Supreme Court weighs First Amendment case, pitting NRA versus N.Y. regulators

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court Monday weighed a novel First Amendment case involving a former New York state official.

The National Rifle Association accuses the former head of New York’s Department of Financial Services, Maria Vullo, of violating the First Amendment by pressuring banks and insurance companies to blacklist the NRA over its gun-rights views after the deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

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New York lawmakers consider social media algorithm restriction involving children

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Legislation currently in front of the New York state Senate and Assembly would prohibit social media platforms from providing children under 18 access to feeds tailored to them by predictive algorithms.

State Attorney General Tish James, who helped write the bill, said the feeds become addictive and can be dangerous to children with mental health issues.

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Judge rules Buffalo mass shooting civil suit against social media companies can move forward

BY Spectrum News Staff City of Buffalo

A state Supreme Court justice is allowing a lawsuit stemming from the Buffalo mass shooting in May 2022 against multiple social media platforms to move forward.

Families of those killed in the attack filed a civil suit against platforms including Meta, Instagram, 4chan and Twitch, alleging hateful and extremist content on their sites radicalized the shooter.

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Trump unable to secure bond in $464M N.Y. civil fraud case, attorneys say

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City
UPDATED 5:09 PM ET Mar. 18, 2024

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump wrote in a court filing on Monday that he is unable to secure a bond to appeal the $464 million New York civil fraud judgment against him.

"Defendants have faced what have proven to be insurmountable difficulties in obtaining an appeal bond for the full $464 million," Alan Garten, general counsel for The Trump Organization, the former president's company, wrote in the filing.

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Caitlyn Jenner backs New York county's ban on transgender female athletes

BY Spectrum News Staff and Associated Press New York State

Former Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner on Monday said she supported a local New York official's order banning female sports teams with transgender athletes from using county-owned facilities.

The ban applies to over 100 athletic facilities in New York City's Long Island suburbs. Speaking alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at his office in Mineola, Jenner said allowing transgender athletes like herself to compete against other women will "ruin women's sports" for years to come.

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New details emerge of sexual assault allegation against Mayor Adams

BY Courtney Gross New York City

A new lawsuit filed by a Florida woman accuses Mayor Eric Adams of sexual assault more than three decades ago.

According to the lawsuit, in 1993, Lorna Beach-Mathura was hoping Adams, who was then a police officer, could help her get a promotion within the Transit Bureau, where she worked as an administrative aide. After work one night, under the guise of helping her, Adams drove her to a vacant lot in Manhattan where he demanded oral sex, according to the lawsuit. When she said no, according to the lawsuit, Adams forced her to touch him, then allegedly touched himself in front of her.

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Report: New York business owners found new opportunities despite COVID's obstacles

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York business owners continued to find and pursue new opportunities despite the multiple obstacles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis released Monday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

“New Yorkers have always had a great entrepreneurial spirit and drive, and that was no different even during some of the more difficult times of the pandemic,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Policymakers should encourage small business growth, and particularly initiatives to spur entrepreneurship and foster successful businesses that reflect the diversity of our state.”

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Hochul launches assessment of N.Y. state Office of Cannabis Management

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

An assessment of the New York Office of Cannabis Management will aim to find opportunities for improvement amid the legal cannabis rollout, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said Monday.

Jeanette Moy, the state Office of General Services commissioner, will serve as lead and executive sponsor of the effort.

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Hotel union wants unemployment benefits boost in N.Y. budget

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

The powerful hotel trades union is launching an ad campaign aimed at convincing Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to increase unemployment insurance benefits.

“Anyone can lose their job. 400,000 New Yorkers do every year. But at only $504 a week, just over $12 an hour, unemployment insurance doesn't cover the rising costs of rent, food and utilities,” argues the 30-second television ad reviewed by Spectrum News NY1 from the Hotel Gaming Trades Council.

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Fight for government transparency shines light on secrecy of budget talks

BY Kate Lisa New York State
UPDATED 5:44 PM ET Mar. 16, 2024

It's an irony of Albany's budget timeline: Sunshine Week, or time dedicated each March to advocate for expanded government transparency across the nation, typically lines up with the release of both houses of New York's Legislature's budget proposals – commencing government negotiations largely done in secret.

More than 30 good-government groups sent a letter this week to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders, pushing them to strengthen New York's Freedom of Information Law. They argue the state's FOIL system is broken and must be fixed, urging lawmakers to pass bills to expedite the public records request process.

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City relieved of some right-to-shelter obligations under new settlement

BY Kelly Mena New York City
UPDATED 7:49 PM ET Mar. 15, 2024

The city and the Legal Aid Society came to an agreement on Friday to change it over the city’s longstanding right-to-shelter law.

