New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

Solar development has grown throughout New York City over the last decade. By summer 2022, 350 megawatts were installed, enough to power 90,000 households in New York City. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

New law expands NYC solar property-tax abatement

A recently signed law expands New York City's solar property tax abatement. This four year tax abatement allows for the construction of solar …

A 2019 law in New York City requires new buildings, new roofs from building enlargement and replacement of an existing building's roof requires installation of a

Monday, October 2, 2023

Proposed bill puts solar on NYC public building roofs

A proposed bill aims to have solar panels placed on the roofs of all public buildings in New York City. The bill's goal is 100 megawatts of solar on …

House Republicans continuing resolution proposes cutting 110,000 slots in the Head Start program, and waitlisting over 2 million women, infants, and children for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The Senate has already passed a bill which awaits action in the House. (Adobe Stock)

New Yorkers worry about effects of government shutdown

New Yorkers are preparing for an impending government shutdown. State officials are worried about how it could impact the work state agencies have …

A $27 billion fund managed by the Environmental Protection Agency is designed to help states and local communities construct sustainable green projects to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gases. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Elected officials seek to fight climate change in underserved NY communities

Elected officials in New York and across the country are urging state and local governments to use new funding available through the Environmental Pro…

A new report found elderly Black New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable to health complications from air pollution, and would experience the greatest decrease in mortality rates, compared to Hispanic, Asian and white counterparts. (Kirsten D/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock) The report found elderly Black New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable to health complications from air pollution, and would experience the greatest decrease in mortality rates, compared to Hispanic, Asian and white counterparts. (Kirsten

Report compares ways NY can get cleaner air, help disadvantaged communities

A new report sheds light on the effects of local air quality policies on disadvantaged communities. As New York State works to meet the challenges …

The New York City Mayor has declared a State of Emergency due to the 113,000 migrants who've arrived since spring of 2022. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Report questions NYC Mayor's proposed budget cuts, costs of migrant influx

A new report questions New York City Mayor Eric Adams' latest budget proposal for dealing with the city's influx of over 110,000 migrants. The cost …

The 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly included a speech from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke of peace with Saudi Arabia. The annual meeting's focus was the global warming crisis. (RawBeautyPixels/Adobe Stock)

Why Israeli politics matter in NYC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United Nations General Assembly sparked major demonstrations in New York City on Friday…

Protesters take to the streets of New York as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu attends the U.N. General Assembly Today. (VICHIZH/ Adobe Stock)

NY rallies for Jewish democracy as Netanyahu meets UN

Protests have heightened in New York as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins the United Nations General Assembly today. Sonya Meyerson-…

According to KFF, Community Health Centers served a record number of patients in 2021, representing a 1% increase from just before the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health Centers: Red lights flashing for staying funded

Congress is bracing for a possible government shutdown as progress stalls in approving new federal spending plans before a Sept. 30 deadline…

Census data shows the most common method of voter registration was via the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Raising Awareness on Voter Registration Day

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and advocates across New York and the nation are reminding people to check up on their registration status…

In 2022, New Yorkers were paying $8,596 for employer-sponsored health coverage. Now, those prices have gotten closer to $9,000. (Adobe Stock)

NY Health Experts Help People Find Health Care Plans

New York health experts are preparing people for the health-care coverage open-enrollment period. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of New Yorkers …

At least 11 major cities across the United States are hosting National Day of Action rallies today to call attention to reforms they say are needed in the nation's immigration detention system. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Immigration Advocates Host National Day of Action Rally

Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to …

Earlier this year, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators submitted a letter to President Joe Biden supporting the need for an international climate peace clause. (Adobe Stock)

NY Environmental Groups Seek Climate Peace Clause

New York environmental organizations are looking for a truce in the international trade wars. They're backing what they call a "climate peace …

The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act allocates $1.2 billion to a slew of climate-related measures, one of which is reducing flood risks, and helping communities brace for climate change-related flooding. (Adobe Stock)

NY Law Requires Disclosure of Property’s Flood Risk

New York is slated to become another state to require disclosing flood-risk information to prospective homeowners. The Legislature passed a law …

The 15 confirmed weather and climate disasters that affected the U.S. in 2023 created around $32.7 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Is your household ready to survive one? (Adobe Stock)

Experts Guide NYers During National Preparedness Month

Experts are advising New Yorkers about how to stay safe during natural disasters as part of National Preparedness Month. New York has been preparing …

The Education Data Initiative finds more than half (56.4%) of New York federal student loan borrowers are younger than 35. (Adobe Stock)

Student Loan Interest Accrues Again for NYers

Interest on federal student loans will begin accruing for borrowers in New York and across the nation starting this month. The Education Data …

More than $29 billion in public and private investment has led to around 100 solar, wind and hydroelectric projects being built across New York State. (New Yorkers for Clean Power)

Conservation Groups Collaborate for NYS State Fair Booth

Amid the chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick, the 4-H pavilion and the carnival rides, you'll find the Clean Energy Corner at this year's New …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds employment of janitors and building cleaners is projected to grow 4% between 2021 and 2031, which is a similar rate for all occupations. (32BJ SEIU)

