Economy

Report: New York business owners found new opportunities despite COVID's obstacles

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York business owners continued to find and pursue new opportunities despite the multiple obstacles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis released Monday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

“New Yorkers have always had a great entrepreneurial spirit and drive, and that was no different even during some of the more difficult times of the pandemic,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Policymakers should encourage small business growth, and particularly initiatives to spur entrepreneurship and foster successful businesses that reflect the diversity of our state.”

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Hochul launches assessment of N.Y. state Office of Cannabis Management

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

An assessment of the New York Office of Cannabis Management will aim to find opportunities for improvement amid the legal cannabis rollout, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said Monday.

Jeanette Moy, the state Office of General Services commissioner, will serve as lead and executive sponsor of the effort.

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Syracuse city auditor calls for more state funding for localities

BY Tim Williams New York State

Syracuse's newly minted city auditor Alexander Marion is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to devote more money to Aid and Incentives for Municipalities, or AIM funding, and commission a task force to redesign the formula.

In a letter sent to Hochul on Thursday, Marion argues “funding for municipalities needs to be a priority for New York state.”

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A war of words over tax hikes, affordability when it comes to why people are leaving New York

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The New York state Assembly and Senate will release and vote on their own one-house budgets this week. One of the big questions the budgets will answer is this: Will lawmakers push for a tax hike on the state’s wealthiest citizens or not?

New York relies heavily on the Personal Income Tax (PIT) tax, so a perennial argument in Albany balances whether to increase taxes on the wealthy to bring in needed revenue, against the possibility of the wealthy fleeing the state.

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Advocates push for cost-of-living adjustment increase for N.Y. human services workers, including some nonprofit employees

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Pushing for a cost-of-living adjustment for human services workers was the subject of a rally at the New York state Capitol on Monday.

Not only that, but also at hand was the urge to form a panel that would ensure wages not be allowed to slump to levels that have brought groups out multiple times already this session.

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Land-based fish farms in New York face challenges in quest to grow seafood industry

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

With only a handful of land-based aquaculture operations in the state, producers and state officials look to grow the industry, but know they face challenges from regulatory and water use to profitability and start-up costs.

New York’s aquaculture industry is dominated by marine aquaculture, and more specifically, oyster farming off Long Island, said Michael Ciaramella, a seafood safety and technology specialist with New York Sea Grant, which is part of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

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N.Y. has recovered private-sector jobs lost during pandemic, state data shows

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Nearly four years after the onset of COVID-19 forced many businesses to close and threw thousands of people out of work, New York appears to have recovered the number of private-sector jobs lost during the pandemic, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.

Preliminary seasonally adjusted figures show the number of private-sector jobs in the state increased in January by 47,000, for a total of 8,346,200 jobs statewide. New York had about 8,333,800 private-sector jobs before the pandemic hit in March 2020, data shows.

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Farm Bill and H-2A labor among national priorities for New York Farm Bureau

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

The New York Farm Bureau highlighted reforms to the H-2A wage rates and continued its push for an updated Farm Bill to support specialty crop producers, dairy farmers, climate smart agriculture and mental health resources.

“We need Congress to pass an updated Farm Bill as much has changed since the passage of the 2018 bill. We had a pandemic, record high inflation, rising supply costs and global unrest. Updating the farm safety net to help farmers manage risk is necessary to keep America’s food supply strong,” said New York Farm Bureau president David Fisher in a press conference Thursday.

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Schumer, Gillibrand secure $16.4 million for North Country local projects

BY Luke Parsnow Northern NY

New York's North Country would receive nearly $17 million in funding for local projects in water infrastructure, child care and emergency response times should the biparisan spending package for Fiscal Year 2024 pass the U.S. Senate as expected, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday.

The package passed the House of Representatives 339-85 on Wednesday evening.

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Panel says New York, Maryland and maybe California could offer internet gambling soon

BY Associated Press New York State

With Rhode Island this week becoming the seventh U.S. state to launch internet gambling, industry panelists at an online gambling conference predicted Wednesday that several additional states would join the fray in the next few years.

