7 Dead As Buffalo's Buried In 4 Feet Of Snow: 'We're At War With Mother Nature,' Hochul Says 7 Dead As Buffalo's Buried In 4 Feet Of Snow: 'We're At War With Mother Nature,' Hochul Says
7 Dead As Buffalo's Buried In 4 Feet Of Snow: 'We're At War With Mother Nature,' Hochul Says Updated story: Death Toll Climbs To At Least 17 In Western NY From Devastating Lake-Effect Blizzard At least seven people are confirmed dead in the Buffalo area, where around 4 feet of snowfall, coupled with hurricane-force, lake-effect winds, have brought emergency response efforts to a standstill. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said on Christmas morning, Sunday, Dec. 25 that four more people had died as a result of the storm, after three earlier deaths had been reported, including two who had medical emergencies in the town of Cheektowaga, just east of Buffalo, because responders w…
How'd She Do? New Poll Reveals How Voters Think Gov. Hochul Fared On 2022 Policy Goals How'd She Do? New Poll Reveals How Voters Think Gov. Hochul Fared On 2022 Policy Goals
How'd She Do? New Poll Reveals How Voters Think Gov. Hochul Fared On 2022 Policy Goals As the year comes to a close, voters are revealing whether they think Gov. Kathy Hochul met her policy goals for 2022, and the feedback isn’t great. A majority or strong plurality said Hochul did not make progress on six of the policy goals that she laid out at the beginning of the year, according to a Siena College poll.  Among those goals were making communities safer, enhancing trust in state government, and transforming SUNY into the “envy of the nation.” Hochul also said she wanted to increase the availability of quality medical care and create conditions for businesses to succe…
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise
Merry Christmas: NY Lawmakers To Become Highest Paid In US After Approving Raise New York State lawmakers have voted to give themselves a significant pay raise days before Christmas, a move that would make them the highest paid in the country. Meeting for a special session in Albany on Thursday, Dec. 22, the legislature approved a bill that raises member pay by $32,000, bringing their total annual compensation to $142,000, beginning in 2023. The final vote in the Senate was 33 to 23 in favor, and 81 to 52 in the Assembly, WRGB reports. Every Republican in the Assembly voted against the pay hike. If the bill becomes law, it would also cap how much legislators can make…
Hochul Declares State Of Emergency As Potent Storm Bears Down On NY Hochul Declares State Of Emergency As Potent Storm Bears Down On NY
Hochul Declares State Of Emergency As Potent Storm Bears Down On NY As a powerful storm prepares to slam New York ahead of the holiday weekend, Gov. Kathy Hochul is declaring a state of emergency and warning residents to be careful. Earlier Report - Storm With Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Will Be Followed By Rapid Freeze: Here's What's Coming Hochul announced her decision to declare a state of emergency in a tweet on Thursday, Dec. 22 around 3:30 p.m., in which she said that it would begin at 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23.  The storm is expected to start Thursday afternoon and last until Friday evening and will bring between 2 to 3 inches of rainfall, heavy wind …
Insurance Companies Barred From Canceling, Raising Rates On Hate Crime Victims Under New NY Law Insurance Companies Barred From Canceling, Raising Rates On Hate Crime Victims Under New NY Law
Insurance Companies Barred From Canceling, Raising Rates On Hate Crime Victims Under New NY Law Victims of hate crimes no longer have to fear retaliation from their insurance companies under a new law in New York. On Monday, Dec. 12, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that prohibits insurers in the state from canceling policies or raising premiums on the basis that a claim was filed for a loss resulting from a hate crime. The law also bars insurance companies from refusing to issue a policy or refusing to renew a policy solely on that same basis, Hochul’s office said. It applies to claims that are made against policies during the preceding five years where the individual has provi…
First Marijuana Retailers Approved In New York First Marijuana Retailers Approved In New York
First Marijuana Retailers Approved In New York Legal pot shops in New York are one step closer to becoming a reality. On Monday, Nov. 21, the state’s Cannabis Control Board approved the first recreational marijuana licenses for 28 business owners and eight nonprofit organizations. After the Office of Cannabis Management received over 900 applications for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses, the state board will make up to 150 licenses available to individual businesses and another 25 will be reserved for nonprofits, the board said. BREAKING: In a historic decision, the #NYCCB has approved the first round of CAU…
