New York Now

On this week's edition of New York NOW (3/24/2023): The deadline for the New York State Budget is just days away, on March 31. We'll tell you where things stand. Anna Gronewold from POLITICO and Josh Solomon from the Times Union join us with a preview of what to expect in the final days of state budget talks. Assm. Ed Ra, the highest-ranking Republican on the Assembly Ways & Means Committee, joins us with his take on the budget. Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (3/17/2023): The State Senate and Assembly approved their one-house budget proposals this week in a statutory rebuttal to Gov. Hochul's spending plan. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joins us to discuss that chamber's budget, and what's ahead in negotiations. New York's paid family leave law was considered among the country's most generous when it became law in 2016. But parents who've lost their children at birth say there's a glaring gap in coverage. Alexis Young reports. Explore More: nynow.org

On This Week's Edition of New York NOW: New York's state budget is due in less than three weeks. We'll tell you where things stand with this week's panel: Josh Solomon from the Times Union and Rebecca Lewis from City & State NY. What matters to upstaters in this year's state budget?Justin Wilcox from Upstate United joins us to discuss. We've got a few updates from the State Capitol, including another view on a Medicaid issue we covered a few weeks ago. Learn More: nynow.org

Catch this week's show on your local PBS station, or watch on YouTube, Facebook, or using the free PBS app anytime after Friday. On This Week's Edition of New York NOW: Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing the New York Housing Compact: a plan to build 800,000 new homes in New York over the next decade. But some local leaders have expressed concerns, and there's some confusion about how it would work. State Housing Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas joins us to break down the proposal. As New York emerges from the pandemic, connecting people with jobs will be vital to the state's recovery, economic experts say. We take you inside a jobs training program that's charting a new path for some workers. We've got a few updates from the State Capitol, including new polling on Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2023 agenda, and more.

On this week's edition of New York NOW (2/24/2023): The Legislature had the week off, but Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay joins us to chat about the latest out of Albany. A few updates from the State Capitol around underreported health care policy and spending in the State Budget. Jacqueline Franchetti lost her daughter Kyra in 2016. Now, she's pushing "Kyra's Law" in Albany in hopes of preventing another tragedy. Alexis Young has that story. Explore More: nynow.org

On This Week's Edition of New York NOW: Gov. Kathy Hochul's nominee for chief judge is rejected by the State Senate for a second time. We'll explain what happened. New York City Mayor Eric Adams makes his case to lawmakers in Albany. SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to discuss his vision for SUNY, a proposed tuition hike, and more. Certain drugs are used to reverse an overdose from using opioids. How do they work? We'll show you. Explore more news from across New York: www.nynow.org. Get email updates when new episodes launch: www.newsletter.nynow.org.

In this special edition of New York NOW, WXXI News’ Evan Dawson hosts a state-wide discussion on how the pandemic and the response have exacerbated the ongoing overdose epidemic.   To learn more about the overdose epidemic, or for access to local resources, visit wmht.org/overdoseprevention   Get weekly updates on the news in New York you need to know: newsletter.nynow.org   For statewide news and local insights: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (2/10/2023): Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joins us with his take on this year's legislative session, Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget plan, and more. Hearings on Hochul's budget plan began this week. We'll explain. Have you been to the New York State Capitol? Not like this. WMHT's Will Pedigo takes us inside the historic building. Plus, an update on former Rep. Lee Zeldin, last year's Republican nominee for governor. Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (2/03/2023): Gov. Kathy Hochul released her plan this week for the state budget, which is among the most consequential items negotiated at the Capitol each year. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission joins us to break down the numbers. Capitol reporters Michael Gormley from Newsday and Elise Kline from Lilly Broadcasting join us with analysis. Plus: How does a bill become a law in New York? Reporter Alexis Young explains. Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (1/27/2023): New polling shows how voters feel about some of the big ticket items in Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2023 agenda. Steve Greenberg from the Siena Research Institute joins us to explain. What happens when judges in New York break the rules, or break the law? We'll explain with Robert Tembeckjian, administrator and counsel for New York's Commission on Judicial Conduct. Learn More: nynow.org 