The right-to-shelter requires the city to provide a bed to anyone in need but, city officials were looking for a reprieve amid the influx of migrants.

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New York U.S. Reps. Morelle and Molinaro support IVF protections through Access to Family Building Act

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Lawmakers at the federal level are taking steps to protect in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

Alabama's Supreme Court ruled last month those embryos are children with rights, leading many providers to stop services over liability concerns. The state's lawmakers quickly passed a law to try and restore protections and allow some clinics to reopen.

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New York Opioid Settlement Board chair discusses challenges

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Forty-six states are in the process of disbursing $26 billion in opioid settlement money – that money may balloon to about $50 billion.

In New York, there are two bodies that direct the flow of settlement funds to the people who need help: the New York State Office of Addiction Services & Supports (OASAS), and the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which was established in 2022 to provide OASAS with recommendations regarding how that funding should be allocated.

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Push to include more school funding in New York state budget

BY Ryan Whalen Williamsville

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- In 2023, New York, for the first time, fully funded public education under the state’s Foundation Aid formula.

State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, said after several years of budget victories, few advocates expected the trend to continue this year but what the governor proposed was an actual cut.

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Judge delays Trump hush-money trial 30 days

BY Spectrum News Staff and Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 4:48 PM ET Mar. 15, 2024

A judge in New York has delayed the start of former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial for 30 days. Trump's attorneys requested the delay, citing the need to sift through additional evidence recently provided from a previous federal investigation into the matter

The case centers around alleged payments to an adult film star during the 2016 presidential election to cover up an alleged sexual encounter years prior. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records he faces in the case. His lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses and were not part of any cover-up.

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Ex-Ivy Ridge employees placed on leave from state-run psychiatric center after Netflix doc sheds light on shuttered school

BY Brian Dwyer Central NY

Fallout continues from a Netflix documentary on a former boarding school in Ogdensburg.

Multiple former employees from the defunct Academy at Ivy Ridge who were working at the New York state-run St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center were placed on leave as state officials look into the matter, the state Office of Mental Health said Friday in a statement to Spectrum News 1.

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Santos returns while Adams and Hochul are partners in (fighting) crime

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

Saying he wants to return to Congress, George Santos sat down with NY1’s Ayana Harry for his first TV interview. The disgraced former lawmaker is targeting a different Long Island district for his comeback, even as he faces a 23-count federal indictment on corruption charges. Ayana is joined by NY1 political reporter Bobby Cuza and NY1 statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan to discuss Santos’ quasi-campaign.

Also this week: Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul appeared at a press conference together to take on “ghost cars” that use fake license plates. Their appearance comes after the two leaders were notably not on the same stage last week when talking about plans to fight crime in the subways. The “Off Topic’ team looks at this week’s show of solidarity between Hochul and Adams and explores their working relationship.

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New York lawmakers eye $500M in budget for expanded family tax credit

BY Kate Lisa New York State

New York state senators and assembly members want $500 million in the final budget for a new tax credit package to help lift low- and middle-income families across the state out of poverty.

Inflation has cooled, but New Yorkers continue to feel the pinch of higher food and utility costs and increasing rent prices.

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Transport Workers Union to launch ad attacking Hochul amid contract dispute

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

A transit union leader is taking on Gov. Kathy Hochul, calling her a “snake” in a holiday-themed advertisement.

“Centuries ago, St. Patrick famously drove Ireland’s snakes into the sea, purging the Emerald Island of these reptiles forever, but he missed one — now we wish St. Patrick would come back and rid New York of Governor Kathy Hochul, before she drags the whole Democratic Party down with her by attacking working families, healthcare, retiree benefits and wages,” John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union, said in the advertisement.

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Advocate discusses NY HEAT Act, other environmental priorities

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

There are several proposals on environmental wish lists this legislative session, including the NY HEAT Act, which advocates say will save New Yorkers money and move them off fossil fuels, as well as the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would make polluters pay for the cost of the climate transition.

“This is a very important budget for lawmakers and the governor to get right when it comes to environmental protections and addressing climate change,” Liz Moran, a policy advocate for Earthjustice, told Capital Tonight.

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Experts weigh in on what's next for state budget negotiations amid disagreements on revenue raisers

BY Jack Arpey New York State

With both the state Assembly and Senate voting to pass their one house budgets Thursday afternoon, things head into the next stage of the process: negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Last year, disagreements over housing and changes to bail reform held up the process for over a month with an agreement not coming until May.