Speaking at the Next.io forum on internet gambling and sports betting, several mentioned New York and Maryland as likely candidates to start offering internet casino games soon.

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N.Y. lawmakers, advocates call for increased wage replacement benefits

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

In 1989, a gallon of gas cost around a buck, and a ticket to the movies took less than $5 out of your pocket.

That year was also the last year that the wage replacement benefit in New York was increased. Now, state lawmakers, including Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Cooney, of the Rochester area, is looking to increase that benefit from $170 per week to $1,100. Cooney joined Capital Tonight to break it down.

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Advocates say New York state isn't holding up its end of the bargain on Tier 6 pension

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Advocates and lawmakers joined forces at the state Capitol on Tuesday to rally for reform to the state’s pension system.

Beginning in 2012 with the introduction of what is known as Tier 6, advocates say employees in public service who entered under that designation have received less benefits and security than previous generations doing the same work.

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Oneida County awarded $23.6M to develop semiconductor supply chain campus

BY Luke Parsnow Oneida County

Oneida County has been awarded $23.6 million to develop a premier semiconductor supply chain campus on a parcel at Griffiss International Airport, County Executive Anthony Picente’s office said Tuesday.

The funding will allow for the county and its partners — Griffiss Local Development Corporation (GLDC) Mohawk Valley EDGE, C&S Companies and the City of Rome — to complete infrastructure and transportation improvements to a 332-acre site known as the “Triangle Site” to support up to 3.9 million square feet of developable area. This includes electrical upgrades, water and sewer extension, transportation and access upgrades, natural gas extensions and more.

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Farmers prep to lobby New York Legislature ahead of budget talks

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Farmers from around the state will lobby state lawmakers Tuesday before state budget talks grow serious to increase funding to support local food production and small family farms grappling with increased costs and green energy mandates.

Hundreds of members of the New York Farm Bureau kicked off the annual agricultural lobbying effort with a reception in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Monday night — showing off dozens of locally produced vegetables, fruits, craft beverages and other products.

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New York legislative Labor Committee chairs renew effort for minimum wage parity between upstate, downstate

BY Tim Williams New York State

On Monday, New York state lawmakers and advocates will join together at the Capitol to announce that the newly minted chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, Rochester’s Harry Bronson, will be the prime Assembly sponsor of legislation that would create a minimum wage parity between upstate and downstate New York.

The bill, known as the Upstate Parity and Minimum Wage Protection Act, would create a statewide minimum wage floor of $17 per hour. As of Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York City, Westchester and Long Island sits at $16 per hour. In upstate New York, that figure rests at $15 per hour. By 2026, the minimum wage in non-upstate areas will rise to $17 per hour, while upstate will rise to $16 per hour.

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NYCOM again pushes for increase in state funding for local governments

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The New York state Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) is once again reiterating a request to increase funding for local governments that pays for things like supplies and wages for police officers and firefighters, according to a letter it sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders.

AIM funding, which stands for Aid to Municipalities, has totaled about $715 million a year since 2012 and has remained relatively stagnant since that time. Mayors from across the state have been pushing for an increase after AIM funding level remained the same in the governor's executive budget proposal.

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New York lawmaker introduces bill to ban dynamic pricing amid Wendy's plan to test it on their menus

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A New York state lawmaker introduced legislation on Thursday that aims to ban dynamic pricing on food items in response to fast food chain Wendy's plan to test a system where prices for various items could fluctuate based on demand.

Democratic state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, of the Capital Region, introduced the "Fair Food Pricing Act," which his office said is meant to protect consumers from potential exploitation and manipulation.

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Hochul: $45M going to 7 N.Y. locations to attract high-tech manufacturing businesses

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

More than $45 million has been awarded to improve seven locations in New York so that they may attract high-tech manufacturing businesses, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Friday.

The money comes from the FAST NY (Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts) program, which is designed to prepare and develop sites to increase the chances of large employers and high-manufacturing companies to settle on those locations.

