A Watertown City Council meeting Tuesday night was stopped for more than an hour as a team of State Police investigators questioned council members in a back office. One or more members of the council are the focus of what’s now a criminal investigation, Mayor Sarah Compo-Pierce said Wednesday.

While no official reason was given, one council member believes he is one of the targets.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Students throughout New York state might have to give up their cellphones during school hours starting next fall under a proposal announced Tuesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The plan, which would require legislators' approval, would take effect next school year and force students to disconnect from their phones and other personal devices while at school, including in class, during lunch and in hallways.

Homelessness in New York state has grown sharply, more than doubling between January 2022 and January 2024, according to a report released Wednesday by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Homelessness grew by 53.1% from January 2023 to January 2024, more than four times the rest of the nation, driven by the influx of asylum seekers in New York City, with more than 140,000 homeless.

HILTON, N.Y. — Concealed carry pistol permit holders in New York state are required to recertify their permit with state police every three years. That's a big change from what was an every five-year requirement.

Michael Sengillo buys, sells and consigns new and used firearms at his 1791 Guns and Ammo shop in Hilton. He has to be up-to-date on every and all firearm and ammunition rules, regulations and fees.

A refugee program that was slated to allow up to 125,000 people into the United States was suspended by President Donald Trump on Monday.

About 24 hours later, multiple organizations told NY1 they were considering legal action to prevent that from happening.

Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday refused to say much of anything about President Donald Trump. Adams was asked for his thoughts on a slew of executive orders the 47th president signed Monday night.

“There are a host of EOs [executive orders] that were done. And I do EO’s and people sometimes don’t agree with my EOs and there’s one thing I want to be very clear on is the balance of power in this country,” Adams said. “He has the balance of power of use his EOs.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul released a $252 billion budget proposal Tuesday to extend a higher tax rate for New York millionaires for five years and give school districts funding to regulate student cell phone use.

Hochul's fourth executive budget proposal increases spending 3.6% and has a total state operating funds of $143.8 billion, which reflect a 7.9% increase, budget officials said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday set in stone plans for banning cell phones in schools as part of her executive budget. She also detailed long-awaited tweaks to the Foundation Aid funding formula.

“Every student will be required to disconnect from their devices during school hours, bell to bell,” Hochul said.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority was originally projecting the city was facing a roughly $17 million gap this fiscal year, which is up at the end of June.

However, last month the Common Council approved rolling unused American Rescue Plan funds originally designated for community organizations into the general fund which more than covered the current gap. Still, because the ARP money is a one-time allocation the control board is still projecting structural deficits in the tens of millions in upcoming budgets.

In her State of the State address last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a series of what she described as affordability measures for New Yorkers, including tax cuts for the middle class, an expansion of the child tax credit and universal school meals. She estimates the proposals will put about $5,000 back into the pockets of many New York families.

On Tuesday, she outlined how she would pay for the ideas in her executive budget proposal.

Mayor Eric Adams lunched with top New York Republicans and top NYPD brass during his last-minute trip to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., NY1 has learned.

A photo obtained by NY1 through a source shows Adams grinning with a thumbs up seated between former Republican Reps. Marc Molinaro and Anthony D’Esposito.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Elise Stefanik pledged Tuesday to push President Donald Trump’s “America First” stance if confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and roll out a review of U.S. funding critical for U.N. agencies handling health programs and more around the world.

Noting that the U.S. is the largest single contributor to the United Nations, Stefanik said at her confirmation hearing that the country has to ensure its investments are making America safer, stronger and more prosperous — echoing Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to announce Tuesday a budget that increases state spending by nearly $10 billion, offers tax cuts and backs a slate of affordability measures.

The fiscal year 2026-2027 state budget proposal is projected to grow to $252 billion in combined state and federal funding if approved by Hochul and the state Legislature.

The electrate was supportive of President Donald Trump in November, but more than 75 million Americans voted for his opponent in former Vice President Kamala Harris. Some of those voters rallied across the country Monday to protest Trump’s second stint in the White House.

In the Empire State, there were rallies in Albany and New Paltz in the hours that followed Trump’s swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. The theme was: “We fight back!”

Mayor Eric Adams attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday in Washington, D.C.

The mayor received an invitation to the event after midnight Sunday, and left the city for D.C. at approximately 3 a.m., Fabien Levy, the mayor’s press secretary, said in a statement on X.