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Prosecutors say they're open to delaying start of Donald Trump's March 25 hush-money trial

BY Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 5:15 PM ET Mar. 14, 2024

New York prosecutors said Thursday they are open to delaying the start of Donald Trump's hush-money criminal trial by a month “in an abundance of caution” to give the former president's lawyers time to review evidence they received only recently from a previous federal investigation into the matter.

The Manhattan district attorney's office said in a court filing that it's not opposed to adjourning the start of the trial for up to 30 days, but said it would fight the defense's demand for a longer delay. The evidence Trump's lawyers received from the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan is "largely irrelevant to the subject matter of this case," the district attorney's office said.

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Schumer calls for new Israeli elections, says Netanyahu has 'lost his way' amid war in Gaza

BY Ryan Chatelain Washington, D.C.
UPDATED 4:59 PM ET Mar. 14, 2024

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Thursday called for the removal of major obstacles to a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, which he said include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in American history, recommended Israel hold new elections.

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Physician assistants want state to loosen restrictions

BY Aditi Lamba New York State

Physician assistant Luis Garcia wants to openly share his thoughts on a proposed piece of legislation that he says will transform healthcare access for many.

“Unfortunately, due to the shortage of providers, there are people who are not getting the right care and they're waiting too long to get basic care,” Garcia said.

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First on NY1: EMILY's List endorses Democrat Nancy Goroff in NY-1 congressional race

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.
UPDATED 10:00 AM ET Mar. 14, 2024

EMILY’s List is endorsing Nancy Goroff in the Long Island race to take on freshman Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, NY1 has learned.

Goroff, who previously received the organization’s backing during her failed 2020 bid for Congress, is currently facing off against former CNN commentator John Avlon for the Democratic nomination in the Suffolk County district.

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Elizabeth Holtzman: A pioneer looks back — and ahead to our political future

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

Few women have had a bigger impact on New York City politics than Elizabeth Holtzman. A Brooklyn native, Holtzman embarked on a political career over 50 years ago. She was an aide to Mayor John Lindsay in the late 60s and then became the youngest woman at the time ever elected to Congress at 31 years old. She was also the Brooklyn district attorney and the New York City comptroller — the only woman ever to hold either of those positions.

Holtzman joined NY1’s Errol Louis for a look back at her many years in politics. They discussed her role in the Nixon impeachment investigation while serving on the House Judiciary Committee in 1974. They also touched on her long relationship with President Joe Biden, her thoughts on Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the many accomplishments of women in politics since she started. Finally, she explained what made her initially enter public service and why it still matters to her.

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Syracuse city auditor calls for more state funding for localities

BY Tim Williams New York State

Syracuse's newly minted city auditor Alexander Marion is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to devote more money to Aid and Incentives for Municipalities, or AIM funding, and commission a task force to redesign the formula.

In a letter sent to Hochul on Thursday, Marion argues “funding for municipalities needs to be a priority for New York state.”

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Legislature's counter budgets soundly reject Hochul's Medicaid cuts

BY Kate Lisa New York State

State lawmakers made their state health spending priorities clear with the release of the Legislature's one-house budgets this week – soundly rejecting Gov. Kathy Hochul's posed $1.2 billion in Medicaid cuts in the final spending plan due at the end of the month.

Senators and Assembly members want the state to rely on drawing down federal dollars to avoid cuts to programs that provide a lifeline to millions of New Yorkers. The state would apply for a special federal waiver for three years to maximize the money the state is reimbursed for Medicaid programs – following in California's recent footsteps.

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New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins discusses her chamber's one-house budget

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Senate and Assembly’s one-house budgets released this week deliver good news for an array of interests from school districts to hospitals, to cannabis growers. They do this by raising $2.2 billion in new taxes on the state’s corporations as well as the state’s very highest earners, something Gov. Kathy Hochul has said is “a non-starter."

According to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the tax increases are important because the needs in the state are so great.

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New York advocates push access to legal representation for migrants

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Some state lawmakers and immigration advocates are rallying for legislation that would guarantee a right to counsel for immigrants in New York state. In particular, it would provide legal counsel for individuals involved in immigration court proceedings including deportation, and ensure that recent arrivals can apply for work authorization "swiftly."

Advocates described it as a “major push” prior to both the state Assembly and Senate voting on their one-house budgets this week.

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Seven NYC House Democrats vote against bill that could lead to TikTok ban

BY Patrick Adcroft and Spectrum News Staff New York City
UPDATED 5:33 PM ET Mar. 13, 2024

Although a bill that would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores unless Chinese company ByteDance divests itself from the company passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday with broad bipartisan support, seven of the votes against it came from New York City Democrats.

Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Adriano Espaillat, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez were among the 65 total lawmakers – 15 Republicans and 50 Democrats – who voted against the bill.

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Hudson Yards casino plans promise open space, towers and school

BY Courtney Gross Manhattan

NY1 has exclusively obtained new renderings of a proposed casino development in Hudson Yards, showing a gleaming tower surrounded by a large park on the West Side.

The development is one of about a dozen projects currently vying for three casino licenses offered in the downstate region. The license application process is being conducted by state gaming officials and is just getting into full swing.

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New York Assembly passes ban on CO2 fracking

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The New York state Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill that would expand the state's ban of the controversial drilling process to extract natural gas to include a newer practice that uses carbon dioxide to extract methane and circumvents the current policy.

Fracking was first prohibited in New York back in 2014 and then permanently banned in the 2021 state budget.

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Biden announces $3.3 billion infrastructure investment in communities cut up by roads and highways

BY Joseph Konig Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden will announce in Milwaukee on Wednesday a $3.3 billion investment “to reconnect and rebuild” neighborhoods that were damaged and cut up by a century of transit projects planned with little regard for disadvantaged communities.

The projects, which include a $36 million pledge towards infrastructure improvements to Milwaukee’s 6th Street corridor, span across 40 states and address issues caused by some of the most notoriously damaging roads and highways in the country.

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'It all begins now': One-house budgets set stage for housing battle

BY Kate Lisa New York State
UPDATED 5:58 AM ET Mar. 13, 2024

The release of the Legislature's counter budget proposals to Gov. Kathy Hochul's $233 billion spending plan started the next stage of budget negotiations in Albany, and lawmakers are bracing for their toughest fight yet this session: reaching a deal on housing.

Housing is expected to be the biggest sticking point for the governor and legislative leaders, which could prevent the budget from getting done on time before the April 1 deadline.

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State Legislature releases budget priorities as negotiations continue

BY Bernadette Hogan New York State

Democratic state lawmakers are letting Gov. Kathy Hochul know where their priorities are in what’s known as their “one-house” budget proposals that were released earlier Tuesday.

The plans will serve as roadmaps for the next couple of weeks in negotiations leading up to the state’s April 1 budget deadline.

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George Santos on latest run for Congress: 'I have an uphill battle to climb'

BY Ayana Harry New York City
UPDATED 8:45 PM ET Mar. 12, 2024

George Santos went from a Republican rising star — a congressman-elect for parts of Queens and Long Island — to a punch line on Saturday Night Live skits, as he faces a 23-count federal indictment.

For his next act, Santos is hoping eastern Long Island voters will send him back to Congress.

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Suozzi named co-chair of Democratic Border Security Task Force

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

Rep. Tom Suozzi is taking a leading role on an issue he made a centerpiece of his campaign to replace George Santos: border security.

The Queens and Nassau County Democrat was named co-chair of a newly launched Democratic task force on Capitol Hill, focused on the issue, which continues to stymie lawmakers.

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New York state Sen. Brian Kavanagh discusses housing package

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Senate’s housing plan is both broad in that it leaves many details to the negotiation process, and specific in that it proposes bill language covering an array of new ideas.

“We’re proposing that the state invest very substantially in constructing new housing on a large scale and rapidly,” state Sen. Brian Kavanagh, the Senate’s chair of the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, told Capital Tonight.

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Mayor Adams expresses support for Gov. Hochul’s subway safety plan

BY Kelly Mena New York City

The New York Army National Guard, which has been patrolling the city’s subway system since last week, is getting support from Mayor Eric Adams.

“The presence of a uniform makes people feel better. And if the National Guard or the state police want to add to that presence, I applaud that,” Adams said.

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In one-house budgets, New York Legislature rejects end to 'Save Harmless' while funding formula study

BY Jack Arpey New York State

The New York state Senate and Assembly on Tuesday released their one-house budget proposals, and as expected, both rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to end "Save Harmless."

"Save Harmless," also known as "Hold Harmless," ensures that districts don’t receive less in Foundation Aid than the previous year and has been a major issue of contention so far this legislative session, also receiving significant pushback from Republican lawmakers.

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City-state task force to crack down on 'ghost cars'

BY Estefania Hernandez New York City

The city and state have launched a joint task force that will crack down on “ghost cars” with fake or defaced license plates, Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday.

The new task force, comprised of agencies including the NYPD, the New York State Police, the Port Authority Police Department and the MTA Police, will target drivers with plates that make it difficult for traffic cameras and toll readers to trace them, the two politicians said in a news release.