NY Cleaners Head to Philadelphia for Union Contract Rally

Hundreds of New York commercial office cleaners are going to Philadelphia to rally for upcoming contract negotiations. The negotiations for New York …

An Advocates for Children of New York report finds 454 New York City public schools are fully accessible to some people with disabilities, 263 are only partially accessible, 65 aren't fully accessible, and 547 are completely inaccessible with no plans for renovation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-Thirds of NYC Schools Not ADA Compliant

A recent report finds only around 31% of New York City public schools are disability accessible. The report, from Advocates for Children of New …

In 2021, New York received $626,590,038 in federal funding for the Head Start program. (Adobe Stock)

NY Children Face Severe Impacts of Proposed Head Start Cuts

Congress is divided on how to fund the Head Start program in its upcoming appropriations bill. While the Senate is keen on investing more money for …

An Oliver Wyman report finds half of Gen Z members surveyed are being treated for at least one mental health issue, a rate almost double that of previous generations. (Adobe Stock)

Gen Z NYers Take Different Approach to Healthcare

As 'Gen Z' New Yorkers enter the workforce, their healthcare needs and concerns are varying from previous generations. Along with differences in …

The National Organization for Women notes abusers might exploit a person's disability to further exert power and control over their victim. Life after a sexual assault for a disabled person can be challenging since trauma-informed services addressing sexual abuse and a person's disability are limited. (Adobe Stock)

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities…

In a hearing about the American Broadband Deployment Act, which could preempt local governments zoning laws regarding cell towers, no local or state governments were asked to testify. Instead, members of broadband organizations testified. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. House Bill Would Minimize Local Input on Cell-Tower Location

A bill in Congress could almost eliminate local input on cell-tower location, in New York and across the U.S. The American Broadband Deployment Act …

In 2017, the Rusty Patched Bumblebee became the first bumblebee in the U.S. to be added to the Endangered Species List. This stems from growing pesticide use and loss of crop diversity, leaving flowering crops available for shorter periods. (Adobe Stock)

NY Activists Ask Governor to Sign Bill Prohibiting Harmful Pesticides

In honor of National Honey Bee Day, New York environmentalists want Gov. Hochul to sign the Birds and Bees Protection Act. The bill prohibits …

The Inflation Reduction Act invests around $34 billion in New York for large-scale clean energy generation and storage between 2022 and 2023. (Adobe Stock)

NY's Elected Officials Celebrate Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act

It's been one year since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The sweeping climate legislation has had vast …

In 2022, there were more than 32,000 reports of impostor scams by New Yorkers. The second-largest scam involved online shopping, with 18,000 reports in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

More NYers Taken In by Different Scams

New Yorkers and people across the nation are being victimized by a plethora of scams. The Federal Trade Commission reported impostor scams cost New …

The #MeToo Movement has been intersectional in the world of hip-hop. Some women of color in that world were silenced in reporting sexual abuse, which has become a lingering cultural force. (Adobe Stock)

Cinderella and the Glass Boombox: Women Help Shape First 50 Years of Hip-Hop

By Janell Hobson for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse finds there are more than 10,000 immigrants in ICE detention as of July 2023, down from a high of 20,000 in May 2019. (Adobe Stock)

NY Group Turns to Immigrants to Help Peers in Detention

A New York immigrants' rights organization has created a membership group to develop solutions for better treatment of immigrants arriving in the stat…

The entire project involving the new Buffalo Bills facility will be to build the 1.35 million-square-foot open-air stadium with 60,000 to 63,000 seats, with an expandable capacity for special events. (Gov. Kathy Hochul)

New Buffalo Bills Stadium Creates Jobs for Western NYers

As construction on the new Buffalo Bills stadium gets underway, Western New Yorkers are preparing for the jobs the project will create. Along with …

Stop AAPI Hate finds more than 11,000 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported from March 2020 to March 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NY 'SafeWalks' Program Keeps On Walking

A community effort meant to curb incidents of violence against Asian Americans in New York is undergoing some changes - but it will still be around…

A 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds 74% of all kids in New York foster care are

NY Family Celebrates National Sisters Day

Sunday is National Sisters Day, and a New York family is celebrating the coming together of their two children - soon to be three. Merriah Kenneally …

Part of the Rebuild Rural America Act would establish the Rural Future Corps, placing AmeriCorps Fellows in rural areas to expand critical services. In New York, rural counties experienced a population decline of 50,000, double the rate of urban counties. (Adobe Stock)

Congressional Bill Could Provide Billions to Rural NYers

Legislation in Congress aims to provide money to rural communities in New York and across the U.S. The Rebuild Rural America Act would allocate $50-…

A Pew Research poll finds 70% of voters, and a slightly higher number (72%) cited convenience as a major reason they voted by mail in the 2020 election. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislation Expands Vote-by-Mail Access

Before New York's legislative session ended, lawmakers expanded vote-by-mail access. The New York Early Mail Voter Act allows registered voters to …

