Gallup finds U.S. gambling participation down from 2016
Gallup researchers found that 45% of U.S. adults reported gambling during the past year, down from 64% in 2016 as participation fell across nearly every activity the organization measured. The estimate comes from more than ... more
Poll says New York voters are worried about election integrity
New York is working to protect voting rights amid possible threats to election security in the midterms. The state included funding to protect poll workers in the 2027 state budget and lawmakers have also considered ... more
Newfield Community Good Neighbor Fund supports residents
The Newfield Community Good Neighbor Fund is seeing utility bills emerge as a major need among local residents. About half of the 11 requests approved so far this year have involved NYSEG bills ... more
Hochul leads by 10 in governor’s race, but Siena poll shows warning signs
Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a 10-point advantage over Republican Bruce Blakeman with less than three months until Election Day, but a new Siena University poll shows a race that has tightened considerably as the governor ... more
Ithaca seeks applicants for vacant Fourth Ward council seat
The city of Ithaca is accepting applications through Sept. 11 to fill the Fourth Ward Common Council seat left vacant by the resignation of Alderperson Patrick Kuehl. The appointee will serve until the next municipal ... more
AI raises new concerns ahead of New York elections
Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in political campaigns as New York Democrats seek action against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman over unlabeled AI-generated campaign ads, according to Spectrum News 1. Several ads from ... more
Gonzalez plans virtual event to launch AI data center tour
State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez will hold a virtual event Tuesday to announce a 13-stop statewide tour focused on proposed artificial intelligence data centers and their effects on host communities. The event is scheduled for 3:15 ... more
Hochul backs protections for Haitians after TPS termination
Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterated her support for Haitian immigrants who lost Temporary Protected Status and highlighted new state efforts to limit cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement during a recent visit to Brooklyn. Hochul visited ... more
Pew survey finds 55% confident in 2026 midterm election administration
A narrow majority of Americans are confident the November midterm elections will be conducted fairly and accurately, but confidence has declined from the previous three federal election cycles, according to a Pew Research Center survey ... more
Lamanna stays in 130th Assembly District race
Williamson Democrat Joe Lamanna will remain in the 130th Assembly District race on the independent Common Sense line after narrowly losing the Democratic primary to Carl “Butch” Fitzsimmons, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Fitzsimmons ... more
New York launches emergency mental health preparedness campaign
New York has launched a statewide public education campaign aimed at helping residents prepare emotionally for emergencies and cope with stress during disasters. The state Office of Mental Health said the "Prepare Today" initiative will ... more
Cornell model improves AI-generated images of people interacting
Cornell researchers have developed an image-generation method designed to create more accurate scenes involving multiple people and their interactions. The system builds scenes one person at a time and uses each person's pose to help ... more
Yates panel to consider election commissioner appointment
The Yates County Legislature's Government Operations Committee will consider appointing John Christensen as Democratic election commissioner when it meets Monday, Aug. 3. The meeting is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. in the legislative chambers at 417 ... more
Audit finds disabled veterans home repair program underused
New York's home repair program for disabled veterans spent just 36% of more than $3 million awarded through 15 contracts, while weak monitoring delayed assistance and created compliance risks, a state audit found. The Access ... more
Hochul campaign says organizing underway in all 62 counties
Gov. Kathy Hochul's reelection campaign said Monday it has begun organizing in all 62 New York counties with fewer than 100 days remaining before Election Day. The campaign said its coordinated operation has been knocking ... more
Riley, Ithaca leaders attack Blakeman over costs and tariffs
New York Democrats brought a statewide campaign against Bruce Blakeman to Ithaca on Friday, where Rep. Josh Riley, Mayor Robert Cantelmo and a local business owner argued that Blakeman's agenda would raise costs for upstate ... more
Assembly Republicans seek hearing on New York election security
New York Assembly Republicans are calling for a public oversight hearing on the state's voter registration systems after officials disclosed registration errors in New Jersey. Assemblymen Matt Slater and Phil Palmesano of Corning said the ... more
New York conservation group endorses Hochul for reelection
The New York League of Conservation Voters endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul's reelection campaign Thursday, citing her record on climate action and environmental protection. League President Julie Tighe said Hochul had supported investments in the Environmental ... more
Blakeman calls for statewide halt on battery storage facilities
New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman called Thursday for an immediate halt to battery storage facilities across the state until regulators can guarantee their safety. Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, tied the proposal to a ... more