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New York bill would allow absentee voting for religious observations

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A New York state lawmaker is introducing legislation to allow for absentee voting in instances where personal religious observation conflicts with elections.

State Sen. Iwen Chu, a Democrat from Brooklyn, said in a release Tuesday that a Jewish constituent contacted her office saying a polling location for a neighbor of their's was located at a site where her own personal faith prohibited her to step foot into — a non-Jewish house of worship.

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Why New York’s push for renewable energy concerns farm advocates

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

With New York requiring the state to move to 70% renewable energy by 2030, agriculture advocates are cautioning about “going too fast too soon” and seeking exemptions for diesel-powered farming equipment that poses challenges to electrification.

In January, the New York Farm Bureau cited “common sense energy policy” as one of their concerns for the state in 2024.

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Adultery is still a crime in New York. State lawmakers are trying to change that

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York state lawmakers are moving to repeal and decriminalize the act of adultery in New York.

State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, a Democrat from Long Island, recently introduced A.4714, which would amend state penal law that currently makes engaging in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when they have a living spouse or the other person has a living spouse a class B misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to three months in jail or one year of probation, though it is often not prosecuted. According to Lavine, since 1972, only 13 people have been charged with adultery, and of those, only five were convicted.

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IRS launches pilot program for free online tax filing in New York, 11 other states

BY Associated Press New York State

NEW YORK — After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available for taxpayers from 12 selected states.

The new system, called Direct File, is a free online tool. Taxpayers in the selected states who have very simple W-2s and claim a standard deduction may be eligible to use it this tax season to file their federal income taxes. The program will also offer a Spanish version, which will be available starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday.

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Amtrak spared 'draconian' cuts that N.Y. freshmen Republicans opposed

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

After hurtling toward a potential fiscal disaster, Amtrak has been spared dramatic cuts that the railroad previously warned could have led to service reductions or suspensions.

New York Republicans were among the most outspoken lawmakers pushing back on the potential spending reductions, which were proposed by their own GOP colleagues.

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Next phase of state budget negotiations begins

BY Bernadette Hogan New York State

The next phase of Albany’s budget negotiations kicked off Monday night, as both Democratic state Senate and Assembly conferences were poised to release their “one house” budget proposals.

Only the state Senate’s document was released online late Monday night as R1952. The documents establish the Legislature’s stance on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 $233 billion budget proposal released in January.

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Young N.Y. lawmakers work to bridge political divide with Future Caucus

BY Kate Lisa New York State

The next generation of New York lawmakers have unified behind a novel way for the Legislature's youngest members to work together and rise above pervasive political polarization.

A bipartisan group of elected state legislators age 45 and younger, or Generation Z and millennial lawmakers from both houses, have formed the "Future Caucus" – a program created late last year modeled after similar efforts in other U.S. states to bridge deep partisan division.

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A war of words over tax hikes, affordability when it comes to why people are leaving New York

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Assembly and Senate will release and vote on their own one-house budgets this week. One of the big questions the budgets will answer is this: Will lawmakers push for a tax hike on the state’s wealthiest citizens or not?

New York relies heavily on the Personal Income Tax (PIT) tax, so a perennial argument in Albany balances whether to increase taxes on the wealthy to bring in needed revenue, against the possibility of the wealthy fleeing the state.

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Advocates push for cost-of-living adjustment increase for N.Y. human services workers, including some nonprofit employees

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Pushing for a cost-of-living adjustment for human services workers was the subject of a rally at the New York state Capitol on Monday.

Not only that, but also at hand was the urge to form a panel that would ensure wages not be allowed to slump to levels that have brought groups out multiple times already this session.

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NYC faith leaders to head to DC Tuesday to join call for migrant crisis help

BY Kelly Mena New York City

More than 50 faith leaders will be in the nation’s capital on Tuesday to call on the federal government to provide more help to New York for the migrant crisis.

The group, known as the “concern clergy,” plans to meet with both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.

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Former Mayor Lovely Warren is running for Rochester City Court

BY Spectrum News Staff Rochester

Former Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is running for city court.

Warren announced Monday she is collecting signatures to get on the ballot for the spring primary, despite local attorney Michael Geraci winning the Monroe County Democratic Committee's designation with nearly 95% of the vote.

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Trump asks for delay in New York hush money trial as Supreme Court weighs immunity claim

BY Justin Tasolides New York City
UPDATED 3:03 PM ET Mar. 11, 2024

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump on Monday asked the judge overseeing his New York hush money case to delay the start of the upcoming trial as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs his claim of presidential immunity.

