New York News & Current Events | Public News Service

An NYPD Monitor report tracked the work of officers during the 41st Precinct. It found only 41% of stops, 32% of frisks and 26% of searches were lawful. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, December 7, 2023

NY criminal-justice groups want increased police transparency

New York City community advocates want to reduce the number of stop-and-frisk encounters with police. The American Civil Liberties Union of New York …

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Backers of offshore wind tout good jobs, fossil fuel independence

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants the state's Board of Public Utilities to initiate more bids for offshore wind projects in the New Year. The move …

New York criminal court judges decide whether to publish their decisions. A report finds of the judges who publish one decision a year, the average number of published decisions was two to three per year. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

NY groups want increased criminal court ruling transparency

Government accountability groups want increased transparency in New York criminal court decisions. This comes after a new report finds only 6% of …

New York State's climate goals would have the state using 70% renewable energy by 2030, and use zero-emission electricity by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

Report: New York won’t meet its 2030 climate goals

Just as New York State prepares for its first offshore wind farm to come online, a new report predicted the state will not meet its climate goals…

Extremes of hot and cold weather have taken their toll on a concrete barrier along Binghamton's Riverwalk. Concrete crumbles between the stones of the wall in upstate New York. (Chet Wiker/Adobe Stock)

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

Some state and local lawmakers are on a long list calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to require big oil companies to help offset the costs of …

A 2022 Compassion & Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying, professionally, and 49% said they support it personally. (Adobe Stock)

Medical aid-in-dying bill sees stronger support in NY Legislature

Legislation to allow medical aid in dying bill has been introduced in New York State every year since 2015, and its backers say 2024 could be the …

A new report found PCB concentrations from 2016, the last year the Hudson River was dredged, have changed little since the dredging began. (Adobe Stock)

Report: EPA’s Hudson River dredging failed

In a new report, a coalition of New York environmental groups said dredging the Hudson River of toxic chemicals has failed. The report by Friends of …

A 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report finds that in 2022, U.S. airlines mishandled 11,389 wheelchairs and scooters that were loaded onto planes. (Adobe Stock)

Despite progress, air travel still poses challenges for people with disabilities

Ahead of the holiday season, advocates are calling on Congress to increase disability access in air travel. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics …

The National Young Farmers Survey found 62% of Northeastern farmers attribute changes in weather events they are experiencing on their farms to climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Young NY farmers want Congress to help them withstand climate change

Young farmers in New York and across the country want Congress to help them deal with the effects of climate change. Bayer's Farmer Voice Survey …

Despite middling scores for how immigrant students feel in school, a YouthTruth/Re-Imaging Migration survey finds most immigrant children enjoy school and feel prepared for college level courses. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Immigrant students feel invisible to teachers and peers

A new survey found immigrant students need better help in school. The YouthTruth, Re-Imagining Migration survey was designed to examine the …

Recent investments in renewable energy projects will generate around 6.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 2 million New York homes. (Adobe Stock)

NY elected official veterans praise IRA clean energy investments

New York elected officials who are veterans are rallying around the Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy investments. The massive federal spending …

Aside from costing rural areas economic opportunities, a housing shortage is also creating population declines. A Rural Housing Coalition of New York report found rural counties saw 50,000 people leave in the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

NY housing organization seeks solutions to rural housing issues

Rural New York organizations are working to tackle issues with rural housing. Rural counties throughout the state are suffering from aging housing …

New York's Legislature passed bills to ensure people in both the Energy Affordability and HEAP programs can have their information used to see if who needs a low-income benefit. Another bill required service companies to get customers content before any material prices increase. (Adobe Stock)

National Grid proposes rate increase for downstate NY

National Grid is proposing rate hikes for three New York City boroughs and Long Island. In Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, the utility company …

A report by Advocates for Children of New York found the highest rate of student homelessness was in The Bronx, where one in six students was homeless from 2022 to 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYC student homelessness continues to rise

A new report found a little more than 119,000 New York City students are homeless. The group Advocates for Children of New York said 61% were …

The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities found New York could see a $73,239,000 reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits for people in the WIC program. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed WIC cuts could prove detrimental to NY families

Congress' proposed cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children will have significant effects on New York …

A 2023 U.S. Department of Energy report finds that in 2022, the energy workforce added around 300,000 jobs to the energy-efficiency workforce, an almost 4% increase from 2021. (Adobe Stock)

State of NY makes massive investment in renewable-energy projects

New York has made a massive investment in renewable energy. The state is committing $300 million to create the nation's first offshore wind blade and …

Aside from his constituents, the Nassau County Republican Party has asked Rep. George Santos to resign from office. This was initially based on a New York Times investigation revealing Santos had fabricated portions of his r�sum� to win election. (Adobe Stock)

NY Rep. George Santos survives expulsion vote. Now what?

