Apr 17, 2013 — At the New York State Capitol, lawmakers are scrambling to put forward plans responding to the recent twin corruption scandals involving bribery charges against a state Senator and Assemblyman.

Tuesday it was the Assembly Democrats' turn to weigh in, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo rolled out two more components of his own reform plan.  Go to full article

Apr 15, 2013 — Farmers and foodies are urging Governor Cuomo to ban hydraulic fracturing in New York State right away. The groups argue fracking is a threat to the state's agricultural viability.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 15, 2013 — The second half of New York's legislative session begins today.

The legislature has a long list of issues on the schedule, including decriminalizing marijuana, women's reproductive rights, and expanding casino gambling in the state.

But the agenda is likely to be dominated by the response to ongoing bribery and corruption scandals that came to light while lawmakers were on spring break.  Go to full article

Apr 12, 2013 — Governor Cuomo's health commissioner is expected to release a health report on hydraulic fracturing soon, at least according to a timetable announced in late February. But the Cuomo Administration has already missed several deadlines on fracking, and now that decision seems to be yet again in limbo.  Go to full article

Apr 11, 2013 — Government reform groups say they are pleased that Governor Cuomo has now proposed step one in his plan to clean up corruption in state government, after the high-profile arrests of two state lawmakers.  Go to full article

Apr 11, 2013 — Many North Country school districts are facing uncharted territory. They're going bankrupt, and at the same time have more mandates to fulfill.

The annual North Country Symposium is focused on the state of education, and how it's affecting the rest of the community. Keynote speaker John Sipple is director of the New York Center for Rural Schools at Cornell University.

He says there are no easy answers, and that the schools are inextricably intertwined with the community - they rise and fall together.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 10, 2013 — Governor Cuomo and New York state's district attorneys are pushing for laws to make it easier to prosecute bribery and public corruption cases, in the wake of recent scandals in Albany.  Go to full article

Apr 09, 2013 — New York state's comptroller kicked off a week long forum at SUNY's Rockefeller Institute to examine the plight of economically stressed local governments and school districts across the New York.

Tom DiNapoli says the "new normal" for schools and local governments around the state is prolonged fiscal stress. He says a combination of rising health care and pension costs, reduced state aide, and the two-year-old property tax cap have put the squeeze on municipalities.  Go to full article

Apr 08, 2013 — Governor Cuomo is on a statewide tour to promote the newly-passed state budget, saying it shows that New York is functional again. But in the wake of two recent corruption and bribery arrests of state legislators, not everyone is completely convinced.  Go to full article

Apr 04, 2013 — The scandal centered around new York State Senator Malcolm Smith is setting off repercussions in both political parties and at every level of New York state's government.

The state's Republican Party Chair is calling on two top party officials in New York City accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to resign their posts. Governor Cuomo, on an upstate tour to promote the recently passed state budget, is dogged by questions about the scandal instead.  Go to full article