Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will limit anesthesia coverage for surgeries exceeding a specific time frame starting February 1, 2025, affecting patients in New York, Missouri, and Connecticut. Exemptions include patients under 22 and those needing maternity care. Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the decision, vowing to protect New Yorkers.
Outrage over the euthanization of P'nut the Squirrel, a popular internet pet, has led to bomb threats at ten New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offices. The squirrel was seized and euthanized over rabies concerns, sparking widespread condemnation and political commentary, including from actor William Shatner and Ohio Senator JD Vance. Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the threats but did not address the incident directly. The controversy has also inspired proposed legislation to enhance animal rights protections in New York.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed groundbreaking legislation in New York to combat addictive social media feeds and protect minors' online data. The SAFE For Kids Act restricts algorithmically driven feeds for users under 18, while the New York Child Data Protection Act prohibits the collection of minors' personal data without consent. This legislation aims to address the youth mental health crisis and sets a national precedent for safeguarding children online.
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced an indefinite pause on the implementation of congestion pricing in New York to alleviate the financial burden on working- and middle-class families. The decision has been widely supported by various state senators, assembly members, and local officials who argue that the plan would have imposed significant financial hardships on residents, businesses, and commuters, especially in the context of post-pandemic recovery and high inflation. The pause aims to allow time for developing a more workable solution to Manhattan's traffic issues without adversely affecting the city's economic and social fabric.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to cease pressuring the New York City Marathon to pay $750,000 for lost toll revenue on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, allowing the marathon to proceed as usual. This decision follows reports that the M.T.A. threatened to limit the marathon's use of the bridge unless it agreed to pay. The New York Road Runners, which oversees the marathon, had sought the governor's intervention, and it remains unclear if the reprieve also applies to Bike New York, which faced similar reimbursement demands.
Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a travel advisory for New York City, Long Island, and the lower mid-Hudson region due to a "long duration storm system" bringing heavy rain, wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, and potential power outages through tomorrow night. The National Weather Service has also issued a coastal flood advisory for parts of NYC. Next week is expected to bring more spring-like weather, but for now, New Yorkers are advised to stay safe and monitor local forecasts.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul's visit to the wake of fallen NYPD officer Jonathan Diller sparked controversy after a video showed her interacting with an animated individual outside the event, leading to rumors that she was asked to leave. However, reports clarified that she was heckled while already on her way out. The incident has intensified scrutiny on Hochul, particularly regarding New York's bail reform laws, following Officer Diller's tragic death during a traffic stop by a repeat offender. The fallen officer's family has voiced concerns to the governor, seeking policy revisions, as the community and officials navigate the complex emotions and political debates stirred by the loss.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul faced backlash and was denied the opportunity to speak at the wake and funeral of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in Massapequa Park, with former Rep. Lee Zeldin and others criticizing her appearance as disrespectful and self-serving. Hochul was confronted by mourners and reportedly asked to speak at the funeral, but both requests were rejected by the family. The incident has sparked further criticism of New York's liberal policies and criminal justice system, with Hochul and other officials facing public outrage over their handling of crime and law enforcement.
New Yorkers express concerns over rising subway crime, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to dispatch the National Guard and state troopers to assist the NYPD in securing subway stations. Recent incidents, including a man hurling flaming cans at people and random shoving attacks, have left commuters feeling unsafe. While some support the increased security measures, others criticize the bag checks and call for hiring more police officers and electing new district attorneys to address the city's crime problems. The city has seen a significant exodus of residents amid the ongoing crime concerns.
The National Guard will no longer carry long guns while conducting bag checks in NYC subways, following public outcry and concerns over their sudden appearance. The decision came after an announcement that soldiers would be patrolling subway stations to assist the NYPD in random bag checks. This move comes in response to an increase in subway station murders and recent high-profile crimes. Civil rights groups have criticized the plan, expressing concerns about a "sweeping surveillance state" and biased policing. Governor Kathy Hochul has not specified how long the military presence will last.
Suffolk County officials and law enforcement are criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul's defense of bail reform laws after four suspects, arrested in connection with the discovery of human remains, were released without bail. The suspects are charged with hindering prosecution, tampering with evidence, and concealing a human corpse, but not specifically with the killings. Suffolk County Executive and the police union are calling for changes to the bail laws, while the District Attorney and Governor Hochul are at odds over the handling of the case and the bail system.
An MTA conductor was assaulted with a glass bottle in the Bronx just after Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to deploy National Guardsmen to NYC subways to combat a surge in crime. The attacker fled the scene, and the conductor was taken to the hospital in stable condition. This incident follows a recent slashing of another MTA worker in Brooklyn, who expressed reluctance to return to work on the trains. Hochul's plan involves deploying 1,000 National Guardsmen, state police, and MTA officers to conduct bag checks in subway stations to address the recent spate of violent attacks.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is deploying nearly 1,000 National Guard members, state police, and MTA officers to conduct bag checks in the city's subway system in response to a recent surge in high-profile crimes. The effort aims to enhance subway safety and combat criminal activity, with Hochul also proposing legislation to empower judges to ban subway criminals from riding the rails. Despite the increase in subway crime, MTA CEO Janno Lieber emphasized that a small number of individuals are responsible for a disproportionate amount of these incidents.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a five-point plan to address subway crime in NYC, including deploying 750 National Guard members and 250 state and MTA police officers, as well as banning dangerous individuals from the subway. This comes after a rise in subway crime, with officials disputing statistics but acknowledging the need for increased safety measures such as more police presence, random bag checks, and high-tech weapons detection systems. Despite these efforts, many subway riders still feel unsafe.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order banning transgender female athletes from competing on girls' teams, drawing opposition from Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and civil rights attorneys who question its legality. The order requires athletes to compete based on their biological gender or in a coed category, impacting transgender females playing for any team in the county's recreational facilities. Blakeman defended the order as a measure to protect girls and women, while critics argue it is illegal and discriminatory, with the New York Civil Liberties Union considering legal action to stop it.