Low-wage manual laborers can sue to make their bosses pay them weekly. Hochul’s late-breaking budget addition may undermine that right.

New York’s transparency watchdog found that the ethics commission violated open records law by redacting its own recusal forms.

New York has one of the weakest consumer protection laws in the country. This year’s state budget may change that.

Previously unreleased disciplinary files expose officers who beat, slap, and pepper spray the residents they’re supposed to protect. Most are back at work within a month.

Hochul’s proposed Medicaid cuts include $125 million from Health Homes, a program that connects the neediest New Yorkers with medical care, food assistance, and more.

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Climate and Environment
A closeup photo of a natural gas stove flame

State investigators accused the gas utility of “sloppiness” in managing customer funds, but took a light touch in enforcement.

What are industrial development agencies?

Arabella Saunders and Julia Rock

A new bill to municipalize Long Island’s utility includes key worker protections that the union had sought.

Julia Rock
Criminal Justice
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats of New York, smile in front of american flags

Local regulations haven’t kept up with the rollout of new surveillance tech. Some reformers see Washington as their best hope.

Stark disparities in access to life-saving medication for opioid addiction persist between facilities — and racial groups.

Spencer Norris

Referencing a New York Focus story, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas introduced legislation to prevent public agencies from naming the medically discredited condition in their reports.

Chris Gelardi
New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York stands behind a podium with a Buffalo Bills logo and her arms spread wide.

Guidelines limiting gifts of taxpayer resources have “no teeth whatsoever,” according to good government watchdog.

As the state legislature considers a bill to change warranty payments, unions join their bosses to make car companies pay more.

Chris Bragg and Julia Rock

Backing primary opponents to progressive Democrats, the new Solidarity PAC resembles a state-level analog to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Julia Rock and Chris Gelardi