Topics New York State
Lawmakers Call for Investigation Into Women’s Prison, Citing New York Focus Article

Two women have died by suicide and a third from cancer at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, the reporting found.

Rebecca McCray   ·   March 10, 2026
Thousands of 4-Year-Olds Couldn’t Apply to Universal Pre-K Last School Year

Dozens of school districts have opted out of the state’s program. Will the governor’s proposed funding boost be enough to help school districts close the gaps?

Melissa Manno   ·   March 9, 2026
Mamdani’s New Albany Asks: Smaller Corporate Tax Hike, Fees on Pricey Home Sales

The mayor narrowed his big business tax proposal in the hopes of making it easier to pass.

Nick Garber   ·   March 6, 2026
Third Death in Four Weeks Rocks Bedford Hills Women’s Prison

This week’s death, which incarcerated people and advocates described as a suicide, comes at a time of turmoil in the facility.

Rebecca McCray   ·   March 5, 2026
New Legislation Would Advance ‘Virtual Power Plants’ in New York

A bill introduced by Assemblymember Anna Kelles aims to harness home batteries, electric vehicles, and other clean tech to meet reliability needs.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   March 4, 2026
An illustration shows figures walking along next to a barbed wire fence, a large pile of paperwork, a person in a green prison uniform lying down with a book on top of them, a guard holding a baton stick and a woman in a red suit waving her hand while standing at a podium.
It’s Dangerous to Feel This Desperate: How to Ease the Chaos in New York’s Prisons

When the governor doesn’t commute sentences, and the legislature won’t act, the carrot-and-stick system of rehabilitation disintegrates.

John J. Lennon   ·   March 3, 2026
Eric Adams's failed attempt to fix New York City's broken property tax system shows why it won’t be easy for Mamdani to do so either.
Mamdani Wants to Fix Property Taxes. Eric Adams’s Failure Is a Warning Sign.

As Zohran Mamdani prepares to unveil property tax reforms, he must weigh a plan he inherited from his predecessor.

Nick Garber   ·   March 2, 2026
How to Push Utilities Toward a Cheaper, Cleaner Future: A Q&A With Jigar Shah

The energy expert discusses his vision for a more flexible grid — and what’s standing in the way.

Colin Kinniburgh and Jack Carroll   ·   February 28, 2026
Is a Solution to New York’s Food Stamp Theft Finally on the Horizon?

New Yorkers could see new benefit cards in 2027 as officials pledge to prioritize a long-awaited upgrade.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   February 27, 2026
‘I Was Just Desperate to Find a Lawyer’: Three Journeys Through New York’s Asylum Maze

It’s almost impossible to win an asylum case without an attorney. Finding one is a tall order.

Liv Veazey   ·   February 26, 2026
Top Horse Racing Investigator Resigns After New York Focus Investigation

The investigator was initially placed on leave after New York Focus revealed that state gaming regulators ignored evidence of a massive horse doping ring.

Sam Mellins   ·   February 20, 2026
State Prison Officials Said an Employee Accused of Sexual Assault Didn’t Exist. We Found Him.

The state rescinded its request to dismiss a sexual abuse lawsuit after a judge became aware of New York Focus’s findings.

Chris Gelardi   ·   February 20, 2026
How a More Flexible Grid Could Save New York Billions

Officials have long eyed “virtual power plants,” which coordinate energy use across thousands of homes, but the state has lagged in adopting them.

Jack Carroll and Colin Kinniburgh   ·   February 18, 2026
Photo collage of a desk with a notepad and voice recorder in a newsroom.
Hochul Seeks to Reverse Funding Increase for Prison Oversight Body

Last year, after prison guards were caught beating an incarcerated man to death, Governor Hochul allocated millions to a prison oversight body. This year, she doesn’t want to renew the grant.

Chris Gelardi   ·   February 17, 2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani testifies at the 2026 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing in Albany.
Mamdani’s Albany Agenda Narrows as Tax Fight Crowds Out Other Issues

The mayor campaigned on more than a dozen state-level policy demands, but some are taking a backseat.

Nick Garber   ·   February 12, 2026
New York City Had a Chance to Ease Its Staffing Crisis. It Quietly Gave Up.

Civil service exams can slow down government hiring by months or even years. New York City is one of the only areas of the state that hasn’t opted into a program to bypass the process.

Nick Garber   ·   February 11, 2026
ICE Collaboration and Prisons in Crisis: Four Questions for State Law Enforcement

A hearing Thursday gives lawmakers an opportunity to grill police and prison leaders.

Chris Gelardi   ·   February 11, 2026
Photo of the bank of the Amawalk Reservoir
A Real Estate Battle Tests the State’s New Superfund Powers

New York environmental regulators have deemed a developer liable for an $18 million Westchester cleanup — but they haven’t yet made the company pay.

David McKay Wilson   ·   February 10, 2026
Three Questions About Medicaid for New York Officials

State officials have so far dodged questions about the future of New York’s largest health plan. A hearing on Tuesday could provide some insight.

Jie Jenny Zou   ·   February 9, 2026
Does Mamdani’s Claim that Albany is Shafting New York City Hold Up?

The mayor’s Tin Cup Day speech hinges on a bold claim about the city’s relationship with the state.

Nick Garber   ·   February 9, 2026
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