Topics Explainers
Thousands Wait for Long-Term Help While Hochul Pushes Involuntary Commitment

In some counties, the waitlist for state-funded mental health treatment programs can exceed two years.

Julia Rock and Chris Gelardi   ·   April 22, 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
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
State Lawmakers Push for $900 Million to Save Child Care Voucher Program

Roughly 60,000 children will lose vouchers over the next year without more funding.

Julia Rock   ·   March 27, 2025
Food Stamp Theft Could be Much Higher Than Reported, Survey Suggests

Thousands of New Yorkers have had their food benefits stolen. Meanwhile, Congress will likely move forward with major cuts to the lifeline program.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   March 26, 2025
In Brief: New York’s Plan to Build Public Renewable Energy

A 2023 law is transforming the state power authority into one of New York’s biggest renewable developers. Some still want it to go further.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 25, 2025
How the New York State Budget Is Made

We answer your questions on the state’s notoriously opaque budget process.

Sam Mellins   ·   March 12, 2025
A voucher ticket shows an image of two children playing with colorful toys. In the background, text from the document, "Making Child Care More Affordable, Accessible and Equitable for New Yorkers."
In Brief: Child Care Assistance

New York has spent more on child care assistance in recent years, but high child care costs continue to drive families out of the state and into poverty.

Julia Rock   ·   February 7, 2025
From a spectator point of view, an iPhone screen held up to a Knicks game. The game is in color on the screen and black-and-white outside of it. The screen shows there dollar signs indicating a gambling profit.
In Brief: Sports Betting in New York

In the last three years, New York has become the sports betting capital of the US.

Julia Rock   ·   January 16, 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
Photograph of an empty prison cell with the door open, showing an empty bed with no sheets.
In Brief: Why Has New York’s Prison Population Declined?

New York’s faster-than-average decarceration has led to dozens of prison closures.

Chris Gelardi   ·   December 19, 2024
Photo of the Court of Appeals building in Albany, NY.
In Brief: New York’s Court of Appeals — Who’s on It and What Do They Do?

The state’s top court has the final word on interpreting New York law and has seen dramatic changes in recent years.

Sam Mellins   ·   December 4, 2024
The interior of the New York State Capitol.
In Brief: Why Can’t New York Build an Effective Ethics Agency?

In a state known for scandals, Albany’s ethics enforcement has long been criticized.

Chris Bragg   ·   November 22, 2024
Photo collage of Donald Trump in front of school desks, with a map of New York state in the background.
What Trump’s Second Term Could Mean for New York Schools

A review of Trump’s first term, along with his campaign promises and details found within Project 2025, indicate what’s to come in New York.

Bianca Fortis   ·   November 20, 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
In Brief: Has New York Built Its Last Fossil Fuel Plant?

Some want New York to rethink its climate mandates. Could new gas plants be on the table?

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   November 5, 2024
Your One-Stop Guide to the 2024 New York State Budget

A version of good cause eviction and new hate crimes are in; new taxes on the wealthy and education cuts are out. Here’s where things landed in this year’s budget.

New York Focus   ·   April 20, 2024
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins before three tall stacks of paper.
How the New York State Budget Is Made

We answer your questions on the state’s notoriously opaque budget process.

Sam Mellins   ·   March 11, 2024
These Local Agencies Hand Out Over a Billion in Tax Breaks Across New York

What are industrial development agencies?

Arabella Saunders and Julia Rock   ·   March 6, 2024
An upwards-pointing arrow made of a hundred-dollar bill, against a background of an energy bill.
Why Your Energy Bills Are Going Up

New York’s labyrinthine “rate case” process, explained.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   August 7, 2023
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