Isaac-Davy Aronson

New York, NY —

Even though New York State is getting $24.6 billion in federal stimulus money over the next two years, Governor Paterson maintains his budget cuts and tax increases are still necessary.

Albany's powerful labor unions disagree. They're running an ad campaign saying the stimulus package should stave ...

New York, NY —

Senator Charles Schumer says the fatal crash of a commuter plane near Buffalo last week highlights the need to move quickly on appointing a new head of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Speaking after a tour of the crash site last night, Schumer said a recommendation is ...

New York, NY —

New York's Jerrold Nadler is one of the first members of Congress to criticize the Obama administration for its decision this week to invoke the state secrets privilege - and he's introduced legislation to keep it from happening again. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson has more.

REPORTER: The ...

New York, NY —

President Obama is hosting several family members of victims of the 9/11 attacks at the White House this afternoon. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson has more.

The families sought the meeting last month after President Obama ordered the suspension of all tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, including those of ...

Now there's just the $13 billion deficit in next year's budget to deal with.

Governor Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith announced a deal (click for press release with details of the plan) this evening to close the remaining $1.6 billion hold in the current fiscal year budget, and both houses of the legislature approved the plan shortly thereafter.

Here's Paterson discussing the cuts they settled on, and what they decided not to do in closing the budget gap:

But Smith says the real work will begin Wednesday, when lawmakers start trying to craft the 2009-2010 budget.  That budget has a $13 billion deficit by Paterson's latest projection.  Says Smith: "Health care, education, everything will be on the table."

New York, NY —

Weeks of uncertainty about the leadership of the state senate are expected to end today with the election of Queens Democrat Malcolm Smith as Majority Leader. But still unclear is exactly what role newly-elected Bronx Senator Hiram Monserrate will play.

Monserrate is facing felony charges that ...

New York, NY —

Federal authorities have approved a $1.3 billion project to replace a rail bridge in northern New Jersey - a move that brings the goal of easier access to Manhattan a bit closer.

The Federal Railroad Administration approval gives NJ Transit permission to move ahead with final ...

New York, NY —

It's been a tough year for Atlantic City's casinos, and 2009 isn't looking much better.

Plans for as many as four new casino-hotels worth as much as $11 billion are being shelved due to the economic downturn. Hundreds of workers have been laid off, and as ...

New York, NY —

Authorities say a bus matron eager to get to an appointment knowingly stranded a disabled man on a bus where he spent an icy night alone in Brooklyn.

Linda Hockaday did not enter a plea at her arraignment today on reckless endangerment charges. Her bond was ...

New York, NY —

The Jets have fired coach Eric Mangini, a day after the team failed to make the playoffs.

The Jets started the season 8-3 under quarterback Brett Favre, but went 1 and 4 in their final five games, and failed to make the playoffs for the second ...

New York, NY —

Voters in the Bronx are being bombarded with ads and mailings accusing state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr and Sen.-Elect Pedro Espada Jr of being disloyal Democrats.

The two men have declined to support Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith for Majority Leader, putting Democrats' control of the state ...

New York, NY —

REPORTER: New Jersey is withdrawing state security details at its three nuclear power plants, saying the plants' operators will now provide security.

Since October 2001, the Oyster Creek plant in Forked River and the Salem and Hope Creek plants in Salem County have been patrolled by ...

New York, NY —

One day after granting a pardon to Brooklyn developer Isaac Toussie, President Bush revoked it, a step experts say is certainly rare and possibly unprecedented. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson has more.

REPORTER: Toussie, one of 19 people Bush pardoned on Tuesday, pleaded guilty in 2003 to defrauding ...

New York, NY —

Democratic control of the State Senate is once again in doubt, after a deal between Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith and three dissident senators fell apart this week. But a court ruling yesterday may bring Democrats closer to capturing one more seat. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson reports.

REPORTER: ...

New York, NY —

Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten is condemning the city's decision to close three public schools. She says the closures will cause "devastating" disruptions, especially during this period of financial instability.

But speaking on his WOR radio show this morning, Mayor Bloomberg said schools that aren't serving ...

New York, NY —

At the Public Theater, the hip hop artist Danny Hoch recently put gentrification on stage in his show called "Taking Over." A similar project has been in development by the theater company The Civilians.

Their project is called "Brooklyn at Eye Level." It brings performers together ...

New York, NY —

It had been the stuff of Internet conspiracy theories, but now a congressional committee is looking into whether former Governor Eliot Spitzer may have been targeted by federal agents in the prostitution investigation that forced his resignation. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson has more.

REPORTER: Members of the ...

New York, NY —

In the Catholic calendar, this weekend is dedicated to remembering the dead, and here in New York, immigrants from Latin America have moved spiritual rituals from private homes and cemeteries, to secular spaces like museums and public libraries.

New York, NY —

In perhaps the least-noticed Senate race in the country, New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg is facing a challenge from former GOP Congressman Dick Zimmer. The two faced off last night in the first of two debates. WNYC's Isaac-Davy Aronson has more.

REPORTER: Lautenberg leads in ...

New York, NY —

By a vote of 29-22, the City Council yesterday passed Mayor Bloomberg's bill extending term limits from two to three terms, clearing the way for him and two thirds of the Council to run for a third term. But at one point, we thought it ...