Albany, NY, Jun 24, 2010 — State officials in New York announced yesterday that they're suing BP. They hope to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in losses suffered by the state's pension fund after the oil giant's stock price plummeted. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Rome, NY, Apr 14, 2010 — Investigators say a New York prison official skipped Friday work shifts for 17 years and fraudulently collected pay for the time off. A report released yesterday says Howard Dean, now retired as director of the food processing center at the Oneida Correctional Facility in Rome, filed bogus time sheets and travel documents that cost taxpayers $500,000. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Inspector General Joseph Fisch also say prison management looked the other way. Mary Foley has more.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Apr 07, 2010 — Environmental groups are sending a giant beaver to the Capitol today to protest raids on the Environmental Protection Fund.
The man-sized rodent will focus on the halls outside the Assembly chamber. The Senate has proposed an EPF of $22 million. Gov. Paterson proposed $143 million, and the Assembly in in his ballpark, at $168 million.
The EPF is funded largely through a dedicated tax on real estate sales and is supposed to be used for a broad range of environmental programs.
Lawmakers are due in Albany today too. Tops on the agenda is the budget, including EPF cuts, but also potentially deep cuts in other spending areas as well, and structural weaknesses detailed by the state comptroller this week. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Ogdensburg, NY, Jan 15, 2010 — A state report says the international bridge between Ogdenbsurg and Prescott, Ontario is in "urgent need" of repair. The bridge over the St. Lawrence River rates 4.3, or "partially deficient", on a 7-point scale used by the Department of Transportation. The report by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warns closing the bridge would cost the region millions of dollars in commerce and tourism. Local officials say they welcome the attention of the Comptroller's report. They hope it'll attract the $75 million needed to repair the 50-year-old span. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Port Henry, NY, Dec 14, 2009 — Over the weekend, Governor David Paterson announced that he will withhold $750 million in state aid owed to schools, hospitals, and local governments. In announcing the aid shortfalls, Paterson said, "The state has run out of money." More than $500 million will be withheld from school districts, with another hundred million dollars delayed for county payments. During a trip to the North Country over the weekend, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the state budget crisis has only begun to trickle down to the local level.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Sep 04, 2009 — Contributions from local governments to the state's pension system will be going up in the next two years, says the State's Comptroller, who blames the downturn in the stock market for the increase. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Oct 28, 2008 — The New York State Comptroller says he's uncovered shady practices by some health care providers that were costing state taxpayers millions of dollars. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Apr 21, 2008 — State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the year-end report on the state's finances shows that New York is on an economic "roller coaster" ride, and that spending will have to be "watched very closely" in the coming months. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Nov 30, 2007 — The New York State Comptroller says he'll soon be issuing his audit of the State Thruway Authority's finances, and will make some recommendations about a proposed toll hike. The comptroller spoke at a forum where he also pushed for key reforms. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Mar 09, 2007 — The new State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli, has taken a number of public actions in recent days, including the appointment of a commission co-chaired by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch to look at public integrity issues. DiNapoli says he wants to restore the credibility of his office, after the resignation of Alan Hevesi over personal use of state employees. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article