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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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 as evidence that 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) and revert back to the old statute that permitted the odor or presence of cannabis in a vehicle to determine probable cause of a crime.

Correction officers across New York currently striking say their frustration has hit a boiling point.

Officers from more than 20 of New York's correctional facilities are striking due to working conditions

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

Four of Mayor Eric Adams’ deputy mayors have submitted their resignations, City Hall said Monday, days after the Justice Department officially asked a court to dismiss federal corruption charges against him.

First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker all plan to step down, they confirmed in statements.

More Democratic lawmakers continue to come out against Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to spend $3 billion on one-time inflation "refund" checks for low- and middle-income families as she works to win back voters struggling with affordability.

As inflation continues to rise, state lawmakers have introduced legislation for affordability proposals they want in the budget that argue would better serve New Yorkers in the long term instead of Hochul's budget ask to send checks of $300 for single tax filers making under $150,000 a year and $500 checks to joint filers making up to $300,000.

Advocates for the 9/11 community are warning of staffing cuts at a federal program that helps first responders and others sickened by toxic smoke and debris receive medical help.

As the Trump White House continues to slash the federal government, advocates say the World Trade Center Health Program has seen a staffing reduction of 20% — a combination of layoffs and buyouts. That cut, they warn, will undermine efforts to help patients and certify their ability to receive treatment.

Carla B. Freedman, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden and became the first woman confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced Monday night she was stepping down from the position effective immediately.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Justice says First Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon is serving in the position of acting United States attorney.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget provides $1.25 billion for OASAS, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, a net increase of $22.3 million from last year.

OASAS supports most of the state’s addiction service and treatment programs, so when it comes to bringing down the rate of opioid deaths in the state, the money is critical.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Some dairy farmers in upstate New York say they don't know just how much the Trump administration's focus on illegal immigration could impact the industry — with stories already circulating about Immigration and Customs Enforcement showing up to farms to pick up specific people with known infractions.

"Our employees all come to us with documents. It's a matter of whether they're legitimate or not and I would say, I look at them. If they look good I move forward. I don't ask questions about how they got here or anything like that so at this point you can tell which ones are nervous," said one upstate farmer who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect his staff and business.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called on Mayor Eric Adams to step down on Monday, writing in a statement that the resignations of four of his deputy mayors showed he had “lost the confidence and trust of his own staff, his colleagues in government, and New Yorkers.”

In her statement, the council speaker said the current administration “no longer has the ability to effectively govern with Eric Adams as mayor.”

Pharmacists are calling on Congress to pass reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, also known as PBMs, who act as middlemen between pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies, and are supposed to negotiate the cost of drugs to save patients money.

But pharmacists like Pine Plains’ Nasir Mahmood say they haven’t been doing that, and instead, they’ve driven up costs and made it harder for locally owned pharmacists.

WASHINGTON — Several congressional Democrats are decrying the Justice Department's move to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, warning it puts him at the behest of the Trump administration. The criticism follows resignations from multiple federal prosecutors last week who worked on the case.

In an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called the decision a “major assault on the justice system.”

New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris on Monday renewed his calls for Mayor Eric Adams to be removed from office as Adams faces corruption charges and allegations of close ties to President Donald Trump.

"I never expected Eric Adams to say, ‘Oh, you're all right, I'm going to resign.’ And a lot of people said that when he was first charged. I was not one of them. I wanted to let the process play out, give him the benefit of the presumption of innocence and see where it goes,” Gianaris said during an interview on "Mornings On 1.”

Mayor Eric Adams vowed Sunday that he will remain in office as calls for his resignation or removal continue to grow within the Democratic Party.

“Right now, I’m facing a new devil,” Adams said while speaking to worshippers at a Baptist church in Queens Village.

New Yorkers are being warned of possible E-ZPass scam text messages attempting to collect tolls from consumers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Sunday that residents have reported receiving fake texts, often from an international number, with a request to reply with "Y" to receive a link containing an unofficial website.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, one of the state's most powerful Democrats, joined dozens of lawmakers Saturday calling for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign as he battles corruption charges and allegations of close ties to President Donald Trump.