Construction Set To Begin On $4.2B New Terminal At JFK, Here's What Travelers Can Expect Construction Set To Begin On $4.2B New Terminal At JFK, Here's What Travelers Can Expect
Construction Set To Begin On $4.2B New Terminal At JFK, Here's What Travelers Can Expect Faster TSA lines, touchless technology from check-in to gate, and reduced traffic congestion. Those are just some of the improvements that travelers can expect once a $4.2 billion new terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport is completed. Earlier Report: Construction Begins On $9.5 Billion 'New Terminal One' At JFK Airport Construction on the first phase of the 1.2 million-square-foot Terminal 6 is set to begin in early 2023, making room for an additional 10 gates, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday, Nov. 17. "JFK International - the nation's door to the world - will soon …
Potentially Historic Storm: Parts Of NY Could See Up To 6 Feet Of Snow From 'Intense' System Potentially Historic Storm: Parts Of NY Could See Up To 6 Feet Of Snow From 'Intense' System
Potentially Historic Storm: Parts Of NY Could See Up To 6 Feet Of Snow From 'Intense' System A potentially historic, extreme storm that will bring intense snowfall and accumulation of 3 to 6 feet to parts of New York over a period of days has prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to issue a State of Emergency for 11 counties in the state. The most significant snowfall is expected Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18, with accumulations of up to 3 feet of snow possible in the Buffalo area and up to 2 feet of snow possible in the Watertown area, with snowfall rates of 3 inches per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Thundersnow is possible in the most intense bands, according to…
New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months
New York State Collects $542M In Mobile Sports Betting Tax Revenue In Less Than 10 Months New York State has collected more than half a billion dollars in mobile sports betting tax revenue since it became available in the state in January. As of the week that ended on Sunday, Oct. 30, the State collected $542 million in taxes, surpassing all other states across the country, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Hochul said the State also collected an addition $200 million in licensing fees, generating more than $740 million in revenue, which is mainly set to be used for education. "By bringing sports wagering to New York, we have not only opened the door to responsi…
Tropical Storm Nicole: NY State Agencies Prepare Response For Expected Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Tropical Storm Nicole: NY State Agencies Prepare Response For Expected Heavy Rain, Strong Winds
Tropical Storm Nicole: NY State Agencies Prepare Response For Expected Heavy Rain, Strong Winds New York State agencies are preparing emergency response assets as Tropical Storm Nicole is set to move through the region, bringing potentially heavy rain and strong winds. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, Nov. 10, that numerous state agencies are preparing ahead of the storm, which is expected to move through the state as early as the evening of Friday, Nov. 11. Related - Fast-Moving Nicole Makes Landfall, Now Headed Toward Northeast With Drenching Rain, Gusty Winds Hochul said the largest rainfall totals of two to three inches are expected in Central New York, the Finger La…
Here's How Westchester Voted In Hochul-Zeldin Race Here's How Westchester Voted In Hochul-Zeldin Race
Here's How Westchester Voted In Hochul-Zeldin Race Now that the dust has settled following New York’s contentious governor’s race, election results show exactly where voters stand between newly-elected Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican opponent, Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin. The following unofficial election results were taken directly from the New York State Board of Elections website on Thursday, Nov. 10, and represent the unofficial results reported by each County Board of Elections. Candidates with an asterisk are the projected winner. Capital Region Albany County: Hochul* by 59 to 41 percent (67,306 to 46,839 votes) C…
Trump-Backed NY GOP Candidate Zeldin Finally Concedes Race To Hochul Trump-Backed NY GOP Candidate Zeldin Finally Concedes Race To Hochul
Trump-Backed NY GOP Candidate Zeldin Finally Concedes Race To Hochul This story has been updated.  Republican Long Island Rep. Lee Zeldin has finally admitted defeat after New York’s Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul was declared the winner of the heated governor race.  Earlier Report - Hochul Elected To First Full Term As NY Governor, Defeats Trump-Backed Zeldin In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9 from around 1:50 p.m., Zeldin congratulated Hochul on her victory.  "This race was a once in a generation campaign, with a very close margin in the bluest of blue states. The unrelenting passion and hard work of our grassroots volunteers and supp…