'Revenge Tour': President Trump flexes his muscles in NYC in early weeks of Oval Office return

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has been flexing his muscles in New York, taking far more interest in the issues and policies affecting his hometown than he did during his first four years in the Oval Office, political analysts tell Spectrum News.

In the past month, he has sought to cancel federal approval of congestion pricing in lower Manhattan, and clawed back $80 million in grants intended to help the city cover the costs of housing migrants.

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Both sides of prison strike await details of a tentative deal

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Those involved in a corrections officer strike at several New York prisons are awaiting details of a tentative offer reached between the New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), a source close to negotiations told Spectrum News 1.

Mediation efforts between the state and the union representing the workers are in their third day. The strike has been taking place for 11 days as those participating have decried lengthy shifts and staffing shortages that they say are caused by the challenge of recruiting officers amid increased violence in the facilities.

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Senecas host summit with lawmakers as casino deal remains unsettled

BY Ryan Whalen Niagara Falls

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The new administration for the Seneca Nation of Indians is hoping to build on relationships with state and federal lawmakers.

President JC Seneca and tribal council members hosted a Western New York delegation summit Thursday at the Seneca Niagara Casino.

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New York housing chief to lawmakers: Don't fill in for less federal aid

BY Kate Lisa New York State

The head of the state department of Homes and Community Renewal on Thursday said the budget should not supplement support for federal low-income housing programs in preparation for less aid from Washington as President Donald Trump's administration plans to slash national spending.

New York lawmakers have said the budget must fund state-sponsored housing vouchers that Gov. Kathy Hochul did not include in her spending plan that would help low-income families avoid homelessness. But Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner & CEO RuthAnne Visnauskas said instead, lawmakers, Hochul and the state attorney general must hold the state's congressional leaders accountable for programs funded for decades.

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Source: Tentative deal reached between DOCCS, NYSCOPBA over prison strikes

BY Luke Parsnow and Spectrum News Staff New York State

A tentative deal has been reached between the New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) regarding the strike at several upstate prisons, a source close to negotiations told Spectrum News 1 Thursday evening.

Mediation efforts between the state and the union representing those workers are in their third day, while the strike has been taking place for 11 days. The union has not sanctioned the strike.

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NAACP angry over suspension of HALT Act in New York prisons amid strikes

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The HALT Act has been one of the central bones of contention of the now 11-day wildcat strike among New York correction officers. Spectrum News 1 learned Thursday evening a tentative deal had been reached between negotiators.

The 2022 law limits how solitary confinement may be used in prisons across the state. It also creates more humane and effective alternatives to such confinement through educational programs.

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'They want to be safe and they want to be respected': Upstate correction officers still striking as mediation efforts continue

BY Natalie Mooney and Spectrum News Staff New York State
UPDATED 4:42 PM ET Feb. 27, 2025

The illegal correction officer strikes at dozens of facilities across upstate New York continued Thursday, with mediation efforts also ongoing. The strikes are now in their 11th day.

The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) told Spectrum News 1 that progress has been made on several issues in negotiations with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).

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Rep. Adriano Espaillat to give Spanish-language response to Trump's address to Congress

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat will deliver the Democratic Party’s Spanish-language response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming joint address to Congress, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday.

Espaillat represents New York's 13th Congressional District, which includes upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. He is currently the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

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Jeffries says Republicans are lying about Medicaid cuts

BY Susan Carpenter Nationwide

WASHINGTON — Two days after House Republicans narrowly approved the “big, beautiful” budget blueprint President Donald Trump has been asking for, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., derided it as a reckless scheme.

“The Republican budget will set in motion the largest cut to Medicaid in American history,” he said. “Children will be hurt. Families will be hurt. Seniors will be hurt. Everyday Americans with disabilities will be hurt. Hospitals will be hurt. And nursing homes will be hurt all across America.”

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U.S. DOT calls for MTA to end congestion pricing by March 21

BY Samantha Liebman New York City
UPDATED 8:30 AM ET Feb. 27, 2025

The U.S. Department of Transportation has given the MTA until March 21 to stop collecting congestion pricing tolls, according to a letter sent last Thursday.

The letter came one day after U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy sent a separate letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying the agency would contact the state about an “orderly cessation” of the program.

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Navigating NYC's political chaos

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

The five months since Mayor Eric Adams was indicted have consisted of an extraordinary sequence of events that has found the mayor bruised but emboldened, still firmly in office, and about to launch a campaign for reelection. Katie Honan, a reporter for The CITY and co-host of the FAQ NYC podcast, has been closely following the mayor through these many twists and turns.

Honan joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss several issues surrounding Adams, including his legal troubles, loss of security clearance, and the recent resignations of four deputy mayors on the same day. They also touched on the strategies of other mayoral candidates as they prepare for the June primary, including the “will he or won’t he” role of Andrew Cuomo in the race.

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As measles cases rise in U.S. and Canada, New York issues health advisory

BY Spectrum News Staff and Sara Genhofer New York State

With the number of confirmed measles cases in Texas growing and the first death in the outbreak reported Wednesday, New York's Department of Health on Thursday issued a health advisory.