Stewart-Cousins, as first reported by The New York Post, said the charges against the mayor have become a distraction for city and state officials to govern properly.

DALLAS (AP) — A New York doctor’s alleged decision to send abortion pills to patients in Texas and Louisiana has pitted the Empire State’s shield law against the two conservative states’ abortion bans, which are among the strictest in the country.

Texas didn’t bring criminal charges against Dr. Maggie Carpenter, but she’s charged with a felony in Louisiana for allegedly prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor.

Mayor Eric Adams appeared on Fox News Friday morning alongside “border czar” Tom Homan as the embattled politician faces mounting pressure to resign. The two also later appeared on "Dr. Phil's Merit TV."

During the “Fox and Friends” visit, Adams appeared to further align himself with President Donald Trump’s agenda, discussing his plans to work with Homan on immigration enforcement.

A panel of Democrats on Friday said the party must change its strategy to re-engage Black, Asian and Hispanic voters amid a rise in conservatism in minority groups, which helped propel President Donald Trump to victory in November.

The workshop in Albany was one of the first events of the 54th annual conference weekend for members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Republican Lee Zeldin ran a tough campaign for governor in 2022 when he unsuccessfully tried to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Now, the former congressman is wearing a new political hat — the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has had a challenging few weeks.

She’s been criticized for a pay raise and has fielded some negative press for the lackluster state of the New York State Museum, which is under her purview.

Empire State Development Commissioner Hope Knight joined other state officials on a walking tour of downtown Albany Friday to speak with business owners about how to best spend $400 million Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing in next year’s budget to give the Capital City a facelift.

In addition to $150 million earmarked for an overhaul of the state Museum, the governor wants $200 million spent on “tangible strategies" for public safety, quality of life improvements and commercial building renovations, especially downtown. The city has struggled in the aftermath of the pandemic as remote work dried up much of the foot traffic associated with the Empire State Plaza and other state offices.

Thousands of computers and technology equipment are unaccounted for due to lax inventory records by the state Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), according to an audit released Friday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

In addition, DiNapoli said the agency destroys new and barely used devices rather than donating or selling them.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — At Niagara Falls, the iconic honeymoon and tourist destination on the U.S.-Canadian border, visitors from both countries took in President Donald Trump’s unsolicited suggestion that the U.S. annex its neighbor to the north with an air of detached amusement.

Do they take the idea seriously? Generally speaking, no. But some citizens of both nations wonder why it’s necessary to pick a fight with one of America’s closest allies when there wasn’t much friction there to begin with.

After riding high during the Biden years, passenger rail advocates are now unsure of what is coming down the track, with President Donald Trump back in the Oval Office and total Republican control in Washington.

Rail projects are currently underway across the country, fueled by billions of dollars in spending included in the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by then-President Joe Biden.

This week, Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York to drop the corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams. But she refused and stepped down. Elected leaders across New York have cast doubt on whether Adams can govern impartially now, saying the charges could resurface at any point, which could compel him to cooperate with Trump’s policies on immigration and other issues.

Also this week, the U.S. attorney general called a press conference to blast the state of New York and announce the federal government is suing the governor and the state. Additionally, FEMA has rescinded more than $80 million in funding to New York City, money meant to cover hotels for migrants. NY1 political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena and political director Bob Hardt weigh in on an unbelievably busy week in New York City politics.

Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, and five high-ranking Justice Department officials resigned Thursday after she refused an order to drop corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams — a stunning escalation in a dayslong standoff over the Trump administration prioritizing political aims over criminal culpability.

Sassoon, a Republican who was interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, accused the department of acceding to a “quid pro quo” — dropping the case to ensure Adams’ help with Trump’s immigration agenda — and said she was “confident” the Democratic mayor committed the crimes spelled out in his indictment, and even more.

