New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

Although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing barriers to employment for people with disabilities, it created new opportunities through remote work. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 26, 2024

34 Years of the ADA

New York disability-rights advocates are celebrating the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 …

The Gender Shades project revealed facial recognition performed poorest for darker-skinned women, and performed best for lighter-skinned men. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 26, 2024

A NY county creates facial recognition, privacy protections

Columbia County, New York, is implementing new facial recognition and privacy policies, following new upgrades to the county's surveillance cameras…

New York is facing a shortage of 180,000 teachers, which will only grow due to a steep retirement cliff the state faces in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

NY teachers union launches pro-public education campaign

New York's United Federation of Teachers union is launching a campaign to bolster public education. It comes as public schools' role as a social …

Currently, 33 states have laws banning or preempting local rent control laws. (Adobe Stock)

National rent-cap proposal could benefit NY renters

Backers of President Joe Biden's rent cap proposal said it could benefit many New Yorkers. The plan calls for capping rent increases at 5% in …

While a New York antitrust bill considers closing loopholes in existing laws, a new report shows more can be done. This includes adding a racial-justice lens to antitrust laws and leveraging other economic regulatory tools to rein in corporate power. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill addresses monopolies, anti-trust loopholes

New York legislation can address growing anti-trust concerns. The 21st Century Anti-Trust Act updates the state's aged anti-trust laws and closes …

A 2015 NOAA report finds GE didn't do enough dredging in the Hudson River, and the EPA didn't force the company to do more. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: EPA’s Hudson River dredging efforts insufficient

New York environmentalists want the Environmental Protection Agency to re-dredge the Hudson River. This comes after the agency released its latest …

As of 2022, the New York State Comptroller's Office found only 29% of the state's electricity is generated from clean energy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY might miss its 2030 climate goals

A new report shows New York will have to delay its 2030 climate goals. The report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority …

Weill Cornell Medicine notes that, along with drinking water to remain hydrated in extreme heat, foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit and homemade popsicles can work well, too. (Adobe Stock)

NY medical professional advises best ways to beat the heat

New York doctors are advising people how to stay healthy in the summer heat. Temperatures across the state will reach the high 80s and mid-90s in …

The Republican Study Committee's proposed 2025 budget calls for repealing $565 billion in green energy programs and $87 billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed GOP budget could harm NYers, critics say

New Yorkers could see detrimental impacts from a proposed federal budget. The Republican Study Committee's proposed 2025 budget calls for sweeping …

A New York Times investigation finds congestion pricing would have made $200,000 for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in one hour. (Adobe Stock)

Congestion pricing pause costs NY jobs, economic opportunities

New York is seeing ripple effects from Gov. Kathy Hochul pausing "congestion pricing." The Metropolitan Transit Authority halted numerous capital …

In response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement ending its free 500 phone minutes program, 40 people at New York's Batavia Processing Center went on hunger strikes, some for more than 24 hours. (Adobe Stock)

NY advocates denounce termination of free phone call program

New York human-rights groups want a program providing detained immigrants 500 free minutes of phone calls restored. Immigrations and Customs …

In total, The Conservation Fund has protected 529,213 acres of land and water across the state of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of acres of NY forest land protected for conservation

Almost 200,000 acres of New York have been protected by The Conservation Fund. Their efforts in the Empire State come as the group, which protects …

A new report from the nonprofit Inseperable found in 2017, mental health and substance use disorder-related emergency department visits cost the U.S. more than $5.6 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY 988 services rank high, but can be improved

While New York's 988 services rank highly, a new report showed improvements can be made. The report found New York has an 88% response rate for 988 …

Reports show newly constructed electric buildings can have lower energy bills than those with fossil-fuel systems. (Adobe Stock)

‘All-Electric Buildings’ law part of NY building code update

New York's Building Code Council is set to include the All-Electric Buildings Act in its 2025 code update. The 2023 law bans natural gas and other …

The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance's newest report shows traffic congestion causes pollution to spike twice a day with the recorded air pollution levels significantly higher during rush hours. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Air quality worsens in NYC environmental-justice areas

A new report finds New York City environmental-justice communities face worsening air quality. It's part of the Community Heat and Air Mapping …

Port Richmond on Staten Island has the highest amount of lead/possible lead service line in all of New York City, 60.67%. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: NYC bill takes wrong approach to lead pipe removal

