Edwin J. Viera

Along with watchdog group recommendations, New York lawmakers have proposed several bills to bolster the state's Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. (Adobe Stock)

If New York established an unemployment bridge program, 750,000 workers would be eligible for its benefits. (Adobe Stock)

A New York organization believes universal public childcare can be implemented in five years. New Yorkers United for Child Care is using its newly released roadmap to guide this plan, with the primary goal of saving people money. Estimates show state residents spend $22,000 per year per child. ...

A new report found New York hospitals are in a precarious financial state. The New York State Hospitals Fiscal Survey Report showed statewide hospitals are projecting an operating budget margin of 0.0% percent. While it is a slight improvement, hospital administrators said it is still insufficient for hospitals to handle patient care. ...

The Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program helps 40 million people put food on the table every month. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates feel Connecticut and the nation can enact legal system reforms in 2025, ranging from ways to more humanely treat incarcerated people to increasing investments in communities, rather than in the criminal justice system. In Connecticut, some advocates pushed for reforms to parole so it is not as punitive. Wanda Bertram, communications strategist for the Prison Policy Initiative, said while similar reforms passed in New York, they have stalled in Connecticut. ...

The Port of New York and New Jersey is receiving funding to cut emissions. It's part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Program. Of the $3 billion national grant, the port will get more than $402 million to monitor emissions and transition equipment to electric power. ...

A report from the Child Health and Development Institute found 74% of kids were discharged after completing treatment through Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services. (Adobe Stock)

A New York law will ban the use of PFAS in outdoor clothing used in wet weather conditions but not until 2028. (Adobe Stock)

New York lawmakers are focusing on electrifying municipal buildings. Buildings statewide make up 32% of New York's greenhouse gas emissions and experts said electrifying them would lower heating and cooling costs, as well as reducing emissions. Inflation Reduction Act funds are available for municipalities to convert public buildings to use electricity. ...