All security staff in state prisons will have body cameras by this summer in wake of the fatal beating of an incarcerated man in Oneida County in December, the head of the state Department of Corrections & Community Supervision said on Thursday.

Lawmakers at a budget hearing in Albany grilled DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III as the Legislature plans to enact a series of prison reforms this session after recovered body camera footage shows multiple officers at Marcy Correctional Facility beat 43-year-old Robert Brooks before his death, which was ruled a homicide.

The New York Power Authority backed down from a significant rate increase proposed for hydropower after facing bipartisan backlash, but it was an order from Gov. Kathy Hochul herself that ultimately doomed the plan.

The increase, which was in the midst of a lengthy implementation process, would have sent hydropower rates from $12.88/MWh to $33.05 over the next four years before settling back to a rate of $24.26 by 2029.

New York state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, chairman of the powerful Senate Codes Committee, has served his Brooklyn area district in Albany since 2019. But the Cornell-educated attorney and affordable housing advocate has higher aspirations. He’s running against Eric Adams for mayor of New York City and has captured the endorsements of U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman and former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout.

Myrie, who was a co-sponsor of the original 2019 Green Light Law that prompted a lawsuit this week against the state by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, told Capital Tonight that Bondi’s actions are based in politics.

New York on Thursday rejected a request from Louisiana to extradite a doctor who was charged with prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor in the Deep South state, setting up a potential test of laws that protect physicians who prescribe such medications to states with bans.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said she will not honor Louisiana's request to arrest and send the doctor to Louisiana after she was charged with violating the southern state's strict anti-abortion law.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There have been a lot of changes in Washington, D.C. since the Trump administration took office. One change in particular has a Rochester small business owner scratching her head and wondering, why? Paper straws are a product that’s been in the president’s crosshairs for a while now.

A 10,000-square-foot factory in Rochester is the definition of a small business.

Mayor Eric Adams met with President Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan in Manhattan on Thursday, saying afterward that the two spoke about removing “violent migrant gangs” from the city.

In a statement released after the meeting, Adams said his administration aims to reopen a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on Rikers Island.

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy’s district office in Clarence was evacuated on Thursday after a suspicious package was found at the location, the Republican congressman said.

Local law enforcement and the Capitol Police were notified and are investigating the matter.

First-term Rep. Josh Riley is introducing his first bill in Congress, Spectrum News 1 has learned. The focus: lowering energy bills for low-income households.

The legislation, which Riley, a Democrat representing New York's 19th Congressional District, is rolling out with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, would modify the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program, a nearly five-decade-old program that helps individuals retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient. Upgrades can include improving insulation and moisture control.

As New York heads into a pivotal election year, a new survey released Thursday is offering insights into how some are feeling when it comes to some of the most pressing issues in their daily lives.

The poll, conducted from Jan. 21 to 30 by the 5BORO Institute and several other local foundations, surveyed 3,000 New Yorkers across the five boroughs. The findings are stark: More than 80% of respondents believe the city is in a mental health crisis; almost 50% have considered leaving the city because of affordability; and nearly 60% say they lack confidence in the city government’s ability to address major challenges.

While U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced legal action Wednesday against New York officials over a 2019 state law allowing immigrants to obtain state-issued driver's licenses regardless of legal status, the Empire State isn't alone in having such a mandate on the books.

At least 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted similar laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. They're often called “Green Light” or “Drive Only License” laws and some have been in effect for decades.

With affirmative action and so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs under attack by President Donald Trump, J.C. Polanco is holding his ground. A former Republican candidate for public advocate in New York City, Polanco is the CEO of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 1968 to expand opportunities for underrepresented students to attend law school.

Polanco, who is also a law professor at the University of Mount St. Vincent, joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss his push to make the legal field more diverse and the obstacles his organization faces due to reduced funding and political attacks. They also discussed the history of DEI initiatives and their own respective paths to finishing law school.

Addressing reporters for the first time after the Department of Justice moved to dismiss his case, Mayor Eric Adams insisted that his focus remains on the well-being of New Yorkers — not on aligning with President Donald Trump.