"President Trump respectfully submits that an adjournment of the trial is appropriate to await further guidance from the Supreme Court, which should facilitate the appropriate application of the presidential immunity doctrine in this case to the evidence the People intend to offer at trial," the motion to to New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan reads.

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Syracuse gets $180 million in federal funds for I-81 project

BY Spectrum News Staff Syracuse

The federal government plans to award a $180 million grant to the city of Syracuse and New York state Department of Transportation in regards to the Interstate 81 community grid project.

Syracuse is the first in the nation to receive money from the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress in 2022.

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Survey: LaGuardia Airport ranked best in its class in North America

BY Patrick Adcroft New York City

LaGuardia Airport has gone from worst to first, according to a new survey.

The New York airport, which before its $8 billion transformation was long derided by air travelers, has been awarded the 2023 Airport Service Quality Award for best airport of 25 to 40 million passengers in North America.

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FDNY commissioner apologizes after firefighters boo state attorney general

BY Dean Meminger , David Lazar and Spectrum News Staff Brooklyn
UPDATED 6:45 AM ET Mar. 11, 2024

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh issued an apology to a crowd at the Christian Cultural Center last week after state Attorney General Letitia James was booed by firefighters during a promotion ceremony at the Brooklyn church Thursday.

"We have decades of training and discipline that none of us want to see tarnished by the unprofessional behavior of a few," Kavanaugh said Sunday.

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State lawmakers mull solutions to N.Y. dentist shortage

BY Kate Lisa New York State
UPDATED 4:31 PM ET Mar. 10, 2024

As lawmakers weigh a series of bills to address a shortage of dental care across New York, dentists are hopeful, but skeptical, about how legislative proposals will fix a statewide multidimensional problem.

Many rural and high-needs areas in the state have as few as one dental practitioner for every 4,000 people in many rural and high-needs areas, state health department data shows.

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American Legion programs seek funding from New York

BY Brian Dwyer New York State

Typically every summer, more than a thousand incoming high school seniors from across New York state converge for a one-week program known as Boys State.

"Boys State is a program that teaches kids things that, quite frankly, they don't learn in school today," American Legion Dept. of NY Legislative Chairman Lee Hinkleman said.

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Analysis of Biden's State of the Union with Jack O’Donnell

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

President Biden delivered his third State of the Union address on Thursday, which served as an unofficial general election kick-off that will likely pit the incumbent with his immediate predecessor.

For analysis of the speech and the state of the race, Capital Tonight spoke with Jack O’Donnell, managing partner of O’Donnell and Associates.

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N.Y. lawmakers back bipartisan bill that could lead to TikTok ban

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

The U.S. House is moving full steam ahead on a bill aimed at forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest the social media app — or face a ban in America.

The full House is expected to vote on the legislation next week, after the measure was unanimously approved by a House committee on Thursday.

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N.Y. Democrat proposes rule change to revoke House floor privileges for expelled members after George Santos' appearance at State of the Union

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat representing New York's 15th Congressional District, said Friday he would introduce a resolution to revoke House floor privileges for expelled members of Congress after former Republican Rep. George Santos made an appearance Thursday night at President Biden’s State of the Union address.

“Expelled Congressman George Santos disgraced the United States Congress with his presence at the State of the Union last night,” Torres said in a statement Friday. “Santos was thrown out of the House on a bipartisan basis after a litany of lies, alleged crimes, sideshows, and embarrassments on the national stage. We have to be better than this, and that’s why I will be introducing a rule to bar expelled members from maintaining the high privilege of sitting on the House Floor.”

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New York Republicans push for changes to 'ill-conceived' bail laws after recent incidents

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York Republican lawmakers are once again calling for changes and outright rollbacks of the state’s bail laws, pointing to recent incidents in the state as why the law is problematic.

First passed in 2019, Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the state Legislature, have amended the law three times since then, the most recent being last year.

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Students helped plan first SUNY vending machine with emergency contraception

BY Shalon Stevens Central NY

SUNY Upstate Medical University now has its first emergency contraceptive vending machine thanks to two medical students at the university who helped spearhead the project. The students recently explained why they worked so hard for this on a college campus.

“This is Levonorgestrel, which is commonly known as the 'Plan B pill,' or the 'morning-after pill.' It is most effective when taken 72 hours after unprotected sex,” said Serena Schmitt, a SUNY Upstate Medical University student.

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George Santos says he's running for Congress in N.Y.'s 1st District

BY Deanna Garcia and Spectrum News Staff New York State
UPDATED 1:43 PM ET Mar. 08, 2024

Former Rep. George Santos on Thursday posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he will challenge incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota in the race for New York’s 1st Congressional District.

