New York News

ALBANY – Unemployment rates in Hudson Valley/Catskills counties in April fell over one year ago levels.

Rockland County had the lowest rate this April at 5.8 percent while Sullivan County had the highest rate, at 8.9 percent, a full point lower than its 9.9 percent rate in March.

State labor analyst John Nelson said those statistics are encouraging.

Anthony Weiner's run for a renaissance is officially on.

The ex-congressman who resigned over raunchy tweets said late Tuesday that he's in the New York City mayoral race. He had said last month he was considering it.

The Democrat is jumping into a crowded field for September's primary. He's arriving with some significant advantages, including a $4.8 million campaign war chest, polls showing him ahead of all but one other Democrat — and no end of name recognition.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and St. Regis Mohawk tribal leaders have signed an agreement to ensure the Mohawks keep their exclusive casino territory in northern New York while paying the state $30 million in gambling proceeds that have been withheld.

Education was one of the leading topics discussed Monday when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo convened his cabinet at the state capitol in Albany. There was high optimism regarding Cuomo's New York State Master Teacher program.

The governor proposed the program in his State of the State address in January: SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher says it will provide $15,000 each year for four years to math and science teachers who mentor new and aspiring teachers.

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has issued an apology for his handling of a sexual harassment case that spanned years involving at least four women staffers before it was detected.

Silver specifically apologized for the $103,000 secret settlement he crafted last summer to end the first accusations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez and for failing to stop subsequent incidents claimed by more women staffers.