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Signs of too much screen time range from dry, irritated eyes to difficulty sleeping, blurred vision, reduced attention span and irritability. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Experts: New Yorkers Should Monitor Excess Screen Time, Blue-Light Exposure

Health experts are warning the public about the mental, social and physical health risks of using digital devices too much, including the possible …

In 2020, 42% of New York's direct care workers lived in or near poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push NY to Increase Home-Care Workers' Pay

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are calling on state lawmakers to take action on policies that would raise earnings for home-care workers…

Emissions from all buses, cars, and trucks make up 30% of New York City's carbon footprint. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Rally Support for NY Plan to Electrify School Buses

In her 2022 State of the State address, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul set new goals for electrifying the school bus fleets in the state. Clean-energy …

If the New York State Legislature rejects the Independent Redistricting Commission's maps again, it will be up to state lawmakers to draw congressional and state legislative district lines. (Flickr/Wally Gobetz)

NY Lawmakers Reject Latest Redistricting Maps

The New York State Legislature on Monday rejected two sets of district maps submitted by the state's Independent Redistricting Commission, so more …

PFAS chemicals have been discovered at high levels in the water systems of Hoosick Falls, Newburgh, Petersburgh and dozens of communities on Long Island. (Adobe Stock)

NY Enacts New PFAS Testing, Notification Law

A new law on the books in New York establishes the most comprehensive drinking-water testing and notification program in the nation for Perfluorinated…

New York City has set a goal of 100 megawatts of solar capacity on public buildings by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Unions: BBB's Clean-Energy Jobs Key to NY's Manufacturing Future

The future of the Build Back Better Act may be in doubt in Congress, but New York labor leaders say the bill would create sustainable union jobs and …

Firearms, rifles and shotguns are used to kill almost 40,000 people every year in the United States, including 800 people in New York State alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY Lawmaker Proposes 10-Day Gun-Purchase Waiting Period

The gun violence crisis in the U.S. has taken a toll on communities across the country. In New York, pending legislation would require licensed gun …

Nearly 900,000 renters in New York spent 50% or more of their income on housing in 2017, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.(Adobe Stock)

Report: NY's Severe Housing Issues Impact Public Health

A new report provides a checkup on the health of people in New York and across the country, to help officials improve outcomes in their states…

In a National Wildlife Federation and United Federation of Teachers survey, only one in five educators said climate education was covered in student-teacher training. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: More Climate Education Needed in NYC Schools

CORRECTION: Just 52% of NYC teachers teach climate change. An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated the percentage. (11:43 a.m. EST., Dec…

A letter sent to Congress by 240 groups in part calls for $69.5 million for increased access to overdose prevention, harm reduction, and syringe service programs through the CDC's Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic program. (Flickr)

As Overdoses Climb, NY Groups Seek Solutions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced another staggering new death count amid the pandemic: more than 100,000 fatal drug overdo…

Even before COVID-19, almost 29 million Americans didn't have health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Open Enrollment for ACA Health Insurance Ends Soon in NY

New Yorkers have until the end of the year to get health insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1 on the health insurance marketplaces through the …

Under New York state law, the right to sepulcher allows someone's next of kin to control the final disposition of their loved one's body. (Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York)

NY Medical Examiner Challenged in End-of-Life Directive Lawsuit

A lawsuit claims the New York City Medical Examiner's Office violated the advance directive of a transgender Muslim man who specified what to do with …

In the redistricting process, New York will lose one congressional seat, the result of a population decrease upstate. (NYIRC Maps)

NY Groups Hope New Voting-District Maps Reflect Community Input

New York City made history last week when the City Council passed a law giving non-citizens with legal permanent-resident status the right to vote in …

A new report from The Nature Conservancy says 1,100 tons of pollutants are removed from the air each year, thanks to the trees in New York City. (Noemi Gonzalo-Bilbao Fernandez/The Nature Conservancy)

Studies Show Need for NYC Urban Forest Growth

NEW YORK -- New research shows how expanding New York City's urban forest would benefit New Yorkers' lives in the long term. According to The Nature …

NYSNA alleges that more than 650 vacant nursing jobs among three Bronx hospitals have not been filled, adding to an overall staffing shortage. (Adobe Stock)

NY Nurses Allege Understaffing Hampers Patient Care in Bronx ERs

BRONX, N.Y. -- New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members continue to speak out, with allegations of understaffing in New York City hospitals…

Around 200 million people may have been contaminated by the toxic chemical PFAS through drinking water contaminated by hundreds of military bases. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental Advocates Seek More Federal Action on PFAS in NY, U.S.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Advocates for the environment are applauding the Biden administration's new Executive Order prioritizing climate initiatives …

Hastings-on-Hudson is currently the highest-ranking town in New York State's Climate Smart Communities program. (Adobe Stock)

