Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights
Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights Airlines aiding deportations without a judge’s say-so could soon hit turbulence in New York. New legislation proposed by Democratic State Sen. Patricia Fahy would block commercial airlines from receiving certain state contracts or tax benefits if they help carry out immigration deportations without a judicial warrant or legal representation for the person being deported. Fahy introduced the legislation–dubbed the SAFE AIR Act–on Monday, April 28. It is being co-sponsored by fellow Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, of Valley Stream. If approved, the bill would ensure that New Yor…
Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better' Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better'
Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better' New York State environmental officials are revamping their wildlife enforcement procedures in the wake of public outcry over the state-ordered euthanasia of a popular social media squirrel. Following an internal investigation, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is implementing new protocols to avoid similar incidents in the future, the agency announced Friday, March 28. The changes follow national backlash surrounding “Peanut,” a Chemung County squirrel with nearly one million followers on Instagram who was seized and later euthanized by the agency last fall, as Daily Voice …
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown
Senate Joins House In Voting To Avert Government Shutdown With just hours to spare before a midnight deadline, Congress passed a stopgap bill to fund the government through the fall, avoiding a shutdown. The Senate approved the measure early Friday evening, March 14, sending it to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it. The bill will keep the government funded through Tuesday, Sept. 30. The vote followed a tense week of negotiations, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine other Democrats crossing party lines in a key procedural vote to advance the legislation. The move came despite mounting pressure from within his own…
Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting
Steak Your Claim: Texas Wants To Rebrand New York Strip, NY Isn't Biting A beef between Texas and New York is sizzling. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing to rename the New York strip steak as the "Texas strip" steak. The Republican said the Texas senate will file a resolution to make the name change official for restaurants and supermarkets in the Lone Star State. Lt. Gov. Patrick argues that the large cattle industry in Texas deserves the credit. "Just because a New York restaurant named Texas beef a New York Strip in the 19th century doesn't mean we need to keep doing that," he said in a social media post on Friday, Feb. 28. New York City resta…
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained
Melania Trump Leads Fight Against Revenge Porn: ‘Take It Down Act’ Explained Melania Trump has a message for Congress: It’s time to act. The First Lady is taking a high-profile stand against deepfake pornography and online sexual exploitation, calling on lawmakers to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bipartisan bill that would criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), including AI-generated content, according to Congressional records. Trump, alongside Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), hosted a bipartisan roundtable discussion Monday, March 3, where victims and advocates shared gut-wrenching stories about how AI-ge…
AI-Generated 'Deepfake' Deception Banned In Westchester AI-Generated 'Deepfake' Deception Banned In Westchester
Ai-generated 'Deepfake' Deception Banned In Westchester Westchester County has taken a major step in fighting AI-driven digital deception, as a new law banning the unlawful use of AI-generated deepfake content has been signed into law, officials announced.  The legislation, passed unanimously by the Westchester County Board of Legislators, criminalizes the creation and distribution of deceptive digital media, including altered images, videos, voices, and other AI-generated likenesses used to spread false information or impersonate individuals, county officials announced on Wednesday, Feb. 27.  The bill, spearheaded by Legislator Judah …
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Hundreds of music legends and rising stars are calling on Congress to make major radio companies equitably pay artists when their songs are played on air. Popular 90s R&B group Boyz II Men met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a bill aiming to require corporate radio stations to compensate performers while protecting small, local broadcasters. The meeting happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 to coincide with World Radio Day. The Philadelphia-based singers of the hit song "End of the Road" spoke with three leaders in the House of Represent…
Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal
Americans Will Get Federal Holiday Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Under New Proposal With a brand-new federal holiday proposal, Americans could soon have an additional day off between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The day, December 1, would be in honor of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks has been proposed by Representative Terri Sewell of Alabama. Called "the mother of the civil rights movement," Parks invigorated the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, on Dec. 1, 1955. Sewell, Alabama's first Black congresswoman, introduced the bill on Tuesday, Feb. 4, which would have been Rosa Parks' 112th birthday.&n…
Westchester Rep. Lawler Co-Sponsors Bill Allowing Trump To Negotiate Greenland Purchase: Report Westchester Rep. Lawler Co-Sponsors Bill Allowing Trump To Negotiate Greenland Purchase: Report
Westchester Rep. Lawler Co-Sponsors Bill Allowing Trump To Negotiate Greenland Purchase: Report Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler is one of several members of Congress who is supporting a bill that would allow President-elect Donald Trump to begin negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland, according to a report by Axios.  Lawler, a Republican who represents New York's 17th Congressional District, is one of about a dozen members of Congress to co-sponsor the "Make Greenland Great Again Act," which was introduced by Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, according to Axios. The 17th Congressional District consists of all of Rockland and Putnam counties, most of Northern Westch…
Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester
Battery Storage Facilities: Proposed Law Aims To Help Stop 'Explosive Fires' In Westchester Westchester is taking a proactive step to ensure the safety of battery energy storage facilities with a proposed notification law, officials announced. The law, announced by County Executive Ken Jenkins at the Department of Emergency Services in Valhalla on Wednesday, Jan. 15, outlines notification requirements for municipalities to report new or modified battery energy storage facilities to the county.   This would allow the county to maintain up-to-date records and improve coordination for planning and emergency responses, officials said. "The bottom-line is we all need to be o…
Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House
Bill To Deport Unauthorized Immigrants Charged With Minor Crimes Passes House The House of Representatives passed its first bill of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 7, a border security measure requiring the detention and deportation of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, including shoplifting and burglary. Named the Laken Riley Act in honor of a 22-year-old Georgia college student killed in February, 2024 by a Venezuelan migrant, the legislation received bipartisan support, in a 264-159 vote.  All Republicans and 48 Democrats backed the measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated that the Senate will consider the bill as early as Fr…
Cancelling That Gym Membership Is About To Get Much Easier Under NY Law Cancelling That Gym Membership Is About To Get Much Easier Under NY Law
Cancelling That Gym Membership Is About To Get Much Easier Under NY Law Ready to ditch that New Year’s fitness resolution already? New York is making it easier. A new state law set to take effect on Saturday, Feb. 1 requires gyms and health clubs to process and issue refunds within 10 business days of receiving a membership cancellation request. Gymgoers also cannot be penalized if the request is made within the first three days of signing a gym contract. The new law comes as welcome news for gym-goers who have long faced challenges when trying to cancel memberships. Democratic State Sen. Roxanne Persaud, who sponsored the bill, said it will empower New Yorke…