A vote to expel U.S. New York Rep. George Santos, R-Queens, from the House failed last week to reach the needed two-thirds majority. But his troubles …

Ocean Wind was going to produce 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 500,000 homes in New Jersey. (Adobe Stock)

Highly anticipated NJ offshore wind project canceled

Just as New York is making a huge investment in offshore wind, New Jersey's largest offshore wind farm project has been canceled. Project owner …

Part of MTA's 20 Year Needs Assessment calls for cutting the agency's greenhouse-gas emission by at least 85%. This would mean converting 6,000 buses to zero emissions, retrofitting existing facilities, and investing in energy-saving technologies. (Adobe Stock)

MTA's needs assessment missing helpful cost information

New York advocates want to see changes made to MTA's 20-year needs assessment. Along with infrastructure modernization work, the Metropolitan …

Port Richmond, Staten Island has the highest number of lead/possibly lead service lines (60.67%) in New York City. Conversely, Fresh Meadows in Queens had the lowest rate (20.56%). This comes in spite of the city banning lead-pipe installations in 1961 and use of lead solder in 1987. (Adobe Stock)

NY bill provides insight on location of lead pipes

New York environmental groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill making it easier to know where lead pipes are located. The Lead Pipe Right to …

Studies show scientists are aware numerous species of fungi are going extinct, but the missing research makes it challenging to know how many and how fast. (Adobe Stock)

Flora, fauna, and fungi

By Reina Gattuso for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Yes! Magazinea-Public News …

The New York City Comptroller's Office reported the number of migrants not living in New York City but still in its care has grown from 276 in May to 2,127 in September. (Adobe Stock)

NYC community health centers focus on migrant health

A network of New York City community health centers is in the crossfire of the city's migrant crisis. Ryan Health is a system of primary health …

A Brennan Center for Justice report finds 58% of early voting polling places surveyed didn't have proper signs prohibiting parking in access aisles for wheelchair users to get in and out of their cars at parking spaces. (Adobe Stock)

NY disability advocates want more accessible polling places

New York disability rights advocates are working to make polling places more accessible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds 25% …

The Pentagon has already provided 53 towns with alternate drinking water sources. However, the Department of Defense only provides alternate sources when PFAS levels are above 70 parts per trillion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PFAS water contamination risks at NY, US military sites

A report from the U.S. Department of Defense finds 245 of its 275 installations are close to groundwater sources, including 13 in New York State…

A new United Nations report found actions between Israel and Palestine have only exacerbated divisions between them. The U.N. said Hamas' initial attack on Israel constitutes a war crime. (Jewish Voice for Peace)

NY group in Washington to protest Israel/Gaza war

A New York group is among many at the U.S. Capitol today, protesting the U.S. response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Elected officials from President …

The Healthcare Association of New York State found people with complex care cost hospitals $169 million in unreimbursed costs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY can do more for people with complex needs

A recent report found New York State can do more to bolster health care for people with complex needs. The Rockefeller Institute report detailed how …

New York State has invested more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects throughout New York State. (Adobe Stock)

NY groups demand Gov. Hochul stop utility rate hike

AARP New York is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to reject a proposed utility rate hike. New York State Electric and Gas, and Rochester Gas and …

A new tool from the Immigration Research Initiative showed immigrants make up 14% of the U.S. population. (Adobe Stock)

New tool provides information about immigrant economics

A new tool encapsulates information about immigrants in New York and across the U.S. The Immigration Research Initiative's new data tool found …

Decarbonization of buildings goes beyond environmental impacts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported gas stoves can give off nitrogen dioxide, leading to issues for people with asthma and reduced lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Adobe Stock)

NYS takes steps to keep decarbonization of buildings on track

The state of New York has taken steps to ensure its building decarbonization plan is on track, but more work needs to be done. Earlier this year…

A Lumina Foundation-Gallup poll found some of the top reasons Hispanics were deciding to leave college/university were emotional stress and other personal mental health reasons. (Adobe Stock)

Half of Hispanic college students have considered leaving college

A recent poll found more than half of Hispanic college students considered leaving in the last year. A Lumina Foundation-Gallup poll showed one in …

A National Wildlife Federation survey found mixed opinions about leaving leaves on lawns. While almost half of respondents use collected leaves as mulch or compost, a small percentage are worried about fallen leaves

Survey: Keeping leaves on lawns aids wildlife, environment

A new report found raking and bagging leaves could be doing a disservice to your yard or garden. A National Wildlife Federation survey showed most …

Solar development has grown throughout New York City over the last decade. By summer 2022, 350 megawatts were installed, enough to power 90,000 households in New York City. (Adobe Stock)

New law expands NYC solar property-tax abatement

A recently signed law expands New York City's solar property tax abatement. This four year tax abatement allows for the construction of solar …

