In the Albany lobbying trenches with Shontell Smith
The lobbying restrictions were off Shontell Smith this past legislative session, so we talked about her efforts to move bills at the Capitol.
Legislature approves incremental oversight of ‘lawsuit lending’
State lawmakers have taken incremental steps to regulate "lawsuit lending," but the latest legislation may have limited reach.
The costs and funding of universal child care
Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to spend $1 million to identify sustainable revenue sources that could fund universal child care.
The benefits of government payouts to growing families
The state budget included $8.5 million to help a few thousand low-income families shoulder the cost of having a new baby.
Drug middlemen asked to pay their ‘fair share’
Assemblymember John McDonald, a Capital Region Democrat, makes the case for increasing costs on prescription drug middlemen.
Age protection added to state constitution is tested
A pair of judges argue a forced retirement age in New York violates the "Equal Rights Amendment" added to the state constitution.
Assembly labor chair tries to Trump-proof worker protections
Assemblyman Harry Bronson identifies state legislative actions to safeguard labor protections for private employees.
Upstate cities poised for leadership transition
Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse are poised for a leadership change, with the next mayors likely coming from the Democratic primaries.
Hochul called to Congress to talk immigration policies
June 17, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul was recently called before Congress to answer questions about the state's immigration policies,
Local marijuana tax figures from state not adding up
Ontario County Finance Director Mary Gates explains the challenge of distributing tax revenues from adult-use marijuana sales.