Kathy Hochul

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency as the entire state prepares for dangerously low temperatures starting Friday night.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a major, long-term investment in water quality infrastructure as part of her 2026 agenda. WSHU’s Desiree D’Iorio spoke with Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, about what it means for Long Island.

New York schools began the 2025–26 year under a new statewide cellphone ban. Districts report smoother days, more student interaction and ongoing debate over how the policy affects families.

Bruce Blakeman publicly floated the idea of running for governor after he decisively won a second term last month despite a bad election for Republicans nationwide. He said he’s the best candidate to take on incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul.

Fraudsters who claim they can help veterans access their benefits now face a $10,000 fine. The GUARD Act creates a special fund for the penalties collected, then funnels that money to accredited veteran service organizations.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called on artificial intelligence companies to implement safety features for users, as a reminder that the AI companion law is now in effect.

Over 8.2 million New Yorkers will automatically receive the state’s first-ever rebate checks between October and November.

In April, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to place a statewide bell-to-bell ban on smartphone usage in all K-12 classrooms. However, the restriction did not go into place until this academic year.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York’s new cell phone ban for K-12 classrooms will improve mental health and learning as Long Island schools finalize their distraction-free policies.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Farmingdale on Tuesday to promote the state budget’s investments in Long Island infrastructure, tax relief and storm resiliency.