaign Finance Board voted not to permit the likely Republican nominee for governor to receive millions in matching funds

News & Politics

Politics

Hochul leads Blakeman by just 13 points in latest Siena poll

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s lead over her likely GOP opponent has shrunk by half over the past two months.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: To trans New Yorkers, we must say: ‘We see you’

New York must redouble our legislative support for the trans community and expand the Trans Wellness and Equity Fund to $10 million.

Heard Around Town

Politics

Blakeman stops by City Hall to tout affordability

The GOP candidate for governor, like the incumbent governor, is against raising taxes.

Immigration

Policy

Report finds immigrant legal services under stress in New York

Immigrant rights advocates want state leaders to approve landmark new funding and legislation to improve access to attorneys for immigrants amid a hostile federal government

Interviews & Profiles

Personality

Stanley Richards wants Rikers closed. In the meantime, he works there.

The new correction commissioner is committed to borough-based jails, ending solitary confinement and collaborating with federal supervisors.