New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Biden Administration's goal of 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy could create more than 77,000 jobs nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Elected Officials Seeking More Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind is becoming an increasingly popular way for coastal communities to hit their carbon-neutral goals. According to a report from the U.S…

While there are some misconceptions about where to charge electric vehicles, there are at least 3,000 charging stations across the state, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

New NY Bill Opens Market for Electric Vehicles

A new piece of legislation would provide New Yorkers with further access to electric vehicles. The Direct EV Sales bill, still under consideration …

According to the Empire Center, the average family health-care plan premium in New York is $23,450. That's 14% above the national average, and the third-highest cost, behind Connecticut and New Hampshire. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

What NYers Should Consider When Buying Healthcare Plans

Many New Yorkers will be shopping for new health insurance plans this month, when open enrollment begins. If you are among them, experts advise it is …

Amtrak's Acela, at its fastest, travels at 150 miles per hour, but Northeast Maglev's proposed system could safely travel at double that speed. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Maglev Speeds Up Ride from NY to DC

Traveling between New York and Washington D.C. takes three hours on Amtrak's Acela, but an upcoming high speed rail concept could reduce the trip to …

According to a June poll by Voto Latino, two of the issues that are most important to Latino voters in the 2022 midterm elections are gun safety regulations and abortion rights. (Adobe Stock)

Uncertainty Surrounds NY Latino Voter Turnout for Midterms

As the midterm elections approach, there are concerns about whether Latino voters will turn out as much as they have in past elections. In New York…

In the 2007-2008 school year, New York City was set to implement a plan to limit class sizes to 25 students by the 2011-2012 school year. However, the plan hasn't yet come to fruition. (Adobe Stock)

New Law to Cap Class Sizes in NYC Schools

Class sizes in New York City schools will be limited by 2028 - the result of a new state law. The law will cap Kindergarten through third-grade …

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, invasive carp species have been working their way along the Mississippi River and into other waterways for several decades. Now, people are fighting back to keep them out of the Great Lakes. (Adobe Stock)

New Film Details Fight Against Invasive Carp in Great Lakes

A new film is documenting efforts to prevent invasive carp species from entering the Great Lakes. "Against the Current 2: Keeping Invasive Carp Out …

According to a recent survey by the American Library Association, about 71% of voters, across party lines, oppose book bans altogether. Yet, the ALA has found 1,651 different books were the target of book bans since the start of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Brooklyn Public Library Hosts 'Books UnBanned' Program

Banned Books Week continues through Saturday, and the Brooklyn Public Library has a program for teens facing book bans in their states. The Books …

Some marijuana convictions, which keep people from getting a better job, joining the military, going back to school or getting a student loan, can be erased right now. (Adobe Stock)

Legal Clinic: How to Put a Pot Conviction Behind You

A special legal clinic is being held on September 24 in Buffalo about expunging certain marijuana convictions. The clinic, a collaboration between …

According to a 2021 study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, Americans are split on whether arresting the people involved in the January 6th Capitol Riot was constitutional or not. (Adobe Stock)

More Civics Education Needed for Healthy Democracy

As political tensions have risen in the last few years, experts are calling for a bigger emphasis on civic education. In a 2021 study by the …

According to a 2021 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there was a reduction in symptoms of depression, PTSD and anxiety when those surveyed used telehealth. However, there are some who feel little things could be lost in the conversion to a virtual world. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

Social Workers Go Virtual, Leaving Nonprofits Shorthanded

Nonprofit social workers in New York are seeing a shortage of people coming into the field, abdicating it for telehealth work. Early in the COVID-19 …

Part of New York State's climate law says 35% of total statewide spending on clean energy and efficiency programs must go to disadvantaged communities. (Adobe Stock)

NY Prepares Disadvantaged Communities for Climate Change Effects

New York State has been working to ensure disadvantaged communities aren't so vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, as storms grow in …

According to the 2022 Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy Data Book, the use of health-care services among children covered by Medicaid and CHIP declined during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Habits Important as Kids Return to School

As kids return to school, New York parents are encouraged to ensure their kids are getting yearly checkups. According to the U.S. Health Resources …

According to a New York State Comptroller audit, out of 563 schools previously cited for not having one of the Department of Education's six mental health programs, 30% did not have a social worker. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

NY Experiencing Shortage of School Social Workers

School districts across the state of New York are facing a shortage of social workers. According to an audit by the state comptroller's office…

In 2018, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York filed a lawsuit against the City of Mount Vernon for violating the Clean Water Act. (Adobe Stock)

NY Town Faces Similar Infrastructure Woes to Jackson, MS

A small city in New York faces water infrastructure issues similar to the ones making national headlines in Jackson, Mississippi. Mount Vernon has …

According to a 2018 Compassion & Choices survey, 56% of New York physicians support medical aid in dying. (Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Targets VT’s Medical Aid-in- Dying Law's Residency Rule