On This Week's Edition of New York NOW (1/20/2023): Gov. Kathy Hochul's nominee for New York's next chief judge gets a hearing at the State Capitol, and a rejection from the Senate. Yancey Roy from Newsday and Josh Solomon from the Times Union join us to chat about that, and other news from the week. New York's Climate Action Council approved a plan last month for how the state will respond to climate change and lower emissions over the next few decades. State DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos and Doreen Harris, president of NYSERDA, join us to discuss. Advocates for the Clean Slate Act kick off their efforts for this year's legislative session. Learn more: nynow.org

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered her 2023 State of the State address this week. We'll have a recap. Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt joins us with his response to Hochul's agenda for this year's legislative session. Joe Spector from POLITICO New York and Keshia Clukey from Bloomberg Government join this week's panel with analysis. We'll have an update on Hochul's nomination for New York's next chief judge. Learn More: nynow.org

As the new legislative session gets underway in Albany, join New York NOW guest host David Lombardo and panelists Jon Campbell and Marie French for a discussion on what to expect in the coming year. From Governor Hochul's inauguration to top issues on the agenda, get the inside scoop on the latest developments in New York politics.   Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW: We sat down with Damian Fagon, the Social and Equity Officer at the Office of Cannabis, to discuss the card program, initiatives, and other details that are setting New York apart from the rest of the nation. The market infrastructure makes it more difficult for companies to monopolize the industry and the Seeding Opportunity Initiative is helping meet some of the equity and justice goals from the MRTA. We'll discuss the characteristics of the market infrastructure that makes it possible to bar these monopolies, two-tier restriction, and horizontal restriction. We will also be looking at how the two-tier market supports those initiatives and goals.  Learn more about New York's cannabis plan, the MRTA licenses, and the Seeding Opportunity Initiative and how it's giving those from underserved populations access to the cannabis industry. And visit Claudine Field Apothecary, farmed by KingAswad and Jasmine Burems. They discuss how their small family farm will be part of the

We revisit our interview with Gov. Kathy Hochul from August, when she spoke with us about her first year in office, and what's ahead for her first full term.   Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW (12/16/22): Gov. Kathy Hochul hints at a new housing plan for her State of the State, which is now less than a month away. We'll discuss. New York's getting a new chief judge — a position that leads the entire judicial branch of state government, and the state's highest court. Brian Ginsberg, an appellate attorney and partner at Harris Beach PLLC, joins us with insight. The New York Working Families Party organized on the ground to deliver for progressive candidates in last month's elections. We check in on their strategy, and what's ahead with State Director Sochie Nnaemeka. A new On The Bill looks at New York's "Bottle Bill," and what environmental advocates want done with it. Learn more: nynow.org

On the latest edition of New York NOW (12/09/22): New York has a new SUNY chancellor, and a controversy involving the chief of staff for New York's attorney general. Keshia Clukey from Bloomberg Government joins us to discuss. Rep.-Elect Mike Lawler made national news when he beat a powerful Democrat in last month's election. He joins us to discuss that, and the future of the Republican party. What's on the table for immigration reform, with Republican taking control of the House next year? Eddie Taveras, political director of immigration campaigns at FWD.US, joins us. Learn More: nynow.org

On this week's edition of New York NOW: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, is picked as the next Democratic leader in the House, and Albany heads to the Supreme Court. We'll discuss. Michael Gormley from Newsday and Zach Williams from the New York Post join us for this week's panel. Inspector General Lucy Lang joins us to discuss her first year in office, New York's massive unemployment fraud, and more. Learn More: nynow.org

Catch this week's show on your local PBS station, or watch on YouTube, Facebook, or using the free PBS app anytime after Friday. On this special edition of New York NOW: New York's infrastructure — roads, bridges, rail, and more — get an average grade of "C" from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Assm. Angelo Santabarbara, who's an engineer himself, joins us to discuss. The New York State Education Department has launched a new program to connect New York's next generation with civics. We'll take you inside that initiative. School boards have gained a lot of attention in recent years. But what is a school board, and what does it do? We'll explain. Explore more at NYNOW.ORG.

On this week's edition of New York NOW: New York's overdose crisis got worse during the pandemic, after a few years of progress. Reporter Alexis Young explores new strategies for addressing the epidemic. Affordable housing continues to be hard to find in New York, where an overall housing shortage persists. James Lloyd from the New York State Association for Affordable Housing joins us to explain. We're at the half-way point in New York's state budget, and the state just released a progress report. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission has details.   Explore more of New York on NYNOW.ORG.