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Jackpots of 3 New York draw games generate $63.9M for schools, small businesses

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Jackpots for three of New York’s popular draw games — Mega Millions, Powerball and NY LOTTO — have generated more than $63.9 million for public schools and small businesses, the state Gaming Commission said Thursday.

Individually, as of Thursday, the jackpots for Mega Millions have generated $23.8 million; Powerball $17.8 million; and NY LOTTO $13.4 million. Sales for the three games have also generated $8.9 million in commissions for lottery retailers, according to the commission.

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Hochul penalizing Google maps for illegal pot shop surge

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

Up against at least 1,500 illegal marijuana shops in New York City, Gov. Kathy Hochul slammed social media companies Wednesday for listing the stores online.

It’s been a two-year challenge for state regulators charged with writing and enforcing the rules tied to the legal cannabis market.

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Two perspectives on the updated New York packaging reduction bill

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

If you’ve ever purchased anything from Amazon, you’ve probably had to open a plastic bubble mailer and then a second or even third plastic wrapper to get at the thing you ordered.

It’s one reason why more than 300 advocates and elected officials converged on Albany Tuesday to push lawmakers to pass a bill to reduce packaging. Advocates argue that single-use plastic is one of the most serious issues facing the environment.

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Upstate New York's tech hub application due next week

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- This week, Saratoga County-based GlobalFoundries announced a plan to invest $12 billion in private and public funds over the next decade to triple its capacity to meet a growing demand for advanced semiconductor microchips.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has made it his goal to make upstate New York a center for the burgeoning industry.

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New York farm worker unionization can resume after restraining order lifted

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Roughly 500 farm workers at five New York state farms were in the process of unionizing in October when a temporary restraining order froze the state law allowing them to organize.

However, on Wednesday in Western District Court, Judge John Sinatra Jr. lifted all but one piece of the order following a hearing on motions for a preliminary injunction. The United Farm Workers said they should now be able to resume organizing.

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New York Liquor Authority special committee starting to make progress on application backlog

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

For nearly three months now, a special committee formed by the New York State Liquor Authority has been addressing what was a backlog of roughly 6,000 applications.

Since its formation in late November, the SLA says the committee has reviewed 272 applications. The committee has approved 67 so far and 61 failed to meet program criteria which requires that applications do not face opposition or involve complex or controversial issues. Another 144 are pending approval upon receipt of additional information or conditions met by the applicants.

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Biden admin., Schumer announce proposed $1.5B grant for chip production in N.Y. and Vermont

BY Joseph Konig New York State

The White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will announce on Monday a proposed $1.5 billion grant to a semiconductor manufacturer for facilities in New York and Vermont.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Schumer said that the projects the grant will help fund are expected to create more than 10,000 jobs.

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New York's finances stabilized since pandemic and budget gaps reduced, but challenges remain, comptroller report says

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York state Comptroller Tim DiNapoli says the state’s finances have stabilized after the years-long disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and along with the state Division of the Budget, is forecasting reduced budget gaps while pointing out that fiscal risks and challenges remain, according to a report on the budget his office released Thursday.

“New York state has taken positive steps to stabilize its finances with higher reserves and lower projected budget gaps,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Still, the Executive and the Legislature face the difficult challenge of ensuring adequate funding for our schools, health care programs, and other critical needs while improving the state’s affordability."

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New York comptroller: State's housing cost burdens among nation's highest

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York continues to rank as one of the states with the highest cost burden for housing, according to a report released Wednesday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

The report found almost 3 million New York households are dealing with housing costs that consume more than 30% of their household income, with one in five households experiencing a housing cost of more than 50% of their income.

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Steep drop in number of farms in New York, new report shows

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

Farmland continues to disappear from New York state, with dairies alone dropping by one-third in the past five years, according to new federal data.

“I’m concerned about the state of agriculture and food production in this country,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in a press conference today.

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Fiscal watchdog: New York ranks top in nation for taxes, second for spending

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York and its localities ranked top in the nation in taxes and second for spending in 2021, according to a report released Tuesday morning by the Citizens Budget Commission.

