New York City

Supporters urge Senate vote on marijuana decriminalization

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:29:31 +0000

Members of the legislature’s Black and Hispanic Caucus and their allies made a last minute push for a bill to decriminalize the public possession of small amounts of marijuana, saying current laws unfairly target young black and Latino men.

Assemblyman Karim Camara, who chairs the caucus, says the bill to decriminalize public possession of small amounts of marijuana is needed partly to fix an ongoing problem with the New York City Police Department’s Stop and Frisk policy. He and other supporters gathered outside the Senate chamber to call for a vote.

Upstate farmers get innovative to access major food markets

Sarah Harris — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:09:30 +0000

Most of the time, Eric Andrus is a beef and rice farmer. But lately, he’s learning to be a boat builder. On this day, he’s in the barn, sanding the hull of a big wooden barge.

“We’re about to apply the second layer of plywood,” Andrus says.

Senate GOP hearings will examine NYC's public campaign financing system

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:57:45 +0000

Republicans in the New York State Senate plan to hold hearings Tuesday, May 7, on what they say are abuses in New York City’s public campaign finance system.

Champlain Hudson Power Express project moves a step forward with state approval

Sarah Harris — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:30:52 +0000

The Champlain Hudson Power Express, or CHPE, is the name of a proposed underground transmission line that would bring hydropower generated in Canada under both Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, and into New York City. Now, the project is one step closer to becoming a reality, following approval by the New York State Public Service Commission Thursday.

Malcolm Smith scandal reverberates through state's political circles

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:25:18 +0000

The scandal around state Sen. Malcolm Smith is continuing to have repercussions in both political parties and in every level of the state’s government. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on an upstate tour to promote the recently passed state budget, has been dogged by questions about the scandal instead.

State Senator, others indicted in wide-ranging corruption scandal

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:40:00 +0000

State Sen. Malcolm Smith, a former New York Senate majority leader, has been arrested and indicted in a far reaching bribery and corruption scandal.

Will hydropower from Quebec supply New York City?

Sarah Harris — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:32:58 +0000

In Québec, electricity is cheap. Hydro-Québec, a state-owned utility, has over 60 generating stations that use the province’s rivers to produce power. One of them is Beauharnois, southwest of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River.

Researchers conduct first major earthquake simulation in New York state

Ashley Hassett — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:52:35 +0000

Researchers from the University at Buffalo conducted the state's first large-scale earthquake simulation on Tuesday to determine how prone unreinforced masonry walls are to quake damage.

Scientists predict flu outbreaks with weather forecasting techniques

Marie Cusick — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:31:12 +0000

Someday your local weatherman may also be able predict the latest flu outbreak. That's according to a new study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Sandy's aftermath in Breezy Point

Marie Cusick — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:20:45 +0000

In our latest Innovation Trail report for New York NOW, we traveled to one of the places hit the hardest by Sandy, the beachfront community of Breezy Point in Queens.

Cuomo: Helicopter survey of Sandy damage "disturbing"

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:01:00 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo took a helicopter tour of areas devastated from Hurricane Sandy, along with New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The governor says the state faces significant challenges to rebuild, and will have to fundamentally rethink New York city’s infrastructure going forward.

Cuomo says to expect "long term" recovery after Sandy

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:03:40 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, told reporters he spent a “frightening” night monitoring storm devastation in lower Manhattan at a briefing addressing short term repair efforts and long term weather concerns.

Upstate wine industry uses the personal touch

Kate O'Connell — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:42:51 +0000

It’s the staple of just about everything. From dinner parties, to weekend shenanigans, to church, wine is a big part of our lives – and it’s a big part of the economy, too.

Cuomo moves to further decriminalize marijuana

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:02:12 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana found during police searches, to fix what he says is a “blatant inconsistency” in New York City’s controversial stop and frisk policy.

Governor Cuomo says New York City’s stop and frisk police procedure has unfairly led to the arrest of thousands of mainly young black and Hispanic men who were caught with possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The arrests often lead to criminal records with lifelong consequences that can prevent the young person from getting college aid, or living in public housing.