Latest local news, weather and sports for Syracuse and Central New York

Tuesday, May 14, 2013  New York Senate Republicans say Monday's murder conviction of a Philadelphia abortion doctor bolsters their opposition in Albany to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's abortion proposal.

Thursday, March 28, 2013  Less than two weeks after a Syracuse-area man was charged with killing a woman and raping a 10-year-old girl who was with her during a carjacking, the state Senate has voted to increase penalties for carjacking vehicles with a child inside.

Thursday, March 21, 2013  Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders say they have an agreement on a state budget that would include raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour over three years.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013  The state Senate's Independent Democratic Conference says the state budget will include five-figure tax credits to employers to hire recent veterans as a way to reduce the high unemployment rate of service members returning from combat.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013  The tax rebates would go to families with a household income of $40,000 to $300,000, with one or more children.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013  Cuomo says he's not open to changing the provision that requires no more the seven bullets in an ammunition magazine, down from 10 allowed before the law was enacted.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013  Cuomo has proposed three privately run casinos off Indian land to boost the upstate economy.

Sunday, January 06, 2013  Republican senators present plan, Gov. Cuomo indicates assault weapons ban needs to be included

Tuesday, December 04, 2012  Senate Republicans and the Independent Democratic Conference say they've struck a deal to take control of the Senate in an unprecedented power-sharing deal.

Thursday, June 14, 2012  New York Senate leader Dean Skelos says the Legislature is close to a deal on a law to require college coaches, professors and others to report sex abuse.

Thursday, June 07, 2012  New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says the governor's proposal to reduce the penalty for public possession of a small amount of marijuana won't pass his chamber.

Wednesday, April 04, 2012  A statewide poll finds New Yorkers think the secrecy and closed-door deals that led to last week state's budget approval are unnecessary and a serious problem.

Friday, March 30, 2012  New York's Senate and Assembly are poised to vote on final budget bills and close the second straight budget on time.

Monday, March 12, 2012  The top Republican in the Senate and an official familiar with the Assembly's plans say lawmakers will try to shift $200 million from an incentive program back to traditional school aid when they release budget resolutions Monday.

Friday, March 09, 2012  The Senate's Republican leader and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo are on the brink of breaking campaign promises they made two years ago to overhaul legislative redistricting so that new boundaries are drawn without partisan gerrymandering, a former New York City mayor turned good-government activist said Thursday.