Those up-to-$400 checks coming from NY state? You'll have to pay federal tax on them. "(T)he federal tax liability could have been avoided if the rebate program were structured differently." From Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/you-sho...

NY AG Letitia James won't tap a $10M state fund (which Hochul and lawmakers approved in the budget) to pay her legal fees. Instead, she's turning to the Democratic Attorneys General Association, which has set up a legal defense fund. From Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/ny-ag-j...

NY is sending checks of up to $400 to more than 8 million tax filers starting today. Checks will hit mailboxes in batches starting next week (and through November.) gothamist.com/news/inflati...

The fate of the Manhattan casino proposals may have been sealed three years ago and 150 miles north. (Sign up for our weekly Politics Brief newsletter here: campaigns.gothamist.com/c/ht6tqwsrzikj…)gothamist.com/news/as-manh...it

Upload a selfie to verify your age for TikTok, Instagram, etc.? That's a possible outcome of AG Letitia James' new proposed rules for the SAFE for Kids Act, which limits social-media companies from showing kids and teens addictive feeds. gothamist.com/news/tiktok-...

Babe, wake up: The new Ulster County "I voted" sticker (IYKYK) just dropped ... and it's a good one. Shoutout to sixth-grader Ryker Darmanin for the winning design. www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

"A top federal prosecutor had a message for upstate New York businesses days after immigration agents detained dozens of people at a food processing plant: There’s more to come." From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/feds-ny...

Yes it's another story about Frankie Focus, the new NY state phone ban mascot. A casting call shows Gov. Hochul's admin is hiring performers to don the Frankie costume, at $300 a pop. Gov's office says it's using volunteers more than paid talent. gothamist.com/news/how-ny-...

Gov. Hochul, who wields major control over the MTA, could have to choose between the authority’s push for change and the influential union that could help her as she seeks reelection next year. gothamist.com/news/no-huma...

“New York will give pharmacists cover to dispense COVID-19 vaccines this fall in the wake of uncertainty over federal immunization policy, a state official said.” From Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/hochul-...

I couldn't resist. gothamist.com/news/meet-fr...

ICYMI, @elizabethkim.bsky.social & @joncampbellny.bsky.social on the NYC mayor's race and Rep. Nadler's decision not to run again: www.wnyc.org/story/city-p...

DeWitt Clinton surely dreamed of the day the New York Lottery would hold a giant raffle to commemorate 200 years of the Erie Canal.

Greetings from Albany’s greatest eyesore — the Central Warehouse — where Gov. Hochul is on hand for the start of demolition. Sure looks like we’re going to see that wrecking ball go into the wall in a second.

A look at the differences in the ways Gov. Hochul and Leader Jeffries speak about Zohran Mamdani, their party's nominee for NYC mayor. From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/rep-jef...

And if reading's more your style, here's our Peanut the Squirrel deep dive on Gothamist: gothamist.com/news/the-pea...

ICYMI: We did a deep dive on the Peanut the Squirrel saga and its ongoing ramifications, where the DEC is still feeling the effects of a viral mob that took up the cause. I hope it's worth a half hour of your time. Listen here: www.wnyc.org/story/a-squi...

Today: - @usatoday.com's Susan Page with Monday Morning Politics, - @joncampbellny.bsky.social with the latest from Albany - @williamdcohan.bsky.social on Trump's influence on big business Live at 10 on 93.9 FM, AM820 or @wnyc.org

We got our hands on hundreds of state records, including voicemails — many of them violent and threatening — left for NY environmental enforcers after they seized Peanut the squirrel. They help tell the story of how an internet culture war has had a lasting effect on your gov’t.

Look how slick this dude is. Didn’t miss a beat.

Some left-leaning NY lawmakers (and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado) say Gov. Hochul shouldn't send out checks to residents later this year, given federal cuts. Hochul says they're "tone deaf." From my colleague Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/with-de...

It's up to Gov. Hochul to decide whether to ban anonymous child abuse/neglect reports in NY. Supporters of the bill say anonymous complaints are used to harass. Opponents worry what happens if someone with a valid complaint refuses to leave their name. gothamist.com/news/should-...

"There’s nothing Gov. Kathy Hochul can do to change New York’s congressional district lines before next year’s midterm elections and help Democrats in a rapidly escalating national fight over gerrymandering." More from @gothamist.com's Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/why-gov...

Could your NY weed dispensary have to move because of a government screwup? @clewisreports.bsky.social and I mapped out the 108 dispensaries who were suddenly told they’re too close to schools. Most are in NYC, unsurprisingly. gothamist.com/news/could-y...

Want to do a mid-decade redistricting in New York? Your best — maybe only? — bet is to get the current lines thrown out in court. gothamist.com/news/gov-hoc...