AMHERST, N.Y. -- Optimism is running high in the town of Amherst.

Town GOP Chair Bob Davis noted you could barely move in Dandelions Restaurant at 11 a.m. Monday as Donald Trump supporters packed in the establishment.

As Democrats continue to process their loss in November's presidential election, many say they're preparing to move forward while dealing with the implications of the new Trump administration.

In New York, where a solidly blue state has been rattled by a better-than-expected performance by President Donald Trump, Democratic strategist Jack O’Donnell, founder of O’Donnell & Associates, told Spectrum News 1 that Democratic leadership should expect to spend the next four years preparing for and reacting to the fiscal implications of a Trump White House.

Even before taking office, President Donald Trump announced that he would be taking multiple executive actions to address the issue of immigration, which has been a main pillar of all three of his presidential runs.

On Monday, during his inaugural address, he repeated some of those promises, including an end to birthright citizenship, and his intention to declare the border a "national emergency."

New York Republican leaders hope a renewed energy for the party with the start of President Donald Trump's second term will continue to grow in the state as they keep eye on the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Members of the Grand Old Party said Monday they have high expectations for Trump to deliver on campaign promises to secure the borders, cut inflation and more — and that national attention on issues important to voters will give the party a future boost.

Though New York City is a sanctuary city that has limited cooperation with immigration authorities, there are concerns by some newcomers over President Donald Trump's promise to start deportations.

“Yes, I’m very scared because so much sacrifice to get here and from one day to the next for them to deport us with the kids, because that’s what they said with the kids. That scares me,” an Ecuadorian mother told NY1 on Monday.

As speakers at the Brooklyn Academy of Music celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, another event held in Washington, D.C. to inaugurate President Donald Trump loomed over the ceremonies.

As did a notable absence: Mayor Eric Adams.

People from all across upstate New York made the trip to our nation's capital for Monday's inauguration.

A group of students from Le Moyne College reached out to Senator Chuck Schumer and were able to secure their tickets to the historic event.

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to expand opportunities for incarcerated New Yorkers to reduce time on their sentence — building on momentum for prison reform in the next budget following last month's death of an incarcerated man who was beaten by multiple correction officers.

The governor wants more people in prison to be eligible to reduce their sentences through good behavior and expanded job training — especially in emerging green energy fields.

As part of her state of the state agenda, Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking aim at social media use among young people.

The governor is pushing a multi-faceted approach when it comes to how to best tackle it: strategies for both in and out of the classroom.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Commerce officially announced funding for three factories in upstate New York. It's awarding the company Corning in the North Country up to $32 million to expand production of glass products used in advanced semiconductor chips.

Edwards Vacuum at the Genesee County STAMP Facility will get up to $18 million to support the construction of its dry pump facility, also vital to semiconductor manufacturing. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer first announced the investment earlier this week.

Federal prosecutors in New York dropped bribery and fraud charges on Friday against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, citing the death of a cooperating witness against the Democrat who the governor had once chosen to be her second-in-command.

Judge J. Paul Oetken signed an order closing the case against Benjamin after prosecutors told him in a letter that a review of evidence in the case led them to conclude they could no longer prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt after the death of co-defendant Gerald Migdol.

A study of Marcy Correctional Facility is under the spotlight following the release of body camera footage that shows an incident with Robert Brooks, an inmate who died Dec. 10, a day after the footage was recorded.

“People are not sentenced to prison for punishment, meaning extrajudicial mistreatment, neglect, abuse," said Jennifer Scaife, the executive director of the Correctional Association of New York (CANY), which visits state prisons to observe and monitor operations that function behind closed doors.

With days until Donald Trump’s next presidential inauguration, New Yorkers gathered Thursday to hold in-depth conversations about the incoming administration and what Trump’s policies might mean for immigrant New Yorkers.

“It’s devastating to hear about the fear that exists in the lives of literally hundreds of thousands of people,” Rev. Fred Davie said.

U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle has been chosen to serve as vice ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, the New York congressman announced Friday.

The committee has significant influence over federal spending.

Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled an ambitious list of plans for 2025 in her fourth State of the State address. The list of promises included checks for New Yorkers, tax cuts, new money for transit projects, cops on the subway and programs supporting pregnant women. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, political reporter Bobby Cuza and statehouse reporter Bernadette Hogan break down what the governor is proposing and the likelihood that it will happen.

