Topics New York State
Need Help Paying Medical Bills? Here’s How Charity Care Works in New York.

Learn the income thresholds, deadlines, and free support services that help New Yorkers shave down or sometimes completely erase medical debt.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   June 11, 2025
New York Focus Honored for Coverage of Prison System

The Legislative Correspondents Alumni Association recognized Chris Gelardi with its award for the year’s best state government reporting — the second year in a row that Focus has earned the honor.

New York Focus   ·   June 10, 2025
State Assemblymember Claire Valdez speaks at a rally in front of people holding a banner that reads "NY Renews."
Hochul Paused Carbon Pricing to Get More Feedback — But Hasn’t Asked for Any

State officials said they needed more time for “stakeholder engagement” on cap and invest. But groups involved with the program have gotten crickets.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   June 6, 2025
A Powerful Bronx Politician Dines on Developers’ Double Donations

An expert calls the six-figure haul “extraordinary” for an unpaid party seat whose powers are picking judges, poll workers, and party officers.

Chris Bragg   ·   June 5, 2025
National flags against the NY state capitol.
Amid Global Debt Crisis, Albany Advances Bill to Rein In Hedge Funds Suing Poor Countries

Half of sovereign bonds are issued under New York state law, giving Albany lawmakers the power to shape how countries around the world face off with creditors.

Julia Rock and Colin Kinniburgh   ·   June 4, 2025
Illustration of Alex Bores speaking at a press conference.
Why New York Judges Are Fighting a Major Plan to Fix Court Backlogs

As courts buckle under hundreds of thousands of unresolved cases, a quiet fight is erupting in Albany over how — and where — to add more judges.

Chris Bragg   ·   May 30, 2025
Small Towns, Big Stakes: How Medicaid Cuts Threaten Health Care in the Adirondacks

From nursing homes to Planned Parenthood clinics, rural health care in Upstate New York could collapse under proposed Republican budget changes.

Clara Hemphill   ·   May 29, 2025
Senator Monica Martinez (left) and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson (right) in an illustration showing legislative text and logos in the background
As Albany Debates Plastics Crackdown, Industry Pushes Softer Alternative

The chemical industry is pushing to replace a sweeping plastics bill with a more business-friendly alternative.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   May 29, 2025
Rochester Police Accountability Board Loses Investigatory Powers

A Monroe County judge stripped the PAB of its power to investigate and report incidents of police misconduct.

Nathan Porceng   ·   May 28, 2025
An Upstate Orchard Is Putting New Farmworker Protections to the Test

New York’s farm labor law was meant to transform life for agricultural workers. One apple farm shows how hard that may be.

Julia Rock   ·   May 27, 2025
Harrison Mayor Helped Rezone His Own Land — Then Sold It for $2.9 Million

Richard Dionisio participated in multiple votes related to a controversial rezoning effort without publicly disclosing his financial interest.

Chris Bragg   ·   May 21, 2025
As Dust Begins to Settle on Prison Chaos, Reformers Hold Somber Hearing

The embattled prison chief took an optimistic tack, but family members of those killed by prison guards have little faith that reforms will be meaningful.

Chris Gelardi   ·   May 19, 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
Ad Campaign Funded by Chemical Industry Skirted Campaign Finance Rules

A campaign group run by New York’s business lobby and backed by the American Chemistry Council failed to submit copies of mailers it sent in support of candidates.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   May 15, 2025
New York’s Food Banks Brace for Triple Whammy of Federal Cuts, Tariffs, and Even Higher Costs

The Trump administration has dealt a blow to the state’s food bank network, which supports around 3 million New Yorkers.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   May 14, 2025
Arcane Accounting Rule Is Draining Millions From New York Classrooms

There are nearly 4,000 outstanding claims currently in a queue that stretches back more than a decade.

Bianca Fortis   ·   May 13, 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
The State Is Making New York City Spend $275 Million More for Child Care Vouchers

The state budget, finalized this week, increased the spending requirement on the city for the first time since the 1990s.

Julia Rock   ·   May 9, 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