New York officials also warned of statewide vaccination rates being below a level "necessary to protect communities," urging New Yorkers to vaccinate their children against measles.

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N.Y. lawmakers relaunch push to permanently fund 9/11 health program, one week after rescinded DOGE cuts

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

Congressional lawmakers are launching yet another bipartisan push for permanent funding for the health program that helps people sickened by toxic smoke and debris from the World Trade Center's collapse.

“We've made a promise that we will never forget and we will keep fighting for this,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said, introducing the legislation at a Wednesday press conference on Capitol Hill.

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Pushing past doubts and controversy, Adams has busy day

BY Kelly Mena New York City

Mayor Eric Adams continued to defend his ongoing resistance to calls to resign amid his ongoing legal case and upheaval in his administration.

“Isn’t our democracy based on the people we elect? Why are we trying to disrupt and take the power away from the people of this city who elected me to be mayor?" he asked after an intense exchange with Fox 5 anchor Curt Menefee Wednesday morning.

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New York advocates push animal crime bills as part of state budget

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The state Legislature is considering three animal-related bills as part of the state budget due on April 1.

The New York State Animal Protection Federation (NYSAPF) is asking the governor and the Legislature to create a $2.5 million New York State Animal Crimes Fund to help shelters pay for the costs associated with taking in abused animals.

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State lawmakers admit Hochul's plan to limit mayor's control is stalled

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

Instead of exercising her power to remove embattled Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants legislation passed to curb his authority over city government. But state lawmakers say that measure is stalled.

“I’d be shocked to think that people don’t agree that there should be some measures,” Hochul said on Tuesday at a public safety press conference at the Albany Public Library.

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Former federal employees encouraged to apply for New York state jobs

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Federal policy changes were a major topic at the New York state Legislaure budget hearing on labor and workforce development.

Lawmakers asked state Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon how New York was dealing with potentially thousands of employees the Trump administration has or is in the process of letting go.

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New York politicians take battles to 'X' in new political era

BY Susan Arbetter and Marisa Jacques Albany

There's been more than the usual amount of negative back and forth between New York politicians recently, and some of that is directly related to the fallout from the November election. People have been downright nasty this week on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The first example of Democrat-on-Democrat infighting was the split between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.

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Advocates call for paid family and medical leave reform in New York

BY Arin Cotel-Altman Albany

We have seen an increased push for more paid leave that could help take care of a newborn or deal with a sickness.

Advocates at the state Capitol Wednesday called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would improve access to paid family and medical leave for New York workers.

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Mayor Eric Adams skips forum as he awaits decision on legal fate

BY Associated Press New York City

Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday said he pulled out of a mayoral candidate forum after his lawyer told him to wait until a federal judge decides how to handle the corruption case.

The Democrat told reporters he would skip the forum, held by District Council 37, the largest municipal union in the city, because his attorney told him to forgo such events until a decision is reached in his criminal case.

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House Dems warn GOP plan is 'devastating' for 7 million New Yorkers on Medicaid

BY Kevin Frey Washington, D.C.

Democrats are warning of the possibility of devastating cuts to Medicaid, as House Republicans in Washington move ahead with legislation to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda.

On a nearly party-line vote Tuesday, House Republicans advanced a budget blueprint, setting the framework for the eventual spending package. As part of the final bill, Trump is seeking massive tax and spending cuts alongside new funding for immigration enforcement.

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Adams claims prosecutorial misconduct, asks judge to dismiss criminal case

BY Associated Press New York City

Mayor Eric Adams asked a federal judge to toss out the corruption case against him Wednesday, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, even as the Justice Department seeks dismissal of the charges on the Democrat's behalf.

In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, his lawyers alleged that the misconduct occurred when the government publicly leaked a letter then-U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi explaining why charges should not be dropped.

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One in four New Yorkers lives in poverty, report finds

BY Erica Brosnan New York City

The number of New Yorkers living in poverty has climbed to 25%, nearly double the national average, according to a new report from Robin Hood and Columbia University.

The annual "State of Poverty and Disadvantage" report found that rising costs for food, housing, utilities, clothing and internet access pushed the poverty threshold for a renting family of four to an annual salary of $47,000 in 2023.

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Delgado: 'I'm very interested' in being lieutenant governor

BY Seamus Lyman Albany

New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said he's still up for the job a day after announcing he will not seek reelection alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026.

Hochul told reporters Tuesday morning she didn't think her former running mate was happy in the role.

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Families fear for inmates' safety

BY Courtney Gross New York City

Daisy Rivas is like any mother worried about her son.

"I am worried about him so much,” she told NY1. “They do a lot of stuff to him in there. They hit him, the cops and all that."

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Hochul gets flack for implying it's unclear why correction officers are striking

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Correction officers continued their illegal strike Tuesday as they call on state lawmakers to repeal the HALT Act, as well as other demands dealing with pay and mandated overtime.

Mediation began Monday and is scheduled to continue through Thursday as the state navigates serving orders against more than 300 individual officers, and New York state leaders spent Tuesday fielding questions about how the strike could end.

