New York News

A new ethics ruling says four New York advocacy groups won't have to publicly disclose their financial backers because revealing the information could put those supporters at risk.

Family Planning Advocates and the New York Women's Equality Coalition had sought an exemption from regulations requiring lobbying groups to disclose their financial supporters. Both groups support abortion rights and had argued that their donors might be threatened if identified.

The president of the New York State Teachers Union says members aren’t yet ready to rescind a vote of no confidence in state Education Commissioner John King, despite improved relations in recent months.

As we approach the two-year anniversary of the TCI fire in West Ghent in Columbia County, we look back at the disaster and at TCI's plans going forward.

The fire broke out around 10 p.m. on August 1st, 2012 at TCI of New York on Route 9H in West Ghent. According to Columbia County officials, the building housed mineral oil tanks, tractor trailers containing fuel oil, propane tanks, and other hazardous substances, including sodium that came from transformers disposed of at TCI. The company blamed the inferno on "a third party vendor" that TCI no longer deals with.

Commemorations are scheduled for this weekend in Washington County and Saratoga Springs, New York in honor of a free man captured and sold into slavery in the 19th Century.

The story of Solomon Northup, as told in his 1853 narrative Twelve Years A Slave, has experienced a fresh round of attention thanks to last year’s Oscar-winning film of the same name. The story tells how Northup was lured away from his home in Saratoga Springs, and eventually sold into slavery.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s running mate, Lieutenant Governor candidate Kathy Hochul is explaining why she now feels differently about undocumented immigrants. Hochul, the former Erie County Clerk once wanted to turn suspected immigrants in the country illegally over to federal authorities.

Officials gathered in Saratoga Springs today to unveil some new features visitors will likely spot around the Spa City, as they celrbate the 146th meet at Saratoga Race Course.

New York regulators have proposed establishing a framework for commerce in virtual currency that would apply to firms involved in receiving, transmitting and storing it, as well as retail conversions.  The proposal by the Department of Financial Services would establish a so-called "BitLicense."

Merchants and consumers who use the virtual currency Bitcoin and others solely to buy and sell goods and services wouldn't need a license. However, those buying and selling virtual currency as a business would.

New York's attorney general and a top state lawmaker are proposing a measure to help continue insurance coverage for contraceptives despite recent the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that businesses with religious objections can opt out of paying for birth control in their employee health plans.

As veterans come home to New York from military service, many are considering careers in agriculture.

We've heard many stories about young vets returning from service, unable to find jobs, having difficulties re-adjusting to civilian life. Yet, there are many opportunities available: among them, programs accentuating farming in its various forms. Cornell University has developed a Small Farms Program to support returning veterans.

A crash earlier this month that killed a teenage boy in the Adirondacks has brought calls on New York state government to increase oversight of the rafting and tubing industries. 

The crash that killed 15-year-old tubing guide Hunter Scofield on July 5th in Lake Luzerne is still under state police investigation, and many are now working to prevent similar accidents.