Karen DeWitt

Sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez

Karen DeWitt — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:29:58 +0000

The Legislative Ethics Commission released a report on the sexual harassment allegations against Assemblyman Vito Lopez. It finds Lopez violated the public officers law and engaged in “willful and prolonged mistreatment” of his female staff.

Cuomo details local government bailout plan

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:24:27 +0000

Governor Cuomo outlined his proposal for a new local government restructuring board to help financially distressed communities deal with long-term budget problems.

State lawmakers carry on in face of scandals

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:38:59 +0000

Lawmakers in Albany tried to carry on business in the wake of one of the worst scandals in recent decades that has overshadowed most other news coming out of the Capitol. Much of this week’s legislative session has been canceled, but politicians who were in town insisted that their agendas are not being derailed.

Cuomo details casino plans

Karen DeWitt — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:01:40 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday outlined the details of his plan to site three gambling casinos in upstate New York.

Names released in potential state corruption case

Karen DeWitt — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:56:24 +0000

Nine more names of State Senators and others potentially involved in corruption were made public Wednesday, when a judge ordered prosecutors in the case of convicted ex- Senator Shirley Huntley to make public the names of her colleagues that she had secretly recorded.

Another state senator arrested on corruption charge

Karen DeWitt — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:46:23 +0000

Former Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson turned himself in to federal authorities Monday after being accused in a nine-count indictment of embezzling nearly half-a-million dollars from mortgage foreclosure accounts and then trying to cover it up.

Reform proposed for state Board of Elections

Karen DeWitt — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:31:00 +0000

Anti-corruption proposals are proliferating in Albany, following two high profile bribery scandals. Some of them focus on the long neglected state Board of Elections, which hasn’t even had an investigator on staff in over a year.

Cuomo, Assembly Democrats roll out reform ideas

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:39:09 +0000

At the State Capitol, lawmakers are scrambling to put forward plans to react to the latest twin corruption scandals involving bribery charges against a State Senator and Assemblyman.

Lawmakers Return to Confront Scandals

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

New York State lawmakers returned to work after a two week spring break. It’s their first meeting since two lawmakers have been charged with bribery in corruption scandals.

Cuomo, DA's discuss political corruption fight

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Governor Cuomo and the state’s district attorneys are pushing for laws to make it easier to prosecute bribery and public corruption cases, in the wake of recent scandals in Albany.

Bronx assemblyman arrested on bribery charges

Karen DeWitt and Chris Caya — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:26:35 +0000

Two days after a state senator was arrested for trying to bribe his way onto the New York City mayoral ballot, a state assemblyman has been accused of accepting payments to sponsor legislation that would benefit developers of an adult day care center in the Bronx.

State senator arrested on corruption charges

Karen DeWitt and WBFO Newsroom — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:22:36 +0000

State Senator Malcolm Smith, a former Senate Majority Leader, has been arrested and indicted in a far-reaching bribery and corruption scandal.

Assembly completes late night budget voting

Karen DeWitt — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:43:44 +0000

The state legislature finished voting just before midnight Thursday on the state budget. Final passage is occurring one week past lawmakers’ s self imposed deadline, but three days before the spending plan was due to be finished.

Legislature on track to finish budget this week

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:13:50 +0000

The state budget is on track to be finished on time and before the March 31 deadline now that all of the spending bills were finally printed shortly before midnight on Monday.

Senate passes some budget bills, Assembly waits until Thursday

Karen DeWitt — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:36:24 +0000

The New York State Senate held a rare Sunday session at the Capitol, in an attempt to get the state budget finished on time in the midst of major religious holidays.

Cuomo, legislative leaders agree on new state budget

Karen DeWitt — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:55:00 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders say they have an agreement on a new state budget. The closed-door agreement announced Wednesday night puts Albany on track to pass the third straight on-time budget.

Poll shows state Republicans disapprove of Cuomo

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:46:08 +0000

A new poll finds Governor Cuomo is paying a political price with Republicans in New York for enacting the nation's strictest gun control laws.

Cuomo dismisses imminent budget resolution

Karen DeWitt — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:54:25 +0000

Legislative leaders, after three separate meetings with the governor said they were “hopeful” that a final agreement could come before the weekend. But Governor Cuomo late in the day said talks are “inconclusive”, and he expects negotiations to continue over Saturday and Sunday.

Governor popularity dips slightly with voters

Karen DeWitt — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:20:28 +0000

A new Siena College poll finds a slight drop in Governor Cuomo’s popularity for the third month in a row.

Mental health advocates critical of new gun law

Karen DeWitt — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 02:23:24 +0000

Second amendment rights advocates, who have held rallies in Albany recently, are not the only group upset with portions of the state’s recently enacted gun law. Some people with mental illnesses believe the law unfairly stigmatizes them.

Cuomo won't bypass waiting period for budget bills

Karen DeWitt — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 02:10:18 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he is unlikely to send an emergency message to allow state lawmakers to bypass a three-day waiting period for the state budget.

Assembly votes to ban fracking for two more years

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:59:41 +0000

The New York State Assembly voted by 95 to 40 Wednesday to ban hydrofracking in New York for at least another two years.

Lawsuit alleges passage of NY SAFE Act unconstitutional

Omar Fetouh and Karen DeWitt — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:27:17 +0000

More than 1,200 plaintiffs have joined a lawsuit filed against the state claiming passage of New York's new gun control laws was unconstitutional.

State teachers union files suit against property tax cap

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:20:51 +0000

New York State’s largest teachers union has filed a lawsuit against the state’s property tax cap, arguing it’s unconstitutional.

Dueling Fracking Filmmakers Visit Capitol

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:45:04 +0000

Dueling pro and anti fracking filmmakers held screenings and promotions for their films, as they await a decision by Governor Cuomo on whether fracking will go forward in New York. That could come by the end of the month. As Karen DeWitt reports, at one point in the day , the two sides confronted each other in the halls of the Capitol.

Phelim McAleer is the creator of Fracknation, a film that claims to rebut charges made by environmentalists and the popular anti fracking movie “Gasland”. He came to Albany to hold a screening of his film.

Cuomo's approval down, following new gun laws

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:21:22 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s championing of strict new gun control laws in New York has taken a toll on his popularity. A new poll finds that for the first time since taking office, Cuomo’s approval rating has dropped significantly.

Lawmakers hear complaints from local gov'ts on Cuomo's budget

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:41:00 +0000

Mayors from around the state came to complain about Governor Cuomo’s budget, as the first day of legislative hearings on the spending plan kicked off in Albany.

Cuomo proposes third lean budget

Karen DeWitt — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:51:00 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a $142 billion state budget that includes federal aid for post-Superstorm Sandy recovery and closes a $1.3 billion budget gap.

Cuomo to present 2013 budget; listen live on WBFO

Karen DeWitt — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:11:03 +0000

Governor Cuomo’s annual budget presentation is slated for Tuesday afternoon. It comes as the state’s comptroller, Tom DiNapoli, finds revenues are not coming to New York in quite the amount anticipated.

Assembly passes, governor signs gun control bill; consumers stock up

Chris Caya and Karen DeWitt and Associated Press — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:43:00 +0000

New York has become the first state to dramatically stiffen its gun laws after last month's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.