Assemblyman Robert Oaks of Macedon had been considering whether he would leave his seat in the New York State Assembly to pursue being a candidate for the seat been vacated by State Senator Mike Nozzolio. As the grueling process of delivering a State Budget is finally winding down, Assemblyman Oaks made he following statement: “After […]

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Top lawmakers are considering several compromises when it comes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to enact a $15 minimum wage, including a slower phase-in of the increase and exemptions for farmers. Supporters of the Democratic governor’s call for a $15 minimum are pushing back, saying they won’t […]

By CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Ryan Lysek rose to become vice president of his fifth-grade class at Lorraine Academy in Buffalo, New York, after the sitting veep got bounced for saying things that went against the school’s anti-bullying rules. So the 10-year-old is a little puzzled that candidates running to lead the […]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) An investigation has found insufficient evidence that Gov. Andrew Cuomo committed a federal crime through his handling of a commission he created to root out corruption in state government, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Monday. The Democratic governor appointed the Moreland Commission, consisting mostly of prosecutors, in July 2013 to investigate public […]

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Lawmakers returning to Albany for the usual debates over taxes and spending will also take on an issue even more basic to many New Yorkers - the options for getting home from the train station, the airport or a long night out on the town. Uber is […]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public comment on proposed regulations allowing the use of big bore air rifles for taking big game, starting in the Fall 2016 hunting season. The agency enacted regulations in 2010 allowing air-powered firearms for hunting small game. Air-powered rifles that meet certain specifications, termed ``big […]

CATSKILL, N.Y. (AP) Lawyers for New York University’s Brennan Center, three state legislators and others urged a state judge on Wednesday to close the state’s campaign finance loophole that lets wealthy individuals use limited liability companies to give millions of dollars to candidates. “It’s caused so much corruption in Albany,’’ attorney Elizabeth Saylor told Justice […]

By DAVID KLEPPER and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) The conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has shaken New York politics down to the granite foundations of the state Capitol, provoking fresh calls to overhaul a system that has stubbornly clung to its long history of corruption. A jury convicted the 71-year-old […]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York is taking steps to accomplish Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s goal of generating half of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Cuomo’s administration says Monday that it will task the state’s Public Service Commission with enforcing the 50 percent target. About 26 percent of the state’s power now comes from […]

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) Americans were more optimistic about their incomes and personal finances this month, particularly among lower and middle-class households, lifting consumers’ outlook. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, released Wednesday, rose to 91.3 in November from 90 in the previous month. That is close to the […]