After that, 2025 is an election year - and the mayor’s race is already heating up. The field is starting to take shape for the mayoral primary in June, and new fundraising figures were out this week. The “Off Topic’ team looks at Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection chances and discuss how Andrew Cuomo’s rumored comeback could have an impact on the race.

Declaring climate change “real,” former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin faced questions Thursday from senators as part of his bid to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Republicans at the confirmation hearing largely offered praise for Zeldin, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump in November. Democrats on the panel, meanwhile, probed his views on climate change.

When Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges in September, his political reputation may have taken a hit — but his campaign fundraising seemingly did not.

For the roughly three-month filing period beginning Oct. 8, Adams raised more than $270,000 for his reelection campaign, more than many of his rivals in the June Democratic primary.

Mayor Eric Adams Thursday unveiled his $114.5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Our administration’s 2026 fiscal year budget reflects our priorities: maintaining strong fiscal responsibility so that we can protect critical programs, fund generational housing, tackle homelessness and serious mental health, invest in our children’s education and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers," he said.

When it comes to fighting the opioid crisis, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State agenda looks to make some strides, but its not exactly what advocates were hoping to see.

“It was a lot of the same old, same old,” said Chris Assini, director of policy for Friends of Recovery New York.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Following a Wednesday meeting with Canada's provincial and territorial premiers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "everything is on the table" as the country prepares to defend against economic threats from the Trump administration which takes office next week.

However, Empire Center for Public Policy Research Director Ken Girardin does not take seriously suggestions Canada would cut off energy resources to the United States.

The family of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated man who died after a violent incident with prison officers at Marcy Correctional Facility last month, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit. Brooks, a 43-year-old Black man, died at a hospital in Utica the day after the incident.

His death has prompted more calls for change within New York state prisons.

Rudy Giuliani reached a deal Thursday that lets the cash-strapped ex-New York City mayor keep his homes and belongings, including prized World Series rings, in exchange for unspecified compensation and a promise to never again speak ill of two former Georgia elections workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him.

The agreement resolves all pending litigation between Giuliani and the former election workers, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. It also led to the cancellation of a trial that was supposed to begin Thursday to decide the ownership of his Florida condominium and three World Series rings that Giuliani, a prominent New York Yankees fan, had received from the team.

The NYPD will deploy 750 additional officers into the subway system in an effort to combat crime, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.

In addition, two officers working overtime will be assigned to each of the 150 trains that traverse the city overnight, Hochul said at a news conference.

New York state Sen. James Skoufis is dropping out of the race to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, the lawmaker announced Thursday, endorsing Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin for the job.

“Soon after November’s disastrous results, I did what I did when I was 25 and wanted to make an impact on my community – I took a breath and jumped into the race for DNC Chair. In doing so, I brought everything I know from my experience winning eight elections by large margins in deep red territory," Skoufis said in a statement. “While starting as a complete unknown outside of New York, I am proud of our aggressive campaign to deliver major change to the DNC and national party. Our message resonated with the large majority of DNC members who believe we can rebuild our party, rebuild trust with disaffected voters, refocus on working class priorities, and never cede even an inch of ground to Republicans. As an outsider, I didn’t enter this contest with any DNC relationships, but leave it having driven much of the debate and having left deep impressions with both supporters and many uncommitted DNC members. I’m humbled by and thankful for the party faithful who believed in our truth-telling campaign."

Former U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams will serve as the next under secretary for nuclear security and also the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration at the federal Department of Energy, President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday morning.

“Brandon is a successful businessman and Veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer, and Strategic Missile Officer,” Trump wrote. “He is a graduate of Pepperdine University, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations Brandon!”

A new report shows that it's pretty expensive to drive in New York due to the poor condition of roadways and bridges.

The report, released by the nonprofit "TRIP," a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation research nonprofit, found that New Yorkers lose $38 billion per year on vehicle costs due to the condition of roadways. In total, TRIP found that 45% of major state and local roadways are in poor or mediocre condition.

Several doctors who have been judged guilty of medical misconduct, negligence, incompetence and even felonies are still finding a place to practice — New York state prisons. The shocking practice was uncovered by Reuven Blau, a criminal justice reporter for The City, an online news outlet.

