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Even as the unemployment rate in New York City drops to 8.9 percent, the New York State labor counselor — who is tasked with helping those on unemployment find work — said his job isn't getting any easier.

Caroline Kennedy says it was the 'right decision" to drop her bid to take Hillary Clinton's seat in the US Senate. Speaking on NBC's "Today Show," Kennedy deflected questions about how she thought Governor Paterson handled the appointment.

KENNEDY: As I've said, I've moved on. I'm looking on to what I ...

Governor Paterson is touting the successes of New York City's calorie posting law, as he pushes for a statewide equivalent. He says while the state spends more than $6 billion a year on obesity-related diseases, New York City residents are eating 52 calories less per meal since chain restaurants were ...

One day after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved a fare hike and service cuts to cover a $1.2 billion budget gap, Mayor Bloomberg says the 25 percent fare increase is the lesser of two evils.

BLOOMBERG: That’s not good for our economy, it’s not good for people in these times, but ...

Mayor Bloomberg is resisting the suggestion that he's courting Democrats by inviting Sen. Hillary Clinton to lead tonight's New Year's Eve festivities. The mayor says Clinton has been a great senator with a strong record of service for the State of New York.

And, he says the Times Square celebration is ...

Parking in Park Slope, Brooklyn is no laughing matter, and there's no sign it's getting any funnier. A study just released by the New York City Department of Transportation finds that a 98 percent occupancy rate of parking spots was virtually unchanged when the city lifted alternate side parking rules ...

Senior city government leaders and elected officials may now fund-raise for non-profits on city time and with city resources under certain conditions.

The Conflicts of Interest Board has released new rules on the question. Under the guidelines, a city leader may raise funds for groups that promote the interests of New ...

Senior city government leaders and elected officials may now fundraise, on city time and with city resources for non-profits, under certain conditions. The Conflicts of Interest Board released new rules today on the question. A city leader may fundraise for groups that promote the interests of New York City, and ...

Who will succeed Hillary Clinton as US Senator now that she's poised to become Secretary of State in the Obama administration? Governor Paterson has ruled himself out, but says more than a dozen people have contacted him expressing interest in filling out Clinton's term. Names being floated range from Westchster ...

State authorities are going after health care providers for over-billing the New York State Health Insurance Program. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says audits uncovered widespread abuses. He says $14 million in reimbursements were linked to inflated claims.

DINAPOLI: These medical providers misled patients and engaged in abusive practices, significantly driving up ...

The City Council may have voted, but an extension on term limits is expected to face more than one lawsuit. Civil liberties lawyer Norm Siegel is part of a group of lawyers studying a possible challenge based on either the Voting Rights Act, the 1st Amendment or the 14th Amendment. ...

An ambitious plan to bring down the level of homelessness in New York City is falling short, according to an assessment issued today by the Independent Budget Office.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg set a goal of reducing homelessness by 2/3 as of 2009. While the city has made some progress in reducing ...

More and more people are turning to the emergency room for medical care, up 32 percent from a decade ago, according to a new report out from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Stephen Pitts was the lead author of the new report. He says new data shows that ...

The American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey has lost a court battle to educate voters about their rights as they go to the polls.

A three judge appeals court has upheld a state directive barring anyone from distributing materials within 100 feet of the polls. But Legal Director for the ...

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine says there's little support among East Coast governors to lift the ban on oil drilling along the continental shelf - a proposal President Bush made today.

Corzine says that's not the way to address the energy crisis and the high cost of gasoline.

CORZINE: Particularly along the ...

New York City's comptroller is calling a marina and parking facility on the East River "an accident waiting to happen".

William Thompson, a potential candidate for mayor, says his auditors reported degraded piers, corroded steel, cracked concrete and other violations at a site leased by New York Skyports, Inc.

THOMPSON: I think ...