A nonprofit group is suing the state of Vermont on behalf of a New York and Vermont doctor and a terminally ill woman. At issue is Vermont's medical …

In 2017 and 2018, a quarter of New York Hospitals placed over 4,800 liens on patient's homes, according to a report from the Community Service Society of New York. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislature Bans Some Types of Medical Debt Collection

The New York State Legislature passed two bills aimed at easing medical debt back in May, and a new report indicates they're much needed. The first …

A 2021 Gallup poll shows most of the folks who have their end-of-life plans in order are age 50 or older. Only one in five Americans younger than age 30 has a will. (Adobe Stock)

Numerous Reasons Why People Delay End-of-Life Planning

August is National Make-A-Will Month, which experts say is an opportune time for New Yorkers to begin end-of-life planning. According to a 2021 …

With a 29.7% jump in population over the last decade, residents of Hell's Kitchen are calling on MTA officials for a new subway station to be built in the neighborhood. But, it could face stiff competition for funding from other proposed capital projects. (Adobe Stock)

NYC Community Calls on MTA to Build Long-Planned Subway Station

Numerous community advocates are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build a long-proposed subway station at 10th Avenue and 41st …

Part of the Inflation Reduction Act's $369 billion climate-change investment creates the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which aims to reduce leaks from the production and distribution of natural gas. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act is Law; Climate Future Still Murky

Although President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, many are hoping he will declare a climate emergency to provide further …

A case to be heard in the next U.S. Supreme Court team involves what's known as the

Upcoming SCOTUS Case Could Alter Redistricting Process

Whether state courts are allowed to review the validity of redistricting by state legislatures is at the heart of a case to be considered by the U.S…

The upcoming 2022 hurricane season has a 60-percent chance of producing more storms of higher intensity. This comes as the Inflation Reduction Act provides $2.6 Billion Dollars for coastal resilience programs. (Jillian Cain - Adobe Stock)

New Bill Allocates Funds for NY's Coastal Resilience Measures

The Inflation Reduction Act, newly passed by the U.S. Senate, allocates $369 Billion to fight climate change, and appropriates funds specifically for …

While the number of high school students graduating on time has risen, a new report showed early education is stunted in the state of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges More Support for NYS Early Education

Early education in New York State needs more support and better resources, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count …

According to a report from the University of California Berkeley, prior to the pandemic, restaurant workers in the state of New York had a workforce of 675,000 employees. Now that figure is down to 554,000. (Adobe Stock)

Restaurant Workers Seeking Legislation Outlining Rights

Restaurant workers have been fleeing the industry throughout the Great Resignation, with no end in sight. In order to codify necessities for better …

In four of the last five years, New York state has seen severe drought conditions, which experts say could worsen as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. (Adobe Stock)

NY Droughts Could Advance with Climate Change

Twenty-one counties in New York are under a drought watch, which could become the norm as climate change heats up the planet. According to the New …

At least 70% of all public park restrooms in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens are not ADA compliant. In Staten Island, 45% are not ADA compliant. (Sascha Burkard/Adobe Stock)

NYC Public Restrooms Need Better Disability Access

The New York City Council is considering asking the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a report outlin…

As many states work to achieve their own climate goals, the United States is working toward its goal of having 30 gigawatts of electricity generated from offshore wind by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes. (Fokke Baarssen/Adobe Stock)

Offshore Wind Backers: Long-Term Benefits Outweigh Costs

As part of New York state's climate goals, Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the third competitive solicitation of offshore wind projects, with the …

New York City's Fair Workweek Laws have been challenged by employers, but they're seen as a means to ensure that workers in high-turnover industries are treated fairly in scheduling. (Adobe Stock)

NYC Chipotle Workers' Efforts to Unionize on Hold

It has been about three years since workers at Chipotle restaurants in New York City started their effort to unionize, and it hasn't happened yet…

One of the most common issues cited in using the New York City subway is the lack of elevator and escalator access at stations for people with disabilities, though others mistake it as an issue of convenience. (Michael Vi/Adobe Stock)

NYC Subway Aims for Accessibility for Riders with Disabilities

New York City's subway system has often been a thorn in the side of the disabled community, because only 114 of the system's 472 stations, or 24%…

New York and other Atlantic Coast states accounted for almost 30% of electricity consumption in 2019. Offshore wind development in these states could generate almost 4,600 terawatts per hour, four times their energy consumption in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Offshore Wind Development Coming to East Hampton

Amid record-setting heat waves and increased energy usage, New York is looking to offshore wind developments for a cleaner energy source. The state …

According to the Detention Watch Network, the U.S. detained nearly 250,000 immigrants in Fiscal Year 2021, in a network of about 200 facilities. (Gustavo Frazao/Adobe Stock)">

NY Law Regulates ‘Predatory’ Immigrant Bond Companies

A new law in New York State is expected to keep for-profit lenders from taking advantage of immigrants in detention facilities. Some people in the …