Blau joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss the shocking story of physicians who have found work in the prison system despite being sanctioned for horrific mistakes and other professional abuses. They also talked about the need for a major overhaul in the state’s prisons and the brutal death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.

As he eyes mulls a future gubernatorial run, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres renewed a request Wednesday with state and federal officials to launch an investigation into the state's $9 billion home care contract that's come under fire for accusations of bid-rigging.

Torres re-upped an initial request for a probe into Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration's awarding a $9 billion contract to company Public Partnerships LLC to oversee the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, which gives self-directed home care to about 280,000 elderly and disabled people and allows them to choose their caregivers.

A state Supreme Court judge in Livingston County has lifted the temporary restraining order that prevented a company from transferring patient data in the state's ongoing transition of a Medicaid home care program.

The order was in place for exactly one week amid several legal challenges filed against the state's transition of its Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program to one company, known as a fiscal intermediary, by April 1.

State Senator Pat Fahy is beginning her first term in the Senate with some good news for her home city of Albany: Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed spending $400 million to revitalize New York’s capital as part of the State of the State agenda.

“There’s no way to describe it other than jaw-dropping,” she said. “We overuse the word transformative, but it is this type of investment that can truly be the game-changer that we need in downtown Albany.”

Several New Yorkers arrested for taking part in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol are hoping President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his campaign promise to pardon at least some of them after he returns to the Oval Office next week.

One of them is Brandon Fellows from the Schenectady region, who was convicted by a jury in August 2023. He told Spectrum News he wants a commutation from Trump.

Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn’t have much time to rest on any laurels from her State of the State address because next week she’ll have to answer the looming question: how is she going to pay for everything?

She’s already promising checks and tax cuts, new money for transit projects, cops on the subway and programs supporting pregnant women.

New York state lawmakers Wednesday said they're frustrated and disappointed that Gov. Kathy Hochul has delayed the implementation of a cap-and-invest system to generate revenue for green energy projects.

Hochul's legislative agenda for the year — outlined in Tuesday's State of the State address in Albany — was void of a proposal for a cap-and-trade system that the governor promised she'd release by the end of last year.

There were a few issues that Gov. Kathy Hochul didn’t mention during Tuesday’s State of the State address that are of interest to a variety of New Yorkers. Two such issues are the MRTA, the marijuana law, which has created a legal quagmire for some farmers and retailers. The other is AIM (aid and incentives for municipalities) aid, which is the direct financial support that municipalities receive from the state every year.

Last year, AIM was increased by $50 million for the first time in 15 years. While a good start, state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, a booster of cities like Buffalo, told Capital Tonight that it’s not enough.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A community can never be fully prepared for the type of senseless violence a racist mass shooter committed on May 14, 2022, at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo.

However, New York State Office of Victims Services (OVS) Director Bea Hanson said the incident did expose gaps in its ability to provide immediate support to victims and survivors.

New York’s Capital Region has cemented its leadership in semiconductor research and development. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that Albany NanoTech finalized a deal to become part of the nation’s first National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The deal comes on the heels of an executive order from the White House, fast-tracking the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure in the U.S.

Already considered a leader in semiconductor research and development, the Capital Region has become what some are calling a “global epicenter of chip research.”

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. – New Yorkers have a lot on their plate and according to the National Library of Medicine, a busy schedule is one of the leading barriers to receiving medical care. But what if you could go to the doctors before work, after work or even on the weekends?

An investment to expand hours at community health centers could help make care more accessible.

The family of a Greece man who died after an incident involving correction officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County has announced they have filed a lawsuit in the case. Robert Brooks' family members addressed the media with their attorneys in Rochester on Wednesday.

An attorney for the family says they filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of the estate of Robert Brooks. The lawsuit names 17 defendants who attorneys say were directly or indirectly responsible for Brooks' death. This includes the 14 Marcy employees previously linked to the incident, along with the acting superintendent of the facility, the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and an employee of a private staffing agency allegedly present for Brooks' beating.

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio must pay a $475,000 fine levied against him for misusing public funds on a police security detail during his failed White House bid, a judge ruled this week, dismissing the ex-mayor’s legal challenge as “perplexing” and “entirely baseless.”

The decision blocks de Blasio’s latest effort to erase the hefty fine issued against him by the city’s ethics board in 2023. In his motion for dismissal, de Blasio argued the board provided him with murky guidance around the use of public funds for security purposes, then overstepped its authority in imposing the fine.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul raised more than $10 million in the second half of 2024 for her reelection bid and for the state Democratic Party, her campaign announced Wednesday.