The report found the state led in taxes in both collecting the most per person and the most per $1,000 of personal income, at $135. Spending was 50% more per capita than the national average in 2021 and was only lower than Alaska.

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Why the USDA expects farm income to plummet in 2024

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member and Justin Velazquez Central NY
UPDATED 9:19 PM ET Feb. 12, 2024

Projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture say net farm income is expected to decrease $43.1 billion in 2024 compared with 2023 – the largest year-to-year drop in history.

“It aligns with what we have been seeing because commodity prices have been dropping and expenses have been going up,” said Steve Ammerman, a spokesperson for the New York Farm Bureau.

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New York farming advocates, lawmakers lay out agricultural budget priorities

BY Jack Arpey New York State

Members of and advocates for New York’s farming industry came to Albany this week to outline their legislative priorities, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted that farm income in the US will decline by record levels in 2024.

“Agriculture and Markets is the industry’s economic development arm, there are so many things in the governor’s executive budget that farmers rely on,” said Jeff Williams, director of public policy for the New York Farm Bureau.

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NYCOM makes argument for increased 'Aid to Municipalities' funding

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The money that municipalities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany receive from the state is called Aid to Municipalities, or AIM funding. Cities use AIM to pay for things like supplies and wages for police officers and firefighters. AIM has totaled about $715 million a year since 2012.

Using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculator, if you spent $1,000 on supplies and wages back in 2012, they would cost you $353 more in 2024.

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New York state park visits hit another attendance record in 2023

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A record number of people visited New York state parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails in 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Wednesday.

The number of visits to those sites totaled 84.1 million last year, an increase of nearly 4.7 million, or 6%, compared to 2022, which also set its own record for the 11th consecutive annual increase. Over the last two decades, state park attendance has climbed steadily, increasing nearly 60%.

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Hochul: More than $15M going to 19 tech, manufacturing projects in New York

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

More than $15 million will go to support 19 projects involving technology, business redevelopment, manufacturing and transportation across New York as part of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Monday.

This round of funding included core capital grant and tax-credit funding from Empire State Development.

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Wine in New York grocery stores up for debate again this year

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Whether or not to allow grocery stores to sell wine in New York is an issue that comes up nearly every legislative session.

"I think the revenue that will come off of it will be significant," Business Council of New York Executive Vice President Paul Zuber said.

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House committee advances bill on SALT relief demanded by N.Y. Republicans

BY Spectrum News Staff New York State

The House Rules Committee on Thursday advanced a bill that could provide some added relief on state and local tax deductions, or SALT.

"The cap itself sunsets in [2025] and so I think the feeling at the moment is, we're going to advocate for what we think we can achieve to make a meaningful step toward providing relief as relates to state and local taxation," Republican U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro said.

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New York state Senate Labor Committee chair Jessica Ramos discusses strengthening the workforce

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul this week approved a plan for the state to hire migrants to fill 4,000 open entry-level state positions in roles including food service and equipment repair. The plan would help to cut down on the current 10,000 estimated vacant positions the state is seeking to fill.

Under Hochul’s proposal, the migrants would not need to take the state’s civil service exam. The Civil Service Commission voted to approve the measure on Jan. 18.

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Ride-sharing companies eye reform of New York lawsuit-lending industry

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Two of the largest ride-sharing companies in the U.S. are turning up the pressure on state lawmakers to impose stricter regulations on New York's growing lawsuit-lending industry — changes they argue will reduce insurance costs and boost drivers' pay.

Uber and Lyft joined the coalition Consumers for Fair Legal Funding, which relaunched a push Tuesday to rein in unregulated lawsuit lending, or loans to finance litigation paid before reaching a settlement.

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Some New York farmers cut hours for workers amid overtime changes

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

New overtime threshold rules for New York farmworkers have caused confusion for both owners and their staff, resulting in reduced working hours, farmers said in recent interviews.

