Up To $400 'Inflation Refund' Checks On Way To Millions Of NY Households: Here's Who Qualifies Up To $400 'Inflation Refund' Checks On Way To Millions Of NY Households: Here's Who Qualifies
Up To $400 'Inflation Refund' Checks On Way To Millions Of NY Households: Here's Who Qualifies New Yorkers will get some financial relief this fall. “Inflation refund” checks of up to $400 will be mailed directly to 8.2 million households across New York beginning in October, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday, May 14. No application, sign-up, or extra steps are required. The checks are part of the FY 2026 State Budget and aim to ease the financial strain on working- and middle-class families impacted by rising prices, Hochul’s office said. “It’s simple—this is your money and we’re putting it back in your pockets,” Hochul said in a statement. “I’ll never stop fighting to help you…
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones New York classrooms are dialing down distractions. Come this fall, all K-12 public schools in New York will implement bell-to-bell bans on student cell phone use, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Tuesday, May 6. The sweeping new policy, part of the state’s 2026 budget agreement, prohibits students from using internet-enabled personal devices anywhere on school grounds from the first bell to the last—including during lunch and study hall periods. “New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools thr…
Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says
Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says A Long Island man is facing felony charges after allegedly voting twice in the 2024 general election. Christopher Lindenberg, age 54, of Lindenhurst, is accused of requesting, completing, and submitting an early mail ballot in another person’s name — and then casting a second ballot himself. An investigation found that Lindenberg used the early mail ballot online application portal in October 2024 to request a ballot on behalf of another person without their knowledge, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. The ballot was reportedly sent to Lindenberg’s home a few days later. He then…
Get In The Loop: New Roundabout Coming To Major Milton Intersection Get In The Loop: New Roundabout Coming To Major Milton Intersection
Get In The Loop: New Roundabout Coming To Major Milton Intersection Get ready to slow your roll. A $3.4 million project is officially underway in the Town of Milton, where the traditional four-way intersection at State Route 29, Rowland Street, and Petrified Sea Gardens Road is being transformed into a brand-new, single-lane roundabout. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the project this week, calling it an important step toward keeping Saratoga County’s roads safer and traffic flowing smoother — just in time for a busy summer in nearby Saratoga Springs. “New Yorkers need the best and safest roads so they can travel to work, visit their families and shop for lei…
NY Discovery Laws Must Change To Protect Domestic Violence Survivors, Gov. Hochul Says NY Discovery Laws Must Change To Protect Domestic Violence Survivors, Gov. Hochul Says
NY Discovery Laws Must Change To Protect Domestic Violence Survivors, Gov. Hochul Says New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is doubling down on her push to revise the state’s discovery laws after a new series of state reports revealed devastating impacts on domestic violence survivors. Hochul released three reports compiled by the State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) on Monday, April 14, detailing feedback from more than 1,400 survivors, advocates, family members, and court professionals across New York. The findings underscore what the governor calls a “fatal flaw” in the state’s legal process, with many domestic violence survivors seeing cases against their ab…
New 'World-Class' LIRR Station Breaks Ground In Yaphank New 'World-Class' LIRR Station Breaks Ground In Yaphank
New 'World-Class' Lirr Station Breaks Ground In Yaphank Construction is underway on a new Long Island Rail Road station promising faster, more accessible travel. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new Yaphank LIRR station, located roughly three miles east of the current Yaphank platform, on Thursday, April 3. The new transit digs promise a “world-class, fully accessible experience,” ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said. It will be strategically closer to major thoroughfares such as William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway, as well as the key scientific hub, Brookhaven …
Hochul Blasts Trump Admin's 'Cruel' Funding Cuts To Health, Addiction Services Across NY Hochul Blasts Trump Admin's 'Cruel' Funding Cuts To Health, Addiction Services Across NY
