As New York looks to expand universal, affordable childcare, it will need to build its workforce of childcare workers and preschool teachers. Our latest analysis looks at who these workers are and potential policy strategies for expanding the workforce. rockinst.org/blog/support...

Check out this episode of @rockefellerinst.bsky.social's The Policy Outsider podcast featuring @ctgualbany.bsky.social & @rockefellercollege.bsky.social's @milagasco.bsky.social & @kevindeliban.bsky.social on the existing & future roles of #AI in government rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

"Mass public shootings are human behaviors that follow patterns, have identifiable precursors & occur within systems that can be made more/less responsive. That means they are at least partially preventable—and that’s what makes this research worth doing." rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

While the DOJ order rescheduling medical cannabis from Schedule I to III is relatively straightforward from a 30,000-foot perspective, when you get into the weeds, there remain substantial unanswered questions. rockinst.org/blog/the-rea...

Our latest: RGVRC Affiliate Scholar Christopher Strain shares his framework for thinking about how gun ownership shapes American political life and examines which policies that seek to address mass shootings are viable in the "gunocracy." rockinst.org/blog/underst...

The rapid increase in new and planned data centers is prompting policymakers at all levels of government to address energy costs, water use, and other concerns associated with these projects. Our latest brief documents the policy responses. rockinst.org/issue-area/c...

How are local patterns of gun violence influenced by neighborhood structure? How do infrastructure changes affect these patterns? RGVRC's 6/2 webinar explores these issues through the lens of the I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse, NY. Learn more and register 👇 rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

NEW NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero joins us for our series, "Freshmen Perspectives," and highlights accomplishments from her 1st term, what she hopes to get done next, and how her experience as a councilmember & public defender shapes her approach to lawmaking. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

Food-as-medicine programs integrate nutritious food into healthcare, reducing food insecurity and improving diets while showing promising health and cost benefits. Our latest Science Note explains how they work. rockinst.org/blog/science...

Direct contracting for health insurance allows employers to cut out 3rd-party administrators & customize their health plans. There's some positive early evidence for this approach, but policymakers should monitor the impacts on the industry & the insured. rockinst.org/blog/direct-...

In a new RGVRC blog, Justin Sola, Margaret Kelley, and Tara Warner argue for the importance of including the unique perspectives of women (especially mothers) in discussions around gun ownership, use, safety, and harm. rockinst.org/blog/the-car...

On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, we explore the existing and future roles of AI in government systems and the risks and opportunities associated with increased integration of these new tools. Our guests are Mila Gascó-Hernandez and Kevin De Liban. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

Dam modifications and removals are healthy parts of maintaining and restoring ecological systems. Our latest report examines New York State's dam infrastructure (roughly 6,000 dams) and recommends policy adjustments that can better support these projects. rockinst.org/issue-area/n...

Thank you @rockefellerinst.bsky.social for hosting last week's #AI Policy & Practice Forum with @albany.edu's AI & Society Research Center! @ctgualbany.bsky.social & @rockefellercollege.bsky.social's Mila Gascó-Hernández & CTG's Derek Werthmuller shared research & practice on AI in Government.

Report from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium out today: the first in a new annual series providing a standardized look at mass public shootings. The report documents and analyzes 20 incidents in 2025 in which 36 people died and 97 were injured. rockinst.org/issue-area/m...

NYS Chief AI Officer Eleonore Fournier-Tombs is sharing her keynote remarks now. Listen in: youtube.com/live/vMEAUbu...

Our AI Policy & Practice Forum, held in collaboration with the University at Albany's (@albany.edu)'s AI & Society Research Center, is underway! Join us on the livestream. 👇 youtube.com/live/vMEAUbu...

Is the tide turning on adult-use cannabis legalization? For 4/20, we take a look at efforts across states to rollback or set up roadblocks to legalization. rockinst.org/blog/cannabi...

This week! @ctgualbany.bsky.social & @rockefellercollege.bsky.social's @milagasco.bsky.social & CTG's Derek Werthmuller speaking at the #AI Policy & Practice Forum in #AlbanyNY. Organized by @rockefellerinst.bsky.social & @albany.edu's AI & Society Research Center. rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

Our latest report looks at how the NYS Foundation Aid education funding formula equalizes disparities in local wealth and suggests options for modifying the formula to improve equitable funding for school districts. rockinst.org/issue-area/c...

We've updated our PFAS Policy Dashboard with 2025 legislation. The dashboard tracks and categorizes legislation across all 50 states to show how states are dealing with a myriad of PFAS-related issues. Read our blog highlighting the 2025 trends. rockinst.org/blog/state-p...

A rapidly evolving policy landscape surrounds kratom. States and munis are taking a variety of approaches to regulating the drug. In the last few weeks, CT, KS, UT, & RI all made policy moves. Our latest blog documents the trends. 👇 rockinst.org/blog/the-evo...

In New Mexico (2022), 64% of gun homicide victims were Latino and/or Hispanic, despite less than half of New Mexicans identifying as such. The latest RGVRC analysis highlights research from New Mexico showing the importance of culturally informed policy. rockinst.org/blog/underst...

"... there are people in cities across the country working tirelessly to improve their communities. Some use well-known models, some rely more on their personal experience, but all of them are dedicated to something larger than themselves." — RGVRC Member Talib Hudson rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

CO₂e. GWP20. GWP100. These terms come up in climate discussions, but what do they mean? Our latest Science Note dives into these emission equivalence metrics and explains their significance to climate policy. www.rockinst.org/blog/science...

