Karen DeWitt

Governor Andrew Cuomo gave up some items in the newly announced state budget deal, but so did the State Legislature.

New York lawmakers are very optimistic about getting a budget done on time again this year. They say 99 percent of the state’s spending plan has been closed down, and they will pass bills before the end of the week.

Legislators are suffering a backlash from those last two votes from the state’s largest public employee union, which said it is suspending all political endorsements and campaign co...

Former Governor George Pataki was the keynote speaker at the GOP convention in Rochester. Pataki gave a fiery speech against President Barack Obama, and sais this year’s election is a fight for the very “soul” of the nation.

Karen DeWitt, Capitol bureau chief for New York State Public Radio and Ken Lovett, Albany bureau chief of The Daily News, wrap up the flurry of legislation in Albany. 

An overnight session in the state legislature where pension reform and other items were approved has left public worker unions, and even some lawmakers, fuming. Meanwhile Governor Andrew Cuomo says it had to be done that way.

Legislative leaders and Governor Cuomo are working on a constitutional amendment to reform redistricting in New York. But critics say in its present form, the proposal will not accomplish that.

It’s coming down to the wire on redistricting in New York. A federal court has already usurped a gridlocked state legislature and drawn new congressional lines. It is now on track to redraw state legislative lines, too, if the Assembly and Senate do not agree on a bill by March 15.

Talks are taking place behind the scenes on changes to New York’s tax code that could result in the wealthy paying higher taxes. Governor Cuomo, who is asking for the changes, is also proposing a gambling expansion and other initiatives which he is asking the state legislature to consider later this week.

Occupy Albany protesters gathered Friday in a park across from the State Capitol, where some expressed their dissatisfaction toward Governor Cuomo’s stance against renewing a tax on millionaires.

A state advisory panel on hydrofracking in New York may not meet its initial November deadline to report on potential fees to charge gas drillers and impacts of the controversial process on the state.

A coalition of community groups and labor organizations, calling themselves "99 New York," gathered on the steps of City Hall on Monday to renew a campaign to extend the so-called "millionaires tax" beyond its December expiration date.

Two days after one of the state’s two major worker unions rejected a contract, the Public Employees Federation President says he has “new ideas” for a contract settlement, and is anxious to meet with Governor Andrew Cuomo to discuss options to avert the 3,500 lay offs ordered by the governor.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the 2 percent property tax cap that became law this year will not put a damper on the recovery efforts of local governments after Tropical Storm Irene.

State officials have pledged to clear and quickly repair more than 150 roads closed upstate flooded and ripped apart by Tropical Storm Irene.

The ethics panel for New York state is going out of business — at least until a new commission signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this month can get up and running.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is proposing a remedial fund for hydro fracking — similar to the state’s oil spill fund — to reimburse citizens if they suffer environmental damage from the gas drilling process.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said he remains hopeful that President Barack Obama and Congress will resolve their differences over the debt ceiling, and that a default that could harm New York and other states won’t occur.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has been traveling the state this week, announcing regional economic development councils to help boost the local economies — but he made clear that he'll be awarding the $200 million in job creation grants strictly on merit.

Albany, NY —

President Barack Obama and Congress do not agree on a way to increase the federal debt ceiling, the default could affect New York State in a number of ways — from a weakened state pension fund to significant gaps in the state budget, the state's comptroller warned.