What else happened at Thursday’s Auburn City Council meeting?
The budget dominated Thursday’s Auburn City Council meeting, but it was far from the only issue on the table. Council also addressed cannabis regulations, ongoing concerns about surveillance technology and routine city operations. Cannabis rules ... more
Canandaigua town judge suspended as appeals court reviews removal recommendation
A Canandaigua Town Court judge has been suspended while New York’s highest court considers whether he should be permanently removed from the bench over findings that he used a racial slur and engaged in other ... more
Riley targets utility bill taxes
Upstate utility bills are swelling with extra fees, and relief could come through tax season, according to the Times Union. Josh Riley introduced a bipartisan bill to let households deduct taxes and surcharges from gas ... more
Auburn’s budget squeeze spills into public view as cuts, layoffs and service fears collide (video)
Auburn’s budget troubles were not an abstract talking point Thursday night. They showed up in the room, at the podium, and in the tension hanging over City Council’s latest meeting, where residents, union leaders and ... more
Seneca County approves new contract for sheriff’s deputies, advances major sewer projects
Seneca County officials approved a new labor contract for sheriff’s deputies Tuesday, resolving a key personnel matter while moving forward on a slate of infrastructure investments and routine county business during the April Board of ... more
Cayuga County lawmakers advance contracts, discuss hiring hurdles, and approve grant application
Cayuga County legislators moved forward with a series of operational updates, cost-saving contracts, and a key infrastructure funding application during a meeting this week, while also confronting staffing challenges and ongoing modernization efforts across departments ... more
Canandaigua planning board weighs development, delays decision amid stormwater concerns
A proposed 38-home subdivision dominated discussion at this month’s Canandaigua Planning Board meeting, with officials ultimately holding off on a decision after a lengthy, technical debate over stormwater management and downstream impacts. The April session, ... more
School districts warn late state budget could disrupt local planning timelines
With key deadlines looming, school leaders across New York are raising concerns that ongoing delays in the state budget process could complicate local decision-making ahead of voter-approved school budgets next month. A coalition of statewide ... more
DiNapoli calls for corporate transparency on AI-driven job losses
New York’s top fiscal watchdog is pressing major corporations to be more transparent about how artificial intelligence is reshaping their workforces. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned that companies are failing to provide investors with clear ... more
Residents demand Ontario County cut ties with ICE now
Frustrated residents packed a local meeting and demanded leaders stop working with ICE, according to News10NBC. Speakers at an Ontario County Board of Supervisors meeting urged officials to pass a resolution cutting cooperation with ICE, ... more
Senate resolution targets federal student loan rule
A group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation aimed at overturning a federal rule governing the country’s primary student loan program. The joint resolution seeks to nullify a Department of Education rule tied to the ... more
Americans increasingly say Trump is not religious, new survey finds
Seven in 10 Americans now say President Donald Trump is either “not too” or “not at all” religious, a noticeable shift in public perception that underscores widening political and cultural divides around faith and leadership ... more
Tourism strategy presentation headlines Seneca County committee meeting
Seneca County officials will get a closer look at the future of local tourism development during a special committee meeting next week. The county’s Economic Development, Tourism and Housing Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, ... more
Auburn city workers, police union warn of service cuts ahead of council decisions
Concerns over potential cuts to public services in Auburn are intensifying, with city workers and police union leaders warning that proposed budget decisions could significantly impact public safety and daily operations. Members of the Civil ... more
Major projects and July 4 plans highlight busy stretch for Victor officials (video)
From a high-profile retail redevelopment to a major housing proposal and a large-scale summer celebration, Victor officials are juggling a wave of decisions shaping the town’s growth and community experience. At recent Planning Board and ... more
Watkins Glen trustees approve tax cap override with no public input at brief meeting (video)
The Village Board of Trustees approved a local law to override New York’s tax levy limit during a brief special meeting Monday, advancing the next step in adopting the village’s 2026–27 budget. The meeting, which ... more
Hochuls’ income surges to $1.86M as taxes and earnings climb
Gov. Kathy Hochul and her husband pulled in over $1.86 million last year, according to NY1, marking a sharp jump from 2024. Most of that came from William Hochul’s $1.3 million law firm salary, while ... more
U.S. democracy ratings hit new lows as public dissatisfaction grows, report finds
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Multiple global measures show the health of American democracy declined further in 2025, with the U.S. posting some of its lowest ratings in decades amid growing public dissatisfaction. New analysis from Pew ... more
Most Americans say political system needs major changes, but many doubt reform will happen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A large majority of Americans believe the nation’s political system needs significant change, but nearly half lack confidence that meaningful reform is actually possible, according to new international research. The Pew Research ... more
