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President Barack Obama’s public support for gay marriage on Wednesday has won him praise from local politicians and gay rights supporters.

The society announced on Wednesday that Dr. Vishakha Desai is leaving her post as president and chief executive officer in September to join the Guggenheim Foundation as a senior adviser for global policy and programs.

New York, home of the country’s money and media establishment, generally likes incumbents. But they also turn out in force in hotly contested Congressional races when there are big names in play.

Presidential campaigns routinely make the rounds in New York during presidential campaigns. So do Republicans and Democrats who come to New York to make their case for donations and control in Congress. Here are the big winners of New York money in Congressional elections in 2012 and 2008. 

Supporters of a bill to raise New York’s minimum wage made their case to state lawmakers on Monday in Harlem, at a hearing called by Assemblyman Keith Wright. He and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are sponsoring legislation that would raise the minimum wage in New York to $8.50 an hour, up from $7.25.

It's a Free Country reporter Anna Sale discusses the state of the local Republican party ahead of next week's New York primary election.

New York State’s economy added 21,500 private sector jobs in March 2012, the State Labor Department reported Thursday. But in a sign that the economic recovery may be flagging in the region, New Jersey reported losing 9,000 jobs last month.

New York state and New York City say they're joining forces to sue two stores that have been helping smokers avoid taxes by selling roll-your-own cigarettes.

New York City experienced record-breaking job growth in January. Employers added 31,200 jobs — the highest one month gain in the last 23 years — according to analysis of New York State Labor Department by the real estate firm Eastern Consolidated.  

Legislative leaders from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are pushing a novel, unified approach to promote higher minimum wages, hoping to spur a national movement and eliminate a major argument of opponents in the Northeast who say hikes hinder a state's competitiveness.

Bob Hennelly, WNYC contributing editor for politics and investigations, talks about the arrest of New York City Comptroller John Liu's campaign treasurer and what this means for Liu's political future.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York, discusses how New York State education officials and teachers' unions came to a compromise and how teacher evaluations will be done.

The Obama administration is responding to criticism about its decision to mandate that all insurance providers – even those contracted by Catholic organizations – provide contraception. But New York State has had such a law on its books for a decade. Lois Uttley, Director of the MergerWatch Project and Raising Women’s Voices-NY, discusses how New York’s policy functions.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan discusses the big deal struck between federal and state officials to help struggling homeowners--and what it could mean for the New York area. More information on the settlement here.

John Hockenberry, co-host of WNYC's national news radio show, The Takeaway, talks about growing up on Kodak in Rochester and takes listener calls on your company town.

Errol Louis, host of NY1’s “Inside City Hall,” joins us to talk about Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address.

A new Siena poll of registered New York voters has Barack Obama beating Republican front-runner Mitt Romney by 25 points, and the president's favorability rating at its highest point since July.

Occupy Wall Street protesters have vowed to carry on after being evicted from Zuccotti Park overnight Tuesday. After being thrown out of the park after two months, protesters regrouped after dawn on Tuesday in nearby Foley Square and marched toward City Hall. Ben Brock Johnson, digital editor for The Takeaway, saw protesters being removed from Zuccotti Park early Tuesday and spoke with protesters in Foley Square.

Among the 70 Occupy Wall Street protesters arrested early Tuesday at Zuccotti Park was New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez. According to his spokesman David Segal, Rodriguez, who represents northern Manhattan, is a major supporter of the Occupy movement. Segal joins The Takeaway to discuss Rodriguez's arrest.

Protesters at Occupy Wall Street's encampment in Lower Manhattan were awakened by sound cannons overnight Tuesday as police in riot gear moved in to clear the park. After nearly two months occupying Zuccotti Park, protesters were ordered to leave the park and told they could return after it had been "cleared and restored." WNYC reporter Alex Goldmark has been in Lower Manhattan overnight observing what transpired.