Mar 06, 2006 — Since 1998, Governor Pataki has proposed civil confinement legilislation that would enable New York State to civilly commit violent sex offenders after their release from prison. Republicans this year have pushed hard for such legislation this year, and lawmakers in Albany now seem close to a compromise bill. The governor's proposed budget provides $192 million for the project, the bulk of which would go towards capital costs to prepare 8 selected housing sites around the state to accept civilly confined sexual offenders as soon as October of 2006. One of those eight proposed sites is a building at St Lawrence Psychiatric Center, in Ogdensburg. As Gregory Warner reports, local residents aren't all happy about the idea.  Go to full article

Mar 02, 2006 — The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) has introduced a bill they say would help students whose family incomes change radically in mid-year to make changes to their financial aid. Gregory Warner reports.  Go to full article

Feb 24, 2006 — On the last Friday of every month, at the US Federal Courthouse in Albany, there's a swearing in ceremony for naturalized citizens. This morning, 64 new Americans were there. One of them was Hye Chong Yi, from Potsdam.  Go to full article

Feb 16, 2006 — Today, inmates around New York State will pick up the phone to call their families - collect, as always. But this time, families will refuse to accept the charges. It's a one-day boycott to protest the high rates charged by the phone company MCI. MCI has had an exclusive contract to provide phone service for inmates since 1999. Rates for the prisoners' collect calls are more than six times higher than regular consumer rates. Inmates can only call collect, and the charges add up for families on the other end. Advocates say that these high rates threaten inmates' family ties - a crucial bulwark against recidivism. They're also critical of the contract deal. MCI gives over half the profits to the state. Advocates call that a kickback scheme. But the contract is set to expire at the end of March, and the State Senate appears set to make a change. Gregory Warner reports.  Go to full article

Feb 08, 2006 — Governor Pataki's proposed budget would mean hundreds of millions of dollars in funding cuts to hospitals and nursing homes statewide.  Go to full article

Dec 19, 2005 — Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has imposed penalties on fifteen gas stations across the state for unfair price gouging in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Go to full article

Sep 12, 2005 — Heating oil prices are at record highs, 54% higher than last winter. Natural Gas prices are up 135%. The money that's out there to help low income families heat their homes -won't go as far this year. Representative John McHugh has joined 57 other congressional leaders asking President Bush to authorize $900 million in supplemental funding for LiHEAP. That stands for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.  Go to full article

Aug 19, 2005 — A study has confirmed what many in Albany know anecdotally. New York has more registered lobbyists than any other state: 3,842, or 18 per legislator. The numbers are part of a new report released by the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. To make sense of these numbers we called Blair Horner, Legislative Director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. He spoke to Gregory Warner.  Go to full article

Aug 12, 2005 — Since Governor Pataki announced two weeks ago that he won't seek a forth term next year, several names have emerged as possible Republican candidates. Yesterday, Senator Raymond Meier of the 47th district announced he was considering a run. Senator Meier has been in the Senate for 9 years.  Go to full article

Jun 28, 2005 — Reform groups say the movement to change New York's legislature has just begun. But veteran Republican Assemblyman Chris Ortloff says progress this year was nothing short of revolutionary. Ortloff says new rules in the Democrat-led Assembly allowed more open debate than ever before. He spoke with Brian Mann.  Go to full article