“New York hasn’t had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota. He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain,” Santos wrote.

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Land-based fish farms in New York face challenges in quest to grow seafood industry

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

With only a handful of land-based aquaculture operations in the state, producers and state officials look to grow the industry, but know they face challenges from regulatory and water use to profitability and start-up costs.

New York’s aquaculture industry is dominated by marine aquaculture, and more specifically, oyster farming off Long Island, said Michael Ciaramella, a seafood safety and technology specialist with New York Sea Grant, which is part of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

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Trump files appeal of E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict, posts $92 million bond

BY Justin Tasolides New York City
UPDATED 11:59 AM ET Mar. 08, 2024

Former President Donald Trump has filed a notice of appeal of the judgment in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, indicating in a court filing that he has posted a nearly $92 million bond.

Notice of the appeal and the $91.6 million bond were made in separate court federal court filings in New York on Friday. Trump is appealing the $83.3 million judgment that a jury awarded Carroll in January over Trump's denial that he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s and called her a liar. In New York, civil case defendants must post at least 110% of the judgment as a bond in order to appeal.

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N.Y. congressman praises Biden’s State of the Union as 'electric'

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

Congressman Adriano Espaillat on Friday hailed President Joe Biden's State of the Union address as "electric," expressing optimism about its historical significance.

"I think it will go down in history as one of the best State of the Unions," Espaillat, a Democrat whose district includes Washington Heights and Inwood, said during an appearance on “Mornings On 1.”

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Grocers, cooling companies push back on proposed DEC regulations

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Several small business owners, like grocery stores, stand ready to fight the state Department of Environmental Conservation's plans to phase out most refrigerants to reduce New York's carbon emissions, arguing the proposed rules are too aggressive and would force businesses to shutter.

The state agency in December proposed amendments to its regulations of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, which are man-made gas compounds traditionally used in most coolants or refrigeration at supermarkets, in pharmaceuticals and other industries. The DEC has proposed to phase out the refrigerants, which contribute to climate change, by 2034 – or a few years ahead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's requirements to transition away from the substances.

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Rep. Molinaro discusses the border issue, argues Biden has authority to close it

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

President Joe Biden had urged Congress to pass a bipartisan Senate deal on immigration, saying it would give him new emergency authority to “shut down” the border.

But after Donald Trump called the bill “a gift to the Democrats,” and that the Democrats “want this for the presidential election so they can now blame the Republicans for the worst border in history,” the bill failed to move in Congress.

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Donald Trump will get juror names at New York criminal trial but they'll be anonymous to the public

BY Associated Press New York City

Donald Trump will be allowed to know the names of jurors at his upcoming New York hush-money criminal trial. The public will not.

Manhattan Judge Juan Manuel Merchan ruled Thursday to keep the yet-to-be-picked jury anonymous, with limited exceptions for the former president, his defense lawyers, prosecutors, jury consultants and legal staffs.

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Praise for New York's mental health initiatives for youth, but staffing needed

BY Corey James Albany/Capital Region

New York state is joining parents in the fight to help kids through a number of newly implemented initiatives as the rate of mental health problems among young people is raising concerns. Parents and professionals are weighing in on what they see works.

Gov. Kathy Hochul last year unveiled a $1 billion multi-year initiative aimed at updating mental health care accessibility and significantly reducing unmet mental health needs statewide. The comprehensive initiative has been well received by school districts, which are embracing the investment.

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N.Y. has recovered private-sector jobs lost during pandemic, state data shows

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Nearly four years after the onset of COVID-19 forced many businesses to close and threw thousands of people out of work, New York appears to have recovered the number of private-sector jobs lost during the pandemic, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.

Preliminary seasonally adjusted figures show the number of private-sector jobs in the state increased in January by 47,000, for a total of 8,346,200 jobs statewide. New York had about 8,333,800 private-sector jobs before the pandemic hit in March 2020, data shows.

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Farm Bill and H-2A labor among national priorities for New York Farm Bureau

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

The New York Farm Bureau highlighted reforms to the H-2A wage rates and continued its push for an updated Farm Bill to support specialty crop producers, dairy farmers, climate smart agriculture and mental health resources.

“We need Congress to pass an updated Farm Bill as much has changed since the passage of the 2018 bill. We had a pandemic, record high inflation, rising supply costs and global unrest. Updating the farm safety net to help farmers manage risk is necessary to keep America’s food supply strong,” said New York Farm Bureau president David Fisher in a press conference Thursday.