A 2021 amendment proposed to New York voters to revise the redistricting process in New York State. More than half of voters voted against the measure. (Wikimedia Commons)

NY Appellate Court Orders Congressional Map Be Redrawn

New York's Appellate Court has ordered the state's Congressional maps be redrawn. The Bipartisan State Commission will start work immediately…

A proposed bill calls for an 80% ($14.7 Billion) cut to Title 1 grants for states with schools where children from low-income families comprise 40% of enrollment. Since $31 billion in pandemic funds hasn't been spent, further investments aren't being provided until they're spent responsibly. (Adobe Stock)

New Campaign Aims to Bolster Public Education in NY, US

A new campaign aims to bolster public education and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers' Real Solutions for Kids and Communities …

As of 2023, there are more than 450,000 Israeli settlements along the West Bank of Palestine, comprising 14% of the area's population. (Trocaire/Wikimedia Commons)

NY Bill Aims to End Support for Pro-Israeli Settlement Groups

A proposed New York bill aims to end state funding for so-called charities supporting Israeli settlements. The "Not On Our Dime Act" aims to end …

A report from the Rural Housing Coalition of New York finds rural counties saw their amount of housing increase between 2011 and 2020. However, they're still facing an 18% vacancy rate. (Photo Courtesy of Snow Belt Housing Co.)

Some Rural NY Renters See Benefits of Covid Block Grants

Some one-time grant funding has made the difference between renters in rural New York having a safe place to live - or having to move. The McNeil …

Costing around $19 million, the Selkirk Landing Apartments are one part of a statewide $25 billion investment to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York. (Oswego Housing Development Council, Inc.)

New Development Helps Reduce Rural NY Housing Shortage

New apartments on the market in Pulaski are the latest development aimed at reducing New York's housing shortage. Selkirk Landing consists of 44 …

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' draft budget finds the city could be caring for 70,000 asylum seekers by June 2024, costing the city around $4.3 billion. (Adobe Stock)

NYC Immigrant Students Increase Despite Lacking Resources

A report finds New York City is shrinking support for its growing immigrant student population. Since July 2022, more than 18,000 new students…

Before the Supreme Court's ruling, nine states banned affirmative action: California in 1996, Washington in 1998 (rescinded in 2022), Florida in 1999, Michigan in 2006, Nebraska in 2008, Arizona in 2010, New Hampshire and Oklahoma in 2012 and Idaho in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

NY Higher Ed Advocates Mull Affirmative Action Ban Impacts

Colleges and universities are trying to figure out what's next after last week's 6-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down affirmative …

An Accountability Framework Initiative and CDP report found 77% of companies surveyed do not have sufficient traceability across their supply chains to meet their climate accountability commitments. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature Passes Tropical Deforestation Free Procurement Act

The New York state Legislature has passed the Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act, which aims to hold companies contracting with the state …

Of the $229 billion New York State 2024 budget, $800,000 in additional funding was allocated for at least 10 more state railroad inspectors, amounting to $1.75 million. (Adobe Stock)

As National Rail Safety Month Ends, NY Advocacy Continues

As National Rail Safety Month comes to a close, experts in New York and across the country stressed there is more to do beyond June. The Federal …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds declines in HIV/AIDS aren't even across all racial and ethnic groups. The lowest decline was 27% between 2017 and 2021 among young Black and African American gay and bisexual males ages 13 to 24. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Some New Yorkers Disproportionately Affected by HIV

As New York honors National HIV Testing Day, experts are hoping to end the disproportionate effects of HIV and AIDS. A report from the Human …

According to 2021 data from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, 77.5% of people who work in Manhattan's Central Business District use public transportation to commute from New Jersey. (Adobe Stock)

NYC Congestion Pricing Plan to Receive Federal Approval

New York City's first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan is slated to receive federal approval in the coming days. The plan calls for a toll on …

An Economic Policy Institute Report finds child care in New York is the sixth most expensive in the United States, at a cost of $15,394 a year, or $1,283 a month. This means infant care costs almost $7,500 more than in-state tuition at a four-year public college. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Sees Mixed Results for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in New York has fluctuated over the last year, a recent annual report finds. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report finds there have been 121 fatalities nationwide related to e-bikes and e-scooters between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

NY Disability Advocates Seeking E-Bike Safety Measures

Some New York groups are taking action to reduce the number of disabled people being hurt in e-bike crashes. According to New York City's crash …

Despite some studies illuminating the health impacts of non-ionizing radiation from cellphones and other wireless devices, the Food and Drug Administration maintains there is no association between exposure to radio frequency from cellphone use and health problems. (Ernst Moeksis/Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Petition FDA to Abide by Law on Non-Ionizing Radiation

A New York nonprofit group is petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to abide by a law passed in 1968, which addresses how the FDA is …

In 2009, the New York Transit Authority opened a new station at South Ferry costing $530 million. Much of the station was damaged in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. After five years, it reopened. Reconstruction cost $344 million. (Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Patrick Cashin/Wikimedia Commons)

Cities Brace Public Transit for Climate Change Impacts

By Whitney Bauck for Next City and Nexus Media News.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions …

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