New York News

Advocates who want special elections to be held for 12 vacant seats in the New York state Legislature say minority communities are being deprived of proper representation.

The Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is positioned to merge with the SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica. A new college would be created.  A draft summary of the merger plan, obtained by the Utica Observer-Dispatch, says the new school would be called SUNY Institute for Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology, or SUNY INSET.  Expectations are the merged institution's Marcy facility would provide the Mohawk Valley with the strong, technologically trained workforce it needs to attract more high-end technology companies.

New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino has told an evangelical audience that the political left wants to take away their freedoms. The Westchester County executive spoke Tuesday in Albany to a meeting of the New Yorker's Family Research Foundation.

Astorino has focused his campaign on economic issues, but told the evangelicals they must push back against the political left. He later cited the health care act's mandates on religious organizations as an example.

Supporters of Dream Act legislation say they were “set up” when a hastily arranged vote on the bill in the New York State Senate chamber late Monday led to the measure’s failure by just one vote. The focus is now shifting to Governor Cuomo. Backers say they will try to get the governor to put the measure into the state budget.

New York City's Cardinal Timothy Dolan and bishops around the state lobbied Tuesday in Albany for a tax credit that would help Catholic schools.

Dolan and the bishops met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to advocate for a new tax credit for charitable donations made for educational purposes. The legislation would eventually add up to $300 million a year for education, with half going to public school programs and half going to scholarships for students who attend private schools.

The state Senate has previously approved a bill with the investment tax credit.

Many villages across New York are holding elections today. One of those contests is a showdown between a longtime incumbent Democratic mayor and a prominent local Republican business owner.

The Dream Act is dead for now in New York State, after the State Senate voted down the measure that would have granted college tuition aid to the children of undocumented immigrants. The 30 to 29 vote defeating the Dream Act left leaders of rival Democratic factions pointing fingers.

A national airline is gearing up to add Albany International to the list of airports it serves.   Another feather in Senator Chuck Schumer's cap: about a month ago, the Democrat was at Albany Airport promoting the idea of convincing JetBlue to add Albany International to the list of airports it serves. On Monday, Schumer was back at the airfield waving a letter he received from the carrier.    "This letter says - JetBlue is starting service at last here in Albany, in 2015!"

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has enlisted the aid of some local government leaders to promote his tax freeze proposal, which has been losing ground in the New York State legislature.

Uninsured people have a mere two weeks to take action and sign up for Affordable Health Care.

If you are not among those who already have health coverage through an employer or privately obtained comprehensive health insurance, the March 31st deadline for signing up for health insurance is drawing near.