With everything that has been going on in New York lately, it’s almost hard to remember that, just 24 months ago, we were the laughingstock of the country. more

Looking at the current New York state government, you could almost forget that until recently it was an ineffective embarrassment, a decidedly non-functional democracy. more

With a formal announcement in the offing, Rockville Centre resident Jeffrey Friedman has been busy with fundraisers and financial statements, preparing a run for the State Assembly seat that Brian Curran, a Republican from Lynbrook, has held for the past two years more

Although not scheduled to return to Albany until the new year, members of the State Assembly and Senate were called back for a special session on Dec. 6 to vote on Governor Cuomo’s proposed economic plan. more

All South Side Middle School students attended the “Challenge to Choose Wisely” assembly on Sept. 7. The purpose of the presentation, in its second year, is to stress the importance of good decision making as well as the dangers of risky behavior. more

My last two columns, “As promised: keeping tabs” (June 30 – July 6) and “Is the bloom off the rose?” (July 21-27) provided information to evaluate the session-ending accomplishments of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Two fundamental questions were raised. Has there been a real transformation in addressing the way the “people’s business” is being managed in Albany? Do our political leaders really understand that the state of New York is still headed down a path of fiscal instability and requires levels of real reform hardly evident to date? more

Long Island employers got a bit of good news earlier this month when the State Senate passed a bill to repeal the MTA payroll tax — shortly after the MTA terminated its contract to operate Long … more

Merokean Michele Witte has fought for more than 13 years to pass a federal ban on drop-side cribs ever since her 10-month-old son, Tyler Jonathan, died in 1997 after his neck became trapped between the side-rail and headboard of his drop-side crib. more

The State Senate and Assembly passed legislation on June 17 to ensure that people with autism receive insurance coverage for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. more

Seventh-grade sports might have to be eliminated. The nine-period day might be reduced to eight. And teachers might have to be let go. After that, no one’s sure what might happen, but school districts will have to keep cutting. more