New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

A new report shows companies like ExxonMobil, the Hess Foundation and Shell Oil have been large donors to a slew of programs at Columbia University. Some of this funding has buoyed climate and environmental research. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Columbia U. climate research 'biased' by fossil fuel funding

A new report contends fossil fuel funding has biased Columbia University's climate research. The report, by two Columbia students, shows the …

New York voters across party lines and regions support raising the minimum wage to more than $20 an hour. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

New study shows minimum wage hikes don’t mean job losses

A new study found minimum wage increases have little or no impact on job loss. The Economic Policy Institute study comes as federal lawmakers …

More than 180 local and state elected officials from more than 40 states are coming together urging Congress to reject the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

Proposed ‘EATS’ Act could devour NY agriculture laws

A federal bill could spell trouble for New York farmers. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act would remove local and state governments' …

One of the requirements to be a vendor at Hudson's annual Latinx Festival is having someone on staff who is bilingual in English and Spanish. (Tony Ramirez/Columbia County Sanctuary Movement)

Hudson, NY, holds its 4th Annual Latinx Festival

Hudson, New York will hold its fourth annual Latinx Festival on Sunday. The festival celebrates a wide range of cultures through food, dancing and …

Voting-rights advocates want Congress to allocate at least $75 million in the FY25 budget. Although it's still quite low, it's an increase over FY24 funding levels. (Adobe Stock)

NY groups expand support for federal voting rights bills

New York groups are building support with federal lawmakers for several voting-rights bills. In passing the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R…

A New York State Comptroller audit chided the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for using outdated data in Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act projects. It also noted the Public Service Commission failed to estimate costs for transitioning to renewables. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: Gov. Hochul slacking on meeting 2030 climate goals

Environmental critics feel New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is not doing enough to meet the state's 2030 climate goals. The concerns come after Hochul …

At least one-third of schools are fully accessible in eleven of New York City's 32 community school districts. Once the projects currently in the pipeline are done, at least one-third of schools will be disability accessible. (Adobe Stock)

NYC public schools still not fully ADA compliant

Although classes are back in session, all New York City public schools still aren't entirely disability accessible. Reports find more than two …

Close to 4 million tons of food waste ends up in New York City landfills yearly, which comprises 20% of the city's waste. (Adobe Stock)

NYC nonprofit helps communities fight food insecurity

A New York City nonprofit is helping communities fight food insecurity. Rethink Food began in 2017 with the mission of taking excess food from top …

In 2022, there was a 1,700% increase in hard clams in Shinnecock Bay and more than 110 acres of seagrass was regrown. (Adobe Stock)

NY Indigenous women use seaweed to conserve shellfish

By Alexandra Talty for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

According to a Freelancers Union study, 71% of workers experienced late or non-payment, 59% said they live paycheck to paycheck and most do not have written contracts. (Adobe Stock)

NYS law gives freelancers labor protections

A newly enacted law provides New York freelancers with labor protections. The "Freelance Isn't Free Act" prevents companies from not paying …

Studies show ending the subminimum wage does not hurt employment in tipped industries. (Adobe Stock)

Proposals ending taxes on tips have mixed results for NYers

National proposals to end taxes on tips might have mixed effects on New Yorkers. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have …

Actions by the Biden administration reduced the number of people with medical debt on their credit reports from 46 million in 2020 to 15 million Americans in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Nationally proposed medical debt policies can aid NYers

New Yorkers could see relief from medical debt if several national proposals move forward. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new …

A new online resource helps LGBTQ+ couples navigate advance planning decisions (Felix/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

End-of-life decisions made easier for LGBTQ+ people with new online toolkit

LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to experience discrimination in health care, including as they age, according to a new survey from the Kaiser …

Most state juvenile courts, including New York's, have jurisdiction over people younger than 18. The only states excluding 17-year-olds from juvenile court are Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY, US see juvenile incarceration decline due to reforms

New York and the nation are seeing youth incarceration decline. Despite claims crime, particularly youth crime, is rising, a new report by The …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there are 1,800 projected job openings for wind turbine technicians each year. (Adobe Stock)

SUNY Morrisville wraps first Offshore Wind Institute classes

SUNY Morrisville recently wrapped up its first classes as part of New York's Offshore Training Wind Institute. The state-funded program is part of …

