Capital of New York, seat of Albany County
Conservationists have reported a fresh spate of wolf carcasses in an Italian national park, with authorities suspecting poison as the cause. The killings are part of a broader probe into wildlife crimes amid rising tensions between biodiversity goals and livestock protection.
State budget talks remain unsettled as Gov. Hochul’s push to tie policy reforms to the budget has drawn criticism from Assembly Speaker Heastie and others, signaling a tense, ongoing fight over climate, immigration and fiscal priorities ahead of session end.
A wave of local and state actions is driving a pause in new data-center approvals as officials weigh electricity demand, water use, and community impact. Governors and legislators are considering temporary bans or moratoria while studies assess environmental and economic effects. Industry groups warn against overreach while residents push for local control and benefits.
Under a compromise, the United Federation of Teachers has agreed to extend the city’s timeline to meet classroom-size caps, offering a differential pay bonus to teachers in waivered classes while keeping the statewide framework. The arrangement will allow the city to reach 70% compliance next year and 90% by 2028-29, with payments for exemptions.
DC candidates and officials are pushing ambitious housing agendas focused on reforming zoning and expanding affordable housing. Campaigns link zoning changes to cost of living, homelessness, and budget gaps as new data and political dynamics shape implementation.
New York’s Democratic primaries have yielded three wins for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s democratic socialist slate. Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez have defeated establishment-backed rivals in the 10th, 13th and 7th districts, signaling a stronger left-wing presence in Congress ahead of November.
Whitman College has begun offering a transparent “you will pay” figure, following Brandeis’ similar move, in response to upper-middle-class families exceeding aid eligibility while facing steep sticker prices. Applications from affluent families have fallen as a result, prompting more colleges to disclose pricing.
The pied-à-terre tax in New York City has taken effect, with rates up to 6.5% for non-primary luxury residences. Authorities anticipate $340 million to $500 million in annual revenue from roughly 10,000 units, while brokers report continued strength in luxury sales as market liquidity remains high.
A socialist-led slate backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani has swept several New York Democratic primaries, defeating incumbents and signaling shifts within the party. The results prompt questions about titles like House speaker and the future of the caucus as 2026developments unfold.
New York has filed a lawsuit in Albany against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company, Corteva and others over PFAS, alleging they knew these “forever chemicals” were toxic and polluted air, water and soil. The suit seeks funding for cleanup, consumer warnings, damages and other penalties..
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order pausing state permits for new "hyperscale" data centers using 50 megawatts or more for up to one year. The order directs regulators to produce a Generic Environmental Impact Statement covering energy, water, air and community benefits, and it signals potential changes to tax breaks and grid-costing for large AI facilities.