A New York City bill is a catch-22 for removing lead pipes. The so-called "Rotten Apple Bill" makes city property owners remove their home's lead …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported power plant pollution exacerbates asthma, creates new asthma cases, causes heart attacks and is the largest airborne emission of mercury. (TomKonrad/Wikimedia Commons)

Danskammer Energy withdraws Newburgh power plant application

Danskammer Energy is no longer seeking an expansion of its Newburgh plant. The original plan called for expanding the company's "peaker plant" meant …

New York is one of eight states requiring exit exams for high school graduation. (Adobe Stock)

NYS no longer requires Regents exams for graduation

Regents exams will no longer be a graduation requirement for New York State students. The State Department of Education announced the change several …

Restaurants are the third-largest employer of young people ages 16 to 24 in New York. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Young NYers prioritize living-wage jobs at ballot box

A new report finds New York's rising cost of living and having living-wage jobs are priority issues for young voters. Research shows a single …

Beyond climate laws, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in two cases could overturn regulations on health policy, since most health-care laws are federal regulations. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to decide whether to uphold ‘Chevron deference’

Two U.S. Supreme Court cases could change federal agencies' roles in clarifying ambiguous laws. The cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and …

An Associated Press/NORC poll found 47% of people are unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle, with the biggest reason being the high cost. (Adobe Stock)

NJ elected officials work to relieve concerns about EVs

As New York and New Jersey transition to electric vehicles, consumers have mixed feelings about it. Polls show fewer than half of New York drivers …

The number of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school remained the same before and after the pandemic at 42%, which is lower than the national average of 54%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY kids’ pandemic-era education troubles persist

A new report found New York kids' well-being is improving despite lingering pandemic issues. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

New York gained more than 170,000 clean-energy jobs in 2022 with work in grid modernization growing more than 8% that year and making New York's battery storage and grid modernization sector one of the largest in the country. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature passes climate, energy bills before session ends

New York State's legislative session has ended with climate bills a top priority. Legislation such as the Climate Change Superfund Act awaits Gov…

An estimated 1.2 million people chose to buy electric cars in 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book. (Ramona du Houx)

NY elected officials kick off tour touting EV benefits

New York elected officials are kicking off a tour to tout the benefits of electric vehicles. The Elected Officials to Protect America tour is …

Reports show closing Mount Sinai Beth Israel means sending people to Bellevue or NYU Langone's Tisch Hospital, which have high-volume emergency departments, with up to three-hour wait times. (Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital slated to close July 12

New York City's Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital is slated to close on July 12. Mount Sinai Health Systems cites financial reasons since the hospital …

Research shows New York's residential electricity use is more than $24 per kilowatt-hour, 50% higher than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

NYers uneasy about Central Hudson rate increase

New Yorkers are uneasy about Central Hudson Gas & Electric getting a rate increase. It comes amid a Public Service Commission investigation into …

Filmmaker documents parents' last moments as they use medical aid in dying

A new documentary series looks at medical aid in dying through the eyes of terminally ill people advocating for a peaceful passing on their own terms…

Only seven states require a full year of civics instruction in high school while 13 states have no requirement at all. (Adobe Stock)

Civic engagement has different meaning for Gen. Z NYers

New research shows younger New Yorkers have different ideas about civic engagement. A Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement survey found …

Several house Republicans including New York's Mike Lawler signed a letter opposing CFPB's rule aimed at banning excessive credit card late fees. (Adobe Stock)

CFPB late fee rule could save NYers money

New Yorkers could benefit from a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule. It caps credit card late fees at $8, or - at the credit card …

A new survey by the group Make the Road New York showed one-third of New York City migrant workers with steady jobs weren't getting minimum wage or timely pay, due to their immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: NYC needs to do more for growing migrant population

A new survey showed New York City's population of asylum-seekers is struggling, and makes suggestions for improvements. The survey by the group Make …

About 400 companies will be involved in building the new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo through bids for new construction and demolition of the old stadium. (Quintin Soloviev/Wikimedia Commons)

Sustainable steel makes new Buffalo Bills stadium greener

The new Buffalo Bills stadium may not be the best environmentally but it has some green qualities. The steel for the stadium is being made locally …

Part of the New York HEAT Act ensures no household would pay more than 6% of its annual income on gas or electricity bills. (Adobe Stock)

