Ray Brook, NY, Mar 24, 2011 — Republicans in the state Senate say they've developed their own plan for downsizing New York's prison system. Senate majority leader Dean Skelos says the plan could mothball as may as six minimum security prisons while also protecting upstate communities from job losses.

Skelos was scheduled to present the package to Governor Cuomo yesterday but he declined to release details. He did say that the plan would include cuts to prisons in New York City and would eliminate either five or six correctional facilities.

Governor Cuomo has asked the legislature to approve cutting roughly 3,500 prison beds in the system, without specifying which facilities would close. The state is also offering up to a $100 million to help prison towns recover if their facilities are closed.

Republicans worry that most of the closures could come in Upstate communities, including towns here in the North Country. According to the Politics On the Hudson Blog, Skelos said the Senate plan would target prisons for closure "in both Republican and Democrat districts."  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 24, 2011 — A number of groups have been left out of Governor Cuomo's budget - the largest- is schools, who have been cut by a billion and a half dollars, but many of society's most vulnerable are complaining that they received short shrift in the governors budget, too.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 23, 2011 — State lawmakers say they hope to have a budget no later than this weekend. So a budget could be passed as early as next Monday or Tuesday. Governor Cuomo isn't ruling out the possibility of imposing a budget next week if there's no budget deal. The Governor, saying he'll get his budget priorities achieved "one way or the other", delivered a blunt message to the legislature, which has less than ten days to reject or accept the governor's spending plan.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 22, 2011 — The state legislature is continuing conference committee meetings on the budget. But lawmakers say there are still some sticking points to reaching agreement by next week's deadline. Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 21, 2011 — There's two weeks left before the state budget deadline. Despite the pressures of the $10 billion deficit, Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders profess to be getting along just fine. As Karen DeWitt reports, the good will stems from the fact that Cuomo has a special new weapon that changes the power dynamic in favor of the Governor over the legislature.  Go to full article

Mar 18, 2011 — Leaders across Lewis, Jefferson, and Oneida counties are making a full court press to save the Tug Hill Commission. The 38 year-old agency provides planning, development, and natural resource management assistance to the isolated towns and villages of the Tug Hill Plateau.

The State Senate has included $1.1 million for the Commission in its spending plan. That's a 10% budget cut, on par with what other agencies are dealing with. But the Assembly is so far following Governor Cuomo's recommendation to dissolve the Commission. That's left Tug Hill leaders fighting for the agency's survival. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 18, 2011 — The fight between Cuomo and school districts flared up when Governor Cuomo delivered a stern lecture to schools, who are complaining about the governor's proposed budget cuts to education, saying they are playing a "game" and issuing empty "threats". Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 17, 2011 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says he's concerned over a report that one of the nuclear reactors at the Indian Point power plant along the Hudson River is on an earthquake fault line, and is checking into the matter. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 17, 2011 — The state budget is due in just over two weeks, and Governor Cuomo and majority party legislative leaders, following a closed door meeting, say they are all getting along so far despite some policy differences, and hope to reach agreement in time for the March 31st deadline. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Mar 16, 2011 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his family were in the Adirondacks on Tuesday for a little rest and relaxation. Cuomo's daughters went skiing at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington while the governor spent part of the day in Saranac Lake. The governor's schedule wasn't made public, but Chris Knight spotted Cuomo at a gas station in Saranac Lake and talked with him briefly.  Go to full article