State

The Empire State Trail is now complete in New York state. It includes 750 miles of hiking and biking trails from New York City to Canada, and Albany to Buffalo. That includes linking one of the biggest gaps in the trail in central New York.

There was always a problem weaving the Empire Trail through Syraucuse; a 14-mile gap between Camillus and Dewitt. That gap, which runs through the city of Syracuse, baffled Empire State Trail Director Andy Beers.

“This was the most vexing challenge to create this continuous route,” Beers said.

As the new year begins, New York state leaders face two major challenges. One is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as infection rates spike again and a vaccine rollout begins. The second is the state’s related multibillion-dollar budget deficit, which needs to be closed by spring.

A federal appeals court this week quashed New York’s capacity restrictions on faith services in areas with high rates of COVID-19, much to the praises of houses of worship.

While many New Yorkers will be happy to put 2020 behind them, there’s no denying it was a year like no other. At the Capitol, the Legislature took a back seat as Gov. Andrew Cuomo gained power and popularity among residents who eagerly tuned in for his coronavirus briefings.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is holding his regular COVID-19 briefing in Albany. Watch it here live at 3:00 p.m.

New York lawmakers plan to convene remotely for a special session Monday to pass a bill extending the state's ban on residential evictions past its Jan. 1 deadline.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding his regular COVID-19 update briefing in Albany. Watch it here live at 11:30 a.m.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding his regular COVID-19 update briefing in Albany. Watch it here live at 11:30 a..m.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is holding his regular COVID-19 update briefing in Albany. Watch it live here at 11:30 a.m.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in 18 counties in the Capitol Region, Southern Tier and Hudson Valley on Thursday after a heavy snowfall. Some places, like Binghamton, got more than 3' of snow, while Western and Central New York, the North Country and New York City were spared with only a few inches.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is holding his regular COVID-19 update briefing in Albany at 11:30 a.m. Watch it live here.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a law limiting the circumstances under which Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can arrest people on immigration violations at state courthouses.

New York State has banned the sale and display of the "Battle Flag of the Confederacy," as well as "white supremacist" and "neo-Nazi" symbols.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday denied a former aide's allegations over the weekend that he sexually harassed her by making inappropriate comments about her appearance.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Monday that negotiations are underway with the Senate and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on potential tax increases on the wealthy in New York, and that lawmakers could still return to Albany before the end of the year to act on such a measure.

Governor Andrew Cuomo held his regular COVID-19 briefing in Albany on Monday. Watch here.

New York State made history Monday morning. The first New Yorker to receive the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer took place at 9:10 a.m. It also was the first dose to be administered nationwide.

The Electoral College meets in all 50 states on Monday. In New York, officials have decided, reluctantly, to hold the event in person, despite the rising rate of the coronavirus.

A former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is now running for Manhattan borough president accused him of sexual harassment in a series of tweets Sunday, saying he made inappropriate comments about her appearance.

New York state will transition its retirement fund for public employees — the third largest pension fund in the country — to an investment portfolio with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said Wednesday.