Farmworkers say they are upset with changes that went into effect Jan. 1 that moved the overtime threshold in New York state down from 60 to 56 hours. The rule means farmers have to start paying overtime after 56 hours worked. Farmers are eligible to apply for a tax credit to offset what they pay their workers, but three upstate farmers said they are still cutting hours.

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Advocate, Office of Cannabis Management debate elements of New York's rollout

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, the New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) will meet in New York City.

Joe Rossi, the cannabis practice group leader at Park Strategies, is advocating that New York’s cannabis entrepreneurs attend the meeting, in person or virtually, to speak out on issues affecting the state’s cannabis rollout. Attendees may sign up here.

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Online gambling proposal is back on the table in New York

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Interactive gaming or iGaming is a form of mobile or online wagering.

New York legislators are currently considering a proposal that would include casino table games like poker, blackjack and roulette. State Senate Gaming Committee Chair Joe Addabbo is the sponsor.

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Meta proposes framework for federal teen social media protections

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Across the country, states are proposing or enacting legislation to regulate how kids interact with social media, including a New York bill Gov. Kathy Hochul is prioritizing this year.

Dayna Geldwert, a public policy manager for Meta, said the patchwork approach is not the answer.

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Fiscal Policy Institute wants Hochul, Legislature to make N.Y. taxes set to expire permanent

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

While advocates on the left and the right agree that something should be done about New York’s population loss, they don’t agree on how to fix the problem.

One example: The fiscally moderate Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) applauded Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision not to raise taxes on the wealthy. The CBC’s president stated, “Wisely, the Governor did not include a broad tax increase... Holding to this, and ensuring that temporary increases sunset on time, is critically important to New York’s competitiveness.”

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Hochul budget proposal includes language to expedite up to 5 prison closures

BY Ryan Whalen Albany

Legislation proposed in Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive budget would allow New York to close up to five correctional facilities with 90 days' notice.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) said the language allows the state to act "expeditiously to right-size and eliminate excess capacity," thus increasing operational efficiency.

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Hochul proposes $200M to create 4 high-tech workforce development centers across upstate

BY Justin Velazquez Central NY

In outlining her state budget plan Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed dedicating $200 million to open four workforce training centers along the state Thruway corridor connecting Syracuse, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo.

With Micron and other high-tech manufacturers coming to the Central New York region, the governor said it is vital to meet a growing workforce demand. If the training centers remain in the budget lawmakers pass later this year, Syracuse-based economic development organization CenterState CEO would coordinate the flagship center of the facilities in Syracuse.

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Cautiously optimistic for New York farmers, agriculture commissioner looks ahead at 2024

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

New York farmers faced many challenges in the past year, including severe weather, inflation and changes to the farmworker overtime threshold, but Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball said he is cautiously optimistic going into 2024.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty but I like our chances because farmers in New York have proved over and over again we’re resilient. When we take a beating or have a climate problem, we’ll be back. We’re not done,” Ball said Thursday at the annual gathering of the New York Agricultural Society in Syracuse.

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Hochul unveils plan to create consortium on artificial intelligence

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A consortium would be created to promote research, create jobs and unlock opportunities related to artificial intelligence, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed Monday.

Known as Empire AI, the governor's plan would create and launch a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center in upstate New York. The University at Buffalo is under consideration as a potential site.

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Texas-based company hopes to build power plants with carbon sequestration in Southern Tier

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration is investing heavily in a new technological process called “carbon capture, sequestration, and utilization," which, in theory, buries carbon dioxide.

A company called “Southern Tier CO2 to Clean Energy Solutions LLC” or more simply, Southern Tier Solutions, is in the process of asking landowners in Broome, Chemung and Tioga counties to lease over 100,000 acres to create test wells.

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Poll: Strong majority of New Yorkers support raising taxes on wealthy

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

A strong majority of New Yorkers support raising taxes on wealthy earners and profitable corporations to fund public programs, according to a new poll commissioned by Invest in Our New York Campaign and conducted by Siena College that was released Friday.