That includes $3.3 million to Friends of Kathy Hochul and $6.7 million raised for the party.

The confirmation hearing for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik to become the next ambassador to the United Nations will take place next Tuesday, Jan. 21 with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Confirmation hearing for @EliseStefanik to become UN Ambassador is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10a before the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte >> https://t.co/9RLthBNAqg

New York lawmakers on Tuesday said they're eager to negotiate changes to the state's discovery laws, or the deadline for prosecutors to turn over legal evidence to defense, after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her proposal to tweak the policy in her fourth State of the State address.

Focusing on affordability and public safety in her nearly one-hour speech at The Egg in Albany, Hochul said she wants to restore New Yorkers' trust and confidence in the state's criminal justice system.

Gov. Kathy Hochul focused on subway safety in her State of the State address Tuesday, proposing more police on the subways after already surging over 1,200 state law enforcement personnel into the system last March.

“I want to see more uniformed officers not just on the platforms, but more importantly on every single train overnight 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the next six months,” Hochul said.

Education is one of the biggest individual chunks of the New York state budget, and Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled several proposals in her State of the State address intended to make education more affordable for New Yorkers. She isn’t expected to detail how exactly the state will pay for them until next week.

What stuck out immediately was a lack of any mention of tweaks to the Foundation Aid formula, which along with other forms of school aid will support education spending. Details of what the governor plans to do with the Rockefeller Institute’s Foundation Aid report weren’t necessarily expected in the State of the State address itself given that school aid is typically considered fairly in the weeds.

While New York state is currently dominated politically by Democrats, the past few elections have chipped away at the notion of Democratic invincibility – a move to the right that could be seen and heard Tuesday in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address.

She’s proposing to cut taxes, support first responders, “clarify” discovery and expand Kendra’s Law – all ideas that would feel at home in a speech delivered by a Republican governor.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The federal government has already designated the I-90 corridor between Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse as the country's only federal tech hub for the semiconductor industry.

Invest Buffalo Niagara President & CEO Tom Kucharski, who helped the regions apply for the designation, said it's been an effective point of distinction as his and other economic development organizations pitch to site selectors and companies.

Mayor Eric Adams showed support for Gov. Kathy Hochul Tuesday, after she shared her vision for the upcoming year at the annual State of the State address.

“You just see that we value the same things,” Adams said. “Everything around putting money in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers, public safety, she has been a real partner.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pitched voters on a series of populist economic policies — floating proposals to hand out free money, slash taxes and fight hedge funds — in a speech Tuesday aimed at cleaning up the kitchen table issues that damaged Democrats in November.

In her annual State of the State address in Albany, Hochul, a moderate Democrat, sought to recalibrate after a bruising election for her party, outlining measures to address the middle-class economic concerns that helped President-elect Donald Trump win the White House.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For 887 days, Livingston County native Ryan Corbett has been wrongfully detained by the Taliban. He’s been living in a nine-by-nine basement cell with little access to food, water and sunlight. Since his detention, he says he’s had constant ringing in his ears, dental issues, fainting spells and seizures, among many other illnesses.

His family heard from him Sunday around 5:30 a.m. and learned he has finally been able to put on a little weight and he’d been given a bit more access to sunlight.

In her 2025 State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed plans she said would benefit the dairy and maple industries, increase agriculture education and expand housing for farmworkers.

“New York’s agricultural industry is the backbone of our economy, and we will continue to invest in our farmers, our youth and our future to make sure that New York remains a vibrant and competitive force in agriculture for generations to come,” said Hochul.

With the 119th Congress underway, New York’s newest members of the House of Representatives received their committee assignments on Tuesday.

Democratic Rep. John Mannion, of the 22nd District in Central New York, was appointed to the House Education and Workforce Committee, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.

Sewage sludge, a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, has been found to contaminate farmland and its products with "forever chemicals,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says in a draft risk assessment released Tuesday.

The semi-solid material, also known as biosolids, has been used on farmland for more than 40 years as a more cost-effective form of commercial fertilizer. In recent years, however, the practice has come under scrutiny due to the discovery of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). States like Maine and Connecticut have banned land application of biosolids.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing that New York state invest $400 million to revitalize downtown Albany, according to plans outlined Tuesday in the governor's State of the State address.

