Fri, Oct 29th 2021 12:50 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced the passage of H.R. 4035, the Real Justice for Our Veterans Act of 2021. The bill provides $3 million annually from 2022 through 2027 for grants through the U.S. Department of Justice to local governments operating veteran treatment courts.
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Fri, Oct 29th 2021 12:50 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday signed legislation that increases penalties against motorists and repair shops that illegally modify mufflers and exhaust systems to make them excessively noisy - an act her team said is associated with aggressive driving that harms community health, safety and comfort. This bill amends vehicle and traffic law, increasing fines and penalties and creating stricter regulations on vehicle equipment.
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Thu, Oct 28th 2021 07:15 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced the House of Representatives approved the Protecting America's First Responders Act (S.1511), enhancing the benefits provided to the families of police and firefighters permanently disabled or killed on the job.
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Wed, Oct 27th 2021 12:45 pm
During National Window Covering Safety Month, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection is alerting families to go cordless for all window coverings.
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Mon, Oct 25th 2021 12:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation (S.191/A.5459) authorizing credit unions to participate in the Excelsior Linked Deposit. Her team said, "In the past 35 years as New York has shifted from a manufacturing to a service economy, some of the largest companies in the state have downsized, forcing many individuals to become self-employed. Credit unions have responded to the needs of their members and communities by offering business loans."
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Mon, Oct 25th 2021 12:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation allowing employees facing potential layoff to petition employers to participate in a shared work program. Under this amendment to labor law, the majority of employees may submit a request for a shared work program in writing to the employer before the layoff or within 10 days of the layoff.
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Thu, Oct 21st 2021 08:00 pm
Congressman Brian Higgins announced approval of the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021 (H.R. 2379). The bipartisan legislation provides $1.75 billion each year from 2022 through 2027 to help states and tribes prevent and reduce substance abuse. The annual allocation represents an increase over the $1.5 billion provided for 2021.
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Thu, Oct 21st 2021 08:00 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a commitment of $11.1 million in federal workforce development funding over the next three years to expand the network of disability resource coordinators to all 33 local workforce development areas and to better serve individuals with disabilities in New York State Career Centers.
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Mon, Oct 18th 2021 06:25 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced more than $33 million in federal funding to support the efforts of 198 nonprofit organizations facing an increased risk of terrorism. These funds will allow nonprofits to strengthen the security of their facilities, as well as enhance their overall preparedness.
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Mon, Oct 18th 2021 03:45 pm
On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "I am saddened by the passing of Gen. Colin Powell, a New Yorker and son of immigrants who rose to the height of American public service during a distinguished career. As the first Black person to serve as National Security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state after graduating from the City University of New York, Gen. Powell blazed a path forward for others to follow throughout his decades of service to the United States."
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Mon, Oct 18th 2021 02:45 pm
State tax receipts in state fiscal year (SFY) 2021-22 exceeded the enacted budget financial plan forecast (May estimates) by $7.2 billion through the end of September, according to the monthly state cash report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
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Mon, Oct 18th 2021 02:45 pm
Empire State Development, the public authority responsible for administering many of New York state's economic development programs, has failed to fully evaluate most of its programs to determine if they are boosting the state's economy and promoting promised job and business growth, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
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Mon, Oct 11th 2021 01:40 pm
The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), will hold the department's annual National Stair Climb on Sunday, Oct. 17, at legendary Belmont Park on Long Island.
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Fri, Oct 8th 2021 11:25 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation (S.911/A.2354, S.1795/A.533, S.2523/A.868, S.6044/A.128, S.7228/A.5511) aimed toward reducing drug-related overdose deaths across New York - and encouraging those suffering from addiction to seek help in their recovery.
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Thu, Oct 7th 2021 12:45 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced the availability of an additional $25 million to help nonprofit organizations improve the security of their facilities to better protect those at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs or mission.
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Wed, Oct 6th 2021 02:55 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced about $149 million in federal aid has been distributed to counties statewide to help older New Yorkers meet basic needs, remain in their homes and communities, slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and get vaccinated. Of that total, nearly $11.5 million is headed to Western New York.
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Thu, Sep 30th 2021 10:40 pm
The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) established partnerships with local Food Banks throughout the state as part of a community give-back event. Members and staff of the association volunteered their time at five regional Food Banks this week.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 02:40 pm
Gov. Kathy on Wednesday provided an update on staffing in hospitals and other health care facilities, following the implementation of New York's vaccination mandate. Zero health care facilities across the state have been reported closed since the mandate went into effect.