Hochul Blasts Trump Admin's 'Cruel' Funding Cuts To Health, Addiction Services Across NY More than $360 million in federal funding is being stripped from New York’s public health, mental health, and addiction programs. The cuts, attributed to changes under the Trump administration, could leave critical services in jeopardy for millions of residents, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office warned Friday, March 28. Among the services expected to be impacted are COVID surveillance, addiction recovery, and health crisis support. Hochul’s office shared the following breakdown of the sweeping federal cuts: $300+ million lost from the Department of Health, impacting virus tracking, outbreak res…
NYers Can Now Report Soaring Drug Prices, Pharmacy Complaints Through New State Program NYers Can Now Report Soaring Drug Prices, Pharmacy Complaints Through New State Program
NYers Can Now Report Soaring Drug Prices, Pharmacy Complaints Through New State Program New Yorkers now have an easier way to report skyrocketing prescription drug prices and pharmacy issues, thanks to a new digital platform. The tool, called DFS Connect, was unveiled Monday, March 17, by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) as part of a push to increase transparency and hold drug manufacturers accountable, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said. It will allow residents to file complaints about prescription drug price spikes, particularly if a drug’s cost has risen by more than 50 percent in a year. Small, independent pharmacies can also report unfair business pr…
Massive Catskill Film Studio, Development Site Along Hudson River To Be Auctioned For $6.35M Massive Catskill Film Studio, Development Site Along Hudson River To Be Auctioned For $6.35M
Massive Catskill Film Studio, Development Site Along Hudson River To Be Auctioned For $6.35M A massive production studio and waterfront development site in downtown Catskill is heading to auction, offering a rare investment opportunity at nearly half its original listing price. The 20,208-square-foot Lumberyard, a New York State Qualified Production Facility, will be sold to the highest bidder on Wednesday, March 20. Originally listed in 2023 for $11.5 million, the property now has a reserve price of $6.35 million — about 45 percent lower than its initial asking price. The auction follows Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent announcement of a $10 million state grant to revitalize downtown Ca…
Hochul Holds Strong Lead in Hypothetical 2026 Primary, But Faces Affordability Concerns: Poll Hochul Holds Strong Lead in Hypothetical 2026 Primary, But Faces Affordability Concerns: Poll
Hochul Holds Strong Lead in Hypothetical 2026 Primary, But Faces Affordability Concerns: Poll New York Gov. Kathy Hochul remains the clear frontrunner in a hypothetical 2026 Democratic primary, a new Siena College poll shows. Hochul leads potential Democratic challengers Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado and Rep. Ritchie Torres by more than 30 points, the poll–released Monday, March 10–showed. Forty-six percent of Democrats prefer Hochul, compared to 11% for Delgado and 10% for Torres, according to pollsters. However, despite her commanding lead in a primary, the governor’s overall approval numbers remain mixed: Forty percent hold a favorable view, compared to 50% with an unfavorable view, …
Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island
Wildfires Threaten Wealthy Part Of The Hamptons: Here's The Latest On Long Island A massive wildfire that erupted Saturday afternoon, March 8 at the edge of the Hamptons has burned through over two miles of land, destroyed two structures, and sent one firefighter to the hospital, officials said. The fire, which started around 1 p.m. in Center Moriches, spread rapidly due to 35 mph winds, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a Saturday evening news conference. The flames quickly moved to East Moriches, Eastport, and then Westhampton, igniting a massive blaze just north of Gabreski Airport, he said. On Saturday, all eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway were closed bet…
$54M Project: Former YMCA Turned Into Over 100 Affordable Apartments In Tarrytown $54M Project: Former YMCA Turned Into Over 100 Affordable Apartments In Tarrytown
$54M Project: Former YMCA Turned Into Over 100 Affordable Apartments In Tarrytown A major housing project in Westchester has been completed, transforming a former YMCA into a $54 million affordable housing development that will provide more than 100 affordable apartments. The development, known as "62 Main" and built in the former YMCA of Tarrytown, offers 108 apartments, with 88 units reserved for seniors aged 55 and older. The housing is available to households earning up to 70% of the Area Median Income and aims to provide much-needed affordable living options in Westchester County, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, March 6.  The project involved rehabilit…