The poll found 74% of state residents believe taxes should go up for the highest 5% of earners. About the same percentage of respondents, and 72% of upstate residents, believe raising taxes on the rich should be the solution to address any state budget shortfall rather than cutting services, according to the poll.

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New York Sen. Sean Ryan plans to reintroduce non-compete ban bill

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- As time was running out for the governor to sign legislation banning non-compete agreements in New York state, the bill's sponsor felt they had reached a compromise to alleviate some of her concerns.

State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, said lawmakers were willing to allow the clauses for employees making $250,000 a year or more but the deal fell apart.

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Hochul wants to strengthen consumer protections in 2024

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday gave New Yorkers an early preview of plans she'll unveil in more detail in next week's State of the State address aimed to expand consumer protections, increase paid medical and disability leave and other proposals to make the state more affordable.

The governor wants to change the state's consumer protection law for the first time in 34 years to protect against abusive business practices, she said during a speech in her Manhattan office. It will embolden the state attorney general office's authority to enforce consumer protections and punish predatory debt collectors and operators.

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Phase-in of New York farm worker overtime change begins Jan. 1

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

With the beginning of the new year also begins the gradual lowering of the threshold for when farm workers will qualify for overtime pay in New York.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, the overtime threshold for those employees will be lowered from 60 to 56 hours a week. It will then be reduced by four hours a year until 2032, when it will reach 40 hours a week.

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New York minimum wage increases coming in 2024

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo
UPDATED 12:16 PM ET Dec. 28, 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Starting Jan. 1, the minimum wage in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County will increase from $15 to $16 an hour and from $14.20 to $15 across the rest of the state.

However, the Business Council of New York State's Director for the Center of Human Resources, Frank Kerbein, said the new scale is more complicated than that with different rates for tipped service employees, tipped food service workers and an adjusted threshold for staff exempt from overtime pay.

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Lake George gets $10M in downtown revitalization funds

BY Spectrum News Staff Lake George

Lake George will receive a $10 million grant as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday while visiting the region.

The governor did not specify what exactly will be funded at this time, but says the money will help the community jump start a new era.

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New York lawmakers propose rest stop bill aimed at Chick-Fil-A

BY Tim Williams New York State

This week, state lawmakers proposed legislation that would require restaurants in rest stops on the Thruway and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to be open seven days a week. The bill is aimed at Chick-Fil-A, the fast food eatery, which is in renovated rest stops on the Thruway, which is closed by company policy on Sundays.

Chick-Fil-A, as a matter of company policy, is closed on Sundays “to allow Operators and their team members to enjoy a day of rest, be with their families and loved ones, and worship if they choose.” The policy has been with the company since it opened its first restaurant in 1946.

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Report: 2007 recession, COVID-19 led to drop in local government workers in past 15 years

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The number of full-time local government employees located outside of New York City has shrank nearly 8% over the last 15 years, according to a report Thursday from New York state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

The report found the number of workers in local government fell 7.9%, or nearly 39,000, between 2007 and 2022, from 491,102 to 452,298.

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N.Y. attorney general urges U.S. Court of Appeals to rule for organization supporting women of color entrepreneurs

BY Jack Arpey New York State

New York Attorney General Letitia James along with 19 other attorneys general say they are taking legal action to support women of color entrepreneurs.

The coalition is urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to rule that the non-profit organization, the Fearless Foundation, can continue operating to provide grants, mentorship and assistance to women of color entrepreneurs.

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Advocates call for Gov. Hochul to sign bill banning neonic pesticide-treated seeds

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

Environmental advocates, doctors and organic farmers continued their call for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act, which bans the use of corn, wheat and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides.

As the primary sponsor of the bill, Democratic state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal from Manhattan urged Hochul to approve the legislation to prioritize the health of New York residents.

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Hochul: $10 billion going to semiconductor research, development center at Albany NanoTech Complex

BY Jack Arpey and Luke Parsnow Albany

A $10 billion partnership will establish a semiconductor research and development center at Albany NanoTech Complex, Gov. Kathy Hochul and industry leaders announced Monday in Albany.

