Karen DeWitt

New York, NY —

New York Governor David Paterson wants to fight obesity by echoing a city initiative, and requiring calories to be posted on chain restaurants' menus across the state. Karen DeWitt reports.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson says he's not infringing on the rights of restaurants to sell food items ...

New York, NY —

The executive director of the state ethics commission has resigned, several days after the state inspector general charged him with violating the law during the commission's investigation of the Troopergate scandal. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson had asked all of the public ...

New York, NY —

New York Senate Democrats are discussing ways to clamp down on the state’s property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation. Karen DeWitt has more on yesterday's unusual open-door caucus meeting.

REPORTER: Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says he hopes to have more conferences ...

New York, NY —

The New York State Assembly has approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Last night's vote was 89-to-52. But the measure remains stalled in the State Senate. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The sponsor of the bill in the Assembly, Danny O'Donnell, debated while ...

New York, NY —

New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith is threatening to take action against a Bronx state Senator accused of campaign violations. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: Senate leader Smith in a statement said that Senator Pedro Espada has one week to pay back tens of ...

New York, NY —

New York State Health commissioner Doctor Richard Daines says the swine flu outbreak is winding down. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: The Health Commissioner says no new cases of the swine flu virus have been confirmed in the past two days, though testing continues. ...

New York, NY —

The leader of the Democratic majority in the New York State Senate emerged from a closed-door meeting last night to announce progress on the stalled MTA rescue plan. Karen Dewitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says the two Long Island Senators ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson wants the legislature to enact a cap on state spending. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor David Paterson says a mandatory spending cap, tied to the rate of the inflation, is the only way the governor and legislature can reign in what ...

New York, NY —

Queens State Senator Malcolm Smith is monitoring his family for swine flu symptoms. His daughter attends Saint Francis Prep, where there are dozens of confirmed cases of the disease. And his wife has mild flu symptoms. Meanwhile, health officials are testing for new cases of ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson is softening his push for a same sex marriage bill. As Karen DeWitt reports he's now willing to wait until the Senate leadership is ready to bring the bill to the floor.

REPORTER: Paterson said around a week ago that he wanted the Senate ...

New York, NY —

Supporters of medical marijuana say legislation to make it legal in New York has a good chance of passing. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: For the first time, identical bills to legalized the use of medical marijuana for New Yorkers with certain chronic diseases ...

New York, NY —

A new report indicates New York State will see even less revenue from sales and income taxes than expected. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

REPORTER: Suny Rockefeller institute finds that the depressed holiday season led to an over six present decline in sales tax revenues, ...

New York, NY —

Supporters of gay marriage are "cautiously optimistic" that New York will be the next state to legalize it. But it remains unclear if a successful vote could be held in the State Senate before the legislative session ends. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson has accepted the resignation of his Transportation Commissioner, Astrid Glynn, just a few days after she returned from vacation during state budget time.

In a statement, Paterson thanked Commissioner Glynn for putting together a plan to upgrade the state's rail systems and said he ...

New York, NY —

Republicans in the New York Assembly have a new leader. Karen DeWitt has more on the assemblyman from the Finger Lakes region who replaces outgoing Minority Leader James Tedisco.

REPORTER: Assemblyman Brian Kolb, a former businessman from Canandaigua, says he'll work to draw more attention to ...

New York, NY —

The State Senate has approved sweeping changes to the "Rockefeller drug laws," as part of the state budget. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: The rollback of the strict drug laws on the books since the days of Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1970s was accomplished ...

New York, NY —

New York's state budget will be late for yet another day as the State Senate failed to complete the votes needed for the spending plan to become law. The delay is also holding up lawmakers' paychecks. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: State legislators agreed to ...

New York, NY —

New York's state senate has yet to pass the budget that was due yesterday, as Republican senators proposed numerous amendments, and one Democratic senator returned to the hospital. But even once it's passed, the state comptroller is doubtful the budget proposal will be enough to ...

New York, NY —

The State budget will not be on time once again this year after delays and mishaps in the State Senate caused lawmakers to adjourn for the night, after approving just one of nine budget bills. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: Voting in the State Senate ...

With changes to the MTA and a new state budget, the fiscal landscape of both the city and the state have changed dramatically over the past few days. But what does it mean for your day-to-day? Karen DeWitt, Albany bureau chief for New York public radio, discusses the ...