New York emergency alert system expands with new real-time text updates
As hurricane season approaches, New York State is urging residents to stay prepared by signing up for a new real-time emergency and weather alert system. The new service, called Triple Three Triple One, allows New ... more
New York housing investments aim to expand homeownership and fight affordability crisis
New York State is taking major steps to expand affordable housing, protect homebuyers, and support communities in need. A new package of initiatives announced in the FY 2026 state budget will invest over $500 million ... more
Central New York gun traffickers convicted and sentenced after major ghost gun bust
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the convictions and sentencings of four individuals involved in selling illegal ghost guns and firearms across Central New York. The investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney ... more
New York Discovery Law reforms: What’s changing?
New York State has unveiled major changes to its Discovery Laws, aiming to strengthen public safety while protecting defendants' rights. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the reforms on May 7 as part of the newly approved ... more
NY budget grants Hochul authority to close three prisons
Gov. Kathy Hochul now has the power to close up to three state prisons under the 2025-26 budget agreement, according to The Citizen. She must give 90 days' notice to legislative leaders, including details on ... more
New York moves to place Harriet Tubman statue in U.S. Capitol
New York will replace Robert Livingston’s statue with one of Harriet Tubman in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The plan, part of the 2025-26 state budget, forms a commission to design the statue and ... more
NY prisons lose 2,700 correction officers in four months
New York’s prison system has lost nearly 20% of its correction officers since late 2024. A new report shows DOCCS staffing fell sharply after the firing of 2,000 officers to end a three-week strike earlier ... more
NY lawmakers push to ban harmful food additives and ads
A coalition of parents, doctors, and lawmakers is pushing new bills to protect New Yorkers' food supply. The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, Predatory Marketing Prevention Act, and Sodium Warning Bill aim to ban ... more
Budget deal would delay private school education standards
New York’s late budget deal includes a plan to slow enforcement of education standards for private schools. State officials criticized the move, warning it weakens "substantial equivalency" rules that require private schools to offer academics ... more
Court upholds New York law shifting local elections
New York’s appeals court ruled a new law moving many local elections to even-numbered years is constitutional, according to a recent decision. The law, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, had faced Republican-led challenges arguing it ... more
New York lawmakers race to counter Trump policies
With a $254 billion budget set, New York lawmakers are rushing to pass bills before session ends to defend against potential federal cuts, according to Spectrum News. They plan to address immigration, labor, voting rights, ... more
Rite Aid New York closure list: 178 stores shutting down after bankruptcy
Rite Aid has officially filed for bankruptcy protection again, and this time, it’s having a major impact on New York State. The struggling pharmacy chain announced it will permanently close all 178 Rite Aid locations ... more
O’Mara slams New York budget as ‘bloated’ and ‘unaffordable’
State Senator Tom O’Mara sharply criticized the newly enacted 2025-2026 New York State budget on May 7, calling it “another late, bloated and unaffordable spending spree” under Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature’s Democrat majorities ... more
Wayne County Community Schools honored for youth mental health work
Wayne County Community Schools has been recognized with the 2025 “What’s Great in Our State” Community/Organization Award for its efforts to integrate mental health supports into schools across this rural region of the Finger Lakes ... more
Report: NYS faces high risk of PFAS in drinking water
Some New Yorkers are at a higher risk of exposure to forever chemicals in drinking water. An Environmental Working Group analysis found 189 of the state’s water systems have PFAS levels above the federal standard ... more
New York smartphone ban explained: Statewide school restrictions start this fall
New York is set to become the largest state in the nation to implement statewide, bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions across all K-12 schools. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the new policy as part of the FY 2026 ... more
New York inflation refund explained
New York State is taking bold steps to ease the financial burden on families facing ongoing economic pressures. As part of the FY 2026 budget deal, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a series of affordability initiatives, ... more
Finger Lakes breweries launch NYS Pint Days with new artwork
Craft beer fans have a reason to celebrate as New York State Pint Days returns May 8-11. Breweries across the Finger Lakes, including Genesee Brew House, War Horse Brewing, and Swiftwater Brewing, are among more ... more
NY, U.S. could see air quality worsen from emission standard rollbacks
New York and the nation could face poorer air quality because of rollbacks on vehicle emission standards. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill ending waivers for other states and the Environmental Protection Agency ... more
