Painting, drawing or otherwise placing or displaying a noose is now a felony under New York law—punishable by up to four years in prison.

Gov. David Paterson signed the legislation that was proposed in the state after the well-publicized “Jena 6” case in Louisiana and two cases in New York—one noose was found in the locker room [...]

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo just announced he is expanding his “double dipping” investigation on pension fraud by requesting information from each of New York’s 685 public-school districts on hiring retired officials who had already been receiving public pensions. (He had previously sought this information just from Long Island districts.)

Cuomo’s office is looking for “double dippers” engaged [...]

Gov. David Paterson said today that he would not give in to pressure from Republicans to give the state a sales tax “holiday” between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Although the Senate Republican Majority said its bill authorizes anti-price-gouging penalties for gas station owners and gas distributors that don’t pass along the savings, Paterson said there is no [...]

   The State University of New York is making progress on finding a new chancellor for the 64-campus system and is on track to make an appointment during summer, Board of Trustees Chairman Carl Hayden reported today.

   SUNY has been without a permanent chancellor since John Ryan resigned from the $340,000-per-year position last May. John Clark [...]

Gov. David Paterson just announced that he submitted a “safe toys” bill to the Legislature. The legislation would protect New York kids from unsafe toys and durable products like cribs, car seats and high chairs that may be available even after they have been recalled. 

The legislation would address that problem by barring manufacturers, distributors and retailers from [...]

Saying the state’s nursing shortage is reaching “crisis proportions,” Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, announced five proposals he and his Republican colleagues are advancing.

According to the Health Care Association of New York State,  four out of five hospitals in the state are facing a nursing shortage. 

“New York’s nurses serve on the ‘front lines’ in administering quality, compassionate medical care [...]

 Here’s another report from GNS reporter Dan Osburn, who has been covering events at the Capitol today:

   Broome County resident and disability advocate Frank Pennisi received the “Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award” for state lawmakers his work to make polling sites in his county and other locations more handicapped accessible.
   “It’s nice to know they [...]

GNS reporter Dan Osburn reports that a New York City senator plans to introduce legislation for city police to use high-tech device that will record what happens when a firearm is used. Here are details on what he learned today.

   Sen. Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn, demonstrated a new device called the PistolCam in the Capitol today [...]

Touting the success today of the state’s recent decision to triple its film tax credit (from 10 percent to 30 percent), Gov. David Paterson announced today that production of the ABC series “Ugly Betty” would be returning to New York City.  The city’s 5 percent “Made in NY” tax credit will boost that to 35 [...]

With hospital-acquired infections affecting 5 to 10 percent of patients, New York is giving more than $1.2 million to hospitals for projects to tackle the issue. Each year, hospital patients across the country contract an estimated 1.7 infections, resulting in some 99,000 deaths, according to state Health Commissioner Richard Daines.

Prevention efforts will target some of [...]