The New York State Senate remains at a standstill, with no agreement on who controls the chamber and an even split between Democrats and Republicans. But Bronx state senator Pedro Espada says his new title of president pro tem gives him an extra vote. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: ...

Despite a judge's ruling, the State Senate remains gridlocked, with the factions still evenly divided. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: A judge dismissed the complaint made by Democrats in the Senate that the Republican-dominated coup that occurred June 8 is illegal, and said senators would have to work out their ...

Later this morning, the dispute over who controls the New York State Senate returns to a courtroom. Democrats and Republicans failed to sort it out after a closed-door meeting last night. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The state supreme court judge pulled into the Senate standoff by Democrats who ...

In Albany, it's still unclear who's in control. Lawmakers continue to await a court decision on whether last week's Republican takeover of the senate chamber was legal. Today, Queens senator Hiram Monserrate switched his allegiance back to fellow Democrats, making an even 31 to 31 vote split in the chamber. ...

With senate leadership in dispute, chaos continued to reign in Albany yesterday. Reporter Karen DeWitt was outside the locked senate chamber when dissident Democrat Senator Pedro Espada spoke.

REPORTER: The 30 Republicans plus two Democrats had announced that they would reconvene at 3 PM. But 3 o'clock came and went and ...

The political standoff continues at the State Capitol where New York Senate Republicans, joined by two Democrats say they're now in charge while Senate Democrats, led by Malcolm Smith, say they still control the chamber. Karen DeWitt has the latest from Albany.

REPORTER: Senator Pedro Espada, who was voted president pro ...

The chaos on the New York State Senate floor started just after three o'clock yesterday afternoon, when Senator Tom Libous introduced a motion to reorganize the leadership of the State Senate wrenching control back from Democrats who had taken a slim two-vote majority in November's election.

It was the first time ...

The state Senate has introduced a comprehensive ethics reform bill. It would also require the part-time legislators to disclose more details about their other jobs. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

A federal judge has thrown out New York's recently expanded bottle deposit law that was supposed to take effect yesterday. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The water bottlers had complained that they did not have enough time before the June 1 start date to comply with the requirement that ...

Governor Paterson says if New York lawmakers continue to reject his call for a spending cap, he’ll block additional spending himself, by vetoing any bills that he thinks cost too much money. Karen DeWitt has more.

For the first time, New York's inspector general is commenting on his scathing report that found the director of the state ethics commission acted illegally in the Troopergate scandal. Inspector General Joseph Fisch told a Senate committee yesterday that the entire panel should step down. Meanwhile, a second person implicated ...

New York Governor David Paterson wants to fight obesity by echoing a city initiative, and requiring calories to be posted on chain restaurants' menus across the state. Karen DeWitt reports.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson says he's not infringing on the rights of restaurants to sell food items like double cheeseburgers, fried chicken ...

The executive director of the state ethics commission has resigned, several days after the state inspector general charged him with violating the law during the commission's investigation of the Troopergate scandal. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson had asked all of the public integrity commission members to resign ...

New York Senate Democrats are discussing ways to clamp down on the state’s property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation. Karen DeWitt has more on yesterday's unusual open-door caucus meeting.

REPORTER: Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says he hopes to have more conferences in the future open to ...

The New York State Assembly has approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Last night's vote was 89-to-52. But the measure remains stalled in the State Senate. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The sponsor of the bill in the Assembly, Danny O'Donnell, debated while his same-sex partner of 28 ...

New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith is threatening to take action against a Bronx state Senator accused of campaign violations. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: Senate leader Smith in a statement said that Senator Pedro Espada has one week to pay back tens of thousands of dollars in fines ...

New York State Health commissioner Doctor Richard Daines says the swine flu outbreak is winding down. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The Health Commissioner says no new cases of the swine flu virus have been confirmed in the past two days, though testing continues. He says the count remains ...

The leader of the Democratic majority in the New York State Senate emerged from a closed-door meeting last night to announce progress on the stalled MTA rescue plan. Karen Dewitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says the two Long Island Senators who had reservations about the ...

Governor Paterson wants the legislature to enact a cap on state spending. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor David Paterson says a mandatory spending cap, tied to the rate of the inflation, is the only way the governor and legislature can reign in what he says is out of ...

Queens State Senator Malcolm Smith is monitoring his family for swine flu symptoms. His daughter attends Saint Francis Prep, where there are dozens of confirmed cases of the disease. And his wife has mild flu symptoms. Meanwhile, health officials are testing for new cases of swine flu all over the ...