A 2019 law in New York City requires new buildings, new roofs from building enlargement and replacement of an existing building's roof requires installation of a

Proposed bill puts solar on NYC public building roofs

A proposed bill aims to have solar panels placed on the roofs of all public buildings in New York City. The bill's goal is 100 megawatts of solar on …

House Republicans continuing resolution proposes cutting 110,000 slots in the Head Start program, and waitlisting over 2 million women, infants, and children for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The Senate has already passed a bill which awaits action in the House. (Adobe Stock)

New Yorkers worry about effects of government shutdown

New Yorkers are preparing for an impending government shutdown. State officials are worried about how it could impact the work state agencies have …

A $27 billion fund managed by the Environmental Protection Agency is designed to help states and local communities construct sustainable green projects to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gases. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Elected officials seek to fight climate change in underserved NY communities

Elected officials in New York and across the country are urging state and local governments to use new funding available through the Environmental Pro…

A new report found elderly Black New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable to health complications from air pollution, and would experience the greatest decrease in mortality rates, compared to Hispanic, Asian and white counterparts. (Kirsten D/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock) The report found elderly Black New Yorkers are particularly vulnerable to health complications from air pollution, and would experience the greatest decrease in mortality rates, compared to Hispanic, Asian and white counterparts. (Kirsten

Report compares ways NY can get cleaner air, help disadvantaged communities

A new report sheds light on the effects of local air quality policies on disadvantaged communities. As New York State works to meet the challenges …

The New York City Mayor has declared a State of Emergency due to the 113,000 migrants who've arrived since spring of 2022. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Report questions NYC Mayor's proposed budget cuts, costs of migrant influx

A new report questions New York City Mayor Eric Adams' latest budget proposal for dealing with the city's influx of over 110,000 migrants. The cost …

The 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly included a speech from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke of peace with Saudi Arabia. The annual meeting's focus was the global warming crisis. (RawBeautyPixels/Adobe Stock)

Why Israeli politics matter in NYC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United Nations General Assembly sparked major demonstrations in New York City on Friday…

Protesters take to the streets of New York as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu attends the U.N. General Assembly Today. (VICHIZH/ Adobe Stock)

NY rallies for Jewish democracy as Netanyahu meets UN

Protests have heightened in New York as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joins the United Nations General Assembly today. Sonya Meyerson-…

According to KFF, Community Health Centers served a record number of patients in 2021, representing a 1% increase from just before the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health Centers: Red lights flashing for staying funded

Congress is bracing for a possible government shutdown as progress stalls in approving new federal spending plans before a Sept. 30 deadline…

Census data shows the most common method of voter registration was via the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Raising Awareness on Voter Registration Day

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and advocates across New York and the nation are reminding people to check up on their registration status…

In 2022, New Yorkers were paying $8,596 for employer-sponsored health coverage. Now, those prices have gotten closer to $9,000. (Adobe Stock)

NY Health Experts Help People Find Health Care Plans

New York health experts are preparing people for the health-care coverage open-enrollment period. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of New Yorkers …

At least 11 major cities across the United States are hosting National Day of Action rallies today to call attention to reforms they say are needed in the nation's immigration detention system. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Immigration Advocates Host National Day of Action Rally

Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to …

Earlier this year, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators submitted a letter to President Joe Biden supporting the need for an international climate peace clause. (Adobe Stock)

NY Environmental Groups Seek Climate Peace Clause

New York environmental organizations are looking for a truce in the international trade wars. They're backing what they call a "climate peace …

The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act allocates $1.2 billion to a slew of climate-related measures, one of which is reducing flood risks, and helping communities brace for climate change-related flooding. (Adobe Stock)

NY Law Requires Disclosure of Property’s Flood Risk

New York is slated to become another state to require disclosing flood-risk information to prospective homeowners. The Legislature passed a law …

The 15 confirmed weather and climate disasters that affected the U.S. in 2023 created around $32.7 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Is your household ready to survive one? (Adobe Stock)

Experts Guide NYers During National Preparedness Month

Experts are advising New Yorkers about how to stay safe during natural disasters as part of National Preparedness Month. New York has been preparing …

The Education Data Initiative finds more than half (56.4%) of New York federal student loan borrowers are younger than 35. (Adobe Stock)

Student Loan Interest Accrues Again for NYers

Interest on federal student loans will begin accruing for borrowers in New York and across the nation starting this month. The Education Data …

More than $29 billion in public and private investment has led to around 100 solar, wind and hydroelectric projects being built across New York State. (New Yorkers for Clean Power)

Conservation Groups Collaborate for NYS State Fair Booth

Amid the chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick, the 4-H pavilion and the carnival rides, you'll find the Clean Energy Corner at this year's New …

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