Latest New York state government News

Supreme Court appears receptive to NRA free-speech lawsuit against a former New York state official

Mar. 18, 2024 16:55 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court justices appeared receptive Monday to National Rifle Association claims that a former New York state official violated its free-speech rights by pressuring banks and insurance companies to blacklist the group after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida. ...

New York appeals court hears arguments over the fate of the state's ethics panel

Feb. 16, 2024 16:55 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Months after a judge ruled that New York's ethics watchdog violated the state constitution because it was too independent, a state lawyer told an appeals court that officials had the right to create a corruption-fighting commission more insulated from the people it monitors. ...

Arizona man accused of assisting in a suicide in New York charged with manslaughter

Feb. 06, 2024 14:09 PM EST

An 85-year-old former doctor from Arizona was charged with manslaughter for his role in the suicide of a woman in an upstate New York motel room, authorities said. The woman's body was found by housekeeping staff at the motel in Kingston, New York, on Nov. 9. Kingston police, fire...

Judge rejects a claim that New York's marijuana licensing cheats out-of-state applicants

Feb. 04, 2024 20:57 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a challenge to New York state’s licensing program for selling legal marijuana, a system two California applicants say unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state residents. The ruling Friday by Albany Judge Anne M....

The IRS is launching a direct file pilot program for the 2024 tax season — here is how it will work

Jan. 29, 2024 13:55 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — As income tax filing season officially starts on Monday, a limited number of taxpayers in 12 states will soon be eligible to join an IRS pilot program that will allow them to calculate and submit their returns to the government directly without using commercial tax preparation...

New York governor wants to spend $2.4B to help deal with migrant influx in new budget proposal

Jan. 16, 2024 16:13 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that she wants to spend $2.4 billion to help deal with the massive influx of migrants who have overwhelmed New York City's homeless shelters — addressing a damaging political issue for Democrats in her proposed state budget. ...

New York governor pushes for paid medical leave during pregnancy

Jan. 04, 2024 15:00 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Pregnant people in New York would have 40 hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments under a new proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul after the state's legislative session kicked off this week. The Democrat’s plan to expand the state's paid family...

The Empire State rings in the new year with a pay bump for minimum-wage workers

Jan. 01, 2024 12:27 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's minimum-wage workers had more than just the new year to celebrate Monday, with a pay bump kicking in as the clock ticked over to 2024. In the first of a series of annual increases slated for the Empire State, the minimum wage increased to $16 in New...

Editorial Roundup: New York

Dec. 28, 2023 07:24 AM EST

Albany Times Union. December 22, 2023. Editorial: Put teeth on this watchdog All we want for Christmas is a functional state ethics enforcement body, instead of one trapped in legal limbo While editorial boards are definitely in the business of calling...