New York Focus and ProPublica reported last year that the Broome County Department of Social Services had found a litany of issues at the Knights Inn for years. Now, six people — including three children — are dead after a fire at the motel.

New York’s biggest health care union wants 200,000 home health workers to join up, but many say they aren't convinced. Here's why.

The cooling safety net that provides free air conditioners to New Yorkers across the state ran out of funding in June, before summer officially started and ahead of the state’s hottest months. It’s the earliest the money has ever run out.

New York City's large building owners will soon be able to buy credits instead of cutting emissions to comply with Local Law 97. As a candidate, Zohran Mamdani said he'd limit that option, but he hasn't taken a position as mayor.

The company that runs New York’s state-funded home care program has agreed to pay its workers $162 million to settle a wage theft lawsuit filed last year. The deal is one of the largest wage-related payouts in New York history.

On July 1, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan lost their health care coverage due to federal cuts. Here's a look at what these changes mean and what alternatives are available.

An analysis of the new state budget finds New York lawmakers quietly exempted nearly $1.5B from key oversight, allowing Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration to ink an array of future contracts without approval from the state’s fiscal watchdog.

The cooling safety net that provides free air conditioners to New Yorkers across the state ran out of funding in June, before summer officially started and ahead of the state’s hottest months. It’s the earliest the money has ever run out.

New York City's large building owners will soon be able to buy credits instead of cutting emissions to comply with Local Law 97. As a candidate, Zohran Mamdani said he'd limit that option, but he hasn't taken a position as mayor.

The cooling safety net that provides free air conditioners to New Yorkers across the state ran out of funding in June, before summer officially started and ahead of the state’s hottest months. It’s the earliest the money has ever run out.

The company that runs New York’s state-funded home care program has agreed to pay its workers $162 million to settle a wage theft lawsuit filed last year. The deal is one of the largest wage-related payouts in New York history.

New York City's large building owners will soon be able to buy credits instead of cutting emissions to comply with Local Law 97. As a candidate, Zohran Mamdani said he'd limit that option, but he hasn't taken a position as mayor.

EXCLUSIVE: An analysis of the new state budget finds New York lawmakers quietly exempted nearly $1.5B from key oversight, allowing Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration to ink an array of future contracts without approval from the state’s fiscal watchdog.

New York’s biggest health care union wants 200,000 home health aides to join up, but many say they aren't convinced. Here's why.

As the first audience editor at New York Focus, I kicked off the practice of introducing the organization to a statewide New York audience with a listening tour and online survey. You can read that report here: nysfocus.com/listening-to...

For over a year, NY home health aides have made wage theft complaints against the private state contractor they work for. They just won a $162 million payout: nysfocus.com/2026/07/01/n...

The company that runs New York’s state-funded home care program has agreed to pay its workers $162 million to settle a wage theft lawsuit filed last year. The deal is one of the largest alleged wage theft payouts in New York history.

New York City's large building owners will soon be able to buy credits instead of cutting emissions to comply with Local Law 97. As a candidate, Zohran Mamdani said he'd limit that option, but he hasn't taken a position as mayor.

New York’s biggest health care union wants 200,000 home health aides to join up, but many say they aren't convinced. Here's why.

The Knights Inn, profiled by New York Focus and ProPublica last year, received repeated health and safety complaints for years.

Health care advocates say New York’s delayed and unclear messaging strategy around the Essential Plan has fostered confusion and done little to prepare the estimated 450,000 residents losing coverage July 1. “It’s going to be a disaster,” one expert says.

On the heels of a “Back to Basics” reading effort, New York is launching a similar initiative to reform math education in the state. There's only one problem: Experts don't agree on what constitutes "evidence-based" instruction in math.

At a watch party on Tuesday, Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of New York City DSA, attributed the victories to the group’s volunteer army. “The incumbents just were not able to keep up,” he said. nysfocus.com/2026/06/24/n...

The congressional primary cycle has been the most expensive in New York’s history, according to the watchdog group OpenSecrets, with more than $50 million in outside spending. nysfocus.com/2026/06/24/n...

The only DSA-backed candidate to concede Tuesday was Assembly candidate Conrad Blackburn, who was trailing incumbent Jordan Wright. Outside groups spent over $900,000 against Blackburn, more than against any other DSA candidate. nysfocus.com/2026/06/24/n...

