Albany, NY
Politics
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues You’ve seen them on cigarettes and alcohol – now social media accounts could come with their own warnings if New York Attorney General Letitia James gets her way. James was among a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general who sent a letter to Congress on Tuesday, Sept. 10, urging lawmakers to approve US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's request for warnings on sites like TikTok and Instagram about potential adverse mental health effects for minors. Murthy made the request in June, citing new research showing that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face an incr…

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by Michael Mashburn
White Plains, NY
Schools
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY
New Law Will Put A Student On Every School Board In NY There will soon be a student on every school board in New York.A new law requiring all state boards of education to have at least one student member will take effect on July 1, 2025. The students will attend public meetings, but not executive sessions, and won't be allowed to vote. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will also remove the current law requirement that a student member seat be authorized by referendum of the voters of the district.  The bill would also remove the requirement that a student member be a senior at the school and instead require only …

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by Joe Lombardi
White Plains, NY
News
COVID-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season COVID-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season
Covid-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season Now that the new COVID-19 vaccine is available in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to get their updated shots ahead of this year's respiratory virus illness season. Related story - COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases In an announcement this week, Hochul encouraged eligible New Yorkers to get the new Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for the 2024-2025 season, offered by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax.  According to Hochul, receiving the new vaccine is more pressing as students return to school and …

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by Ben Crnic
Manhasset, NY
News
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Manhasset Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Manhasset Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
Ex-Cuomo, Hochul Aide From Manhasset Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds This story has been updated. A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accused of acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Long Island residents Linda Sun, age 41, and her husband Chris Hu, age 40, were arrested at their Manhasset home on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, and related charges. According to federal prosecutors, Sun – who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff before being fired in 2023 – engaged in numerous political activities at the behest of Chinese government …

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by Michael Mashburn
White Plains, NY
News
NYers Urged To Protect Themselves From Life-Threatening Mosquito-Borne Illnesses: Hochul NYers Urged To Protect Themselves From Life-Threatening Mosquito-Borne Illnesses: Hochul
NYers Urged To Protect Themselves From Life-Threatening Mosquito-Borne Illnesses: Hochul As Labor Day weekend approaches, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to take precautions against mosquito bites to protect themselves against illnesses, including one that killed a 41-year-old man in the Northeast.  In an announcement on Friday, Aug. 30, Hochul said those who venture outside during the holiday weekend should do so while taking steps to prevent mosquito bites, as cases of diseases caused by the pesky bugs are on the rise.  "We want people to get outside this Labor Day weekend and enjoy the beauty that is New York State, but we want them to do so safely w…

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by Ben Crnic
Albany, NY
News
Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says
Here's How Much Shootings In NY Have Declined In Past Year, Report Says State leaders are crediting major policing reforms for a marked decline in shootings across New York State. In 21 counties outside of New York City, the number of shootings with injuries dropped 29 percent through July compared to the first seven months of 2023, a Division of Criminal Justice Services report shows. The data came from police departments across the state participating in the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which provides agencies with state funding for equipment, overtime, personnel, training, and technical assistance aimed at reducing shootings and firea…

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by Michael Mashburn
Rye, NY
Traffic
$32M Resurfacing Project Begins On I-287 In Rye, Harrison $32M Resurfacing Project Begins On I-287 In Rye, Harrison
$32M Resurfacing Project Begins On I-287 In Rye, Harrison Work has commenced on a multi-million dollar project that will restore a well-used stretch of highway in Westchester, officials announced.  In an announcement this week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said a $32.4 million resurfacing project has started on a 5.5-mile stretch of Interstate 287 (Cross Westchester Expressway) between Westchester Avenue in Harrison and Route 1 in Rye.  According to Hochul, the project will repair road joints, add new pavement, and upgrade road striping on the stretch of highway, which is part of one of the busiest roadways in the Hudson Valley. …

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by Ben Crnic
Riverhead, NY
News
Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How
Homeowners Impacted By Suffolk Co. Flooding Could Get Up To $50K In Repair Grants; Here's How Help is on the way for Long Island homeowners who were impacted by severe flooding. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency for Suffolk County on Friday, Aug. 23, following this week’s record rainfall that resulted in major flooding to homes and businesses, and washed out several roads. Hochul’s office also announced that impacted homeowners may be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs not covered by insurance or other relief programs. Earlier Report: 'We Will Rebuild': Powerful Storm, Flooding Leave Tr…

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by Michael Mashburn
White Plains, NY
News
All-New NY Mobile ID Off To Great Start With Tens Of Thousands Of Users: 'Key Step' All-New NY Mobile ID Off To Great Start With Tens Of Thousands Of Users: 'Key Step'
All-New NY Mobile ID Off To Great Start With Tens Of Thousands Of Users: 'Key Step' Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are embracing the future by using a digital version of their state-issued driver's license or identification on their smartphones, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.  Hochul just revealed that over 100,000 New York residents have finished their enrollment for a New York Mobile ID on their phones.  Earlier Report - Brand-New Mobile ID Launches In NY, Promises 'Convenience, Security' The voluntary product, available for iOS and Android, was designed for "convenience and security" and can be downloaded by anyone with a valid, New York state-issued dri…

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by Ben Crnic
White Plains, NY
News
Hochul Declares State Of Emergency For All Of NY, Sends Water Rescue Teams Hochul Declares State Of Emergency For All Of NY, Sends Water Rescue Teams
Hochul Declares State Of Emergency For All Of NY, Sends Water Rescue Teams As the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby slam much of New York with flooding, dangerous winds, and threaten to bring tornadoes, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency and mobilized rescue teams. The declaration came on Friday, Aug. 9 after Debby's remnants arrived in New York, bringing severe flooding and gusty winds to much of the state as it moves northeast.  In addition to flooding, the storm system's arrival has also prompted tornado watches for parts of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region. Hochul's declaration covers the entire state. Related Report - Tornado …

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by Ben Crnic
Mamaroneck, NY
News
$115M Bridge Construction Project In Mamaroneck Completed: 'Will Keep Travelers Safe' $115M Bridge Construction Project In Mamaroneck Completed: 'Will Keep Travelers Safe'
$115M Bridge Construction Project In Mamaroneck Completed: 'Will Keep Travelers Safe' A $115 million project to reconstruct a more-than-century-old bridge carrying a well-traveled route over a river in Westchester has finished, officials announced. After nearly four years, the reconstruction of the bridge carrying Route 1 over the Mamaroneck River in the Town of Mamaroneck has been completed, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Aug. 2.  The $115 million project, which began in 2020, rebuilt the 129-year-old stone arch bridge and added new support structures to make it more durable and resilient to floods and other severe weather, according to Hochul.  …

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by Ben Crnic
New Rochelle, NY
News
Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention In New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Pelham: Hochul Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention In New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Pelham: Hochul
Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention In New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Pelham: Hochul Thanks to a climate-smart grant program announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, several municipalities in Westchester will receive funds to go toward much-needed flood mitigation projects.  The funds will come from more than $7.3 million to be given to municipalities across the state as part of the Climate Smart Communities grant program, Hochul announced on Tuesday, July 23.  The grants are meant to support local projects designed to reduce flooding, increase resilience, and improve critical infrastructure, according to Hochul.  Of the $7.3 million, over $2.7 million …

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by Ben Crnic