“Look at the record. Look at what I have done for this city,” Adams said. “How we have fought for the safety of everyone in our care. There’s nothing going to change with that.”

After speaking with legislative leaders Wednesday, Robert Ricks said he's a voice for his son Robert Brooks — the man whose death at Marcy Correctional Facility in December has been ruled a homicide.

Ricks, of Rochester, met with lawmakers and was introduced on the Senate floor to honor Brooks, who died after more than a dozen correction officers beat him while handcuffed at the prison in Oneida County. No charges have been filed, but 16 staffers remain suspended without pay in connection to the incident.

The federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams came into public view in November 2023, when Adams abruptly left Washington and returned to the city after the home of his chief campaign fundraiser was raided.

Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s iPad and cell phone. At the time, the chief counsel at City Hall, Lisa Zornberg, said “we are fully cooperative.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday the Department of Justice is taking legal action against the state of New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James and New York Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner Mark Schroeder.

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops today,” Bondi said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon, moments after swearing in Tulsi Gabbard as the country’s new national intelligence director. “As you know, we sued Illinois and New York didn’t listen, so now you’re next.”

New York lawmakers learned more about one of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget proposals that many have viewed skeptically as an effort to stall a universal child care plan: a New York Coalition for Childcare. The body would be made up of business leaders, labor unions, tax and revenue experts, and child care providers.

Critics question the need for the panel when the state’s Child Care Availability Task Force already made recommendations, and a roadmap to universal child care exists.

Last spring, Capital Tonight sounded an alarm about for-profit hospice care.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had just issued public warnings about for-profit hospice fraud in four states; it was alerting consumers to a scam in which patients were being enrolled without their knowledge by recruiters who were “selling” hospice to people who weren’t eligible.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The New York state Legislature amended its law in 2019 to allowing more local governments outside of New York City to impose rent stabilization measures.

However, state Sen. Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, said the option hasn't caught on with most upstate communities.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rescinded more than $80 million in funding to New York City, officials said Wednesday, escalating a dispute between the Trump administration and the nation's largest city over money meant to cover hotels for migrants. The move came as a federal judge said he wouldn't stop the Trump administration from clawing back the funds.

Gone is a $59 million grant that the administration challenged earlier in the week and another award for $21.5 million, City Comptroller Brad Lander said. The money was discovered to be missing overnight, and Lander said no one in his office had been aware that the federal government had access to the city's bank account.

Days after the Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams, the mayor’s defense lawyer claimed total vindication on Adams’ behalf, while denying accusations that the turn of events could leave Adams beholden to President Donald Trump and his agenda.

Speaking with members of the press from his office in Manhattan Wednesday, attorney Alex Spiro said Adams “never used his official position for personal benefit, nor did he have any role in violating campaign finance laws.”

The University of Rochester and Cornell University have joined 10 other universities in filing suit against the National Institute of Health for planned cuts to funding at medical and public health research institutions nationwide.

Under the Trump administration's effort, the NIH would cap indirect funds for higher education research infrastructure to 15% of total grant dollars distributed. Something the universities say is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting-edge medical research. A federal judge has issued a temporary block on the effort after a lawsuit was filed by 22 states, including New York.

A former aide to two New York governors and her husband are facing additional charges in a case accusing her of acting as an agent of the Chinese government.

Linda Sun and Chris Hu pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court, according to prosecutors.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams continues to criticize Mayor Eric Adams in response to an order to dismiss federal charges against him.

"The truth of the matter is this: Eric Adams cannot govern impartially," he said during an interview Wednesday on "Mornings on 1." "That statement that came from the DOJ was stunningly truthful and stunningly dangerous at the same time."

President Donald Trump has Mayor Eric Adams on a "short leash."

That's just one of several reactions from New York Democrats on Capitol Hill after the U.S. Department of Justice ordered the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office to halt its criminal prosecution of the mayor — while still holding out the possibility of reviving charges later.