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Hochul faces 'untenable' prison strike amidst political challenges

BY Bernadette Hogan Albany

Already dealing with multiple political firestorms across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul is now facing another major challenge with correction officers on strike at upstate prisons — protesting what they call unsafe conditions and triggering a National Guard deployment.

“We want to find out what the issue is, because the individuals who walked out in an unsanctioned strike, unapproved by the union, have yet to tell us the issues,” she told reporters during a press conference on public safety in Albany on Tuesday.

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Higher education leaders make budget case to New York state lawmakers

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The State University of New York system says the outlook is bright.

Chancellor John King told legislators at a joint budget hearing on higher education Tuesday SUNY has seen system-wide enrollment increases in back-to-back years for the first time in 15 years with record setting investment from the state.

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N.Y. Public Employees Federation president: 'I understand why' prison workers are striking

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Five thousand members of the New York Public Employees Federation (PEF) work for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). According to PEF President Wayne Spence, a former parole officer, the Hochul administration ordered parole officers to fill in for striking COs at prisons across the state. The order was rescinded when Spence threatened the state with a lawsuit.

While strikes among public employees are considered illegal under the state's Taylor Law, some corrections officers are denying illegality because of the deterioration of safety conditions at prisons.

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Retired N.Y. correction officer argues strikes aren’t illegal because of safety

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Vinny Blasio, a retired New York state corrections lieutenant and past official with the New York state Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), told Capital Tonight that the strikes at prisons across the state are not illegal because they were sparked by immediate safety concerns.

The ”straw that broke the camel’s back," according to Blasio, is a Feb. 10 memo from DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III which states, “70% of our original staffing model is the new 100%."

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New York state begins legal fight against striking prison workers

BY Luke Parsnow and Mark Goshgarian New York State
UPDATED 6:43 PM ET Feb. 25, 2025

The state on Tuesday began taking legal steps against the correction officers striking and protesting across New York while mediations between the state and workers continue as the labor standoff reaches day nine.

Both sides appeared in state Supreme Court in Erie County Tuesday to discuss the continued legal action and the temporary restraining order issued last week instructing the strikers go back to work after the state Attorney General's Office filed a petition against the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).

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Hochul nominates former Interior Department official to lead New York DEC

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday nominated Amanda Lefton to be the next state commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to the governor’s office, Lefton has previously served as director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) within the U.S. Department of the Interior, which developed and implemented a federal offshore wind program.

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Hochul says it's clear Antonio Delgado 'not happy being in the role of lieutenant governor'

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said it appears Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is not content in his role after he abruptly announced Monday he would not be seeking reelection alongside her in 2026.

“It is clear to me that he’s not happy being in the role of lieutenant governor, but I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do,” Hochul told reporters Tuesday in Albany in her first public remarks since Delgado’s announcement.

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New York comptroller: Financial environment may cause budget challenges for local governments

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

It’s budget time in New York, and local governments may face increased budget challenges this year due to factors like the expiration of federal pandemic-era aid, state aid not keeping up with the pace of inflation and slower growth in local revenue, according to a report released Tuesday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

According to DiNapoli, federal stimulus during the COVID-19 pandemic from the CARES Act of 2020, American Rescue Plan of 2021 provided the fastest growing source of revenue for local governments during that time, and they were required to obligate by the end of 2024 and spend by the end of 2026. The report said outside of New York City, counties received the most federal stimulus funds in terms of overall dollars, while American Rescue Plan funds represented 14.4% of total 2019 (pre-pandemic) revenues for cities, 5.3% for towns, 4.5% for counties and 3.2% for villages.

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Raymond Santana, of 'Exonerated Five,' launches bid for City Council

BY Erica Brosnan New York City

Another member of the “Exonerated Five” is setting his sights on the New York City Council.

Raymond Santana, one of five Black and Latino men who, as teenagers, were wrongfully convicted in the 1989 rape of a white jogger in Central Park, announced Tuesday that he is running for a City Council seat in the open 8th District.

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New York launches new recruitment campaign for federal workers

BY Brian Campbell New York State

New York has launched a new recruitment campaign for federal workers interested in state service, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

The new “You’re Hired” initiative seeks to recruit federal workers to join the New York state workforce. There were nearly 2,000 vacant positions in state government listed in the StateJobsNY portal as of Tuesday morning. The open positions include first responders, food service, engineers, legal professionals, plow drivers, mental health specialists, speech pathologists and more.

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Mayor Adams says removal is undemocratic

BY Courtney Gross New York City

A defiant mayor says calls to oust him are undemocratic.

"That is not how you circumvent the power of the people who elected me based on your perception and your belief,” Mayor Eric Adams said Monday. "If you can bypass the will of the people based upon what people don't like of an action, that's not democracy."

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Families of N.Y. correction officers take to the state Capitol as formerly incarcerated individuals push back against HALT Act attacks

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Correction officers in New York on Monday entered their second week of an illegal strike over staffing shortages, regulations from the HALT Act and more.

Meetings between the state, union leaders and a mediator began Monday as the state Capitol became a stage for those directly impacted by the strikes to bring their concerns to lawmakers.