Older adults are an economic driver for New York State, as some 935,000 people 60 and older contribute 495 million hours of service with an economic value of $13.8 billion. (Adobe Stock)

NYS develops ‘master plan’ for older adults to age in place

New York State is developing a Master Plan for Aging. It will act as a framework to help older adults age in place while ensuring their quality of …

A Building Decarbonization Coalition report showed the combination of high fuel costs and high distribution system costs can lead to rising cost requirements from ratepayers. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Public Service Commission approves gas rate increase

New York's Public Service Commission has approved a three-year rate increase for National Grid. The more than 19% rate increase will impact Brooklyn…

Columbia County and many other rural counties in New York are facing ongoing shortages of mental health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

Wellness Hub to fill continuum-of-care gaps

Columbia County, New York, is developing a new center to help people with mental illness and substance use disorder. The Wellness Hub stems from a …

Reports show if New York does not make swift investments in climate change adaptation infrastructure, in the next decade, a major disaster could cost the state around $55 billion. (Adobe Stock)

NY activists take action on companies causing climate change

Though New York's summer is winding down, climate change's effects remain. This summer saw record-high temperatures which have only grown in the …

The annual tax contributions of undocumented immigrants across the U.S. are higher than the state budgets of at least 13 states. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Undocumented NYers contribute billions in tax revenue

A new report says undocumented immigrant New Yorkers contribute $3 billion to local, state and federal tax revenue. The Institute on Taxation and …

The Duncomb Bridge is one of 75 structures on the 25-mile-long Bronx River Greenway, which winds through most of the borough. (Bronx River Alliance)

EPA grants $1 million to South Bronx groups for climate justice, resiliency

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described a different EPA grant. The grant amount and purpose have been corrected here…

New York State invested more than one billion dollars to develop offshore wind and clean energy projects equal to 79% of the state�s 2030 energy goals.

Elected officials celebrate Inflation Reduction Act’s second anniversary

New York and the nation have seen sweeping impacts since the Inflation Reduction Act's passage two years ago. New York received $34 billion from the …

EPA grants $500K to South Bronx groups for climate justice, mitigation

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the South Bronx $500,000 for climate resiliency planning, and local environmentalists say it couldn't …

New York State livestock management practices are the largest source of emissions in the agricultural sector, and have increased 50% since 1990, according to the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Litigation holds companies accountable for climate impacts

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Enacting the Good Food NY bill could help the 139 black-owned farms in New York state have better access to procurement contracts since it eliminates poor access to information about opportunities to compete for institutional food contracts. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill implements value-based standards for food procurement

A New York bill would change food procurement laws for municipal institutions. The Good Food New York Act would allow municipal institutions to use …

Although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing barriers to employment for people with disabilities, it created new opportunities through remote work. (Adobe Stock)

34 Years of the ADA

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

New York is facing a shortage of 180,000 teachers, which will only grow due to a steep retirement cliff the state faces in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

NY teachers union launches pro-public education campaign

New York's United Federation of Teachers union is launching a campaign to bolster public education. It comes as public schools' role as a social …

Currently, 33 states have laws banning or preempting local rent control laws. (Adobe Stock)

National rent-cap proposal could benefit NY renters

Backers of President Joe Biden's rent cap proposal said it could benefit many New Yorkers. The plan calls for capping rent increases at 5% in …

While a New York antitrust bill considers closing loopholes in existing laws, a new report shows more can be done. This includes adding a racial-justice lens to antitrust laws and leveraging other economic regulatory tools to rein in corporate power. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill addresses monopolies, anti-trust loopholes

New York legislation can address growing anti-trust concerns. The 21st Century Anti-Trust Act updates the state's aged anti-trust laws and closes …

A 2015 NOAA report finds GE didn't do enough dredging in the Hudson River, and the EPA didn't force the company to do more. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: EPA’s Hudson River dredging efforts insufficient

New York environmentalists want the Environmental Protection Agency to re-dredge the Hudson River. This comes after the agency released its latest …

As of 2022, the New York State Comptroller's Office found only 29% of the state's electricity is generated from clean energy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY might miss its 2030 climate goals

A new report shows New York will have to delay its 2030 climate goals. The report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority …

Weill Cornell Medicine notes that, along with drinking water to remain hydrated in extreme heat, foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit and homemade popsicles can work well, too. (Adobe Stock)

