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

Friday, June 25, 2010  Gov. David Paterson's emergency spending bill released Friday would force the Legislature to cut aid to schools and other long-protected programs and to finally accept his efforts to cap local property taxes and free the public universities to set their tuition increases.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010  Starting July 1st, taxes on cigarettes in New York will go up by another $1.60 per pack.

Monday, June 21, 2010  New York's lawmakers, already bombarded with criticism over a state budget nearly three months late, missed another deadline Monday that may have cost thousands of state workers their paychecks on Wednesday.

Monday, June 14, 2010  New York's Legislature averted an unprecedented shutdown of state government Monday night, the latest scare in a 2-year-old fiscal crisis and with a state budget now more than 10 weeks overdue.

Friday, June 11, 2010  Gov. David Paterson on Friday called for $327 million in spending cuts in mental health and human services programs in his latest emergency spending bill, setting up a showdown with lawmakers Monday that could shut down state government.

Monday, June 07, 2010  State lawmakers have passed an unusual budget extender Monday night.