The governor says the funds would include $200 million in "tangible strategies" for public safety, quality of life and commercial building improvements, as well as $150 million to renovate and upgrade the New York State Museum.

A former candidate for New York's 24th Congressional District has died.

The family of David Wagenhauser confirms he died over the weekend after a brief illness.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler stood beside New York legislative Republicans Tuesday morning to criticize Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic policies ahead of her State of the State address as the Hudson Valley congressman mulls a run for governor next year.

Lawler slammed the Democratic governor on state spending, criminal justice reforms, the migrant influx, congestion pricing and other issues.

Despite promoting what she’s calling an “affordability agenda” ahead of her State of the State address in Albany Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plans are already drawing criticism from conservatives, according to Republican political consultant Bill O’Reilly.

“I think the governor is going to tell us today that she is going to spend us into affordability at all costs. That seems to be the plan,” O’Reilly told “Mornings On 1” anchor Pat Kiernan. “Affordability seems to be the word that she’s latching onto, just putting her arms around it and hugging, hoping that that gets her through, but raising taxes or sending checks to people, it’s all government stuff.”

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul will announce a plan on Tuesday to offer free tuition to state and city colleges for students pursuing associate degrees in certain high-demand fields.

Hochul, a Democrat, is set to debut the proposal in a speech in Albany during which she will detail her agenda for the state's ongoing legislative session.

Mental health and legal groups want New York lawmakers to think twice before backing Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to expand criteria for involuntary commitment, or forcing someone with a mental health issue to be hospitalized for treatment.

In her fourth State of the State address Tuesday, the governor is poised to unveil details of a controversial mental health proposal to keep mentally ill patients in hospital care.

With an eye on her sagging poll numbers and New Yorkers’ anxieties about the economy and crime, Gov. Kathy Hochul is poised to deliver her 2025 State of the State address on Tuesday.

Hochul has spent the last several weeks outlining her goals, and chief among them is how she’ll solve a mental health crisis on the subway system and make the state more affordable for residents.

Lawmakers were back in Albany on Monday with speculation swirling over what exactly Gov. Kathy Hochul will propose in her 2025 State of the State Address Tuesday.

A number of proposals have already been unveiled, but questions remain.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Economic and financial analysis firm the Perryman Group released a report this month suggesting third-party litigation funding, also known as lawsuit lending, costs New York nearly $420 million annually in gross product, more than $73 million in lost tax revenue and about 3,600 jobs.

"What it is, it's an advance on your lawsuit, so essentially they take a portion of your winnings if you win but that portion is not subject to really any lending laws," Lawsuit Reform Alliance Executive Director Tom Stebbins said.

Mayor Eric Adams on Monday passionately defended his administration's budgeting for the migrant crisis.

“I surrender, my math is not the best. Can they talk about the $6 billion. Six billion dollars of taxpayer money went to pay for a crisis that we should not have had to pay for," he said.

Democrats in the New York state Senate will advance legislation aimed to protect election workers and prevent voter disenfranchisement, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced Monday.

The election reforms being proposed include:

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said Monday that President-elect Donald Trump supports efforts to raise the state and local tax deduction cap and oppose New York’s congestion pricing plan,

Malliotakis, who attended a weekend meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida with Republican members of the New York delegation, said Trump’s stance on the SALT cap—created during his administration in 2017—has shifted because of rising taxes in New York.

On Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed the nation’s first-ever Crime Analysis Joint Special Operations Command (CA-JSOC) Headquarters to help fight crime and coordinate intelligence sharing across New York state.

According to Gov. Hochul, the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters (CA-JSOC) will "unite and support more than 100 local, state and federal agencies to track crime trends, share intelligence, and coordinate responses in real time, further enhancing public safety across New York state." Additionally, Hochul plans to propose expanded support for intelligence and agency coordination, and will secure additional funding for crime prevention technology and equipment to provide resources to state and local law enforcement.

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans announced Friday he is running for another term in office.

Evans is seeking a second term as the mayor of the Flower City after succeeding Lovely Warren in 2022.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency — former Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin — is preparing for his confirmation hearing scheduled for next Thursday.

While environmental and climate advocates are raising concerns about what they see as Zeldin’s mixed record on climate matters, so far he appears to face few obstacles to confirmation.