Several New York state lawmakers said Tuesday the state will need more time to transition a $9 billion Medicaid home care program under one company — sounding unsatisfied by state health leaders' responses to their questions about its progress.

Company Public Partnerships LLC has just over seven weeks to register 280,000 New Yorkers who use the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program for home care and their caregivers. As of Monday, about 40,000 consumers and workers have each started or completed their registration, according to the state Health Department.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature didn’t have much to say Tuesday about reports from sources that Hochul ordered lawmakers to kill a bill that would have allowed the governor to delay special elections until Election Day.

Officially, the bill was an effort to make elections more efficient by consolidating races and encouraging increased turnout, but Republicans were quick to call the move a power grab.

While Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget includes $110 million in capital funding for child care centers as well as a more generous child tax credit, it includes no money to bolster the anemic child care workforce.

This is in spite of the Child Care Availability Task Force recommending an investment in work force in order to expand child care in the state.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — In his first roughly three weeks in office, President Donald Trump has already signed more than 60 executive orders, outpacing previous administrations, including his own.

However, University at Buffalo political science professor and constitutional expert Shawn Donahue said presidents exercising this power is not altogether unusual.

Congestion pricing has been in effect for just over a month.

Over the weekend, the New York Post reported after two phone calls with Gov. Kathy Hochul, President Donald Trump said, “I think it’s really horrible, but I want to discuss it with her at this point. If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation.”

Four federal employees were fired Tuesday over payments to reimburse New York City for hotel costs for migrants, Department of Homeland Security officials said.

The workers are accused of circumventing leadership to make the transactions, which have been standard for years through a program that helps with costs to care for a surge in migration. But officials did not give details on how the four had violated any policies.

New York state government is trying to make streets safer with a recent announcement by Gov. Kathy Hochul of a $20.7 million investment in the SNUG anti-gun violence program. The funds will assist 14 communities throughout the state.

Ali George grew up facing gun violence.

President Donald Trump’s efforts to overhaul the federal government are being felt far beyond Washington, D.C.

In New York state, home to more than 53,000 civilian federal employees as of last year, federal workers have been left confused, frustrated, and in some cases out of a job, as Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk upend federal agencies in their quest to cut spending and uncover alleged fraud.

The Justice Department on Monday ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing in a remarkable departure from long-standing norms that the case was interfering with the mayor’s ability to aid the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

In a two-page memo obtained by The Associated Press, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told prosecutors in New York that they were “directed to dismiss” the bribery charges against Adams immediately.

New York Democrats hit the brakes on a controversial bill allowing the governor to delay congressional special elections until Election Day. The bill was introduced Friday to fierce Republican opposition, which prompted a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi asking her to open an investigation into the move.

Multiple sources say the directive came straight from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who depending on whom you ask, is either looking for leverage in her negotiations with President Donald Trump as he targets congestion pricing, or simply felt the optics of the bill were bad. The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the Correctional Association of New York, the only organization designated by law to provide independent monitoring and oversight of state prisons, the death of Robert Brooks at the Marcy Correctional facility reflects systemic problems at New York’s prisons.

The association released a report on Marcy Correctional in 2022 showing abuses that had been documented at other facilities across the state.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The 2024 election cycle was the first in which New York state Legislature candidates could utilize public matching funds for small in-district donations.

Late last week, the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law released analysis of the program showing broad participation from candidates and donors alike.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer called for continued funding to community health centers.

He spoke Monday at Syracuse Community Health, saying federal funding is set to run out in a month for these type of health care facilities.

Canandaigua, Brockport and Phelps will each receive millions of dollars to improve their communities as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.

Brockport and Phelps will each receive $4.4 million from the NY Forward Program, while Canandaigua will receive $10 million as the Finger Lakes winner as part of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has issued a statewide ban on DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence from being downloaded on state-managed devices and networks, she announced Monday.

DeepSeek is an AI Chinese startup founded in 2023 that has been able to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI. DeepSeek's AI assistant became the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple's iPhone store on Jan. 27, propelled by curiosity about the ChatGPT competitor.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a $60 million transaction to accelerate electric vehicle charging infrastructure deployment across New York City.

