All articles tagged with #new york state
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide disaster emergency on October 5, 2026, due to a surging measles outbreak. The state has recorded 108 cases this year, with 92 occurring in rural areas since mid-July. This is the first such declaration in the US since the 2025 surge began. The emergency expands who can administer MMR vaccines and requires rapid reporting of vaccinations.
New York State declared a disaster emergency on October 5 due to a sharp rise in measles cases, with the state reporting 108 infections through early October. The outbreak is concentrated in unvaccinated individuals, with Lewis County recording 13 cases and Otsego County leading the state with 20. Governor Kathy Hochul expanded vaccine access to include pharmacists and paramedics to accelerate response efforts.
New York State has declared a measles disaster emergency after cases surpassed 100, with the first infections now reported in the Capital Region. The outbreak is concentrated in rural areas with lower vaccination rates, prompting expanded vaccine administration protocols.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency on October 6 to combat a measles resurgence, expanding vaccine access and suspending consent requirements for vaccination records. The state has recorded 108 cases this year, with 92 occurring in rural areas since mid-July. This move coincides with a lawsuit against the federal government over vaccine guidelines and follows a national surge that has seen over 3,880 cases reported in the US.
A Cornell student who provided leads to campus police in 2024 regarding the alleged gang rape of Jane Doe at the Chi Phi fraternity house has expressed feeling betrayed by the investigation's handling. While the student offered information about drug use and fraternity messaging, prosecutors did not review these leads when declining charges. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has accepted an independent review, and New York Attorney General Letitia James is now leading the investigation after replacing the local district attorney.
New York State has filed a lawsuit against prediction market platform Polymarket, alleging it operates as an unlicensed gambling entity. The state seeks to block the company from operating in New York, impose fines, and force restitution to users. Polymarket, which employs over 350 people in the state, has vowed to fight the legal action, arguing that its platform functions like a stock market rather than a gambling operation. This move follows similar legal challenges against competitors like Kalshi and highlights the ongoing conflict between state gambling regulators and federal authorities over the classification of event contracts.
New York State sued Polymarket on Thursday, alleging it operates an illegal, unlicensed gambling platform in violation of state laws. Polymarket responded hours later by filing a countersuit in federal court, arguing that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has exclusive authority to regulate prediction markets and that state enforcement is prohibited by federal law. The dispute centers on whether event contracts constitute gambling or federally regulated derivatives. New York seeks penalties including tripled gains and $100,000 per illegal wager offer, while Polymarket claims state actions create an 'impossible choice' between compliance and criminal liability. This legal clash follows similar suits against competitors like Kalshi and reflects a broader national conflict between state gambling regulators and federal authorities over prediction market oversight.
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) launched a public measles dashboard on September 15, 2026, to track confirmed cases outside New York City. As of September 12, the state reported 57 total confirmed cases, with 51 located in upstate regions and six in New York City. The dashboard, updated weekly, highlights significant outbreaks in the Capital, Central, and Western regions, particularly in Steuben, Seneca, and Otsego counties. Health officials are urging residents to verify their MMR vaccination status, noting that two doses provide 97% protection against the highly contagious virus.
The Buffalo Bills' new $2 billion Highmark Stadium opens for its first regular-season game on Thursday, but affordability concerns are mounting. A study by the Action Network estimates the cost for a family of four exceeds $2,000. Governor Kathy Hochul, who secured state funding to keep the team in New York, stated that pricing is left to the market and the Pegula family. Meanwhile, players like tight end Dawson Knox are expressing excitement about the venue's atmosphere, while fans from the Capital Region face significant travel and parking costs.
New York State is deploying two distinct financial relief mechanisms to assist residents with rising energy costs. The Energy Affordability Program (EAP) offers monthly bill discounts of up to $500 for households meeting specific income thresholds, while the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebate (POWER) program distributes one-time checks of up to $200 to 8.2 million households. Governor Kathy Hochul has launched a state-wide campaign to increase EAP enrollment, noting that 2.5 million eligible residents have not yet signed up. The POWER checks, funded by a $1 billion budget allocation, are being mailed automatically starting in September and continuing through December, requiring no action from recipients. Eligibility for EAP is determined by household size and utility provider, with income caps ranging from $69,477 for single-person households in upstate areas to $213,900 for eight-person households in the NYC metro area. The POWER program targets tax filers from 2024, with amounts varying based on income brackets and filing status. These initiatives aim to mitigate the impact of soaring gas prices and increased heating and cooling costs on New Yorkers.
New York health officials report tularemia—often called rabbit fever—has appeared in Suffolk County with multiple cases in recent years (six in 2025, four in 2024, three in 2023), while New York City has seen only about 10 cases since 2000. The infection, transmitted by tick bites or contact with infected animals, can cause varied symptoms and may progress to pneumonia if untreated. It is treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline. Prevention focuses on using EPA-registered insect repellents, wearing protective clothing outdoors, performing tick checks on people and pets, handling wildlife with gloves, and cooking game meat thoroughly.
New York lawmakers passed a $268.5 billion state budget after weeks of delay, rolling back the climate law to target a 60% emissions cut by 2040, restricting formal ICE cooperation by police, boosting aid to cities and schools, enacting auto-insurance reforms, and imposing a pied-a-terre tax in NYC, while also increasing Medicaid funding and pensions—sparking mixed reactions from unions, business groups and Republicans.
New York state cuts transport prices to World Cup games at MetLife Stadium, lowering the round-trip bus fare from NYC to $20 (down from $80) after fan backlash; NJ Transit follows by cutting its round-trip train price to the stadium, and extra school buses are being used to boost capacity, as officials seek to make attending matches more affordable amid pricing criticisms of host cities.
Upstate Democratic lawmakers want to extend Gov. Hochul’s pied-à-terre tax on luxury NYC second homes to outlying areas, proposing a lower $2.5 million threshold and directing half of the revenue to AIM funding for struggling municipalities. While some upstate Democrats privately back broader taxation of vacant luxury properties, many are hesitant to publicly endorse a new tax amid ongoing budget talks, as cities like Buffalo and Albany face deficits and lawmakers debate implementation details.
A NYSERDA memo estimates that fully implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act could raise average New Yorkers' energy costs—upstate gas/oil households may incur over $4,100 in gross costs and NYC about $2,300, plus roughly $2.23 per gallon for fuel—though affordability measures could reduce net costs to around $2,500 (upstate) or $1,500 (NYC). High-efficiency electrification could yield savings (about $1,500 upstate, $800 in NYC). Gov. Hochul is weighing changes to the law amid bipartisan pushback and federal hurdles, while advocates argue for expanding clean-energy initiatives instead of rolling back policies.