NY Small Towns See Opportunity to Address Climate Change Locally

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. -- One of the major takeaways from last month's big climate conference in Scotland is, all levels of government need to …

New York City launched a community schools initiative in 2014. A study three years later found it had a positive impact on student attendance and credit accumulation. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers’ Union Issues Recommendations for NY Public Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has released a new report this week, with recommendations from educators about how best to …

Every year, about 66,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with diabetes, and experts say eye exams are one of the first lines of defense in early detection. (Adobe Stock)

An Eye Exam May Reveal COVID Mortality Risk

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Symptoms of diabetes are often first noticed by optometrists, and eye experts say a preventive exam can also help determine a …

Healthcare advocacy groups say increasing Medicaid postpartum coverage up to one year after a child's birth can help decrease maternal mortality rates, which disproportionately affect people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Build Back Better's CHIP, Medicaid Changes Support NY Families

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act will soon get a vote in the U.S. Senate, and in New York, advocates say it could mean major …

Paige Bethmann and Ku Stevens speak in between interviews at his house on the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Nevada. (Zack Kiszka)

NY Filmmaker Reflects on Upcoming Indian Boarding Schools Documentary

NEW YORK -- A team of New York-based filmmakers is producing a documentary about reclaiming Indigenous heritage, told through the experiences of an 18…

One in four New York City SNAP redemptions happens at Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan. It's one of 80 GrowNYC food access sites in the city. (Michayla Savitt)

Report: Pandemic SNAP Benefits Cut NY Food Insecurity in Half

NEW YORK - A new report shows far fewer New Yorkers have gone hungry since the federal government nearly doubled its spending in the pandemic on the S…

The expensive costs of child care in New York create economic hardship for some families, according to a report from the Children's Agenda. (Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Would Amplify New York's Child Care, Pre-K Investments

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act now moves to the Senate where it will face an uphill battle after passing the House Friday…

Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), speaks to nurses, lawmakers and community supporters rallying outside New York Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights. (Michayla Savitt)

NY Nurses Speak Out, Alleging Hospital Staffing Shortages

NEW YORK -- Members of the New York Nurses Association (NYSNA) union are sounding the alarm about what they say is a nursing shortage at hospitals in …

Between 2010 and 2019, felony arrests of people younger than 18 were down 53%, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Youthful-Offender Status Reform Gives New Yorkers a Chance at a Clean Slate

NEW YORK -- This month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law advocates said gives young people who were caught up in the criminal-…

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

According to a new AARP report, rural New Yorkers are more likely than urban residents to die prematurely from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Older, Rural New Yorkers Need Greater Healthcare Access

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new report showed rural New Yorkers face disparities in access to healthcare, and advocates for older residents said it underscores …

Medal of Honor recipient Jack H. Jacobs spends time with Cadets from the U.S. Military Academy during the 113th Army vs. Navy football game Dec. 8, 2012, in Philadelphia. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade/Released)

Medal of Honor Museum to Tell Stories of Military's Highest Award Recipients

NEW YORK -- On this Veterans Day, Americans who honor those who served in the military also can celebrate the news of the National Medal of Honor …

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing the virus in kids 5 to 11 years old. (Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Vaccinations, Resources Available for School-Age Kids in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a new version of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-1…

More than 44,000 people signed a petition supporting New York City cab drivers' debt relief from purchasing permits to own and drive a taxi. (Michayla Savitt)

More Aid on Way for NYC Yellow Cab Medallion Owners

NEW YORK -- The New York Taxi Workers Alliance and its allies are celebrating a new city deal which provides relief to cab drivers facing debt from pu…

Around 94% of moths spend some part of their life cycle in a leaf layer, many in the winter months as pupa. When they emerge, they lay eggs, and moth caterpillars are an important food source for many backyard birds. (Adobe Stock)

Leave the Leaves to Help NY's Environment, Naturalist Suggests

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A New York autumn is in full swing, and one nature expert said there are ways people should handle fallen leaves to protect wildlife …

The Long Island Solar Farm is part of the state's commitment to limit statewide greenhouse-gas emissions to 40% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% by 2050. (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

NY Advocate Joins Call for Action at Glasgow Climate-Change Conference

GLASGOW, Scotland -- A contingent of current and former elected officials from New York and across the country is in Glasgow, Scotland, this week and …

Last year, according to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities were more likely to work in service occupations or be self-employed, and less likely to work in management occupations compared to those without a disability. (Adobe Stock)

As Disability Employment Awareness Month Ends, NY Efforts Continue

NEW YORK -- National Disability Employment Awareness Month is nearly over, but advocates in New York said there is more progress to be made beyond …

Close to one million New York City residents smoke tobacco, according to Public Health Solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY a National Leader in Increasing Smoke-Free Households

