New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

Kids in 10th and 12th grades in New York City shelters had attendance rates below 70%, meaning they missed the equivalent of more than a week of school in a single month (Oct. 2021), according to a new policy brief. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

NYC Youth in Shelters Face School Attendance Challenges

New York City students in insecure housing situations continue to have alarmingly low school attendance rates, heightened by the pandemic. Youth …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget includes funds for the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes as part of the state's plan to electrify 1 million homes and make another 1 million electrification-ready by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Elected Officials Call on NY to Pass All-Electric Building Act

New York elected officials are calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation to transition new buildings off fossil fuels, saying it would make …

"We have to refuse to live in a country where Black people going about weekly grocery shopping can be gunned down by weapons of war deployed in a racist cause," President Joe Biden said during a speech in Buffalo Tuesday. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

In Buffalo After Mass Shooting, Biden Calls White Supremacy 'A Poison'

President Joe Biden traveled to Buffalo Tuesday to grieve with residents of the city, after 10 people were killed over the weekend in an anti-Black …

Buffalo residents gathered at Macedonia Baptist Church on Sunday for a vigil in honor of the victims of the mass shooting at Tops supermarket on Saturday. (Darren McGee/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul)

Buffalo Reeling After 10 Killed in Racist Attack at Supermarket

Buffalo residents are grieving after a shooter killed 10 community members on Saturday in an anti-Black attack, apparently fueled by racist white …

In the last five years, more than 36,000 households have benefited from New York's low-income cooling program. (Viacheslav Lakobchuk/Adobe Stock)

NY Advocates: Bill Would Level Playing Field for Utility Customers

Groups advocating for older New Yorkers say a bill passed by the New York State Senate would help level the playing field for utility customers…

Most polls show a majority of Americans think Roe v. Wade should remain in place. (Steve Rhodes/Flickr)

NY to Allocate $35 Million to Abortion Providers

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday a new state fund for supporting abortion providers, in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v…

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.7 billion people suffer from musculoskeletal issues worldwide. (Adobe Stock)

Working From Home? Experts Say to Keep Healthy Habits in Mind

Health experts are urging folks to ensure they're ergonomically up to snuff while working from home. A 2016 report by the United States Bone and …

According to the Governor's Office, Holocaust survivors typically receive little to no Social Security income. (Adobe Stock)

NY to Allocate $2.6 Million to Holocaust Survivors

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state will allocate about $2.6 million to increase financial and medical support for survivors of the Holocaust…

Research shows that 90% of high school seniors who complete FAFSA go to college immediately after graduation compared with 55% of seniors who don't complete it. (Adobe Stock)

NY FAFSA Completion Rates Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

New data show college financial-aid completion rates in New York are five percentage points lower than they were pre-pandemic. An education advocacy …

Buildings account for one-third of New York's greenhouse-gas emissions. (Adobe Stock)

NY a Climate Leader through New State Budget

Gov. Kathy Hochul's $220 billion budget was signed into law this week, and clean-energy advocates say it includes a strong commitment to addressing …

Nearly 70% of Americans favor taking steps to become carbon-neutral by 2050, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock/Leo Lintang)

New York on Way to 2050 Carbon Neutrality Goal

Despite efforts to mitigate the toll of human-induced climate change, New Yorkers and billions of others around the world are still impacted by its …

Predominantly Black Institutions are defined as serving student bodies that are at least 40% Black and 50% low-income. (Wikimedia Commons)

Higher Ed Experts: Basic Needs Not Met at NY's Minority-Serving Institutions

New York has multiple state-run student financial aid programs to ensure the cost of tuition and fees is not a barrier to higher education for economi…

According to the report, habitat loss in recent years varies by game species. Mule deer have lost more than 7.3 million acres of habitat, while wild turkeys have seen their range plummet by nearly 19 million acres. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Habitat Loss Causing Significant Impact on Game Species

New York's game species are literally losing ground, as human development and climate change is restricting their native habitats. A new report from …

The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in the state, including RNs and other professionals at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. (New York State Nurses Association)

Plattsburgh Nurses Union Fights for Fair Contract

Nurses at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh have been working without a contract for two years, and urged hospital administration …

The Excluded Workers Fund helped 130,000 New Yorkers who lost income but were not eligible for unemployment benefits during the pandemic. (New York Department of Labor)

Report: NY's Excluded Workers Fund a Model for Future, Other States

A new report makes the case for New York to continue its Excluded Workers Fund, which was started during the pandemic to provide payments to …

The number of older New Yorkers has grown by 26% in the last decade, according to a 2019 report. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: NY 'Fair Pay for Home Care' a Win for Workers

The New York Senate and Assembly budget proposals each include funding the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which advocates say is crucial to address a …