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Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York head discusses Trump immigration policies

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Earlier this month, prior to 88-year-old Pope Francis’ recent hospitalization, he took the Trump administration to task for its stance on immigration.

In a letter to American bishops, the pope pointed out that in many cases, migrants have left their own countries “for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment." His letter also included a warning for Trump administration officials, stating, “What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”

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DoorDash to pay N.Y. delivery workers $17M for using their tips to cover wages

BY Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 6:42 PM ET Feb. 24, 2025

The ubiquitous food delivery app DoorDash will pay almost $17 million to settle claims that it unfairly used customer tips to subsidize the wages of its delivery workers in New York, rather than letting drivers keep the tips on top of their guaranteed pay, Attorney General Letitia James said Monday.

James said DoorDash used the wage model between May 2017 and September 2019. The company would guarantee workers a base payment for each delivery but was factoring tips into that equation, only paying workers for whatever the tips didn't cover, according to the attorney general.

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New report says health care in New York is getting pricier, not better

BY John Camera Hudson Valley

Expensive, incoherent and unfair. That is how the co-author of a new report describes New York state's health care system.

The cost of going to the doctor or hospital is getting more expensive, but care isn’t getting any better. That’s according to a new report by the Community Service Society of New York.

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Advocates: Auburn Correctional prisoner asked for medical help before death

BY Kate Lisa Auburn
UPDATED 5:53 PM ET Feb. 24, 2025

As an illegal prison strike continues, state officials Monday would not answer questions about the timeline of a death at Auburn Correctional Facility over the weekend as multiple advocates said the incarcerated man asked for medical help before his death.

Jonathon Grant, 61, was found unresponsive in his cell in Cayuga County on Saturday morning, according to the state Department of Corrections & Community Supervision. A paramedic pronounced him dead at 8:32 a.m. after security and medical staff and a member of the National Guard administered the overdose reversal drug Narcan and performed CPR. Grant’s death is under investigation by State Police and DOCCS' Office of Special Investigations while awaiting the Cayuga County Medical Examiner's determination of cause of death. The state Commission of Correction reviews all deaths in state prisons.

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Mediation underway as New York correction officers strike enters second week

BY Halena Sepulveda New York State
UPDATED 5:12 PM ET Feb. 24, 2025

COLLINS, N.Y. — Mediation is underway between state corrections leaders and union officials as correction officers continue striking for a second week across New York's prison facilities.

Workers from 38 out of 42 facilities are now on the picket line. Correction officers are asking for better working conditions, higher pay and limits on shifts.

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New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado won't run for reelection alongside Hochul in 2026

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will not run for reelection alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026, Delgado announced Monday.

“When I first made the decision to run for office after the 2016 presidential election, I did so because I believed we needed more leaders in government willing to hold themselves accountable to the people – and only the people. I believe New Yorkers deserve this kind of leadership now more than ever,” Delgado wrote in a post on X. “Serving the people of New York is a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I am determined to be your voice in state government now and in the future. All options are on the table, and I will be exploring them.”

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MTA says congestion toll revenue on target to meet goals

BY Samantha Liebman Manhattan

The early revenue numbers are in for congestion pricing, and while the gross is about $3 million less than what was projected, the MTA says the expenses related to the toll were also lower, so the net is actually higher.

The tolls brought in $48 million from Jan. 5 through the end of the month — 27 days. Expenses, which included the money to operate the tolls, as well as the $2 million for environmental mitigation, totaled $11 million. That's roughly $5 million less in expenses than projected. The gross revenue was $37.5 million.

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Wildcat strike raises concerns for N.Y.'s correctional care workers

BY Adriana Loh Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Correction workers at more than two dozen New York state prisons have been on strike since last Monday, protesting working conditions and violence against prison staff within the facilities along with demands revolving around pay, time off and retirement. With nearly all state prisons on lockdown, those on the inside struggle to get by.

While correction officers are making a number of demands, this has left not only inmates feeling unsafe and abandoned, but also their nurses, according to some family members.

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Hochul says she made a case to Trump for NYC's congestion pricing, yet predicts courts will decide

BY Associated Press New York City

NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she told President Donald Trump in a private meeting at the White House that congestion pricing tolls in New York City are necessary and working, yet the Democrat predicted the courts will likely decide the matter.

Last week Trump withdrew federal support for the program, which charges motorists a fee for driving into certain parts of Manhattan.

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Gov. Hochul makes pro-congestion pricing pitch to President Trump in White House

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

Gov. Kathy Hochul got her chance to pitch President Donald Trump face-to-face on the merits of congestion pricing during a White House meeting, her office confirmed.

“On Friday afternoon, Governor Hochul met with President Trump in the Oval Office for more than an hour,” Hochul spokesman Avi Small said in a statement obtained by NY1.

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Albany insiders make sense of a crazy week at the Capitol

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

It’s been a crazy week in the Empire State from growing calls for the governor to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, strikes at state prisons and the president’s decision to kill congestion pricing in the city.

David Catalfamo, former communications director for Gov. George Pataki who currently serves as president of Capital Public Strategies, and Ken Lovett, former Albany Bureau chief for the New York Post and senior advisor at the MTA who currently serves as a partner at Ichor Strategies, joined Capital Tonight on Friday to help make sense of it all.

