Karen DeWitt

Capitol Bureau Chief, New York State Public Radio

Karen has covered state government and politics for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 New York and Connecticut stations, since 1990.  She is also a regular contributor to the statewide public television program about New York State government, New York Now. She appears on the reporter’s roundtable segment, and interviews newsmakers. 

Karen previously worked for WINS Radio, New York, and has written for numerous publications, including Adirondack Life and the Albany newsweekly Metroland.

She is a past recipient of the prestigious Walter T. Brown Memorial award for excellence in journalism, from the Legislative Correspondents Association, and was named Media Person of the Year for 2009 by the Women’s Press Club of New York State.

Karen is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Is Legal Marijuana Faltering In New York?

By • 6 hours ago
Jim Mone / AP

The chance to include the legalization of adult recreational marijuana in the state budget is fading, now that Governor Andrew Cuomo seems to be backing away from the proposal.

Sniping Between Cuomo And Senate Democrats As Budget Deadline Nears

By • Mar 14, 2019
Hans Pennink / AP

Budget talks are intensifying in Albany as the deadline nears, and they are revealing tensions and divides between the Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, and the all-Democratic state legislature.  

NY AG James Says Agreement Reached On Closing Double Jeopardy ‘Loophole’

By • Mar 13, 2019
Seth Wenig / AP

New York’s attorney general, Tish James, says she’s reached an agreement with the state legislature to amend the state’s double jeopardy laws to make it easier to go after people accused of crimes in New York, even if a president pardons them.

Cuomo Predicts Legal Pot Won't Be Part Of The Budget, But Luxury Apartment Tax Will Be

By • Mar 12, 2019
Office of N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo

With three weeks to go until the April 1 budget deadline, Governor Andrew Cuomo is drawing some lines in the sand on items he says need to be in the spending plan, like a permanent property tax cap. But Cuomo says a proposal to legalize the adult use of marijuana likely will not be finished in time.

NYS Senate, Assembly To Release Their Versions Of The Budget

By • Mar 8, 2019
Hans Pennink / AP

The Senate and Assembly are due to release their own versions of the state budget next week. They come as Governor Andrew Cuomo is demanding that a number of unrelated provisions be included in the spending plan. Without them, he threatens, the budget could be late.

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