In addition to $125 billion for K-12 schools, the Learning Policy Institute reports the American Rescue Plan allocated about $40 billion for colleges and universities. (Adobe Stock)

One Year Later, NY Teachers Still Benefit from American Rescue Plan

One year ago, President Joe Biden signed into law the nearly $2 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and New York teachers' unions said the …

Coalition: Building Electrification Policies Key in NY Budget

The New York Legislature will approve Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget by April 1. Environmental advocates are pushing for the fiscal plan to include …

The New York Medical Aid-in-Dying Act would allow a patient diagnosed with a terminal illness and six months to live the option to end their life with medication prescribed by a doctor. The bill has numerous safeguards, including requiring the patient to make both oral and written requests signed by two witnesses. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmaker to Colleagues: Pass the NY Medical Aid in Dying Act

New York is among several states with medical aid-in-dying bills introduced this legislative session. A recent poll found residents are more likely …

The report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that an estimated 3% to 14% of all land species may face a high risk of extinction at 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. (Adobe Stock)

Report: BBB Would Put U.S. Carbon Emissions-Reduction Goals Within Reach

Ahead of tonight's State of the Union address and on the heels of a new United Nations' climate change report, a new analysis found clean-energy …

New York immigrant groups say the United States needs to protect undocumented Ukrainians from deportation. (golicin/Adobe Stock)

NY Immigration Coalition Urges U.S. to Welcome Ukrainian Refugees

The New York Immigration Coalition is among the groups urging the U.S. to take in as many Ukrainian refugees as possible, as Ukraine faces an ongoing …

More than 70% of dentists in a recent survey cited an increase in teeth grinding and clinching among patients, conditions often associated with stress. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

NY Pediatric Dentist: Regular Visits Crucial for Oral Health

It's National Children's Dental Health Month, and health professionals recommend children improve their oral health by upgrading their toothbrush to …

Elizabeth Jennings started New York City's first kindergarten for African American children, which she ran from her home until her death in 1901. A monument in Manhattan to honor her is in the works. (Photo courtesy Jerry Mikorenda)

Telling the Story of Elizabeth Jennings, NY's 19th-Century Freedom Rider

One hundred years before Rosa Parks ignited a 13-month bus boycott, Elizabeth Jennings led the way for New York. A presentation this evening at a …

According to the Pew Research Center, 60% of parents report their children begin engaging with smart devices before age five. (Adobe Stock)

Parents Urged to Set Guidelines for Kids' Tech Use

As the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed students to live more of their social lives online, advocates for internet safety are urging parents to set clear …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four New Yorkers lives with some sort of disability, and 7% of adults in the state face serious difficulties doing errands alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY Governor Appoints New Chief Disability Officer

More than 3.7 million people with disabilities live in New York, according to the federal government, and they just got a new advocate in the …

According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, four times as many women than men dropped out of the workforce between August and September of 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts Underway to Make More Childcare Available to New Yorkers

More than 60% of New York State is considered to be a "child-care desert." But some state initiatives could make care available to more families as th…

Advocates of guaranteed-income programs say they help families afford basic needs, from utility bills to food, and more. (rocketclips/Adobe Stock)

NY Groups: Guaranteed Income Improves Racial, Gender Justice

By Sonali Kolhatkar for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for New York News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

According to the state Department of Health, one in five New Yorkers age 65 and older reported having some type of cardiovascular disease in 2018. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors, Experts Focus on Heart Health This Month

With American Heart Month underway, doctors are urging New York residents to check in on their heart health. Dr. Amey Kulkarni, cardiologist…

In 2017, pregnancies among Black residents of New York City accounted for 23% of the city's births, but 55% of maternal deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Rally for Equity, Justice in NY Maternal Health

New Yorkers rallied this week, calling for action to help address the structural inequality Black and Brown people experience during pregnancy and …

Nearly a quarter of New York residents are immigrants, while almost one-fifth are native-born U.S. citizens with at least one immigrant parent, according to the American Immigration Council. (G. Lonmbardo/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant Communities 'Left Out' of NY Redistricting Plan

The State Assembly is proposing a new set of redistricting maps this week, but members of several New York immigrant communities say they've been …

Experts say expanding Essential Plan coverage to undocumented New Yorkers would cost $350 million, but would lead to savings on emergency medical care for people who can't get less expensive, preventive care. (nilsversemann/Adobe Stock)

Immigrant NYers: Time is Now to Pass "Coverage for All"

Advocates for immigrant New Yorkers are urging the State Legislature to pass a bill to extend health coverage to undocumented New Yorkers earning up t…

According to AARP, New York ranks 39th among states for the amount of money the state spends on nursing home oversight per resident. (Adobe Stock)

More Funds Requested for NY Nursing-Home Oversight

Advocates for older New Yorkers say Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed executive budget leaves people living in nursing homes behind, by not addressing a …

