Potsdam, NY, Jul 29, 2011 — State Senator Joe Griffo was in Potsdam Thursday for Governor Andrew Cuomo's announcement of the new Regional Economic Development Councils.

Griffo's a Republican whose district covers Onieda, St. Lawrence, and Lewis Counties.

Nora Flaherty spoke with him about what the councils might mean for the North Country. She asked him if he had any concerns about the plan.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 29, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says he remains hopeful that President Obama and Congress will resolve their differences over the debt crisis, and that a default that could harm New york and other states won't occur.  Go to full article

Ray Brook, NY, Jul 28, 2011 — This month, Adirondack Park Agency chairman Curt Stiles shocked the North Country when he announced that he won't seek a second term from Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Stiles leaves office at the end of this month

That leaves the APA without its top official at a time when the Agency is
preparing to make what may be the biggest, most controversial decision of the last decade.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 21, 2011 — Governor Cuomo notched a series of political wins in his first six months in office: an on-time budget, a property tax cap, union concessions, and legalization of same sex marriage. This week, he outlined his next big push, outlining an aggressive plan to reinvent state government. WRVO's Dave Bullard reports that the effort boils down to one word: jobs.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Jul 14, 2011 — New York lawmakers have begun the process of reshaping electoral districts following last year's census. Last week, a redistricting task force announced it would ignore a law requiring prison inmates to be counted at their last known address.

That angered civil rights advocates, who argue home districts deserve credit for the prisoners, for electoral representation as well as state aid and services that depend on population. But the change worries North Country representatives whose districts have long counted prisoners where they're incarcerated.

The law passed in 2010 when Democrats controlled both legislative houses and the governor's mansion. The measure has since been challenged in court by nine Republican state senators. Betty Little of Queensbury is a plaintiff in that lawsuit. She isn't commenting on the suit, but she told Chris Morris the loss to her district would be significant, 9,000 to 10,000 people.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 13, 2011 — Governor Cuomo says he "understands" the point of view of opponents of gay marriage who plan to protest during New York's first same sex marriages later this month. But he says public officials who refuse to okay the ceremonies are likely not going to be able to stay in their jobs.

Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 13, 2011 — New Yorkers who text while driving will be subject to tougher penalties, under a bill signed into law by Governor Cuomo. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 07, 2011 — Leaders of a legislative task force on redistricting say they won't be able to count state prison inmates as residing in their home districts, because of an ongoing lawsuit.

Karen DeWitt has more from Albany:  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 06, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo has been traveling the state, holding ceremonial bill signings for his property tax cap. The governor was in Buffalo yesterday and will be in Rochester today.

But not everyone thinks the cap is a good idea, and the state's largest teachers union predicts the measure will backfire. Karen DeWitt has more.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Jul 01, 2011 — After a lot of controversy, Governor Andrew Cuomo's Environmental Commissioner says New York will permit the natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, to proceed with some limitations.  Go to full article