NY medical professional advises best ways to beat the heat

New York doctors are advising people how to stay healthy in the summer heat. Temperatures across the state will reach the high 80s and mid-90s in …

The Republican Study Committee's proposed 2025 budget calls for repealing $565 billion in green energy programs and $87 billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed GOP budget could harm NYers, critics say

New Yorkers could see detrimental impacts from a proposed federal budget. The Republican Study Committee's proposed 2025 budget calls for sweeping …

A New York Times investigation finds congestion pricing would have made $200,000 for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in one hour. (Adobe Stock)

Congestion pricing pause costs NY jobs, economic opportunities

New York is seeing ripple effects from Gov. Kathy Hochul pausing "congestion pricing." The Metropolitan Transit Authority halted numerous capital …

In response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement ending its free 500 phone minutes program, 40 people at New York's Batavia Processing Center went on hunger strikes, some for more than 24 hours. (Adobe Stock)

NY advocates denounce termination of free phone call program

New York human-rights groups want a program providing detained immigrants 500 free minutes of phone calls restored. Immigrations and Customs …

In total, The Conservation Fund has protected 529,213 acres of land and water across the state of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of acres of NY forest land protected for conservation

Almost 200,000 acres of New York have been protected by The Conservation Fund. Their efforts in the Empire State come as the group, which protects …

A new report from the nonprofit Inseperable found in 2017, mental health and substance use disorder-related emergency department visits cost the U.S. more than $5.6 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY 988 services rank high, but can be improved

While New York's 988 services rank highly, a new report showed improvements can be made. The report found New York has an 88% response rate for 988 …

Reports show newly constructed electric buildings can have lower energy bills than those with fossil-fuel systems. (Adobe Stock)

‘All-Electric Buildings’ law part of NY building code update

New York's Building Code Council is set to include the All-Electric Buildings Act in its 2025 code update. The 2023 law bans natural gas and other …

The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's newest report shows traffic congestion causes pollution to spike twice a day with the recorded air pollution levels significantly higher during rush hours. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Air quality worsens in NYC environmental-justice areas

A new report finds New York City environmental-justice communities face worsening air quality. It's part of the Community Heat and Air Mapping …

Port Richmond on Staten Island has the highest amount of lead/possible lead service line in all of New York City, 60.67%. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: NYC bill takes wrong approach to lead pipe removal

A New York City bill is a catch-22 for removing lead pipes. The so-called "Rotten Apple Bill" makes city property owners remove their home's lead …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported power plant pollution exacerbates asthma, creates new asthma cases, causes heart attacks and is the largest airborne emission of mercury. (TomKonrad/Wikimedia Commons)

Danskammer Energy withdraws Newburgh power plant application

Danskammer Energy is no longer seeking an expansion of its Newburgh plant. The original plan called for expanding the company's "peaker plant" meant …

New York is one of eight states requiring exit exams for high school graduation. (Adobe Stock)

NYS no longer requires Regents exams for graduation

Regents exams will no longer be a graduation requirement for New York State students. The State Department of Education announced the change several …

Restaurants are the third-largest employer of young people ages 16 to 24 in New York. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Young NYers prioritize living-wage jobs at ballot box

A new report finds New York's rising cost of living and having living-wage jobs are priority issues for young voters. Research shows a single …

Beyond climate laws, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in two cases could overturn regulations on health policy, since most health-care laws are federal regulations. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to decide whether to uphold ‘Chevron deference’

Two U.S. Supreme Court cases could change federal agencies' roles in clarifying ambiguous laws. The cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and …

An Associated Press/NORC poll found 47% of people are unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle, with the biggest reason being the high cost. (Adobe Stock)

NJ elected officials work to relieve concerns about EVs

As New York and New Jersey transition to electric vehicles, consumers have mixed feelings about it. Polls show fewer than half of New York drivers …

The number of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school remained the same before and after the pandemic at 42%, which is lower than the national average of 54%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY kids’ pandemic-era education troubles persist

A new report found New York kids' well-being is improving despite lingering pandemic issues. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

New York gained more than 170,000 clean-energy jobs in 2022 with work in grid modernization growing more than 8% that year and making New York's battery storage and grid modernization sector one of the largest in the country. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature passes climate, energy bills before session ends

New York State's legislative session has ended with climate bills a top priority. Legislation such as the Climate Change Superfund Act awaits Gov…

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