State lawmakers leading the fight to achieve universal child care coverage said they back the child care investments Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced so far, but hope she’ll include more robust proposals in next week’s State of the State address.

Proposals to make child care more affordable and available for families will be a top issue this budget cycle as part of lawmakers' heightened focus on affordability.

Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to unveil proposals related to her 2025 State of the State Address agenda. This week, she announced a package intended to make home ownership easier for New Yorkers.

The most significant of the proposals is an effort to prevent large-scale investors from buying up single and two-family homes, which some say is exacerbating New York’s housing woes.

At its heart, the legislative session in Albany is an opportunity to create policies that help people lead better, more productive lives. Granted, some policies don’t rise to the occasion, which means the policies that work should be applauded and funded.

One criminal justice policy that the data indicates works is an alternative to the traditional criminal legal system. It’s a diversion program called LEAD: Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, which provides harm reduction case management for people who otherwise may be arrested for behaviors related to mental health, substance use, homelessness or poverty.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Job growth in the United States outpaced analyst predictions in December by about 100,000.

The Bureau of Labor report released Friday showed the country gained about 256,000 jobs in December.

Rudy Giuliani was found in contempt of court Friday for the second time in a week, as a federal judge warned him he could be sent to jail if he doesn't stop spreading lies about two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgement against him.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., found the former New York City mayor and onetime attorney for President-elect Donald Trump violated court orders barring him from defaming Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman. The judge ordered him to review trial testimony and other materials from the case, and warned him that future violations could land him behind bars.

This year, Gov. Kathy Hochul may be relying more on Mayor Eric Adams to help her push her priorities over the finish line.

They’re aligned on public safety and tax policies — while differences with legislative leaders could lead to clashes in the State Capitol.

With issues of climate change and trade facing the next generation of New York agriculture, state leaders said they feel confident farmers will be successful.

“One of the reasons I feel so optimistic about the future is because of these beginning and young farmers and the next generation who will be leaders of agriculture businesses, animal and veterinary sciences, food science, conservation technology and so much more,” said New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said during an annual state of agriculture address.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing funding universal school meals in the next state budget as part of her State of the State executive agenda that she estimates will feed more than 2.7 million students, she announced Friday.

The governor's office said this program will help save families an estimated $165 on groceries per child each month. And if students currently buy meals at school every day, the state says it will save parents $2,000 per child a year, as well as address food insecurity among children and create more opportunities for students to succeed.

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday received a no-penalty sentence known as an “unconditional discharge” in his New York hush money case, a rare decision for a felony conviction.

The sentence means Trump will serve no jail time or probation, and no fines will be imposed.

Mayor Eric Adams reflected on his State of the City address during an interview on “Mornings On 1” Friday, sharing his thoughts on the plans he unveiled for New York City.

The mayor’s Thursday address outlined several initiatives aimed at keeping families in the city. His proposals include creating family-friendly housing units, reducing city income taxes for families, teaching financial literacy in public schools, expanding free swim classes, opening schoolyards for broader use and helping city employees and their families eliminate student loan debt.

Congestion pricing is finally here. As of Sunday, New Yorkers are being charged $9 during peak hours to enter the Central Business District in Manhattan below 60th Street. The initiative has sparked both outrage and celebration. It will take some time to determine whether the plan is a success or failure, and Gov. Kathy Hochul said we won't be able to tell until 2026 — the year she is up for reelection. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross, and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Dan Rivoli, weigh in on this historic occasion in New York’s transit history.

After that, Mayor Eric Adams delivered his fourth state of the city address this week from the stage at the Apollo Theater, outlining the rationale for his reelection to a second term. The mayor unveiled several plans, including one to build tens of thousands of housing units in Manhattan. The “Off Topic’ team looks at the mayor’s final address of his first term and what New Yorkers can expect in 2025.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to announce in the coming days support for funding universal school meals in the next state budget, sources told Spectrum News 1. The program is said to have a $250 million price tag.

The governor would join a bipartisan campaign that both Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have thrown their support behind this week.

Brooklyn attorney Domenick Napoletano, new president of the New York State Bar Association, will focus his legislative advocacy in Albany on bolstering both civil and indigent legal services.

While under the same pro bono umbrella, civil legal services help people with non-criminal legal issues like foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes and family court. Indigent legal services assist people who can't afford legal representation in criminal cases, including those who face deportation.