Dave Lucas

Parents, teachers, unions and government officials all are weighing in on the pros and cons of standardized testing in New York State.

Many parents across New York are wrestling with the question - should they allow their children to take New York's math and English tests, part of the new "Common Core" curriculum for grades three through eight scheduled for this month.

Three-term Albany Councilman Dominick Calsolaro recently announced he won’t see re-election to a fourth term.

He is backing political newcomer Dorcey Applyrs, a 31-year-old Ph.D. student in public health at the University at Albany, to be his successor as leader of the First Ward. Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas talked with Applyrs, a Washington DC native, about her affection for Albany and decision to run for public office.

A provision buried deep in New York's tentative budget shows taxpayers will get part of the bill for raising the minimum wage.

The deal to raise the state minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9 by 2015 includes a "minimum wage reimbursement credit" for employers. The credit would reimburse employers for part of the difference in wages from the current $7.25 minimum wage as it rises to $9 an hour by 2016. Once it reaches $9 an hour, employers would pay 40 cents and taxpayers $1.35 of the extra $1.75 an hour workers are paid.

Wall Street may be booming but Main Street is still struggling:  activists vow to push for an even higher minimum wage in New York.

Although some say an American revival is underway, activists argue the current “recession recovery” has been the weakest in American history. Mark Dunlea with the Hunger Action Network says we’ve only seen about half the normal number of jobs come back into the economy:

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Two environmental groups have agreed to support the new Tappan Zee Bridge project after winning concessions from New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state has issued an environmental permit for the $3.9 billion project after reaching agreement with Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson. The environmental groups will now get a role in monitoring construction. The state will increase a fund that will be used to repair environmental damage.

The New York State Budget has produced an agreement which would provide Oneida County, along with the Town and Village of Vernon with video lottery terminal support revenue.

Republican New York State Senator Joe Griffo of Rome and Democratic Assemblymember William Magee of Nelson say that after the expected adoption this week of the 2013-14 Budget, the Senate and Assembly will have helped secure close to a half million dollars in VLT support revenue for the Town of Vernon area and Oneida County.

A former shopping complex straddling two Central New York counties has been in limbo for years while owners, developers and nearby residents play a waiting game hoping to see some activity.

Decades ago, the CharlesTown outlet center along Utica’s  Turner Street, was a thriving shopping destination. The property is located in both Utica and the town of Frankfort. The line separating Oneida and Herkimer counties runs right through the middle of the building.