Karen Dewitt

New York’s Lieutenant Governor weighed in on the leadership fight going on in the state Senate, saying the senators should put aside partisanship and try to work together.  

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is taking steps to speed up insurance claims processing after Superstorm Sandy. Cuomo says 360,000 Sandy victims have filed insurance claims for damage to their homes, cars and other property.  And he says insurance companies have not been quick enough to respond.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is staying out of the on-going battle for control of the New York state Senate, maintaining that he will work with whoever ultimately wins the struggle.

A legal expert says that the Cuomo administration’s move to delay for another 90 days the decision on whether to allow hydrofracking in New York makes sense. Meanwhile, some health care professionals say a review underway on the health effects of fracking is a sham.

The state’s environmental agency confirms it will miss a key deadline and delay approval of hydrofracking in New York once again. Anti-fracking forces see an opportunity in the new delay, while those waiting to benefit economically from the gas drilling process are feeling frustrated.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says Hurricane Sandy caused more damage than Hurricane Katrina, and is now asking for $41 billion from the federal government. Cuomo says New York’s congressional delegation has promised the help.

Gas drilling companies in New York state says they’re “exhausted” by a more than four-year long review process on whether to allow hydrofracking in New York, that they say they now fear will drag on into 2013.

Advocates for a minimum wage hike rallied at the state Capitol Monday, amid growing signals that there might not be a special session to deal with the issue, or any items at all this year.

A union-funded think tank finds that New York has the greatest income disparity in the nation. The Fiscal Policy Institute says that trend continues, with the top one percent gaining more financial resources, while the middle class is falling behind and the numbers of the poor are growing.

A leading Democratic Senator says wayward Democrats should get in line with the others in their party, and form a majority to run the Senate when the new session starts in January. 

One day after saying they could not speculate on when a key health review on hydrofracking in New York would commence, the state health department has now announced three university experts have been chosen and will review the data.

Hydrofracking could once again be delayed in New York, unless the state Health Commissioner is able to complete requirements to contract with outside health experts and conduct a health review by November 29.

Senate Republicans have gained one more member in the fight for control of the chamber. Newly elected Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder says he’ll sit with the GOP.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is launching a Moreland Act investigation into the state’s utilities companies, which he says he hopes will result in a complete overhaul of New York’s power distribution system.

After canceling two meetings where a proposed 45 percent toll hike on trucks was believed to be voted on, the New York State Thruway Authority now says it needs more time to consider options before going ahead with the controversial proposal.

The New York State Thruway Authority will hold a meeting Tuesday, after postponing a meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon. While there’s no official agenda, opponents of a toll hike on trucks believe the board will vote on the issue at the meeting.

The New York State Thruway Authority has scheduled a board meeting for Friday afternoon.  There is no public agenda yet, but it is believed that the board will consider a 45 percent increase in truck tolls.

The vast majority of incumbent state legislators were re-elected Tuesday night, upholding a decades-long Albany tradition.

Democrats appear to have taken over the State Senate, by a narrow margin. Some races were still being tallied, and others may be headed to a recount.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to issue an executive order that will allow residents displace by superstorm Sandy to cast ballots by affidavit at any polling site in the state.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says there is concern that the Nor’Easter predicted to hit New York later this week could cause more harm to already storm-damaged areas.

The State Comptroller estimates that Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath will cost the state as much as $18 billion.

Governor Cuomo has announced several steps to speed up rebuilding in storm ravaged areas of New York, and to ease what’s been a growing gasoline shortage.

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.

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.

Governor Cuomo spent Sunday traveling from Long Island to the Adirondacks, informing New Yorkers of storm preparation and warning everyone to use common sense and be careful.

A new poll finds that Democrat incumbent Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is poised for a record breaking win on election day, with a more than 40-point lead over Republican challenger Wendy Long.

November's election will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the New York state Senate in the next term, and it could come down to just a few hundred votes in a small number of key Senate contests. Both sides are hopeful that they will be victorious.

Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged to invest more money into promoting the state’s growing wine, beer, and spirits industries, following a day long special summit at the state Capitol.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is telling local governments they are on their own when it comes to coping with a recently imposed property tax cap, saying it is up to county and city government leaders to make the hard choices, and to stop complaining.