Topics New York State
Class Size Plan at Center of Mamdani’s Bid to Extend Mayoral Control

The administration will soon send legislators a plan to meet a mandate capping class sizes, said NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.

Melissa Manno   ·   March 25, 2026
New York’s Safety Net Workers Push for a Bigger Bump in Contracts

The governor, Senate, and Assembly all have different ideas for how to implement this year’s increases for human services contracts.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   March 25, 2026
A Pension Battle Is Heating Up in Albany. Here’s What to Know.

Unions want state leaders to sweeten their retirement packages. What would it cost, and what would it achieve?

Sam Mellins   ·   March 23, 2026
Hochul Unveils Eleventh-Hour Push to Defang New York’s Climate Law

Under the governor’s proposal, the most concrete deadline for climate action would be pushed out to the end of her potential second term.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 20, 2026
Putting a Price Tag on ‘Universal’ Pre-K

The state’s universal pre-K funding model is notoriously complex. How does it actually work, and can the governor’s plan fix it?

Melissa Manno   ·   March 20, 2026
New York Gave These Broadway Shows Millions — And They Flopped Anyway

Sold as a pandemic-era emergency program, the state’s theater tax credit has quietly sent hundreds of millions to short-run flops and blockbuster hits.

Nick Garber   ·   March 19, 2026
New York Sues Solar Company, Says It Cheated Thousands

Attorney General Letitia James alleges Attyx “built its business by defrauding consumers.”

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 19, 2026
Bill Seeks to Prevent Prisons From Turning Away Visitors After Scanners Pick Up Their Tampons

The bill follows reporting from New York Focus and other news outlets on prison staff mistaking menstrual and contraceptive products for hidden contraband.

Chris Gelardi and Raina Lipsitz   ·   March 19, 2026
ICE Is Trying to Send Hundreds of New York’s African Asylum Seekers to a Country They’re Not From

Over the last three months, ICE attorneys in New York state have petitioned to send half of the African asylum seekers who had immigration hearings to Uganda.

Liv Veazey   ·   March 18, 2026
Screenshots of documents the prison system sent in response to New York Focus's public records requests.
New York Focus Is Suing the State Prison Agency

Prison officials have refused to release crucial records on how the agency handles allegations of sexual abuse.

Nick Pinto   ·   March 17, 2026
Your Guide to the 2026 State Budget Fight

We read the governor’s, Senate’s, and Assembly’s budget proposals — so you don’t have to.

New York Focus   ·   March 12, 2026
Legislators Push for Stronger Safety Net but Stop Short of Restoring Benefits

Senate and Assembly budget proposals would leave New Yorkers at risk of losing their benefits from federal cuts.

Jie Jenny Zou and Chris Bragg   ·   March 11, 2026
State Legislature Proposes Major Boost to Immigrant Legal Services

The governor and legislature are negotiating over immigration legislation outside of the budget process.

Liv Veazey   ·   March 11, 2026
Albany Unites on Universal Child Care, Splits Over Education Funding

The Senate and Assembly budget proposals included most of the governor’s ambitious child care plans — but lawmakers have other ideas for Foundation Aid.

Melissa Manno   ·   March 11, 2026
How a Fee To Fight Insurance Fraud Became a Cash Cow for Police

Critics say the $10 annual fees state drivers pay to fight car insurance theft and fraud aren’t being used as intended.

Chris Bragg   ·   March 11, 2026
A Quieter Budget Battle on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform

Amid a crisis in the state’s prison system, the governor’s and legislature’s budget proposals differ, but largely lack major reforms.

Chris Gelardi   ·   March 10, 2026
Lawmakers Want to Stay the Course on Climate

The Senate and Assembly are resisting Hochul’s push to relax New York’s emissions targets and are instead pressing for renewed clean energy funding.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 10, 2026
State Senate Joins Hochul in Trying to Speed Up New Housing

It remains to be seen whether the Assembly will get on board.

Sam Mellins   ·   March 10, 2026
What’s Behind the Escalating Fight Over New York’s Climate Law?

The legislature left the climate law untouched for now, but Governor Kathy Hochul could still push for changes in coming weeks.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 10, 2026
State Legislature Backs Tax Hikes on Wealthy, Adding Fuel to Mamdani’s Push

The Senate and Assembly’s budget proposals include many of the mayor’s desired revenue-raisers and give the city a larger cut of state funds.

Nick Garber   ·   March 10, 2026
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