New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

As of this writing, a petition to stop Nassau County's plan to deputize residents with gun permits has 2,080 signatures. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Nassau County exec's plan to deputize armed citizens draws fire

Nassau County's executive wants to deputize residents who hold gun permits. County Executive Bruce Blakemen's plan involves training 100 residents …

Some 60% of restaurant workers who complete Restaurant Opportunities Centers United's CHOW training got a $2 to $3 per hour pay increase. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 12, 2024

Workforce training helps NY workers know their rights

New York restaurant workers need to know their rights to better navigate their workplaces. A new report finds high rates of what it calls …

A KFF study found between 2004 and 2021, facility fees grew 531%, four times the rate of professional fees (132%) for emergency department evaluation and management services. (Adobe Stock)

US could learn from NY’s facility fees disclosure law

As federal agencies crack down on "junk fees." experts feel they can learn a thing or two from New York. The state is one of 13 to pass facility fee …

New York aims to create 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. By contrast, New Jersey is looking to create 11,000 megawatts by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

Offshore wind does more than aid NY, NJ clean energy futures

Despite different outcomes - New York's first offshore wind farm came online and New Jersey had one canceled - both states are benefiting from offshor…

In 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichenger revoked the 1953 easement allowing Enbridge's Line 5 to operate. (Earthjustice)

Indigenous leaders come to NY to speak about pipeline impacts

Indigenous community leaders will be in New York addressing the United Nations. They'll be speaking at the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous …

Since the law was enacted in 1907, only 13 people have been charged in New York State with adultery. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill aims to repeal 1907 adultery law

Of New York's many outdated laws, the adultery law could go this year. A bill repealing the 1907 New York adultery law passed the Assembly and is now …

A 2019 Homeland Security inspector general report found one in five TSA screeners were quitting after 6 months. One of the biggest reasons was low pay and lack of opportunity for advancement. (Adobe Stock)

NY TSA workers’ contract provides better working conditions

New York transportation safety officers will see improved working conditions thanks to a newly ratified contract. The new American Federation of …

In the last 40 years, New York has endured at least 85 'billion-dollar disasters'. The most costly was Superstorm Sandy, with around $43 billion in damage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY bill can help climate-burdened communities

A new report shows the costs different regions of New York face from climate change. It says taxpayers were on the hook for more than $2 billion - …

A University of Chicago- Harris/AP-NORC poll finds two-thirds of Americans believe they pay too much in taxes with little benefit. However, a new tool from the IRS can help them reap the benefits they might be missing. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IRS Direct File Tool maximizes NYers tax returns

A new report finds New Yorkers are getting the most out of their tax filings, thanks to a new resource. The Internal Revenue Service's free…

A 2022 report finds failing to speed up transmission beyond the current pace will increase 2030 U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 800 million tons per year. (Adobe Stock)

NYS bill could speed up electric transmission installation

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Research showed between 10% and 30% of county residents in the state of New York had a dual-use special-need plan in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

NY senior advocates see advantages to dual-use special needs plans

Senior and older adult advocates in New York find certain healthcare plans are helping people get the best bang for their buck. Dual-eligible …

A New York University report recommended lawmakers establish a statewide rental registry system, which could create more transparency in the rental market by forcing landlords to report rents and annual increases. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY should evaluate pros, cons of 'good cause' eviction

As New York housing advocates demand state lawmakers pass a bill to keep landlords from evicting renters without "good cause," a new report cautioned …

Around 85% of textiles thrown away in the United States end up in landfills or are burned, including unsold clothes. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill holds fashion industry accountable for climate change effects

A New York bill aims to regulate the fashion industry's effects on climate change. The Fashion Act would hold clothing and footwear companies …

New York has the fourth-largest backlog of immigration cases in the U.S. It comes behind Florida (488,223 cases), Texas (387,792 cases) and California (355,459 cases). (Adobe Stock)

NY advocates want immigrant legal services bill passed

Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court. The Access to Representation Act would provide …

Agriculture has gone from being the second-largest source of emissions in the U.S. to being the lowest, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. (Adobe Stock)

Climate-friendly cafeterias help keep NYU emissions low

By Jack McGovan for Sentient.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

States such as Colorado, Minnesota and Washington have improved access to health care for immigrants. The programs are seeing great results in reducing disparities the migrant population faces in accessing health care. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature includes ‘coverage for all’ in Senate, House budgets

Both chambers of the New York state Legislature have included coverage for all legislation in their respective budgets. The bills would update the …

Along with making the operation of Long Island's power grid more efficient, a bill before the Legislature would enshrine the protection of wages, benefits and collective-bargaining agreements for around 1,500 Local 1049 union members. (Adobe Stock)

NYS bill makes Long Island power grid publicly controlled

New York's state lawmakers are considering a measure that would shake up the way Long Island's power grid operates. The Long Island Power Authority …