Join us for our "AI Policy & Practice Forum," presented with @albany.edu's AI & Society Research Center! The full-day forum features keynote remarks from NYS Chief AI Officer Eleonore Fournier-Tombs. 📅 April 23 📍 Albany, NY Program and registration 👇 rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

Join the Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy next Thursday (3/26) at 2p for a webinar, "On Becoming Immigrant Women in the US: A Strength-Based Approach to Leveraging Opportunities and Neutralizing Threats." Learn more and register 👇 rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

In 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed $204m in civil money penalties on poorly performing nursing homes. Do these penalties work to deter regulatory noncompliance? rockinst.org/issue-area/j...

Generative AI is everywhere. Our latest "Science Note" provides a concise summary of this technology and highlights key impacts and concerns as AI proliferates across all facets of life. rockinst.org/blog/science...

CALL FOR PROPOSALS The theme of our 2026 Local Government Lab is the infrastructure needs of municipal governments. We're looking for presentation proposals on how localities are managing or leveraging opportunities around critical infrastructure demands. More 👇 rockinst.org/rig-events/l...

"As ED of @thesavir.bsky.social, I get to connect the science community for mentorship, training & advancing science, support students entering the field, & promote this work to partners, the public, & policymakers." Latest RGVRC highlight: @christenrexing.bsky.social rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

Our latest report, prepared for New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation and NYSID, Inc., examines the economic impact of nonprofit disability service providers in NYS: 408 providers generated $15.6 billion in economic output. rockinst.org/issue-area/t...

On Monday, SCOTUS hears oral arguments in US v Hemani. At issue: whether Section 922g3 of the Gun Control Act is a violation of cannabis users' 2A rights. Fellow Heather Trela explains what oral arguments may reveal about how justices are thinking about this issue. 👇 rockinst.org/blog/guns-ga...

Less discussed health policy changes from OBBBA include adjustments to the 1915c waiver. As NYS policymakers await further guidance from CMS, our latest outlines 6 considerations that can ensure sustainable, quality care for NY's growing aging population. rockinst.org/blog/initial...

Learn about RGVRC member Eric Fleegler, whose "goal is to figure out the interventions that can be implemented one-on-one with families and at the community level to reduce gun violence," in our latest Consortium member highlight. rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

New episode of Policy Outsider! @nyslabor.bsky.social Commissioner Roberta Reardon joins the show to discuss expanding capacity in the childcare industry, promoting green jobs, improving apprenticeship programs, advancing workplace safety protections, & more. Listen 👇 rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

Our Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium released its 2025 Annual Report today! The report highlights Consortium members' academic publications, policymaker briefings, media appearances, grant funding, & more. Read it: rockinst.org/issue-area/r...

New Policy Outsider episode! Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke discusses the healthcare trends for policymakers to watch in 2026. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

Senior Fellow for Health Policy Courtney Burke lays out the healthcare trends to track in 2026. The analysis reflects and updates trends outlined in 2025 and points to areas where policymakers may be able to pull some policy levers to shape the industry. 👇 rockinst.org/blog/six-tre...

New analysis on childcare: we take a look at how a lack of childcare availability and affordability impacts family income and the economy, the existing early care and childcare landscape in New York, and federally funded childcare and preschool programs. rockinst.org/blog/the-pat...

Our Policy Outsider series, "A Look at Labor," continues with an interview with NYS Assemblymember and chair of the Assembly Labor Committee @HarryBBronson. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

Our latest brief on PFAS drinking water regulations examines legal challenges to the federal drinking water regulations finalized in 2024 and potential changes to those regulations by the Trump administration. rockinst.org/issue-area/t...

The @rockefellerinst.bsky.social & @albany.edu #AI & Society Research Center hosting policymakers, practitioners & researchers working in the field of #artificialintelligence on April 23 at the Rockefeller Institute of Gov't in Albany, NY. Submit a proposal by Feb 3! rockinst.org/news/article...

"I moved into studying gun violence because firearms account for ~50% of suicide deaths, & suicide accounts for ~60% of gun deaths, & we really can’t talk about preventing suicide w/o talking about preventing GV." Our latest RGVRC Member Highlight: Allison E. Bond rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

On a new episode of Policy Outsider, we break down what's in President Trump's Executive Order to expedite the rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug with Rockefeller Institute resident cannabis policy expert Heather Trela. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

One of the most effective methods for supporting survivors of mass shootings is recognizing and acknowledging their lived experiences, writes RGVRC Executive Director Jaclyn Schildkraut in a blog that poses the question, "How can I help?" rockinst.org/blog/how-can...

CALL FOR PROPOSALS Forum on State and Local AI Policy Gaps and Opportunities In collaboration w/ @albany.edu's AI & Society Research Center, we're seeking presentation proposals for a forum to be held on April 23. More details & to submit 👇 rockinst.org/news/article...

"I study firearm policy to help ensure that interventions and laws are not only evidence-based but also feasible, implementable, and aligned with the lived realities of those they aim to protect..." Our latest RGVRC member highlight: @jennneccidineen.bsky.social rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, IIIRP's Guillermo Martinez leads a conversation with the Providence Farm Collective, a bold, community-rooted initiative in Western New York that's connecting new Americans and new entry farmers to land, culture, and opportunity. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

NEW BRIEF New York State's K-12 education funding formula could replace the current "one-size-fits-all" funding weight for English Language Learners (ELLs) with a tiered structure that accounts for varied levels of English language proficiency. rockinst.org/issue-area/r...