NEWS & INFO

Face coverings are making a comeback in parts of New York, particularly across the Hudson Valley region, as a rise in respiratory illnesses are pushing hospitals and care facilities to tighten health precautions. While the sight of masks in public spaces has brought back memories of the 2020 pandemic, current changes are more limited. Most mask use remains voluntary, but some health-care settings and private workplaces have begun requiring face coverings for individuals who a

A new Siena College poll released Tuesday claims Governor Kathy Hochul holds a 20-point advantage over Congresswoman Elise Stefanik in a potential 2026 matchup, placing Hochul at 52–32% among roughly 800 likely voters. The numbers show Hochul’s favorability has dropped five points since September. The poll has prompted renewed criticism from Republicans who argue Siena’s surveys consistently lean toward Democrats and fail to capture right-leaning voter enthusiasm. The critiqu

Former New York state trooper Christopher Baldner was acquitted Thursday of second-degree murder and reckless endangerment in a 2020 crash that killed 11-year-old Monica Goods. However, the trial didn't end there. Moments after the jury delivered its partial verdict, the judge instructed them to return to the deliberation room and continue considering the still-pending manslaughter charge. The tragic incident happened nearly four years ago. Prosecutors accused Baldner of deli

Rep. Elise Stefanik is blasting Governor Kathy Hochul after word got out that she plans to shut down additional state correctional facilities, including Bare Hill Correctional Facility and parts of Collins Correctional Facility. The announcement comes as Hochul works to raise money for her reelection effort, weeks before the holiday season, and shortly after hitching her wagon to democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Stefanik said she and other lawmakers have already been cont

New York’s financial condition continues to deteriorate as more residents exit the state, taking their spending power and taxable income with them. According to a new Unleash Prosperity report, NYS has lost $517.5 billion in resident income between 2013 and 2022. New Jersey saw $170.1 billion vanish in the same timeframe, but New York’s losses far exceed every other state. Things have only gotten worse since then under Governor Hochul. The study, which analyzes IRS and Census

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing renewed political pressure after her former deputy chief of staff, Linda Sun, was charged with secretly operating as an agent of the Chinese government while serving in senior roles under both Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, are now at the center of a federal case where prosecutors say both operated to aid the Communist Party of China. According to federal filings, Sun is accused of using her acc

A private dinner inside the White House turned into a strategy session this week as some of the most influential figures in American finance met with President Donald Trump to discuss one issue dominating the room: how to blunt incoming New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s economic plans. According to The Telegraph, the Wednesday night gathering brought together a long list of billionaire CEOs - many of whom rarely appear in the same room - because of rising concerns th

New York’s move toward an all-electric future has been abruptly put on hold after Governor Kathy Hochul agreed to delay the rollout of the state’s landmark building-electrification mandate. The reversal undermines her own climate promises on legislation she supported. The law, passed in 2023 and billed as a cornerstone of the state’s emissions-reduction strategy, was supposed to take effect January 1st. It would have required most newly constructed residential buildings under

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is already making waves, and not in ways that reassure those worried about the city’s economy. Instead of focusing on the financial and public-safety crises facing New York, Mamdani has turned his attention to Starbucks, calling on New Yorkers to stop buying from the coffee chain while baristas remain on strike. On Thursday evening, Mamdani announced on X that he would not support the company during the labor dispute, writing, “Starbuc

New York’s already-strained business environment may become even more hostile as Governor Kathy Hochul is now considering raising corporate taxes to deal with a looming budget gap, according to a person familiar with internal discussions. The possibility has alarmed business owners and fiscal analysts who argue that a tax increase would accelerate the ongoing exodus of employers fleeing the state’s high-cost economy. The governor’s office has not announced any formal plan, bu

On paper, it looks like garbage: a murky slurry of fryer grease and crumbs left over from Friday fish fries and late-night wings. But in 2025, used cooking oil is no longer waste—it’s feedstock for the booming biofuels industry. That transformation has turned the back alleys behind New York’s restaurants into the front lines of a quiet, profitable crime wave. In Western New York alone, Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. (BBD), a regional leader in collecting and recycling used cooking oi

A convicted sex offender from Oklahoma who staged his own disappearance more than ten years ago has been arrested in Upstate New York where investigators say he had been living under a false identity and attending college. Authorities confirmed that Anthony Lennon, 44, once listed among Oklahoma’s Ten Most Wanted, was taken into custody at the end of October following a joint investigation by U.S. Marshals and New York law enforcement. Officials said fingerprint analysis conf

Governor Kathy Hochul is facing mounting backlash after her administration approved a long-delayed natural gas pipeline through New York Harbor — a project that had been rejected multiple times in previous years over environmental concerns. More than 200 demonstrators gathered outside Hochul’s New York City office on Tuesday to protest the decision, condemning the state’s approval of the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline. The project, spearheaded by energy companie

New York Governor Kathy Hochul could be heading for a bruising re-election battle in 2026 as a new statewide poll shows her Republican challenger, Rep. Elise Stefanik, within striking distance in what has long been considered a safely Democratic state. According to a recent survey conducted by J.L. Partners, Stefanik holds a commanding lead among likely Republican primary voters and is statistically tied with Hochul in a general election matchup. The poll found that 74% of GO

A federal court has ordered Suffolk County and its sheriff’s office to pay $112 million in damages to hundreds of immigrants unlawfully held in local jails on behalf of federal immigration authorities. According to court documents, 674 people were found to have been detained beyond their lawful release dates in 2017, despite posting bail or resolving their criminal cases. A federal judge ruled that the county’s actions violated their constitutional due process rights under th

If your mailbox hasn’t delivered New York’s long-awaited inflation refund yet, you’re not alone. State officials say millions of residents are still receiving their one-time payments of up to $400. According to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, the state began distributing checks in October and by Friday, November 7th, more than 6.1 million payments had already been mailed out. Officials stress that more are on the way. All eligible New Yorkers should exp

A new analysis has delivered troubling news for New Yorkers hoping to enjoy their retirement years without financial stress. The Empire State ranks among the worst places in the nation to retire. According to a recent report by Retirement Living, New York came in 49th overall, making it the second-worst state in America for retirees. The study evaluated all 50 states using a 100-point scoring system based on three major categories: quality of life (60 points), affordability (

School officials in Albany are urging parents across New York State to be vigilant about dangerous social media trends after a young student died in what appears to be an online challenge gone wrong. The tragedy happened on Saturday night and involved a student from Arbor Hill Elementary School, according to a message sent to families by Principal Rosalind Gaines-Harrell. She described the loss as “profoundly sad” and cautioned families about viral challenges that are often f

Consumer, environmental, and affordability advocates are pushing state regulators to reject a sweeping proposal from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E). The plan could add as much as $800 per year to some households’ utility bills. In a filing before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), the companies outlined rate increases that would raise monthly delivery charges between 34% and 48%, depending on service type and custome

New York Attorney General Letitia James has formally asked a federal judge to throw out the mortgage fraud case brought against her, arguing the prosecution is rooted in political retaliation driven by President Donald Trump. In a filing submitted Friday, James’ legal team portrayed the charges as a personal vendetta. The motion recounts years of hostile public remarks made by Trump following James’ civil lawsuit against him and the Trump Organization. According to the motion