The collaboration by the state, IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and others will fund the construction of a cutting-edge High NA Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Center – the first and only publicly owned High NA EUV Center in North America – that will support the research and development of semiconductors.

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State comptroller cautions lawmakers ahead of budget season with dismal taxpayer migration report

BY Bernadette Hogan New York City

New York’s top money manager released a new report showing the state’s tax collections were negatively impacted by people leaving the state due to the pandemic — issuing a word of caution to lawmakers ahead of budget season.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli published a review of the data from the state Department of Taxation and Finance, comparing tax collection information between 2020 and 2021 to pre-pandemic trends.

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Ortt believes Gaming Compact extension likely means Senecas and state are close to new deal

BY Ryan Whalen Niagara Falls

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- If New York state and the Seneca Nation of Indians had not found a solution before Dec. 9, roughly 3,000 Seneca gaming jobs in Western New York could have have been in jeopardy.

However, the two sides agreed to an extension until March 31 of the current 20-year-old compact necessary for Seneca casinos to continue to operate.

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Injunction lifted that blocked some New York cannabis licenses

BY Capital Tonight Staff New York State

An injunction blocking progress for New York state's recreational marijuana industry is lifted as a judge signs off on a settlement agreement between the Office of Cannabis Management and four veterans.

The state had been blocked from issuing, processing or reviewing Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary Licenses, known as the CAURD program, since Aug. 7, preventing hundreds of licensees from opening a business.

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Hochul, Seneca Nation reach agreement on temporary Gaming Compact extension

BY Tim Williams New York State

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Seneca Nation of Indians President Rickey Armstrong Sr. announced Friday evening a short-term extension of the current Gaming Compact with negotiations continuing on a long-term agreement.

The current compact was set to expire on Dec. 9. However, with the extension agreed upon on Friday, that deadline is now pushed to the day the state budget is due: March 31. Under the short-term extension, the three gaming properties operated by the Seneca Nation can remain open and operating. The current compact will stay in place after March 31 unless a new deal is reached or either party decides to end it.

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Company says state law could delay dismantling Indian Point by 8 years

BY John Camera Hudson Valley
UPDATED 1:00 PM ET Dec. 01, 2023

Environmental activists won big when Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new regulation into law, prohibiting the release of nuclear wastewater into the Hudson River. But it could have some unintended consequences.

Village of Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker says closing the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant is going to have a huge impact. She says the village lost half of its revenue following the closure.

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Will individuals follow advertisers and leave X?

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The owner of X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk issued an apology at the New York Times DealBook Summit this week for amplifying antisemitic conspiracy theories.

However, Musk was combative when asked about major companies including Apple, IBM and Disney pulling advertising from X earlier this month in response to his social media activity.

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New York state Sen. Sean Ryan on non-complete legislation, session, and Congress

BY Tim Williams and Casey Bortnick New York State

On Tuesday, advocates made their way to the state Capitol to call for Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would ban so-called non-compete clauses for employees.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Sean Ryan, joined Capital Tonight to discuss the bill, respond to criticisms, and the latest on the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins.

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New York Farm Bureau makes final push for Gov. Hochul to veto pesticides bill

BY Emily Kenny, Report for America corps member Central NY

A bill banning the use of neonicotinoids pesticide treated corn, wheat and soybean seeds awaits the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul, but the New York Farm Bureau is making a final push for her to veto the legislation citing concerns about its impact on farmers.

“When we talk about seed treatments and especially this year with such a wet weather season, the pest pressures were very high and so farmers need seed treatments to control pests on their fields,” said Jeff Williams, director of public policy at the New York Farm Bureau.

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Examining the retail cannabis market in New York

BY Tim Williams and Casey Bortnick New York State

The New York Office of Cannabis Management on Monday took a step forward in ending a lawsuit waged by disabled veterans by approving a settlement agreement.

Cannabis market advocates are hopeful this can help boost a slow rollout.

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Hochul signs bill into law aimed to protect freelance workers

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill into law that aims to provide protections for freelance workers experiencing non-payment for their services, the governor's office said Wednesday.

The “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act establishes a right to a written contract with certain terms, timely and full payment and protection from retaliation and discrimination for exercising these rights.

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New York private sector jobs down 10,300 in October, report says

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

The number of private sector jobs in New York state decreased over the month of October by 10,300, or 0.1%, according to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released Thursday by the state Department of Labor.

The number of private sector jobs stands at 8,252,000.

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Parties appear to have reached agreement in CAURD lawsuit that has held up N.Y. cannabis industry development

BY Jack Arpey New York State

A group of New York service-disabled military veterans suing New York's Office of Cannabis Management's Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries program appear to be close to reaching a settlement with the state.

In a motion filed Monday, Brian T. Burns, counsel for the plaintiffs, said the parties had reached an agreement in principle.

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OCM: October inspections of unlicensed shops yield $6.2 million in cannabis seizures

BY Spectrum News Staff New York State

Inspections of shops in October led to the seizure of an estimated $6.2 million worth of unlicensed cannabis, according to the state Office of Cannabis Management.

The OCM and Department of Taxation and Finance conducted inspections of 47 shops "suspected of selling unlicensed cannabis," according to an OCM press release, throughout October. All told, they seized nearly 1,400 pounds of cannabis in various forms.

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Economist: New data shows ‘good news’ and ‘warning signs’ for economy

BY Tim Williams and Marisa Jacques New York State

Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce released data that showed the country’s gross domestic product grew, at a better than expected, 4.9%.

Russell Weaver, an economic geographer and director of research at the Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, told Capital Tonight that “there was a ton of good news in last week’s economic report” but adds there are “some warning signs” in the data as well.

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New York cannabis operators look to growing retail market

BY Tim Williams and Casey Bortnick New York State

Earlier this week, New York lawmakers heard testimony from stakeholders and experts in the retail cannabis sphere.

On Tuesday’s Capital Tonight, we heard from representatives from the medical marijuana side of things which will soon enter the retail market and heard from a retail cannabis retailer who recently opened their doors.

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New York lawmakers propose task force to examine crypto industry

BY Ryan Whalen City of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New York state Senate Banking Committee Chair James Sanders says it's time for the state to get ahead of the curve when it comes to the emerging industries of digital currency, cryptocurrency and blockchain.

"Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Is it something that New York state should push? Should we get to the head of this? Is this something that needs more regulations?" said Sanders, a Democrat from Queens.

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As games continue, sports betting grows in New York

BY Justin Velazquez Syracuse

According to a survey by the American Gaming Association, more than 73 million Americans plan on betting on the NFL this season, almost a 60% increase from last year. Despite being a huge football fan, John Wolohan, a sports law professor at Syracuse University, won’t be a part of that record breaking number.

“I do not bet on sports. I bet once and I was too nervous," he said. "I really do enjoy football and enjoy watching it, but the thing is if I put money on the game, it just ruins the experience.”

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New York comptroller: Third-quarter local sales tax collections up from last year

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Local government sales tax collections in New York totaled $5.9 billion in the third calendar quarter of 2023, which is up from the same period last year, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office said in a report released Tuesday.

The comptroller said the increase was 3.6%, or more than $205 million. This is the second consecutive quarter of collections returning to lower pre-pandemic year-over-year growth rates.

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Hochul announces investments in renewable energy projects

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced what she called the largest state investment in renewable energy in United States history, conducting of three offshore wind projects and 22 land-based projects, her office said Tuesday.

The state will commit $300 million and attract an additional $668 million in private funding.

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Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse win federal tech hub designation

BY Ryan Whalen and Keegan Trunick New York State
UPDATED 6:25 PM ET Oct. 23, 2023

Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse together as a region have won a federal tech hub designation, according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer's office.

The designation is part of the CHIPS & Science Act, which recognizes the role of semiconductor technology in national security. It focuses on domestic chip production and supply chain security in an effort to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers.

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