New York State
A $1.3 billion project that would save drivers six minutes max
As the state’s plans to get New Yorkers out of their cars stall, Gov. Kathy Hochul is championing a highway expansion in the Hudson Valley.
The right to repair electronics is now law in 3 states. Is Big Tech complying?
You're legally entitled to fix your own gadgets in California, Minnesota, and New York — but not all tech companies have gotten the memo.
Facing natural disasters, more lawmakers look to make oil companies pay for the damage
The oil industry rejects the idea that as contributors to climate change, they are legally liable for disaster damages.
How one state has risen as ‘a leader’ in medical debt protections
Many states are cracking down on medical debt collection and payment practices, but New York’s efforts stand out, one expert says.
Could a $1,000 “baby bonus” help people afford to have children?
A New York state senator has floated the idea. Payments for newborns have reduced poverty elsewhere, but are a novel idea in the Empire State.
Can chief heat officers protect US cities from extreme heat?
Appointed officials have the life-saving solutions the public needs to stay safe from rising temperatures. But they don’t have political power.
Using ‘mindfulness’ to train employees against cyberattacks
Ohio has launched a cyber range that promises a different curriculum for state and local employees than the standard, once-a-year cyber training most public employees get.
Extreme heat is making schools hotter—and learning harder
Rising temperatures mean dehydrated, exhausted kids, and teachers who have to focus on heat safety instead of instruction.
Stigma is hindering treatment of opioid addictions. States can change that.
The health care workforce is key to treating patients' opioid use disorders, but experts say stigma toward drug use and treatment among medical professionals remains a barrier to treatment access and positive outcomes.
Proposed wage theft legislation would strip violators of their ability to do business in New York
If passed, the three bills would suspend businesses' ability to operate, collect sales tax or use their liquor licenses unless employers resolve wage theft claims within 15 days.
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Governors propose spending billions on overdue infrastructure projects
In State of the State addresses this week, several governors said they would prioritize ambitious and much needed infrastructure projects. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
New York governor pledges to ‘shape the trajectory’ of AI development
Kathy Hochul announced in her State of the State address an AI consortium and research center, and issued a new policy for responsible AI governance.
Mental health funding is fast becoming “the bipartisan issue of our time”
States from California to Texas are increasingly investing in mental health as a recognition takes hold that the status quo isn’t working.
Lessons from one state’s effort to modernize its criminal justice system
New York’s sweeping 2020 law sought to accelerate pre-trial processes with technology upgrades. But the state’s experience offers lessons for other jurisdictions undertaking similar efforts to modernize the justice system.
New York weighs bills regulating minors’ social media use
If the bills pass, they would likely face legal scrutiny. A similar law in California has already been halted by a federal court from taking effect.
The hazards of facial recognition in schools
New York has banned the emerging technology in its schools, arguing that the concerns surrounding it “are not outweighed by the claimed benefits.” Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Legislative Staffs Are Pushing to Unionize
Since Oregon successfully unionized in 2021, statehouse employees in half a dozen states have also sought to organize.
New York’s Death Grip on In-office Work is Starting to Loosen
Amid workforce crises, Eric Adams cracks open the door to “flexible” arrangements and Kathy Hochul invests in a hybrid future.
New York Wants to Build 800K Housing Units in 10 Years. How Do You Do That?
Gov. Kathy Hochul has pledged to address the state’s housing crisis in the 2023 legislative session. Experts weigh in on the ways she could accomplish her goal.
E-bike Battery Fire Spike Spurs NYC Council to Rethink Regulation
Lawmakers reconsidered how to best maintain safety without hurting disadvantaged workers' livelihoods.
