Karen DeWitt

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

The New York state legislature is passing the toughest in the nation gun control laws laid out by Governor Cuomo . The Senate voted late Monday evening , and the Assembly was expected to act Tuesday morning.

Anti-fracking activists, including Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon, attempted to present the state’s environmental agency with over 200,000 comments, on the last day of a public comment period on the gas drilling process.  They also, along with other anti fracking activists, tried to deliver a letter to Governor Cuomo.

A document from Governor Cuomo’s Administration assessing the health impacts of hydro fracking, written several months ago, says the gas drilling process is likely safe if proper precautions are taken by the governor’s environmental agency. 

Food pantries and soup kitchens say they are reluctantly becoming a permanent part of the nation’s safety net for the poor. In a new report on New York’s charitable food distribution system, the groups say it is government that needs to step in and lend a helping hand.

Governor Andre Cuomo says federal gun laws need to be strengthened to prevent more shootings like the one in Newtown Connecticut, but he says New York State’s assault weapons ban has loopholes that need to be closed.

Senate Republicans dampened expectations that the new governing coalition in the Senate would move quickly on issues championed by Democrats, including a minimum wage increase and public financing of campaigns.

The newly formed coalition of Republicans and Democrats who will run the State Senate in January, made  their first public appearance,  and responded to criticism that the new government leaves out blacks and Hispanics.

The new co- leader of the State Senate, Jeff Klein, says he knows the new coalition of five Democrats and around 30 Republicans will have to prove itself in the coming months and deliver on key pieces of legislation, but he says they stand a better chance of success than if just the Democrats alone were in charge of the Senate.

The leadership fight in the State Senate has been resolved, with a breakaway Democratic faction joining with Republicans to form a new governing coalition that involves sharing the title of Temporary President of the Senate. 

A new poll finds that, in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, more than two-thirds of New Yorkers say they now believe in climate change.

Governor Cuomo says he’s staying out of the on going fight for control of the State Senate, maintaining that he’ll work with whoever ultimately wins the struggle.

The state’s environmental agency confirms it will miss a key deadline and delay approval of hydro-fracking in New York once again.

Governor 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.

A union-funded think tank finds that New York has the greatest income disparity in the nation.

Fracking 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 29th.

The New York Thruway Authority has postponed a meeting scheduled for Friday afternoon and rescheduled it for next Tuesday. While there’s no official agenda, opponents of a toll hike on trucks believe the matter will be voted on when the board meets.

Control of the State Senate is still up in the air, and could be for weeks. Democrats are claiming victory but Republicans are not conceding, they say they’re waiting until the absentee ballots are counted.

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.

Tuesday’s elections will decide which party, Republicans, or Democrats, control the State Senate.