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Lawmakers Press State on Lagging Efforts to Stanch Food Stamp Theft

The social services commissioner says New York wants to join other states adopting more secure cards, but lacks funds for the upgrade.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   February 13, 2025
A New York state benefits card with a cut-out yellow outline where a digital chip would go. In the background, a black and white photo of produce in  a grocery store.
A Simple Fix Could Stop Millions in Food Stamp Theft. Will New York Commit?

Chip technology has been standard in credit and debit cards for a decade. It could stop New York’s surging rate of stolen benefits.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   February 11, 2025
The photo shows Governor Kathy Hochul standing at a podium during a press conferene. The podium bears a sign that reads, "Fighting Crime" and "Ending Recidivism."
Hochul’s Criminal Justice Plan Could Leave Defendants in the Dark

Prosecutors have urged the governor to roll back some of New York’s discovery reforms. Public defenders worry about reverting to a time when they had to fight their cases “blindfolded.”

Chris Gelardi   ·   February 11, 2025
Black and white photograph of someone's hands resting on a laptop keyboard, a photo of Kathy Hochul appears on the laptop screen. Around the border of the image, the logos of Verizon, Comcast, At&T, Disney Plus, Hulu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video appear.
Canceling Your Cable Subscription in New York Won’t Get Easier This Year

The governor’s proposal could make it easier to cancel your gym subscription — but harder to cancel your phone or internet plan.

Sam Mellins   ·   February 10, 2025
Money for Families: State of the State 2025

Hochul says she has a plan to make New York affordable, through tax cuts and payments to families.

Julia Rock   ·   January 15, 2025
Hochul Wants to Revisit Another Criminal Justice Reform: State of the State 2025

After years of targeting bail, the governor is proposing changes to New York’s 2019 discovery reform law.

Chris Gelardi   ·   January 15, 2025
Abortion, Importing Drugs and Involuntary Hospitalization: State of the State 2025

Among her many health-related proposals, the governor wants to rein in drug prices — possibly by importing them from Canada.

Chris Bragg   ·   January 15, 2025
Housing Hopes, or Housing Half Measures? State of the State 2025

Hochul is pushing an array of financial incentives to tackle the state’s housing crisis. But will they make a dent?

Sam Mellins   ·   January 15, 2025
Photo collage of a desk with a notepad and voice recorder in a newsroom.
Reporters’ Notebook: Covering Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State

Our team will be descending upon Albany on Tuesday. Here’s what they’ll be watching.

New York Focus   ·   January 13, 2025
The image shows a collage with Kathy Hochul in the foreground and grey smokestacks in the background, with dollar signs among the smokestacks.
What is ‘Cap and Invest’?

New York’s plan to put a price on carbon could arrive in 2025. Here’s how it would work.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   January 10, 2025
Photo collage of Governor Kathy Hochul signing papers in front of the Capitol Building in Albany.
Here’s Every Bill That Kathy Hochul Vetoed in 2024

One hundred and twenty-four laws that almost were.

New York Focus   ·   January 3, 2025
Trump’s Education Priorities, Foundation Aid, and Mayoral Control: 2024 in Review

New York Focus education reporter Bianca Fortis reflects on the most important education stories in New York this year, and what to keep an eye on next year.

Bianca Fortis   ·   December 30, 2024
Photo of Chris Bragg in front of a photo of the Capitol Building in Albany.
Albany Love, Secret Meetings, and Powerful Interests: 2024 in Review

Chris Bragg, New York Focus’s Albany bureau chief, reflects on how even the most familiar topics brought new twists to his coverage in 2024.

Chris Bragg   ·   December 29, 2024
Black and white photo of three smokestacks overlaid with a diagonal yellow dotted line corresponding to modeled data of emissions decreases in New York State.
New York May Finally Put a Price on Pollution in 2025

The state is due to unveil a “cap and invest” program — its biggest effort yet to fund climate initiatives. But fears about hiking prices may limit its scope.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   December 23, 2024
Photograph of Sam Mellins in front of a photo of Route 17 in New York, showing signs to Scranton and Syracuse.
New York’s Secret Senate, Highway Love, and Political Machines: 2024 in Review

New York Focus reporter Sam Mellins reflects on what he learned this year, and teases what lies ahead for 2025.

Sam Mellins   ·   December 23, 2024
Photo collage of Kathy Hochul hugging a young child, background image of tax forms.
New York State Council Issues Child Poverty Recommendations

An advisory group set up under a 2021 state law finalized its proposals to cut child poverty in half.

Julia Rock   ·   December 20, 2024
Governors Kathy Hochul and Josh Shapiro spliced together
Josh Shapiro Is Using Highway Money to Save Mass Transit. Could Hochul Follow?

New York has a little-noticed tool to shift billions of highway dollars to climate-friendly public transit projects. The governor doesn’t seem interested.

Sam Mellins   ·   December 9, 2024
Rows of desks in a classroom with a roll of dollar bills on each desk.
In Brief: What Is Foundation Aid, New York’s School-Funding Formula?

Here’s a simple explanation of a complicated and archaic formula — and why the state is updating it.

Bianca Fortis   ·   November 18, 2024
Former state budget director Robert Mujica sits at a table with a name card wearing a suit.
Former New York Budget Chief Robert Mujica’s Consulting Sparks Revolving Door Questions

New financial disclosures show when Mujica began consulting for the Greater New York Hospital Association.

Chris Bragg   ·   October 29, 2024
Governor Cuomo signing a bill
Small School Districts Face Costs of Settling Decades-Old Abuse Claims

Hundreds of Child Victims Act cases have been filed against New York schools, some over accused serial offenders that could leave districts with tens of millions of dollars in liability.

Bianca Fortis   ·   September 5, 2024
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