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How a Fee To Fight Insurance Fraud Became a Cash Cow for Police

Critics say the $10 annual fees state drivers pay to fight car insurance theft and fraud aren’t being used as intended.

Chris Bragg   ·   March 11, 2026
Landlord That Won Big in Cuomo’s Penn Station Plan Makes a Comeback Under Trump

Vornado Realty Trust has a stake in Halmar’s proposal to rebuild the Manhattan rail hub.

Nick Garber   ·   February 2, 2026
Covering the 2026 State of the State

Here’s what our reporters will be watching for during Governor Kathy Hochul’s agenda-setting address that will kick off state budget negotiations.

New York Focus   ·   January 12, 2026
Here’s Every Bill That Kathy Hochul Vetoed in 2025

One hundred and forty laws that almost were.

New York Focus   ·   December 23, 2025
A photo collage of Zohran Mamdani in front of a roof with solar panels on it; a cityscape in the background.
What Zohran Mamdani’s Win Means for Climate Politics

The mayor-elect’s approach reflects a view that is going mainstream: To succeed, climate policies may need to lose the label.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   November 5, 2025
A collage of Hochul and the route 17 highway
Hochul Hits Pause on Hudson Valley Highway Expansion

Reporting from New York Focus last year found that the project would save drivers six minutes max, at a cost of $1.3 billion.

Sam Mellins   ·   October 14, 2025
Photo collage of a desk with a notepad and voice recorder in a newsroom.
Covering Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State

Our team will be descending upon Albany on Tuesday. Here’s what they’ll be watching.

New York Focus   ·   January 13, 2025
Photograph of Sam Mellins in front of a photo of Route 17 in New York, showing signs to Scranton and Syracuse.
New York’s Secret Senate, Highway Love, and Political Machines: 2024 in Review

New York Focus reporter Sam Mellins reflects on what he learned this year, and teases what lies ahead for 2025.

Sam Mellins   ·   December 23, 2024
Governors Kathy Hochul and Josh Shapiro spliced together
Josh Shapiro Is Using Highway Money to Save Mass Transit. Could Hochul Follow?

New York has a little-noticed tool to shift billions of highway dollars to climate-friendly public transit projects. The governor doesn’t seem interested.

Sam Mellins   ·   December 9, 2024
Kathy Hochul in front of a map of New York Route 17.
A $1.3 Billion Project That Would Save Drivers Six Minutes Max

As the state’s plans to get New Yorkers out of their cars stall, Governor Hochul is championing a highway expansion in the Hudson Valley.

Sam Mellins   ·   September 24, 2024
The image depicts a traffic jam in New York City, with a cluster of yellow taxi cabs at the front.
New Yorkers Are Driving More, Even as Climate Plan Hinges on Driving Less

From New York City to Buffalo, people are driving a lot more than they did before the pandemic.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   September 17, 2024
Donald Trump walking
Trump Plans to Kill Congestion Pricing. Hochul’s Pause Could Let Him.

There are at least three ways a Trump administration could try to stop the transit-funding toll.

Sam Mellins   ·   August 26, 2024
Hochul at a podium
Hochul Punts on How to Reduce Traffic and Pollution in NYC

Hochul says she’s working with the legislature to replace congestion pricing, but key legislators say they aren’t aware of any conversations.

Sam Mellins   ·   August 9, 2024
A Long Island Rail Road conductor standing inside a train gestures with his hand.
Why Did the MTA’s Union Turn Against Congestion Pricing?

Before Kathy Hochul paused it, the tolling program lost the little labor support it had when the Transport Workers Union withdrew its backing this spring.

Julia Rock   ·   July 26, 2024
An electric MTA bus is charging at an electric charging port.
New York Idles on Green Transportation Plan

As the state has backpedaled on congestion pricing, it has made no progress on nearly half of its other transit-related climate goals.

Colin Kinniburgh   ·   July 15, 2024
Where Do Top New York Politicians Stand on Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Pause?

Some of the state’s top Democrats slammed the governor, while others supported the pause or stayed mum. Republicans want congestion pricing killed altogether.

Sam Mellins   ·   July 2, 2024
Governor Kathy Hochul at an event
Hochul Waves Away Questions on Congestion Pricing Replacement

After the governor declined to answer questions, a New York Focus reporter was ejected from her event.

Sam Mellins   ·   June 24, 2024
MTA workers in a tunnel
Does Anyone Have a Backup Plan to Fund the MTA?

We asked 26 lawmakers who support the congestion pricing pause how they propose to fund transit upgrades. Most shrugged.

Sam Mellins   ·   June 21, 2024
Traffic on a Manhattan street
Hochul Halts Congestion Pricing as Manhattan Traffic Reaches Record High

The constant gridlock is a major drag on Manhattan’s businesses, and source of frustration for commuters. And it’s never been so bad.

Sam Mellins and Colin Kinniburgh   ·   June 12, 2024
A blurred Kathy Hochul
Hochul in Hiding as Congestion Pricing Hangs by a Thread

Since announcing her plan to put the program on ice, the governor has not appeared in public.

Sam Mellins   ·   June 7, 2024
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