May 23, 2013 — On Tuesday, Governor Cuomo and the chiefs of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe announced a surprise deal in Albany. It grants the Mohawks' exclusive gaming rights in the North Country. In return, the tribe will resume sharing millions of dollars in casino revenue with New York State and St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. That after a three-year dispute.

Yesterday, the chiefs were back in Akwesasne, holding a press conference at their brand new hotel and casino expansion.

They called Cuomo "sincere". They said it was the promise of resolving the Mohawks' 31-year old land claim that made the gaming pact possible.
David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 23, 2013 — Governor Cuomo, who still has not issued a decision on whether hydro fracking should be allowed in New York, is backing further away from the controversial gas drilling process in his economic development plans for the future.  Go to full article

May 22, 2013 — Mohawk tribal chiefs joined Governor Cuomo in Albany yesterday to announce a new deal on casino exclusivity.

They signed off on settling a long-running dispute over revenues from the Mohawks' Akwesasne Casino near Massena. In return, the Mohawks will get exclusive gaming rights in the 8-county North Country region.

David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley to sort out what the deal means for the North Country and the Mohawk land claim.  Go to full article

May 22, 2013 — One day after the state's powerful Assembly Speaker admitted "glaring failures" in his handling of a sexual abuse case, the Albany establishment seemed to be moving on, with the usual round of press conferences, bill passage, and leaders meetings.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, May 21, 2013 — Fresh off a deal with the Oneida Nation, Governor Cuomo stood with chiefs of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe this afternoon to announced a deal to resolve gaming issues that affect the North Country.  Go to full article

May 17, 2013 — The state Office of Mental Health could decide as soon as Monday whether it will close the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg.

This week, the state held a meeting to listen to the community's comments about the center. One topic many people brought up was jobs: The Ogdensburg facility employs more than 500 people.  Go to full article

May 17, 2013 — Voters in New York go to the polls on Tuesday, May 21 to approve new school budgets. The State School Boards Association finds that many school districts are living within the limits imposed by a property tax cap enacted two years ago.

The School Board Association's Tim Kremer says a survey of the state's school districts finds that the vast majority are budgeting within the strictures of the tax cap, and as a result, 93 percent expect their budgets to be approved by voters.  Go to full article

May 17, 2013 — For the first time, the Oneida Indian Nation has entered into an agreement to share some of its gambling revenues with New York state. The concession means there's no risk of a competing state-run casino in the Nation's backyard.  Go to full article

May 16, 2013 — Governor Cuomo is calling on Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the subject of a scathing ethics commission report on sexual harassment, to resign from office or be expelled.  Go to full article

May 16, 2013 — The state plans to decide next week which mental health hospitals it's going to close, and which will be chosen as what the state's calling "Regional Centers of Excellence." That's the word from New York's Acting Commissioner for Mental Health. Kristin Woodlock wrapped up her "listening tour" of hospitals around the state in Ogdensburg on Wednesday.  Go to full article