NEW YORK -- Although New York and the country as a whole saw some progress surrounding the health of children and women, a new report showed there is …

Kalaya'an Mendoza of Nonviolent Peaceforce introduces training practices on holistic safety and security, situational awareness and threat assessment on Saturday in Brookyln's Sunset Park neighborhood. (Neha Gautam)

As Anti-Asian Violence Continues, NY Groups Host Community Safety Trainings

NEW YORK -- Police data show New York City saw a 368% increase in assaults against Asian residents in September, compared with the same time last …

Advocates for clean energy say installation of air-source or ground-source heat pumps would be best to use in the switch to electricity for heating, cooling and cooking. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Faster Electrification of NY Buildings

ALBANY, N.Y. - Groups in support of renewable energy are pushing for legislation and other initiatives to accelerate complete electrification of …

According to a Siena College poll published in April 2021, 64% of New Yorkers reported being "very concerned" about water pollution in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Proponents of NY Drinking Water Protection Seek Hochul's Approval

ALBANY, N.Y. - Environmental groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that mandates monitoring the state's drinking water for "emerging …

From 2015 to 2020, the price of the brand name drug Victoza, which treats diabetes, increased from $7,936 a year to $11,300 a year in New York. (Adobe Stock)

AARP-NY to Congress: Let Medicare Negotiate Prescription Prices

ALBANY, N.Y. -- AARP is among the groups urging Congress to pass a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription costs with drug …

Members of the Schenectady Coalition for Healthcare Access are concerned about the impacts, both on reproductive health care and end-of-life care in their community, if Ellis Medicine merges with a Catholic health system. (Adobe Stock)

Upstate NY Hospital Merger Could Impact End-of-Life Care Options

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- A proposed merger between two hospital systems in upstate New York has some residents and health-care advocates concerned about …

As of 2021, medical aid in dying is an option for terminally ill adults in 10 states and Washington, D.C. (Adobe Stock)

Poll Shows Voter Support for NY Aid-in-Dying Act

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new survey shows most New Yorkers approve of medical aid-in-dying legislation, and advocates for end-of-life autonomy said it is …

The U.S. Postal Service says the changes will not impact local first-class mail, which still will be delivered in two days or less. (Adobe Stock)

Some NY Postal-Worker Unions Concerned About Latest Mail Delivery Changes

ALBANY, N.Y. -- More changes went into effect this month at the U.S. Postal Service, and some New York postal workers worry about how the policies …

The Mashomack Preserve is one of more than 100 nature preserves in New York under the care of The Nature Conservancy. (Carl Heilman/The Nature Conservancy)

Partnership Mixes Traditional & Western Ways to Protect NY Preserves

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - New York environmental groups are teaming up to blend Indigenous knowledge of the land with Western scientific knowledge to …

More than 600,000 New York state residents are SSI recipients, according to 2019 data. (Adobe Stock)

NY Suit Contests Social Security Closures, Changes

NEW YORK -- Disability advocates and other groups are suing the federal government over the Social Security Administration's practices during the pand…

As the pandemic continues to claim lives, bereaved families can apply for FEMA aid to cover up to $9,000 in funeral expenses of individuals who have died from COVID-19 on U.S. soil. (Adobe Stock)

Funeral Expense Aid Still Available for COVID Victims' Families

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency's program to help reimburse funeral expenses for victims of COVID-19 is still available…

Business Forward is investing $1.2 million in advertising for 12 swing congressional districts, in the hopes of showing those state representatives why small businesses need bold action on climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Small-Business Leaders: Climate Resilience Vital to Build Back Better Plan

Corrected 9/28/21, 5 p.m. MDT. The damage figure from climate-related disasters is $6 billion, not $4 billion. HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Small-business …

Final versions of revised New York congressional, State Senate, and Assembly district maps are expected to be ready by Jan. 15, 2022, at the earliest. Another 14 public hearings will be held before the end of December. (NYIRC)

NY Groups for Fair Redistricting Question Release of Two Draft Map Sets

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Some New Yorkers are voicing concerns about the creation of not one, but two draft maps for congressional, State Senate and …

Members from Make the Road New York were among more than 10,000 attendees at the "Welcome Back Congress" rally on Tuesday. (Make the Road NY)

NY Immigrants, Allies Push for Federal Investments in Citizenship

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Thousands of U.S. immigrants and their allies rallied Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to demand that Congress include a pathway to …

Better flood resiliency is top of mind in New York, after scenes like the Long Island Expressway's partial shutdown in Tropical Storm Ida. But who will pay for it? (Adobe Stock)

Flood Resiliency: One NY Priority for "Build Back Better" Plan

ALBANY, N.Y. - As a U.S. House committee debates the Biden administration's "Build Back Better" Act, a letter from more than 200 wealthy Americans …

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