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Depleted Crime Victims Fund leaves N.Y. nonprofits on edge

BY Melissa Krull Central NY
UPDATED 3:45 PM ET Mar. 07, 2024

With reports of child abuse rising in some areas, federal funding for centers and nonprofits that support victims of crime is decreasing, prompting some who serve on the front lines assisting victims to alert the public to what they call a serious situation.

The U.S. Crime Victims Fund was established by the Victims of Crimes Act, or VOCA, in 1984. Its first major drop in funding came in 2016 when it fell from about $12 billion to $9 billion. It then increased to $13 billion in 2017, but has headed downhill from there, showing about $1 billion for 2024, according to the Office for Victims of Crime.

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Schumer, Gillibrand secure $16.4 million for North Country local projects

BY Luke Parsnow Northern NY

New York's North Country would receive nearly $17 million in funding for local projects in water infrastructure, child care and emergency response times should the biparisan spending package for Fiscal Year 2024 pass the U.S. Senate as expected, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday.

The package passed the House of Representatives 339-85 on Wednesday evening.

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Lawmaker remains committed to making daylight saving time permanent in New York

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The time for the U.S. to "spring forward" this weekend comes with more resurfaced pushes to make daylight saving time permanent in New York.

State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a Democrat from Rotterdam, said on Thursday he remains committed to ending the biannual process of changing clocks, an effort he has continued for years now.

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Hochul nominates new commissioner to lead state Office of Children and Family Services

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Westchester County Youth Bureau Executive Director DaMia Harris-Madden has been nominated by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to serve as the next commissioner of the state Office of Children and Family Services, the governor's office announced Thursday.

Harris-Madden will replace Suzanne Miles-Gustave, who has been acting commissioner for more than a year. She will take office as the new acting commissioner on April 8.

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Are Hochul, Adams on the same track about subway safety? Experts weigh in

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams went to work last week, convening a joint meeting between MTA and NYPD leaders to discuss maintaining law and order within the city’s transit system.

While the pair raised concerns and floated solutions Wednesday, the mayor was conspicuously absent as Hochul unveiled her new subway safety plan.

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New York budget watchdog: Focus should be on spending restraints

BY Tim Williams New York State

The Citizens Budget Commission, a non-partisan fiscal watchdog group, released their outlook for the New York state budget on Thursday that warns that even with a brighter outlook for the state’s economy, a focus should be placed on spending restraints. The group also released a list of recommendations which includes keeping spending growth below 2% and not increasing taxes.

The report points out that the executive budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 is balanced but structural budget imbalances will exceed $16.4 billion by fiscal year 2028. The report also finds that Medicaid and school aid spending “would continue at unsustainable rates” despite savings that are proposed in this fiscal year’s budget. The report warns that even with projected economic growth, spending restraints “remain necessary” to close out-year budget gaps.

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Gov. Hochul to deploy National Guard, state police for subway bag checks

BY Patrick Adcroft and Samantha Liebman New York City
UPDATED 9:00 PM ET Mar. 06, 2024

Gov. Kathy Hochul will deploy the National Guard and state police into the subway system to help with bag checks following a recent surge in transit crime.

Seven hundred and fifty National Guard members and a combined 250 New York State Police and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police personnel will indefinitely assist with the NYPD’s newly reinstituted checks, Hochul said at a news briefing Wednesday.

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UpgradeNY wants funding to build thermal energy networks at 2 SUNY campuses

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A collaboration of unions, climate advocates, building industry representatives and environmental groups is calling for New York to decarbonize state-owned college campuses as part of the state budget.

Known as UpgradeNY, the group wants union-led funding to build thermal energy networks at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Purchase to decarbonize heating and cooling on their campuses, the group said Thursday morning.

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Extra $1.3B in revenue not expected to kill wealth tax talks in New York's one-house budgets

BY Kate Lisa New York State

State Democrats welcome the $1.3 billion in unexpected revenue projections New York budget officials found last week, but said Wednesday that it will not prevent a potential budget fight over the need to increase personal income tax rates for the wealthiest New Yorkers to shift fiscal reliance away from the middle class.

Lawmakers anticipate hours of negotiations through the weekend to finish their one-house budgets as a counter to Gov. Kathy Hochul's $233 billion proposal. That will include finalizing their top budget priorities, and deciding which New Yorkers, if any, will see a tax increase.

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Public Employees Federation leader on proposal that would allow New York prison closures

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

Included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget was a proposal that would allow the state to close an additional five prisons.

Wayne Spence, president of the New York State Public Employees Federation, joined Capital Tonight on Wednesday to discuss the proposal and the impact it will have on members of his union.

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