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Wed, Sep 29th 2021 02:40 pm
Gov. Kathy on Wednesday announced Mary T. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H., was appointed commissioner of the Department of Health. With more than 30 years of experience devoted to promoting health equity and social justice, both in the U.S. and abroad, Bassett's career has spanned academia, government, and not-for-profit work. Her appointment is effective Dec. 1.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 07:10 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the launch of a Broadband Mapping Consumer Survey to assist in New York's first-ever in-depth statewide mapping study of broadband to identify the availability, reliability and cost of high-speed broadband services across the state.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 07:10 pm
New York State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, continued his "Regener8 Cities" tour with roundtable discussion with local stakeholders in Buffalo. Sens. Tim Kennedy, Sean Ryan and Edward Rath co-hosted the panel, along with Cooney - chairman of the Senate's "Cities 2 Committee," which featured business, nonprofit and education leaders to discuss issues that impact cities outside of NYC.
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Mon, Sep 27th 2021 01:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $12.6 million in state funding has been awarded to projects in Brooklyn and Buffalo that will provide permanent supportive housing to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
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Thu, Sep 23rd 2021 11:55 am
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced funding is now available to help low-income households that have fallen behind on their utility bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the regular arrears supplement is available to households who are eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and behind on their heating utility bills, but that do not qualify for the utility assistance offered by New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
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Tue, Sep 21st 2021 06:55 pm
The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) and CanCodeCommunities announced the opening of registration for the fall 2021 session of digital literacy training. Known as NewAmericansCanCode, the program provides digital literacy training to assist newcomers to New York in gaining basic computer skills.
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Thu, Sep 16th 2021 09:25 am
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the release of a proposed regulation that, if adopted, would allow counties to opt out of the recently established end-of-year deer hunt, slated to occur annually between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. The "holiday hunt" is an extension of the late bow and muzzleloader deer season in New York's southern zone.
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Tue, Sep 14th 2021 09:00 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced "significant progress" in providing pandemic relief to impacted New Yorkers through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Excluded Workers Program. The amount of pandemic-related emergency rental assistance paid out has nearly doubled in the past three weeks - growing to $399 million - enabling tenants at risk for eviction to stay in their homes and helping struggling landlords to recoup unpaid rent.
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Tue, Sep 14th 2021 05:30 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced appointments to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. She is designating Commissioner James E. Dering to serve as acting chair of the commission, and appointing the Hon. C. Randall Hinrichs to serve on the commission as a governor's appointee.
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Mon, Sep 13th 2021 01:55 pm
As Americans mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the nation, Congressman Brian Higgins is fighting to make sure those who responded on that day and the days after are adequately cared for.
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Fri, Sep 10th 2021 12:45 pm
The historic surge in unemployment claims at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly depleted the New York State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund, resulting in the state borrowing from the federal government to pay claims. State UI tax rates have already risen to the highest level permissible under law in 2021. Unless the state or federal government takes significant action, federal UI tax rates on employers will also increase in 2022 and beyond, according to a report issued by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
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Thu, Sep 9th 2021 10:10 am
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Division for Historic Preservation announced the release of the Draft New York State Historic Preservation Plan (2021-2026)/Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement.
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Thu, Sep 9th 2021 09:35 am
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has issued a request for proposals to award $9.4 million in funding to expand youth assertive community treatment teams throughout New York.
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Tue, Sep 7th 2021 05:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul is promoting numerous free state resources that are available to help connect New Yorkers with vacant jobs as they transition back to the workforce or explore new career paths.
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Tue, Sep 7th 2021 05:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed four pieces of legislation designed to "help boost workplace safety and put more money in the pockets of working New Yorkers."
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Fri, Sep 3rd 2021 01:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation (S.50001/A.40001) extending virtual access to public meetings under New York state's Open Meetings Law, which allows people to virtually participate in local government meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Fri, Sep 3rd 2021 01:20 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed into law a new moratorium on COVID-19-related residential and commercial evictions for New York state, which is in effect until Jan. 15, 2022. Under the new law, all protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act for residential tenants who are suffering financial hardship as a result of the pandemic will remain in place, along with new protections on commercial evictions.
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Thu, Sep 2nd 2021 10:55 am
Congressman Brian Higgins on Wednesday announced the launch of GetCTC.org, what he called an easier way for Western New York families to sign up to receive the Child Tax Credit. The new portal, made possible through a collaboration between the White House and Code for America, includes a mobile-friendly design that allows parents to register on a cellular phone with both English and Spanish language features available.
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Mon, Aug 30th 2021 12:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the removal of the final toll booths on the New York State Thruway, a "historic and significant milestone" in the $355 million cashless tolling design-build project.
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Fri, Aug 27th 2021 01:35 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued the following statement Friday on the Supreme Court ruling on eviction moratorium:
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Fri, Aug 27th 2021 10:50 am
National Grid urges its Buffalo and other Western New York customers who need help paying their energy bill to apply now for federally funded assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Emergency HEAP program.
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Thu, Aug 26th 2021 05:15 pm
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a proclamation naming Aug. 26, 2021, Women's Equality Day.
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