An AARP New York report finds almost 80% of New York City's 300 nursing homes, assisted-living and adult-care facilities didn't receive a single visit from the state's Long Term Care Ombudsman Program during three months in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget missing key funding for seniors, older adults

Senior and older-adult groups are frustrated by cuts to services in New York's budget proposal. This includes cuts to home-care programs and the Long-…

An Institute for Women's Policy Research report finds the profession with the largest wage gap is financial manager, with women earning 71% of what men earn. The profession with the smallest gap is cashier, with women earning 98% of what men do. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wage gap declines, but won’t close for 30 years

Today is Equal Pay Day, and a new report finds the wage gap between men and women is closing. The Institute for Women's Policy Research data show …

While robberies in the New York City Subway were down from 2022 to 2023, felony assaults rose from 556 in 2022 to 570 in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates denounce Gov. Hochul’s NYC subway safety plan

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's five-point New York City subway safety plan is being met with backlash from some community advocates. The plan calls …

A report from Yale and George Mason universities finds 27% of Americans are

NY faith leaders help people address 'ecological grief'

As the impacts of climate change grow, New Yorkers and people across the country are grieving for the environment. Ecological grief, also known as …

A poll released last June found 48% of Americans oppose reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved, while 41% approve of it and another 13% don't know where they stand on the issue. (Wikimedia Commons)

Members appointed to NYS reparations commission

New York state lawmakers have appointed members to the Community Commission on Reparations Remedies, created through legislation Gov. Kathy Hochul …

A poll by Pew Research showed 85% of Americans are unfamiliar with their state's legislative redistricting process. Even so, 24% said they are dissatisfied with how it is being handled. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Hochul signs new NY congressional maps into law

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new congressional maps into law. The move comes a few days after Democrats in the legislature rejected maps drawn by …

Studies show redistricting through an independent commission, instead of a political body, is linked to more effective politicians being sent to Congress. (Adobe Stock)

Activists: Redrawn NY congressional maps unfair to minority voters

New York activists are voicing serious concerns about the state's new congressional maps. The state's top court ordered new voting-district maps to …

Some 200 miles of the Hudson River are considered a Superfund site due to the high amount of contamination, but only 40 miles of the Upper Hudson are General Electric's responsibility. (Adobe Stock)

NY lawmakers demand EPA dredge Hudson River again

New York lawmakers are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to keep dredging the Hudson River. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., sent a …

A Regional Plan Association report found across the country, rural communities could lose 100,000 affordable homes in the next decade once USDA Section 515 loans are paid off. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY affordable housing needs funding

A new report outlined the need to preserve rural New York's affordable rental housing. The report from the Regional Plan Association report showed …

A 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report finds close to 60% of disabled people work in the service industry, a higher percentage than the nondisabled community. A New York bill could help these and many other workers with disabilities remain safe from wage theft. (Adobe Stock)

NY disability rights advocates tackle a mountain of barriers

New York disability rights advocates are working to break barriers in numerous legislative areas, including those in transportation, housing…

Climate change infrastructure costs in New York could reach $10 billion annually by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill would make polluters pay for climate damage

A New York bill would make polluters pay for climate change damage the state endured. The Climate Change Superfund Act requires companies who've …

Some 37% of New York foster care kids are being placed in family-based care than in previous decades, when the majority would have been placed in a group home. (Adobe Stock)

NY legislation would end parents paying for foster care

A bill in the New York State Legislature could alter how the foster care system operates in the state by ending the requirement for parents to pay for…

Polls show New York 3rd District residents trust Democrat Thomas Suozzi with protecting democracy, abortion rights, and making Congress work effectively. But they trust Republican Mazi Pilip to address the migrant crisis and American policy on the Israel-Hamas War. (Adobe Stock)

Special election held for New York’s 3rd Congressional District

Tomorrow is the special election in New York's 3rd Congressional District to replace George Santos. The candidates are Democrat Thomas Suozzi…

As of December, more than 2.5 million Medicaid enrollees renewed their coverage, and more than 1.1 million enrollees were disenrolled. This includes almost 600,000 people who were deemed ineligible and more than 509,000 who were disenrolled for procedural reasons. (Adobe Stock)

Community health center leaders examine primary care crisis

Community health center leaders from New York and across the nation are meeting in Washington this week. They'll be strategizing about how to address …

More than 250 local waterways in New York have exceeded PFAS levels stipulated by the state. (Natural Resources Defense Council)

NYS Legislature considers bills regulating PFAS

New York's Legislature will take up several bills regarding forever chemicals. The bills would eliminate unnecessary per- and polyfluoroalkyl …

At a cost of $802 million, the Port of Albany offshore wind tower manufacturing facility will not be completed until 2026. (Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ offshore wind manufacturing grows, despite setbacks