NY environmentalists want HEAT Act passed in remaining session

With less than a month left in the New York Legislature's session, environmentalists are pushing for the HEAT Act's passage. Last-minute stalling …

A report from the nonprofit Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project showed student demonstrations make up around one-third of all U.S. protests related to the Israel-Hamas War since it began. (Kalaya'an Mendoza)

NY group offers resources for student protestors, bystanders

New York groups are providing student protesters with resources to help sustain demonstrations safely and peacefully, as the war between Israel and …

New York City's budget allocates $514 million in city and recurring state funds for supporting education programs. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: NYC budget makes great strides, but more is needed

New York City advocates are excited yet concerned about the 2025 budget. In recent weeks, funding was restored to certain education programs such as …

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 9.2 million lead pipes are currently used across the nation. (Adobe Stock)

New maps show progress on NY lead service line replacement

New maps show the extent of New York State's lead pipe replacement program. They demonstrate progress in replacing lead service lines, although the …

Despite certain barriers to care, New York ranks high on Mental Health America's 2023 Access to Care Report. (Adobe Stock)

NY budget requires insurers to pay rates as high as Medicaid

New York's 2025 budget improves access to mental-health services. Budget legislation stipulates commercial insurers have to pay rates similar to …

A Marist Poll found 31% of rural New Yorkers want increased state funding for developing new homes. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget bolsters rural housing preservation programs

New York's 2025 budget takes proactive steps to address rural housing. In the budget, $10 million was allocated for improvements to rural housing …

An estimated 17.4 million adults with disabilities nationwide report frequent mental distress. (Adobe Stock)

Classes help NY psychologists understand disabled people’s mental health

New continuing education classes can help New York psychologists better work with disabled patients. The courses center on understanding …

The National College Attainment Network reported the graduating high school class of 2023 in New York left more than $226 million in Pell grants unclaimed, the fourth-highest of any state. (Adobe Stock)

NY approves universal FAFSA access for graduating students

New York's 2025 budget creates universal access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program. School districts statewide will have the …

An estimated 65% of occupied housing units in Newburgh have renters living in them. Less than 35% are owner-occupied. (Adobe Stock)

Newburgh tenant protections overturned by county Supreme Court

Orange County's Supreme Court reversed a decision letting the city of Newburgh implement state tenant protections. The city declared a housing …

A Siena College poll finds New York's medical aid-in-dying bill has support across regions and party lines. (Adobe Stock)

NY medical aid-in-dying bill gains broader support

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill …

Despite a multiyear dredging effort, studies showed forever chemicals are still present in the Hudson River. (Adobe Stock)

NY takes action to remove PFAS from water, products

The state of New York is removing forever chemicals from various places, just as the Environmental Protection Agency issued limits on PFAS in …

Estimates find 3.4 million New York renters are left out of the state's new

Advocates: NY budget erodes tenant, housing protections

New York State housing advocates say they are furious about the so-called "good cause eviction bill" in the new state budget. It grants tenant …

New York has benefited from the Inflation Reduction Act's Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program which supports transportation projects, and planning to protect against climate impacts. (Adobe Stock)

NY, PA towns benefit from Inflation Reduction Act grants

New York towns are reaping many benefits since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. Along with funds for larger clean energy projects, the state …

The New York HEAT Act could cut utility bills nearly in half for 1 in 4 energy-burdened New Yorkers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates want NY HEAT Act in the final budget

The New York HEAT Act might not make the final budget. The bill reduces the state's reliance on natural gas and cuts ratepayer costs by eliminating …

Experts said common mistakes people make in health care planning are completing an advanced directive, and not telling anyone or not adding a rider to their living will specifying the kind of care they want. (Adobe Stock)

NYers can benefit from early health care decision planning

Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and New Yorkers have reason to start early planning. A new report cites rates of Alzheimer's disease …

As of this writing, a petition to stop Nassau County's plan to deputize residents with gun permits has 2,080 signatures. (Adobe Stock)

Nassau County exec's plan to deputize armed citizens draws fire

Nassau County's executive wants to deputize residents who hold gun permits. County Executive Bruce Blakemen's plan involves training 100 residents …

Some 60% of restaurant workers who complete Restaurant Opportunities Centers United's CHOW training got a $2 to $3 per hour pay increase. (Adobe Stock)

Workforce training helps NY workers know their rights

New York restaurant workers need to know their rights to better navigate their workplaces. A new report finds high rates of what it calls …

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