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Lawmakers seek specifics on Gov. Hochul's plan to rein in Mayor Adams

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to increase state oversight over City Hall, arguing for now, she won’t remove Mayor Eric Adams and instead voters should decide in the ballot box.

But the fight is far from over. As of Friday, sources said legislative leaders have yet to review a bill proposal that would turn Hochul’s plan into a reality.

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Rep. Kennedy rails against Musk and federal job cuts

BY Ryan Whalen City of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-NY-26, is taking exception to the Trump administration's empowerment of billionaire Elon Musk and the U.S. DOGE Service to cut federal jobs and services.

On Friday, he criticized Musk's appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference a day earlier.

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'Treat us like we're human': New York prison strike, protests continue

BY Arin Cotel-Altman , Spectrum News Staff and Brianne Roesser New York State
UPDATED 6:11 PM ET Feb. 21, 2025

Strikes and protests are ongoing on at various New York state correctional facilities.

On Thursday, state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello released a memo saying the department would not take disciplinary actions against workers who returned to work by midnight Friday. It's still unclear how many, if any, corrections officers took him up on that offer. Spectrum News 1 is awaiting an answer from DOCCS.

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Judge cancels trial for Mayor Eric Adams but leaves corruption charges intact for now

BY Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 3:20 PM ET Feb. 21, 2025

A federal judge on Friday cancelled the corruption trial for Mayor Eric Adams and appointed counsel to advise him on how to handle the Justice Department’s controversial request to drop charges against the Democrat.

Judge Dale E. Ho's written order means he won't decide before mid-March whether to grant the dismissal of the case against the embattled mayor of the nation’s largest city.

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USDA releases $20 million in funding for farmers

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

Following a review by the newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released $20 million in funding for farmers.

The funding will be put toward contracts that were already used for the Enviornmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Originally, the money was part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which the Trump administration froze.

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Analysis: Hochul’s week of law and order, choosing when and when not to wield power

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul this week has been forced to grapple with an odd collision of law and order, criminal justice and governmental separation of powers. She faced some tough decisions and had some tough words to say about a wide range of people — a president, a mayor and correction officers — and what’s legal and what’s moral.

She has called to mind what some of the governor’s powers are. She signed an executive order activating more than 3,500 National Guard members to provide security at dozens of state prisons where correction guards continue to strike and protest regarding safer working conditions. She has not minced words about the workers’ actions, calling them “illegal,” “unlawful,” “disruptive” and “unsanctioned.”

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Lander backs plan to rein in Mayor Adams

BY Erica Brosnan and Spectrum News NY1 New York City

Comptroller Brad Lander on Friday said he supports Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to limit Mayor Eric Adams' power, but he would like to see City Hall present a contingency plan for managing the city.

Lander, who is also a Democratic candidate for mayor, said he has yet to see a plan from Adams' team on how the city will function when several deputy mayors are expected to step down.

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Hochul limits Adams' powers

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

After meeting with top Democrats this week about the future of Mayor Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a plan to set up new restrictions on Adams, but emphasized that it was “not a power grab.” NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan and political reporter Dan Rivoli break down Hochul’s proposals, which include giving City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams more power.

The "Off Topic" team also gets into the latest with congestion pricing, as the Trump administration looks to pull the plug and the MTA sues to keep the tolling program in place.

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Ex-aide to Adams 'aggressor' in migrant center scuffle, report shows

BY Dan Rivoli New York City

The city's Department of Investigation Thursday released a report about a physical altercation between security staff at a migrant center and a former aide to the mayor, Tim Pearson.

The report — issued 16 months after the October 2023 incident — concluding that Pearson was the aggressor, not the victim he had claimed to be at the time.

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'An important step towards accountability': Family reacts to charges stemming from Robert Brooks' death

BY Wendy Wright and Spectrum News Staff Utica

Six prison workers have been charged with murder in the second degree in connection with the death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in December, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday in Oneida County Court.

Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley, Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, Mathew Galliher and an unnamed individual — all former corrections officers — are named in the indictment. They were also all charged with manslaughter in the first degree, the indictment says. They face a potential punishment of life in prison for those charges. All pleaded not guilty. Several others related to the incident also face charges.

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Examining abortion rights in New York and the country

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

Earlier this month, a New York doctor was indicted for prescribing an abortion pill online for a Louisiana woman.

Shortly after, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she would not comply with the extradition request because of New York’s shield laws which were passed in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

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Hochul won't remove Adams 'at this time,' proposes oversight laws to restrict his power

BY Deanna Garcia , Maya Rajamani and Bernadette Hogan New York City
UPDATED 7:32 PM ET Feb. 20, 2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she would not remove Mayor Eric Adams from office “at this time,” instead proposing new oversight laws to restrict his power over city government.

The move follows a series of meetings Hochul held with Democratic city leaders to discuss whether or not to use her power to remove public officials from office.

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New York state could start penalizing correction officers for striking

BY Ryan Whalen City of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — For roughly six decades, New York public employee unions have collectively bargained with the state under the Taylor Law, which among other things created the Public Employment Relations Board to settle disputes and prohibited those employees from striking.