Buffalo's East Side is still reeling after the racially-motivated shooting in a local grocery store in May. The store's Friday reopening has only drummed up controversy about whether it should be back in business. (Adobe Stock)

East Buffalo Tops Store Reopens Amid Neighborhood Ambivalence

The Tops supermarket in Buffalo, where a racially-motivated gunman killed 10 people and injured three, has reopened today, almost two months since …

New York State has several new laws the governor says will accelerate progress on achieving a net-zero-emission electrical grid by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

NYS Swift to Tackle Climate Goals

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has commissioned the Empire State Line, a $180 million power transmission line to increase transmission capacity and …

The HEAL Food Alliance is making small grants to organizations across the country that are helping workers who find themselves underwater in the 'informal economy.' (Adobe Stock)

HEAL Grant Bolsters Workers' Center Programs in Central NY

An organization in Central New York is getting a funding boost to help workers who are still struggling with the financial effects of the pandemic…

At HUD's Fair Market Rent, the annual income renters need in New York State to afford a two-bedroom home is $70,782. (Adobe Stock)

'Affordable' Housing Needs New Definition in NY, US

The reality of "affordable" housing is changing in New York, and advocates for renters' rights argued it is time for an update. For years, …

According to the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Ontario waters sit more than a foot above average on the shoreline. (Wangkun Jia/Adobe Stock)

NY Communities Still Face Flood Damages, Call for Bipartisan Climate Bill

The Atlantic hurricane season typically runs from June to October, and environmental groups are urging Congress to advance a bill which would require …

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., is among the chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, founded in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: 'Center' Black Women to Build Economic Justice

As states ban abortion with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, women's advocates in New York and beyond are raising awareness of the outsized impact …

HRSA's Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program has almost 1,000 full-time graduate students doing residencies in underserved communities, but says the nation needs a lot more. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Millions Awarded to NY Health Centers for Residency Training Programs

Some New York health care facilities are getting a funding boost to help train the next generation of doctors and dentists. The U.S. Department of …

In a blow to the nation's efforts to curb climate change, the U.S. Supreme Court has reduced the Environmental Protection Agency's power in regulating emissions from existing power plants. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Ruling a Step Back for Fighting Climate Change

In a 6-3 decision Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, diminishing the agency's ability to …

The Supreme Court's ruling in the case Vega v. Tekoh may have weakened the court's position on Miranda rights, but does not entirely invalidate those rights for people who are arrested. (Adobe Stock)

Vega v. Tekoh Ruling Weakens ‘Miranda’ Protections

Another important U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month has been overshadowed by the controversy about overturning abortion rights. Legal experts say …

Older Latino Americans are less likely to have an advanced directive than are their white peers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates to NY Latinos: Create Advance Directive for End-of-Life Plans

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illness or tragedy strikes…

Research has shown that tree canopy and urban forests can help cities retain storm water, provide habitat for animals, reduce summer temperatures and store greenhouse gases. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: NYC Tree Canopy Must Be Equitably Distributed

With a historic budget for parks and recreation, New York City is crafting strategic plans to increase tree canopy through an environmental justice …

The most common voting obstacle in New York City in 2021 was a raised lip at the doorway entrance, which can obstruct wheelchair users. (Jelena/Adobe Stock)

Disability Advocates to Survey NYC Polling Places for Accessibility

Tomorrow marks the New York primary, and advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are raising awareness about the barriers some voters face for …

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Alyssa's Law Thursday, saying it is one of many new safety measures she plans to adopt, to keep New Yorkers safe from gun violence. (Office of the Governor)

NY's Newest State Law Requires School Districts Consider Silent Alarms

Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved a new law, requiring schools to consider installing a silent, panic-alarm system. Approval of what's known as …

The voting-rights legislation signed into law in New York includes pre-clearance, which requires jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to get election changes reviewed. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

NY Voting Rights Bill Now Law, Ahead of Early Voting Next Week

Voting in the New York primary election begins next Tuesday, and ahead of the kickoff, a new voting-rights bill has been signed into law this week…

More than 67% of seniors get flu shots, according to the America's Health Rankings report, compared with about 60% in 2011. (Alfredo Hern�ndez/Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Seniors Struggle With Addiction, Mental Health

Older people in New York are dying from drug overdose or suicide at much higher rates now compared with a decade ago, according to the latest …

Gov. Kathy Hochul announces a historic $150 million investment and a partnership with Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Westchester County Executive George Latimer to address longstanding water infrastructure and related public-health challenges that have plagued the city of Mount Vernon for decades. (Don Pollard/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Report: Infrastructure Funding a Chance to Advance Environmental Justice

The Infrastructure Act is providing $1.2 trillion for improvement projects across water, energy, building and transportation sectors. A new report …

Roughly half of students at CUNY Lehman College are Pell Grant recipients. (Wikimedia Commons)

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Help Get Students Over Finish Line

Advocates for equal access to education say college rankings traditionally prioritize characteristics such as selectivity and prestige over student su…

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