Topics New York State
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The state rescinded its request to dismiss a sexual abuse lawsuit after a judge became aware of New York Focus’s findings.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
How New York’s Court System Intertwines With Party Politics

A foreclosure case in Brooklyn highlights ties between the courts and political party clubhouses.

Chris Bragg   ·   February 6, 2026
For Sale: Brooklyn Five-Bedroom. Price: $100

New York Focus identified more than a thousand cases where a disputed interest formula increased a home’s bidding price at auction, allowing a bank to obtain it for a pittance.

Chris Bragg   ·   February 5, 2026
Five Questions for New York’s Social Service Agencies

Will this week’s budget hearing provide insight into the state’s plan to salvage its safety net?

Jie Jenny Zou, Melissa Manno and Chris Gelardi   ·   February 4, 2026
New York Lawmakers Want to Put Pipeline Spending on the Map

New York utilities spend $1 billion a year replacing old gas pipes. New legislation would force them to reveal where that money is being spent.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   February 4, 2026
‘I’m a Human Rights Violator’: Staff at Youth Prison Recount Lockdowns, Turmoil, 24-Hour Shifts

A yearslong staffing crisis at state-run facilities has taken its toll on incarcerated kids and the workers who watch over them.

Chris Gelardi   ·   February 4, 2026
Photo of uber lit up in windshield
Uber Pours $3M Into New Election Spending Group Poised to Back Hochul

The move came weeks after Hochul proposed measures to lower the cost of auto insurance.

Chris Bragg   ·   February 3, 2026
Landlord That Won Big in Cuomo’s Penn Station Plan Makes a Comeback Under Trump

Vornado Realty Trust has a stake in Halmar’s proposal to rebuild the Manhattan rail hub.

Nick Garber   ·   February 2, 2026
Hochul Proposed Banning ICE Collaboration Contracts. Here’s What You Need to Know.

The bill would dissolve contracts that allow federal immigration authorities to use county jails, but would leave more informal collaboration with local law enforcement untouched.

Liv Veazey   ·   January 31, 2026
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