Attorney John Elmore said the law is meant to ensure vital jobs and services are always in place.

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DOCCS temporarily suspends parts of HALT Act amid correction officer strikes

BY Spectrum News Staff , Brian Dwyer and Viktoria Hallikaar Ogdensburg
UPDATED 7:00 PM ET Feb. 20, 2025

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will temporarily suspend elements of New York's HALT Act in its correctional facilities amid ongoing strikes and protests staged by correction officers across the state.

DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said in a memo Thursday that a number of HALT Act elements "that cannot safely be operationalized under a prison-wide state of emergency" will be suspended until facilities can be safely operated, including a memorandum issued Feb. 10 by DOCCS, requesting a "comprehensive review" of security staffing with the goal to cut staff to 70% of current levels.

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6 correction officers charged with murder in death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional

BY Shalon Stevens , Luke Parsnow and Associated Press Utica
UPDATED 5:00 PM ET Feb. 20, 2025

Six prison workers have been charged with murder in the second degree in connection with the death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in December, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday in Oneida County Court.

Nicholas Anzalone, David Kingsley Anthony Farina, Christopher Walrath, Mathew Galliher and an unnamed individual — all former corrections officers — are named in the indictment. They were also all charged with manslaughter in the first degree, the indictment says. They face a potential punishment of life in prison for those charges. All pleaded not guilty.

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Federal legislation proposed to increase transparency of milk pricing

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would require manufacturers to report their dairy processing costs every two years.

“New York dairy farmers deserve to be paid a fair price for their milk, and they need a milk pricing system that they can count on,” said U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand Thursday in a press release. “Requiring manufacturers to report dairy processing costs on a biennial basis will give dairy producers, processors, and cooperatives the data they need to ensure that their prices accurate reflect the costs of production.”

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New York AG sues vape distributors over Elf Bar and other fruit and candy e-cigarettes

BY Associated Press New York State

New York on Thursday sued some of the country’s biggest distributors of electronic cigarettes, accusing the companies of violating state laws that prohibit the sale of vaping flavors and designs that appeal to children.

Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit targeting middlemen that distribute fruit- and candy-flavored e-cigarettes like Puff Bar and Elf Bar to hundreds of convenience stories and gas stations across the state. The approach differs from past litigation by New York and other states, which targeted vaping manufacturers, such as Juul Labs.

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Legal expert weighs in on what may come next in Adams corruption case

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

A federal judge spent more than an hour questioning Mayor Eric Adams, his attorney and the Trump-appointed official who ordered the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to drop corruption charges against the mayor Wednesday. But rather than immediately dismiss the charges, the judge opted to take more time to consider his options before issuing a ruling.

Cheryl Bader, a law professor at Fordham University, discussed in a “Mornings On 1” interview Thursday all the potential outcomes that may follow, and how the case has been received within the wider legal community in New York City.

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Riders Alliance vows to defend congestion pricing

BY Erica Brosnan New York City

The Riders Alliance, a longtime supporter of New York City’s congestion pricing program, vowed to defend the tolling plan after the Trump administration moved to revoke federal approval.

Daniel Pearlstein, policy and communications director for the group, said he expects the program will survive legal challenges.

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Lindsey Cormack: How to raise a citizen

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

Civics education in American public schools began to significantly decline in the 1960s, leaving many students without any knowledge of how our government works and about the historical significance of events. With misinformation polluting social media, some believe that civics education should begin at home, with parents teaching their kids how to understand and navigate the system. It’s all laid out in a new book, “How to Raise a Citizen and Why It’s Up to You to Do It,” written by Lindsey Cormack and published by John Wiley and Sons.

Cormack joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her book and the crucial role parents play in teaching their children about civics. They discussed the importance of understanding and navigating the political system, not only to facilitate voting but also to strengthen or save democracy. They also talked about how some families still feel it is taboo to talk about politics, and how efforts today can sow the seeds for a robust, vibrant democracy of tomorrow.

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Mayor Adams: 'I did nothing wrong'

BY Deanna Garcia New York City
UPDATED 8:53 PM ET Feb. 19, 2025

In an interview after his appearance in federal court Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams continued to emphasize he did nothing wrong.

“I’m a victim of a very overaggressive investigation. And I’m telling you it hurts, and I’m a victim. And now that victimization is playing out again,” Adams told NY1’s Cheryl Wills in an exclusive interview.

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Some New York lawmakers open to corrections reform this budget cycle

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul has activated the National Guard to step in at the state's prisons as correction officers continue their illegal strike.

Hochul also authorized overtime pay for staff still working in prisons and named a mediator to help with negotiations, and also filed an injunction under Taylor Law to force the officers back to work.

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Assembly correction chair: There's no support to change the HALT Act

BY Kate Lisa New York State

State lawmakers do not support changing a law that limits holding people in prison in solitary confinement for punishment as correction officers participating in an illegal strike demand the policy be repealed — arguing it would make facilities safer for staff.

Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act took effect in 2022, and prohibits an incarcerated person from being held in a Special Housing Unit separate from the general population for more than 15 consecutive days.