The loan is provided by NY Green Bank to Revel, the largest provider of public EV fast-charging in New York City, and will enable Revel to more than triple its current New York City public fast charging network this year. This is NYGB’s first EV charging infrastructure transaction.

The New York State Capitol's Eastern Approach staircase will be restored and rehabilitated starting in early summer.

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy announced a $72 million contract with Allegrone Companies for the rehabilitation of the staircase.

As many expected, New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act is likely heading to court.

A lawsuit by 22 Republican attorneys general, backed by coal oil and gas companies, was filed this week with West Virginia taking the lead.

Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow Gov. Kathy Hochul to delay special elections in New York, and therefore the anticipated race to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik in the 21st Congressional District if she is confirmed as UN ambassador.

Current law requires the governor to schedule a special election within 90 days of a declared congressional vacancy. A bill carried by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in their respective houses would provide the governor with the option to delay that to the general election.

According to a former MIT lecturer who helped to initially monetize the internet, unofficial experts aren’t all that uncommon within new presidential administrations – although there are some unique issues that have come to light due to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE’s, access to personal confidential data and Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest.

Lee McKnight is currently an associate professor in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. But during the early days of Bill Clinton administration, he was one of the so-called “DC disruptors” – young computer whizzes from MIT called upon to ensure the nascent "internet" was set up for the common good.

New York state Sen. Pat Fahy introduced a new bill that would allow New Yorkers to purchase state-produced alcohol from certain restaurants.

Fahy said the bill would help boost the state's craft food and beverage industry.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Refugee Partnership is a coalition of five Western New York nonprofit organizations that provide resettlement and other ancillary services to refugees who come to the region.

Jewish Family Services CEO Molly Carr said the agencies were anticipating policy changes and less federal funding with the incoming Trump administration.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Some local moms got some face-to-face time Friday with Gov. Kathy Hochul over lunch, talking about their concerns and some of their biggest stressors.

Hochul is highlighting her 2025 State of the State Affordability Agenda, which is full of proposals she says are designed to make life easier for folks trying to keep up with high prices and inflation.

A former aide to Mayor Eric Adams plans to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in a corruption case against Adams, prosecutors said in a new court filing Friday.

Mohamed Bahi, who served as City Hall’s chief liaison to the Muslim community, was arrested in October as part of a sweeping investigation into Adams and his campaign fundraising that led to the mayor’s indictment on corruption charges in September.

Local government sales tax collections in New York state increased by 1.6% in 2024 from the year prior, though that's by a slower amount than years past, according to a report released Friday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

Collections totaled $376 million during the calendar year, DiNapoli said. It was the slowest annual growth seen since the COVID-19 pandemic decline in 2020, and was less than half of the average pre-pandemic growth rate (3.8%) of 2011 to 2019 following the Great Recession.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday ordered live bird markets across New York City, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties to temporarily shut down after inspectors detected seven cases of bird flu in poultry during routine checks.

The cases were identified at live bird markets in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens within the last week, Hochul said during a virtual press conference.

It was another week of palace intrigue for the mayor. A day after testifying in Albany about the city’s needs, the mayor revealed to the press corps that he underwent anesthesia for a colonoscopy last month. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Kelly Mena weigh in on Adams’ mystery procedure and his trip to the capital.

After that, the Trump administration’s policies are spilling over into New York politics. The mayor is set to testify next month in Washington D.C. about the city’s sanctuary city policy. Meanwhile, is the mayor downplaying the fear some immigrant families are feeling, which has led some of them to keep their kids home from school? The "Off Topic" team looks at the Trump effect on the five boroughs.

WASHINGTON — Democratic attorneys general in several states vowed Thursday to file a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency's from accessing federal payment systems containing Americans' sensitive personal information.

A dozen attorneys general, including New York's Letitia James, said in a statement that they were taking action “in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on."