New York News

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Democratic New York City Assemblyman Vito Lopez says he will resign amid a sexual harassment scandal and run for New York City council.

Lopez says he'll step down June 20.

Lopez has been under growing pressure after it was revealed the state secretly paid women $103,000 to settle sexual harassment claims against the one-time Brooklyn power broker.

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is proposing that state lawmakers expel Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who is accused of sexual harassment.

Silver is also asking the Assembly to consider the full investigative report, which was critical of Silver's handling of the Lopez case. He says he'll introduce legislation today, which would be acted on Monday.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced the indictment of 16 members of a criminal ring that flooded New York City, Albany County and Schenectady County with more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes illegally imported from Virginia.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee late Wednesday night approved the Farm Bill, moving it to the full House for consideration.

The internal treasury investigation that found the Internal Revenue Service improperly selected conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for further appraisal has outraged Congress and groups across the country. Some organizations across the Northeast are concerned, and others have felt the influence of the IRS targeting. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has reaction from some of local patriot groups.