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Rep. Mike Lawler discusses N.Y. prison strikes, NYC Mayor Adams and congestion pricing

BY Tim Williams and Casey Bortnick New York State

As he continues to mull his 2026 options, Hudson Valley Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler was in Western New York on Wednesday to stand with state Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt at a press conference on the prison strikes happening across New York state.

The congressman, who has been mentioned as a top Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2026, joined Capital Tonight on Wednesday to discuss the strikes, President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw federal support of New York City’s congestion pricing plan and the calls for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign or be removed from office.

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Examining the mental health needs of correction officers amid New York strike

BY Tim Williams and Casey Bortnick New York State

This week, correction officers from just about every corner of the state went on strike to protest working conditions and regulations in New York’s prisons. From wage, safety and overworking concerns, these issues can weigh heavy on the minds of the people who guard New York’s prisons.

Dr. Caterina Spinaris, founding director of Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, discussed the mental health needs of correction officers.

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Hochul takes hard stand against strike, but some correction officers dig in

BY Wendy Wright , Brian Dwyer , Spencer Conlin , Viktoria Hallikaar and John Camera New York State

Trucks with Army National Guard soldiers rumbled onto prison grounds across New York Wednesday to replace correction officers protesting on the third day of a work strike that's grown into a standoff.

A state judge on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order under the state's Taylor Law prohibiting correction officers from striking or engaging in other concerted work stoppages or slowdowns, according to a court filing in Erie County.

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'We're keeping the cameras on': Hochul blasts Trump's move to kill congestion pricing

BY Maya Rajamani New York City

Gov. Kathy Hochul blasted the Trump administration’s move to rescind approval for New York City’s congestion pricing program on Wednesday, saying the MTA would keep its toll cameras on barring a court order.

In a letter sent to Hochul early Wednesday afternoon, the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation said the Federal Highway Administration was revoking its November stamp of approval for the tolling plan.

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Judge doesn't immediately rule on DOJ's motion to drop Adams' criminal case

BY Spectrum News Staff and Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 5:34 PM ET Feb. 19, 2025

At an extraordinary hearing Wednesday, the Justice Department’s second-in-command demanded that a judge dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams, and the leader of the nation’s largest city — his liberty and political future at stake — declared: “I have not committed a crime.”

After scrutinizing the request for more than an hour, Manhattan federal Judge Dale E. Ho declined to rule immediately, saying he wanted to carefully review the “unusual situation.” But, acknowledging the vast political and legal implications, which include Adams’ pending reelection campaign and looming April 21 trial date, he indicated he’d make a decision soon.

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Hochul activates 3,500 National Guard members; judge grants order prohibiting COs from striking

BY Spectrum News Staff and Keegan Trunick New York State
UPDATED 4:10 PM ET Feb. 19, 2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed an executive order activating more than 3,500 New York Army National Guard members to provide security at dozens of state prisons where correction guards are striking for safer working conditions. Also on Wednesday, a state judge granted a temporary restraining order under the Taylor Law prohibiting correction officers from striking or engaging in other concerted work stoppages or slowdowns, according to a court filing in Erie County.

The governor’s order also provides for additional overtime for COs and other staff who are working, said Hochul, who also directed state agencies to retain independent mediator Martin Scheinman to negotiate an end to what she again called “an illegal work stoppage.”

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Trump administration pulls approval for NYC's congestion pricing plan

BY Spectrum News Staff and Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 2:30 PM ET Feb. 19, 2025

The Trump administration is pulling federal approval for New York City's congestion pricing program.

In a letter sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul Wednesday, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Highway Administration would rescind its previous signoff on the tolling plan.

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Malliotakis cheers Trump's move to cancel congestion pricing

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

On the heels of the Trump administration announcing Wednesday that it is moving to end congestion pricing in New York City, Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a fierce critic of the toll, joined NY1 to air her thoughts on the decision.

Tap the video player above to watch the full interview.

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Adams calls reporters 'liars' after skipping press forums

BY Erica Brosnan and Spectrum News NY1 New York City

Mayor Eric Adams had harsh words for a reporter Tuesday when asked why he had skipped his usual press forums for two consecutive weeks.

“Because y’all are liars,” Adams said in response to City Hall reporter Katie Honan, who confronted him during his visit to a wounded police officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

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Adams' court hearing could bring 'fireworks,' expert says

BY Spectrum News Staff New York City

A former federal prosecutor says it remains unclear what will happen next for Mayor Eric Adams as he prepares to appear in court Wednesday, where prosecutors are seeking to dismiss corruption charges against him.

“This is a totally unprecedented thing, and so nobody knows what's next,” Manhattan-based defense attorney Duncan Levin said in an interview on “Mornings On 1.”

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Hochul meets top political leaders as she weighs removing Adams from office

BY Associated Press and Bernadette Hogan New York City
UPDATED 9:19 PM ET Feb. 18, 2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul held a series of meetings with key political leaders Tuesday as she contemplates removing Mayor Eric Adams from his office, an unprecedented step that reflects the growing turmoil inside City Hall.

