Armonk, NY
News
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul
New Bars, Restaurants In NYC To Open More Quickly Under Legislation Signed By Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation in an effort to make it easier for new bars, restaurants and breweries to open quickly. The new legislative package allows temporary retail permits to be issued to bars and restaurants opening in New York City, officials announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Officials said the current law prevents businesses in the city to be granted temporary liquor licenses, and the State Liquor Authority can only provide the permanent licenses after a lengthy review process. The new legislation allows the State Liquor Authority to grant temporary liquor l…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Armonk, NY
News
Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY
Two Incidents Lead To New Law Prohibiting Hate Symbols On Public Property In NY New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a new law prohibiting municipal corporations from displaying hate symbols following two incidents last year on Long Island. The new legislation, signed on Tuesday, Nov. 2, prohibits any municipal corporation, including fire districts, volunteer fire departments, police departments, and school districts, from selling or displaying symbols of hate, according to an announcement from the state. The state said symbols that are prohibited include, but are not limited to "symbols of White supremacy, neo-Nazi ideology, or the Confederate battle flag." The leg…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Fairfield, CT
News
Connecticut's Minimum Wage To Take Effect In Days Connecticut's Minimum Wage To Take Effect In Days
Connecticut's Minimum Wage To Take Effect In Days Connecticut's minimum wage is set to increase to $13 soon, as the state progresses toward a $15 minimum wage.  Beginning Sunday, Aug. 1, the minimum wage will increase from $12 per hour to $13 per hour.  The legislation was signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont in 2019, requiring scheduled increases over a five-year period until the minimum wage will ultimately increase to $15 on June 1 of 2023. “Nobody working a full-time job should live in poverty,” Lamont said. “For too long, while the nation’s economy grew, the income of the lowest-earning workers has stayed flat, making already…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Brentwood, NY
Politics
Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview
Where's Cuomo? Governor Has Not Been Since In Public Since AG Sex Harassment Probe Interview Some are questioning where Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been as he failed to make any public appearances this week after meeting with investigators from the New York Attorney General’s Office as the sexual harassment probe into him nears its conclusion. Cuomo was scheduled to be questioned by outside lawyers in Albany on Saturday, July 17 following allegations by at least eight women who claim that he harassed or acted inappropriately with or around them. Earlier story - Cuomo To Be Interviewed In Sexual Harassment Investigation However, since that interview, Cuomo, once the face of New York’s fi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Bedford, NY
News
New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY
New Law Changes Age Of Consent To Be Married in NY New York State has raised the age of consent to be married, building upon previous legislation to eliminate child marriage in the state. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a measure on Thursday, July 22 raising the age of consent to be married in the state to 18. Previously, 17-year-olds could be married with judicial and parental consent. The measure is set to take effect 30 days after becoming law. It applies to licenses issued after that date. "This administration fought hard to successfully end child marriage in New York and I'm proud to sign this legislation to strengthen our laws and further p…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Torrington, CT
Sports
Lamont Signs Legislation Allowing Student-Athletes In CT To Benefit From Their Names, Likeness Lamont Signs Legislation Allowing Student-Athletes In CT To Benefit From Their Names, Likeness
Lamont Signs Legislation Allowing Student-Athletes In CT To Benefit From Their Names, Likeness Student-athletes in Connecticut have become the latest to be permitted to profit from their names and likeness, bucking a longstanding and much-maligned NCAA bylaw. On Wednesday, June 30, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he has signed a bill into law that will allow student-athletes to be compensated for their names and likeness. 
“For decades, student-athletes have been unfairly prevented from benefitting from their own image,” Lamont said. “I'm glad to have signed this into law, adding Connecticut to a growing list of states.” Under the new law, college athletes will be able to engage in…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Pleasantville, NY
Politics
NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park
NY Lawmakers Fall Short For Now In Effort To Rename Donald J. Trump State Park Lawmakers in New York will have to wait, as their efforts to remove the Trump name from a Hudson Valley state park stalled in the Assembly. The state Senate approved a bill this week that could have led to New York stripping the Trump title from the rarely frequented Donald J. Trump State Park on the Westchester-Putnam border. Earlier story - NY May Rename Trump State Park The Senate approved a new, scaled-down version of the legislation with the hope of getting it passed before the Legislature wrapped its annual session at the state Capitol this week. However, the Assembly didn’t take up…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
White Plains, NY
News
COVID-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York COVID-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York
Covid-19: Forging A Vaccination Card Could Soon Be A Felony In New York Lawmakers in New York are looking to make penalties harsher for those attempting to forge COVID-19 vaccination cards to fraudulently claim they’ve been vaccinated. The Democratic-led Assembly has proposed legislation that would make it a felony in New York to forge a vaccination card or fraudulently provide proof of immunity with the intent to defraud. “New Yorkers deserve to know that when they attend an event or go to a ballgame where proof of vaccination is required that those around them are not putting people at risk by using forged documents,” Assemblymember Jeff Dinowitz stated. “…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Torrington, CT
News
Lamont Signs Bill Establishing Sports, Online Gambling In CT Lamont Signs Bill Establishing Sports, Online Gambling In CT
Lamont Signs Bill Establishing Sports, Online Gambling In CT Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed legislation that will legalize online gaming and sports wagering. On Friday, May 27, Lamont made it official a day after the state Senate passed a bill to make gambling legal in Connecticut, signing the bill into law at the State Capitol. The CT Lottery can also have in-person sports betting at up to 15 licensed facilities including one in Hartford and one in Bridgeport. The move to legalize gambling comes less than three months after Lamont announced an agreement with the Mohegan Tribe and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe allows both tribes and the Connect…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant, NY
Politics
Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers
Hudson Valley Assemblyman's Proposed Bill Named For Cuomo Accuser To Protect Whistleblowers A Republican lawmaker in New York took a thinly veiled shot at Gov. Andrew Cuomo with new legislation to protect whistleblowers named after one of the women accusing him of sexual harassment. Hudson Valley Assemblyman Mike Lawler, who represents parts of Rockland, was among the New York lawmakers to introduce new legislation to amend the state’s penal code to add a misdemeanor penalty for public officials that engage in retaliation against those who report any form of sexual harassment. The move comes as Cuomo faces claims of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, and fostering a hostil…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Politics
State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers
State Senate Votes To Revoke Cuomo's Emergency Executive Powers New York’s Senate Majority has passed legislation that will rescind Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency COVID-19 powers amid multiple scandals plaguing his administration. On Friday afternoon, March 5, the Senate advanced legislation repealing the temporary emergency powers that the legislature granted to Cuomo last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation revokes Cuomo’s authority to issue new directives while allowing those that are now enforced and involving the state's public health to continue under "significantly greater legislative oversight." According to the Senate, “…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Hartford, CT
News
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support
More 'F's Than 'A's - Connecticut Politicians Graded On Educational Support The Connecticut Educational Association has issued its annual report card on members of the state House and Senate - and the grades seem to have fallen along party lines. The CEA, which lobbies for educational funding and reform, gave Democrats high marks for their work on education issues and reserved the bottom end of the spectrum for Republicans. In all, out of Connecticut's 187 state politicians, 37 earned 'A's and 51 received 'F's. The annual report card considers whether legislators were supportive of education funding, unions, professional development, standards, and school safety. …

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini