New York State

New York’s labor force, one of the nation’s largest, still remains below the pre-pandemic peak, this according to a report released Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. According to the report, although the labor force decreased by 1% between 2011 and 2021 while the rest of the nation increased by 5.1%, a rebound took place in the latter half…

Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a drought watch for 21 counties following dry conditions due to the lack of sufficient rain. The counties under drought watch are Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genessee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Wyoming, and Yates. “Recent rains across the state were not enough to address...

New York State lawmakers are holding a special session Thursday after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of the state’s concealed carry law. Romney Smith reports.

New York’s Attorney General, along with 24 national law firms, and eight reproductive rights organizations are joining forces to launch a hotline that will provide legal guidance, resources and information about legal rights to abortions. Attorney General Letitia James’ office announced the hotline’s launch on Tuesday. The announcement comes days after the Supreme Court of the United States ended...

In an effort to deal with the lifeguard staffing shortage New York is currently facing, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday pay increases for state lifeguards. The governor directed starting pay rates for lifeguards at upstate facilities to increase 34 percent — from $14.95 to $20 an hour — and 21 percent for lifeguards at downstate facilities — from $18.15…

Calling all photographers! New York wants you to showcase your skills by capturing the different state campground and parklands. The state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced on Thursday the launch of the 2022 Outdoor Photo Contest to highlight the best of New York’s natural beauty and destinations. The submission categories...

The lifeguard shortage pushed New York City to cut swim programs at public pools for the summer. Erica Byfield reports.

New York’s gas tax holiday begins Wednesday, nominally cutting the price of a gallon of regular unleaded by 16 cents — but don’t assume your gas will necessarily be 16 cents cheaper tomorrow. Romney Smith reports.

Tracie Strahan reports.

Policy debates include rollbacks to a landmark 2019 law that largely did away with cash bail for nonviolent offenses, as well as the potential expansion of a law for people with mental illnesses. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff reports.

New York state has ended a COVID-19 mandate requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but the masking rules will stay in place in schools for now. Tracie Strahan reports.

New York core viral rates continue to show incremental signs of improvement, a hopeful Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday, a day after the U.S. recorded yet another new single-day case record amid the ferocious omicron surge. Romney Smith reports.

The New York State Department of Labor warned of a fraudulent “Return To Work Credit Bonus” email that seeks to ultimately steal personal information. In a tweet, the department warned: “Be aware that there is a fraudulent email circulating with the subject line “Eligible Unemployment Return To Work Credit Bonus And Claim Back Payment.”” According to officials, if you receive…

Romney Smith reports.

The Supreme Court is telling a lower court to take another look at a case in which the lower court upheld a New York regulation requiring health insurance plans to cover abortions

Authorities say a western New York police chief has resigned after he crashed into a guardrail and then kept driving for several miles last week

For the third year in a row, the Bronx is leading the state in 2021 eviction filings, according to the public eviction filing database. There have been eviction filings against more than 2% of all the households in Bronx County so far this year. This number includes eviction filings from January 1 to Sept. 20, according to the site. Data…

A federal judge temporarily blocked the state’s medical worker vaccine mandate Tuesday. The state issued the order Aug. 28, requiring at least a first shot for healthcare workers at hospitals and nursing homes by Sept. 27, the same day New York City education employees are required to do the same by a mayoral mandate. Tracie Strahan reports.

New York state legislators are working through a rare special session to extend an eviction moratorium – but some landlords are unhappy about it. Gilma Avalos reports.

A handful of youth sports were cleared for play in all regions of New York state on Monday as school districts prepare to restart academic years and health officials tout record low virus positivity rates. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the OK to resume play for sports like tennis, soccer, cross county, field hockey and swimming — all considered lower-risk by…