Lawler's decision could clear the way for Rep. Elise Stefanik, a fellow House Republican, to run for gov unimpeded by a primary. (Nassau County exec Bruce Blakeman has also been kicking the tires, but he's got his own reelection to worry about first.) gothamist.com/news/rep-mik...

"The criminal investigations of former senior members of the Adams administration appear to be on hold as the fallout from the dismissal of the mayor's corruption charges continues..." More from @elizabethkim.bsky.social: gothamist.com/news/what-ha...

"The [NY state] corrections department spent about $445 million on 7.4 million hours of overtime pay last year, a 26% increase over its costs the prior year." via @joncampbellny.bsky.social gothamist.com/news/prisons...

Latest on the Brittany Commisso settlement: - NY state to pay $450k -- half to Commisso, half to her attorneys. - Commisso to dismiss her lawsuit against Cuomo and the state. - Cuomo to oppose the dismissal effort in court. gothamist.com/news/ny-to-p...

A decade ago, NY state put up $16 million to keep the Late Show in NYC amid the Letterman-to-Colbert transition. More from @giuliaheyward.bsky.social: gothamist.com/news/gov-hoc...

Behold: The eight applicants for New York state's final three private casino licenses, which will be awarded in the NYC area. Applications were due today.

How NY's top establishment Dems are trying to thread the needle: Praise Zohran Mamdani for his focus on "affordability," but without backing his specific proposals or offering an endorsement. gothamist.com/news/will-th...

The pro-Cuomo super PAC held a virtual meeting with donors the Friday before Primary Day, where a pollster previewed a poll showing Cuomo with a double-digit lead. More from Gothamist's Jimmy Vielkind: gothamist.com/news/andrew-...

Zohran Mamdani, fresh off his big win in the NYC mayoral primary, is set to be on the @BrianLehrer Show at 10. Listen live here: www.wnyc.org

An historic night in NYC, as Zohran Mamdani -- a 33-year-old democratic socialist -- topples former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a crowded Democratic primary. w/ @elizabethkim.bsky.social @brigidbergin.bsky.social @elkue.bsky.social gothamist.com/news/nyc-pri...

Your NYC Primary Day update: It's hot as hell out there. gothamist.com/news/nyc-pri...

Who else is PUMPED for all the "if you're in line, stay in line" posts that will hit EXACTLY at 9 p.m.???

Unsure who to vote for in the NYC mayoral primary? Have an hour to kill? @brigidbergin.bsky.social did quick-hit interviews with the nine leading candidates for the Democratic nomination today. Hear from all of them here: www.wnyc.org/story/the-ma...

That's all, folks. The Assembly just wrapped up its final votes for the 2025 NYS legislative session. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act did not get a vote.

Among the bills NY lawmakers passed last week: A set of new safety restrictions for the most advanced artificial intelligence models. But will Hochul sign it into law? And will the feds let it stand? Two major open questions. gothamist.com/news/ny-lawm...

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a North Country Republican who is considering a gubernatorial run, mentioned each alleged perpetrator by name and asked Hochul if she was familiar with them. Hochul replied she was not. gothamist.com/news/gov-hoc...

A weird one as the NY legislative session winds down. A state law almost prevented out-of-state sports teams from bringing their trainers to NY when they play the Knicks, Liberty, Yankees, etc. Lawmakers just passed a tweak to ensure that doesn't happen. gothamist.com/news/ny-lawm...

A bill that would impose a five-year moratorium on the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer could get a vote in the NY Legislature this week. More from @jeongyoonhan.bsky.social: www.wxxinews.org/new-york-pub...

In a relatively narrow vote, the NY Senate voted to approve a bill allowing terminally ill patients to request lethal medication to end their life. Now it's on to Gov. Kathy Hochul -- who has not signaled whether she supports it. gothamist.com/news/ny-lawm...

"But the bridge lights were such a large expense — without a clear path to reimbursement — that they prevented the authority from issuing long term debt for years." -- www.politico.com/news/2025/06...

As the legislative session wraps up in Albany, @joncampbellny.bsky.social recaps some of the bills lawmakers are voting on. www.wnyc.org/story/end-of...

The battle over natural-gas pipelines -- a remnant of the big fracking battle of the early 2010s -- is back in NY. More from @jeongyoonhan.bsky.social: www.wxxinews.org/new-york-pub...

15 years ago, workers at the World Trade Center site found a Revolutionary War-era ship buried deep in the muck. Now, after a lengthy preservation process, archaeologists are putting the boat back together at its new home at the NYS Museum in Albany. gothamist.com/news/a-revol...

If you live in NY, there's a good chance you'll get a check mailed to your home later this year. Use our interactive tool to find out how much your "inflation refund" check will be: gothamist.com/news/ny-is-m...