Topics Budget
New York to Scale Back Key Energy Affordability Program

Empower+ helps thousands of New Yorkers afford energy efficiency upgrades. The state is planning to slash funding by nearly two-thirds in two years.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   July 18, 2025
Congress Passed Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ Gutting New York’s Safety Net. Now What?

New York is staring down billions in lost federal funding for Medicaid and food assistance over the next decade

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   July 9, 2025
Why Is It So Hard for New York to Pass Climate Bills?

Environmentalists increasingly blame Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie — who’s firing back.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   June 27, 2025
New York Owes $20 Billion in Lost Cash. An Upstart Challenger Says He’ll Give It All Back.

Drew Warshaw is taking on Comptroller Tom DiNapoli with a pledge to repay the entire pot of unclaimed funds as soon as ‘humanly possible.’

Chris Bragg   ·   June 18, 2025
Albany Capitol superimposed over 100 dollar bill money printer
Here’s How to Check If You’re Owed Money in New York

New York is sitting on a $20 billion pot of unclaimed money, and some of it might be yours. Here’s how to see if you’re on the list.

Chris Bragg   ·   June 18, 2025
Congress Finally Released its Plan to Slash Medicaid and Food Aid. What’s Next for New York?

If enacted, the cuts could topple the safety net for New York’s most vulnerable and upend the state’s newly passed budget.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   May 17, 2025
What’s in the 2025 New York State Budget? Here’s Everything You Need to Know.

Our searchable database breaks down what was proposed and what made it in this year’s budget among key topics like education, family policy, criminal justice, climate, and more.

New York Focus   ·   May 10, 2025
Photo montage showing NY Governor Kathy Hochul speaking on April 28 against a greyed-out backdrop of solar panels and a wind turbine.
State Budget Goes Small On Climate

New York’s budget includes $1 billion for climate action — a record amount, but less than the state was supposed to raise by charging polluters.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   May 9, 2025
State Budget is a Mixed Bag for Social Services Amid Barrage of Federal Cuts

The final budget stops short of what legislators and advocates hoped for and appears to reflect more of Governor Hochul’s funding priorities.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   May 9, 2025
Albany’s Blueprint for Schools: Cell‑Free Halls, Looser Yeshiva Rules, New Aid Math

Hochul’s budget includes $37 billion for education, but the state Education Department is slamming one policy change as “educational malpractice” and a political retreat.

Bianca Fortis   ·   May 9, 2025
New York Will Boost Unemployment Benefits, Labor and Businesses Celebrate

The state will spend $8 billion to pay off its debt to the feds and increase unemployment benefits for the first time in six years.

Julia Rock   ·   May 8, 2025
State Budget Will End Subscription Traps, Making It Easier to Cancel Cable or Streaming Services

The final budget excludes a loophole that would have exempted corporate giants like Spotify and Amazon, after New York Focus reported on the carveout in February.

Sam Mellins   ·   May 7, 2025
Phantom Bill Targeting Education Rules Triggers Sharp Backlash in Statehouse

No lawmaker will take credit for the proposal, but its quiet circulation has sparked fierce debate over state control of religious education.

Bianca Fortis   ·   April 10, 2025
Court Records Undercut Bronx DA’s Testimony on Discovery Rollbacks

Hochul’s proposed rollbacks are one of the major sticking points in this year’s budget negotiations. One prosecutor’s support rested on a faulty anecdote.

Ryan Kost   ·   April 8, 2025
Trump Cuts Imperil Heating and Cooling Assistance in New York

Drastic cutbacks coupled with skyrocketing utility costs put seniors and other vulnerable households at greater risk for severe illness and death.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   April 8, 2025
graphic of Trump in black and white
How are Trump cuts playing a role in New York’s budget negotiations?

Plus: meet with New York Focus reporters in Albany on Monday

Alex Arriaga   ·   April 5, 2025
Climate Groups Sue Hochul Administration Over Climate Law Backtracking

Environmentalists have long charged that New York is falling short of its climate mandates. Now, they’re taking the state to court.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 31, 2025
Trump’s Federal Cuts Push New York Mental Health Programs to Brink of Collapse

Mental health providers are scrambling to prevent mass layoffs and program closures, leaving advocates urging state leaders to step in before it’s too late.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   March 31, 2025
NYC’s Employee Health Fund Has Hit Zero — What It Means for Public Workers

Longstanding perks like premium-free insurance could be at risk due to a city budget crunch.

Sam Mellins   ·   March 31, 2025
St. Regis Mohawk School at Risk as State Funding Falls Short

Governor Hochul’s budget allocates only a fraction of what the state Board of Regents suggested for three state-owned Indigenous schools.

Bianca Fortis   ·   March 30, 2025
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