Despite challenges, offshore wind in New York is thriving. In late 2023, the South Fork Wind Farm off Montauk's coast began producing 130 megawatts …

The Pew Research Center reported 41% of Black workers it surveyed experienced discrimination or were treated unfairly by an employer in hiring, pay, or promotions due to their race or ethnicity. (Adobe Stock)

Black restaurant workers in NY want racial wage gap closed

As Black History Month begins, people are looking at how to close New York's racial wage gap. Between 2010 and 2020, the state's wage gap shrank by …

Rewiring America's Pace of Progress report found the U.S. was on track with sales of energy-efficient systems in the early 2020s but has since slowed progress, jeopardizing its ability to reach a national 2050 decarbonization goal. (Adobe Stock)

Online tool tracks NY communities’ renewable energy progress

A new online tool is tracking New York's progress in decarbonization. The Local Pace of Progress tool examines city, county, and state data to …

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report finds, in households that frequently incurred overdraft fees, 81% had difficulty paying a bill in the last year. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed overdraft-fees rule would benefit NYers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a rule on overdraft fees that would benefit New Yorkers. The rule closes a loophole exempting …

A Yale University report finds 81% of New York adults believe schools should teach about the causes, consequences and potential solutions to global warming. This is slightly higher than the national average of 75%. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill aims to educate kids about climate change

CLARIFICATION: The bill would not 'mandate' climate education, as indicated in a previous version of the story, and asks that the current standards …

Data from the Pew Charitable Trusts showed higher rates of homelessness in New York can be found in areas with the highest rents. (Adobe Stock)

NY advocates call out state for mishandling the housing crisis

New York housing advocates feel the state is not taking the affordable housing crisis seriously. The recent budget proposal and State of the State …

The New York HEAT Act would eliminate a rule requiring utilities to connect new customers to a gas line for free based on how close their property is to an existing gas line. From 2017 to 2021, utilities shifted about $1 billion of costs onto about 170,000 new ratepayers. (Adobe Stock)

NY environmentalists push to pass HEAT Act in state budget

The New York HEAT Act is again making its way through the state Legislature. The bill aims to phase out gas-line extension allowances and gives the …

A University of Washington report showed more than 2 million New York households struggle to get by on their earnings alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill establishes tax credit to help struggling families

A proposed bill would help New York families struggling with the high cost of living. The Working Families Tax Credit bill combines the Empire State …

A Marist Poll found 71% of rural New Yorkers think the state is not providing enough resources to address the lack of affordable housing. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget proposal doesn’t address rural housing needs

Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2025 budget proposal is missing key funding priorities for rural housing, according to a coalition advocating for the issue…

Gov. Kathy Hochul's 'Back to Basics' plan proposed $10 million in state investments to train 20,000 teachers in Science of Reading best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Hochul’s State of State proposals need funding to become reality

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State initiatives are ambitious for the state's future. The focus now is on how to make them a reality…

New York has made strides in voter access through the June 2022 enactment of The New York Voting Rights Act. (vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

New York Senate pushes for more ballot access

Just a week into the legislative session, New York lawmakers are moving to uphold democracy and expand voting rights. The state Senate passed a …

In her 2024 State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed allocating $20 million for district attorneys to gather evidence to prosecute abusers and have any firearms they own taken away. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYC intimate-partner violence reaches new high

A new report finds New York City intimate-partner violence increased almost 30% between 2022 and 2023. The city's Domestic Violence Fatality Review …

Since its launch, the EPA's Clean Bus Program has awarded more than $1.8 billion in grants to 652 school districts across the U.S. The money will help replace 5,103 diesel buses. (Adobe Stock)

Grants awarded to buy NY electric school buses

Federal funds have been awarded to New York applicants transitioning to electric school buses. The $69 million grant is part of the Environmental …

More than 20 million people live in manufactured homes in the United States, according to Census Data, which makes up about 6% of all housing stock in the nation. (Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services)

Manufactured homes could be key to rural NY’s housing issues

A solution to rural New York's housing problems could lie in manufactured homes. A 2023 report found manufactured homes comprise around 2.5% of New …

An environmental assessment of New York City's congestion pricing finds the Bronx could see increased soot from diverted traffic. This will come from the 700 more trucks entering the borough each day. The MTA says it's prepared to spend $130 million to mitigate these impacts. (Adobe Stock)

NYC 'congestion pricing' faces massive backlash

New York City's "congestion pricing" plan is set to start later this year, despite widespread opposition. The plan calls for drivers entering …

A report from the New York Attorney General's office found white New Yorkers are 50% more likely than Black or Latino households to own their own home. They're also 25% more likely than Asian households to own their own home. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lenders don't serve NYC Black, Brown communities equitably

An analysis of big banks in New York City contended they are perpetuating lending disparities. The New Economy Project report showed banks are not …

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