A 2021 report found that investing billions in the New York State Environmental Bond Act would create 65,000 jobs. (Carl Heilman/The Nature Conservancy)

Drive Mounts to Fund Environmental Projects in NY Budget

Environmental advocates are in favor of investments in climate action and nature projects New York Gov. Kathy Hochul put forth in her executive …

Signs of too much screen time range from dry, irritated eyes to difficulty sleeping, blurred vision, reduced attention span and irritability. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: New Yorkers Should Monitor Excess Screen Time, Blue-Light Exposure

Health experts are warning the public about the mental, social and physical health risks of using digital devices too much, including the possible …

In 2020, 42% of New York's direct care workers lived in or near poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push NY to Increase Home-Care Workers' Pay

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are calling on state lawmakers to take action on policies that would raise earnings for home-care workers…

Emissions from all buses, cars, and trucks make up 30% of New York City's carbon footprint. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Rally Support for NY Plan to Electrify School Buses

In her 2022 State of the State address, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul set new goals for electrifying the school bus fleets in the state. Clean-energy …

If the New York State Legislature rejects the Independent Redistricting Commission's maps again, it will be up to state lawmakers to draw congressional and state legislative district lines. (Flickr/Wally Gobetz)

NY Lawmakers Reject Latest Redistricting Maps

The New York State Legislature on Monday rejected two sets of district maps submitted by the state's Independent Redistricting Commission, so more …

PFAS chemicals have been discovered at high levels in the water systems of Hoosick Falls, Newburgh, Petersburgh and dozens of communities on Long Island. (Adobe Stock)

NY Enacts New PFAS Testing, Notification Law

A new law on the books in New York establishes the most comprehensive drinking-water testing and notification program in the nation for Perfluorinated…

New York City has set a goal of 100 megawatts of solar capacity on public buildings by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Unions: BBB's Clean-Energy Jobs Key to NY's Manufacturing Future

The future of the Build Back Better Act may be in doubt in Congress, but New York labor leaders say the bill would create sustainable union jobs and …

Firearms, rifles and shotguns are used to kill almost 40,000 people every year in the United States, including 800 people in New York State alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY Lawmaker Proposes 10-Day Gun-Purchase Waiting Period

The gun violence crisis in the U.S. has taken a toll on communities across the country. In New York, pending legislation would require licensed gun …

Nearly 900,000 renters in New York spent 50% or more of their income on housing in 2017, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.(Adobe Stock)

Report: NY's Severe Housing Issues Impact Public Health

A new report provides a checkup on the health of people in New York and across the country, to help officials improve outcomes in their states…

In a National Wildlife Federation and United Federation of Teachers survey, only one in five educators said climate education was covered in student-teacher training. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: More Climate Education Needed in NYC Schools

CORRECTION: Just 52% of NYC teachers teach climate change. An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated the percentage. (11:43 a.m. EST., Dec…

A letter sent to Congress by 240 groups in part calls for $69.5 million for increased access to overdose prevention, harm reduction, and syringe service programs through the CDC's Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic program. (Flickr)

As Overdoses Climb, NY Groups Seek Solutions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced another staggering new death count amid the pandemic: more than 100,000 fatal drug overdo…

Even before COVID-19, almost 29 million Americans didn't have health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Open Enrollment for ACA Health Insurance Ends Soon in NY

New Yorkers have until the end of the year to get health insurance coverage that begins Jan. 1 on the health insurance marketplaces through the …

Under New York state law, the right to sepulcher allows someone's next of kin to control the final disposition of their loved one's body. (Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York)

NY Medical Examiner Challenged in End-of-Life Directive Lawsuit

A lawsuit claims the New York City Medical Examiner's Office violated the advance directive of a transgender Muslim man who specified what to do with …

In the redistricting process, New York will lose one congressional seat, the result of a population decrease upstate. (NYIRC Maps)

NY Groups Hope New Voting-District Maps Reflect Community Input

New York City made history last week when the City Council passed a law giving non-citizens with legal permanent-resident status the right to vote in …

A new report from The Nature Conservancy says 1,100 tons of pollutants are removed from the air each year, thanks to the trees in New York City. (Noemi Gonzalo-Bilbao Fernandez/The Nature Conservancy)

Studies Show Need for NYC Urban Forest Growth

NEW YORK -- New research shows how expanding New York City's urban forest would benefit New Yorkers' lives in the long term. According to The Nature …

NYSNA alleges that more than 650 vacant nursing jobs among three Bronx hospitals have not been filled, adding to an overall staffing shortage. (Adobe Stock)

NY Nurses Allege Understaffing Hampers Patient Care in Bronx ERs

BRONX, N.Y. -- New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members continue to speak out, with allegations of understaffing in New York City hospitals…

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