Socialist candidates racked up victories in New York’s primary elections for the state legislature on Tuesday, with the Democratic Socialists of America poised to pick up at least six seats despite an enormous wave of outside spending. nysfocus.com/2026/06/24/n...

In Tuesday's New York primary elections, candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America racked up victories despite an enormous wave of super PAC spending. The DSA is now poised to pick up at least six seats in the state legislature in November.

Days before the June 23 state primary elections, a mystery donor has given $850,000 to a super PAC dedicated to defeating state Senator Jessica Ramos in what appears to be New York’s biggest-ever donation to an independent expenditure committee focused on a single state legislative primary race.

As usual, great and illuminating reporting from @nysfocus.com nysfocus.com/2026/06/22/n...

For @nysfocus.com, I wrote about the sharp rise in New York City’s most serious housing code violations over the past decade, and how the city has failed to enforce its own laws, according to city's own data and interviews with tenants and housing advocates.

As recently as last year, it was rare for judges to order young people with special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) status deported. Under Trump, that's changed. It's set to hit New York — home to over a fifth of all SIJ petitioners — particularly hard.

The number of health-threatening housing code violations in New York City has sharply increased in recent years, and a significant number of them are going unrepaired, according to a New York Focus analysis of city inspection data. Here's what we found.

State education officials announced that high school graduates in New York could soon start receiving a new type of diploma — one that reflects their skills and knowledge, rather than the number of credits they’ve earned. Here's what you need to know.

Days before the June 23 state primary elections, a mystery donor has given $850,000 to a super PAC dedicated to defeating state Senator Jessica Ramos in what appears to be New York’s biggest-ever donation to an independent expenditure committee focused on a single state legislative primary race.

Federal immigration officials held an 8-year-old boy in a Brooklyn shelter for nearly seven months despite the fact that he had US citizenship. Here's how it happened and what it took to secure his release.

NYC's projected budget gaps and an ambitious affordability agenda may require pressing Albany again for taxes and aid. "We’re looking to next session to pass a tax on the rich and corporations that actually meets the needs of New Yorkers."

City budget gaps and an ambitious affordability agenda may require pressing Albany again for taxes and aid. nysfocus.com/2026/06/17/m...

NEW: Mayor Zohran Mamdani claimed victory after this year’s state budget sent New York City billions of dollars in aid and a new tax on luxury second homes. But the good vibes between the city and Albany may be short-lived. nysfocus.com/2026/06/17/m...

NEW: A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would relax restrictions on who can qualify for victim compensation. nysfocus.com/2026/06/16/n...

We’ve compiled information for the 450,000 New Yorkers who will lose health care coverage on July 1. nysfocus.com/2026/06/15/n...

NEW: Victims of violent crime in New York can get the state to help pay for their medical expenses and other costs — that is, unless it decides they’re at fault, too. A bill passed this month could change that. nysfocus.com/2026/06/16/n...

NEW: We’ve compiled information for the 450,000 New Yorkers who will lose health care coverage on July 1. nysfocus.com/2026/06/15/n...

The citizens assembly model, used for public decision-making around the world, is gaining traction in New York. nysfocus.com/2026/06/12/n...

NEW: Starting July 1, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan will lose their health insurance due to federal cuts. We’ve compiled information for Essential Plan users about what these changes mean and alternative options for coverage.

In May, state lawmakers passed a $269 billion budget after haggling for months over thousands of line items and policies affecting New Yorkers. New York Focus reporters dug into the most consequential ones to figure out what this budget means for you. nysfocus.com/2026/06/09/n...

Job Alert 🚨 New York Focus is seeking a part-time contributing reporter to lead ambitious accountability reporting on Westchester County. nysfocus.com/hiring

NEW: The citizens assembly model, used for public decision-making around the world, is gaining traction in New York. nysfocus.com/2026/06/12/n...

A lobbyist romantically linked to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie led a rally opposing major environmental legislation a week before Heastie declined to bring it to a vote. It's unclear if Heastie still has any recusal policy related to the lobbyist nysfocus.com/2026/06/11/h...

NEW: A lobbyist who has been romantically linked to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie led a rally opposing plastic packaging legislation a week before the speaker declined to bring it to a vote. nysfocus.com/2026/06/11/h...

Across more than 4,400 pages, lawmakers passed a $269 billion budget that funded major programs serving New Yorkers across the state. New York Focus breaks down the process, outcomes, and what it means for you in The Haggle. nysfocus.com/2026/06/09/n...