The governor’s scheduled sit-downs — with a cohort of influential Black leaders and other top officials — come as Adams, a Democrat, faces questions about whether he has lost the ability to independently govern the city in the wake of a Justice Department move to drop his corruption case so that he could better assist in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

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Cannabis office opposes Hochul's push to make marijuana odor a probable cause

BY Kate Lisa Albany

The state Office of Cannabis Management and legislative leaders will fight a proposal in Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget to allow police to use the smell of cannabis to order a drug test to determine if a person is driving while impaired — changing a key piece of the 2021 law that legalized recreational use for New York adults.

The governor's budget would change the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which prohibits using odor or presence of cannabis in a vehicle to determine probable cause of a crime.

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New York's ethics watchdog ruled constitutional by state's top court

BY Jack Arpey and Associated Press New York State
UPDATED 7:39 PM ET Feb. 18, 2025

New York's top court on Tuesday affirmed the constitutionality of an ethics watchdog created three years ago to stem public corruption, rejecting arguments from former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government had been fighting for its survival after Cuomo’s lawyers persuaded lower courts that the panel was given unconstitutional enforcement powers. Cuomo contended that the law creating the agency violated the separation of powers mandated under the state constitution, since enforcing ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch.

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Environmentalists push New York Power Authority to go further in renewables plan

BY Tim Williams and Camille DeLongis New York State

Late last month, the New York Power Authority approved a plan to enact the Build Public Renewables Plan, legislation that requires the authority to build renewable energy projects to meet the climate goals in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. However, environmentalists argue the plan approved by the authority doesn’t go far enough. Patrick Robbins, coordinator of the New York Energy Democracy Alliance, joined Capital Tonight on Tuesday to discuss the plan.

In a statement, the New York Power Authority said “The Renewables Strategic Plan is a systematic and thoughtful effort to build renewables and secure an affordable, sustainable, and resilient energy future for the state. After a full year of planning, our plan reflects public input and the current state of the energy industry and renewables market and highlights NYPA’s role as one critical driver in achieving the state’s 70% by 2030 and 100% by 2040 clean energy goals. NYPA intends to amend our plan in the first half of 2025 to include an additional 3 GW and will continue to amend as more projects are within consideration to help the state achieve these goals.”

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'Change needs to happen': Correction officers strike, stage protests at dozens of prisons across New York

BY Spectrum News Staff Albany

A correction officer strike and protests spread rapidly Tuesday to at least 25 prisons across upstate New York as prison guards demanded better work conditions. But the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) accused them of taking "illegal job action," and Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the New York Army National Guard to guard the facilities if the strike does not end Wednesday.

Protests formed at facilities from the Hudson Valley to the Western New York, where the actions started Monday with three unsanctioned strikes at Collins Correctional in Erie County, Elmira Correctional in Chemung County and Groveland Correctional Facility in Livingston County, according to the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA). By Tuesday, protests had grown to all seven of the state correctional facilities in Western New York and several more across upstate.

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A look at the numbers behind why New York's correction officers are striking

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Correction officers at more than two dozen facilities in upstate New York this week began holding striking and protesting following recent assaults on staff and after a state memo acknowledged staff shortages would likely continue.

According to the state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), officers are protesting working conditions, including staffing and safety.

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Hochul to send National Guard to state prisons if strike doesn't end Wednesday

BY Halena Sepulveda and Spectrum News Staff New York State
UPDATED 2:45 PM ET Feb. 18, 2025

Correction officers at least 25 prisons in upstate New York have taken "illegal job action," the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said, as protests formed Tuesday at facilities throughout the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement saying she had ordered the mobilization of the New York Army National Guard to the facilities if the strike does not end Wednesday.

“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately," Hochul said. "We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities.”

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LGBTQ+ groups press legislative leaders for more health funding in New York budget

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Political groups that advocate for LGBTQ+ people are pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to include millions of more dollars in the budget for health care programs that serve the community — especially for transgender youth.

Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, NYC Pride and Power and Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn sent a letter to Hochul, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie asking for more in the budget for transgender people who cannot access health care and funding for HIV/AIDS housing, prevention and treatment.

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Judge sets Wednesday hearing in motion to dismiss case against Mayor Eric Adams

BY Associated Press New York City
UPDATED 12:00 PM ET Feb. 18, 2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams will face the federal judge on Wednesday who will decide whether to grant the Justice Department's request to dismiss corruption charges against him after lawyers explain the abrupt change in position just weeks before an April trial.

Judge Dale E. Ho in Manhattan scheduled an afternoon hearing in a written order Tuesday as his first response to the government’s Friday request to dismiss the charges after a weeklong clash among government lawyers that led to resignations by several top prosecutors in Washington and New York who refused to seek dismissal.

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Queens Borough President: Adams must prove loyalty to NYC or 'step aside'

BY Erica Brosnan and Spectrum News NY1 New York City

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said Tuesday that Mayor Eric Adams must show a commitment to New York City’s values or consider stepping aside as calls for his removal intensify.

“We have to protect our values. And if the mayor can't send a message to us straightforward, that he's going to stand with us to preserve those values, then he may have to step aside,” Richards said during an interview on “Mornings On 1.”

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