Committee Set Up to Find Next MTA Boss

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- A search committee has been set up to assist with recommending and evaluating candidates for the next chairman and CEO of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The MTA Search Advisory Committee comprises a group of transportation experts and management professionals, and is charged with the task of conducting a national and international search to find the MTA's new boss, Governor Cuomo announced Monday.

"I am committed to appointing a new chairman who will put straphangers first and who will continue to reform the MTA by reducing costs and waste, while improving efficiency and service," Cuomo said in a statement.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Mixed Results for Statewide Standardized Tests

(SYRACUSE, N.Y.) -- The New York State Education Department released a report Monday detailing statewide standardized test results. Nearly half of the results did not meet the standard on English tests.

The percentage of students who passed the English test went down from 53.2 percent in 2010 to 52.8 percent. By contrast, math scores statewide improved from 61 to 63.3 percent.

Of urban districts, Rochester and Syracuse were the lowest in the state for math and English results.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

New York Tops Most Entrepreneurial State List

(NEW YORK) -- New York State topped a list of the most entrepreneurial states.

The State Entrepreneurial Index, created by analysts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, uses growth, GDP, the number of patents per capita, and the number of proprietorships and partnerships.

Below New York was Washington in second place and Massachusetts in third place.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Former Gov. Hugh Carey Dies at Age 92

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Former New York Gov. Hugh Carey, who is credited with saving the state from financial crisis during his tenure, died on Sunday at his summer home on Shelter Island, N.Y. He was 92.

Gov. Carey served from 1975 to 1982 at a time when New York City faced bankruptcy. The Democratic governor took over running the city's finances and secured federal loans that helped restore stability to the city.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the late governor an American success story. "Declaring that the days of wine and roses were over, Governor Carey looked to statesmanship and compromise, rather than partisanship or parochialism, to get the state's fiscal house in order."

Hugh L. Carey was born on April 11, 1919 in Brooklyn to Irish immigrants. He joined the National Guard in 1939 and fought in World War II. He married wife Helen in 1947 and together they had 14 children. Carey served seven terms as a U.S. congressman before a failed run for New York Mayor in 1969.

"Upon leaving office, it was written that Governor Carey was a 'Governor for hard winters.' It was true. He was tough, he was smart, and he was the person our state needed to see us through crisis," said Gov. Cuomo

Gov. Carey is survived by 11 children, 25 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

New York Refunding Fishing License Fees

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Individuals who purchased a saltwater fishing license in New York State are now due for a refund, as the 2011-2012 state budget has eliminated the licensing fee.

Federal law requires that a license must be obtained by all individuals wishing to fish in marine waters, and New York initially sought to meet this requirement by adopting the Recreational Marine Fishing License program, which required paying for a license. However, with the budget's creation of a no-fee registration program, anglers and charter boat operators who purchased a license will now be refunded their money by the Department of Environmental Conservation, officials say.

"The federal government required that we help manage a wide variety of species in coastal waters, but it was unfair to ask New Yorkers to pay for it," Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Fair is fair -- if you bought a license or paid a charter boat fee for this year before our new free registry was in place, you will get your money back."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

New York Troopers to Crack Down on Drivers During "Speed Week"

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York State Police will be paying extra attention to leadfooted motorists next week with its "Speed Week" campaign set for Aug. 8 through Aug. 14.

According to police, the highest number of speed-related deaths occur in August. Troopers will be cracking down on speeding as well as any other traffic violations.

The initiative coincides with NASCAR's race at Watkins Glen on Aug. 14.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Port Authority Demands $150 Million from Sept. 11 Memorial

(NEW YORK) -- Time is running out for the completion of the National Sep. 11th Memorial, slated to open 10 years after the 2001 attacks, and there are still payments -- and disagreements -- to be settled.

The New York Daily News reports the Port Authority is demanding that the memorial owes $150 million to cover construction costs at Ground Zero -- a sum that the memorial denies responsibility for paying, as the shared infrastructure work benefits other operations, too.

The Port Authority’s hefty tab is attributed to underground infrastructure projects that the memorial site shares with the Freedom Tower, transportation hub, three planned office towers and the PATH and No. 1 trains.

While there are reports the issue may not be resolved until 2012, both parties agree that the dispute will not delay or hinder the opening of the memorial.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Governor Signs 'Power NY Act'

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- A new law aimed at increasing investments in power facilities across New York was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday.

The Power NY Act of 2011 calls for investments in clean power plants statewide and also creates the nation's first "on-bill" recovery program, which encourages businesses and homeowners to be more energy efficient under the "Green Jobs/Green New York" program.

"This law will lead to new investment and create tens of thousands of jobs across the state," Cuomo said in a statement. "The act gives community members a voice in the siting process and will maintain New York's position as a leader in environmental protection."
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Poll Reveals New Yorkers More Hopeful about the State's Future

(NEW YORK) -- New Yorkers are feeling more optimistic about their state’s future, according to an NY1/YNN-Marist poll released Tuesday.

The New York Daily News reports that 46 percent of Empire State residents believe the state is charting the right course, as opposed to 45 percent who disagree.

This more hopeful attitude is a shift from May when 54 percent of New Yorkers shared negative outlooks toward the state’s future, while 45 percent were more optimistic.

The recent sunnier outlook may be attributed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s high approval ratings: 67 percent of state residents polled reported having a favorable view of him; just 23 percent took the opposite view.

While New Yorkers as a whole seem to responding well to statewide changes like the legalization of same-sex marriage, a new ethics reform bill and the development of a property tax cap, New York City residents are not as impressed.

Forty-four percent of Big Apple residents believe the state is on the right track -- down 11 percent from last month.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gillibrand Supports Increased Funding for COPS

(WASHINGTON) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced on Wednesday that she is co-sponsoring legislation to increase funding to local enforcement agencies.

The Community Oriented Policing Services Act (COPS) was established in 1994 as part of the U.S. Department of Justice, in an effort to solve public safety issues through the use of community partners.

The new legislation would establish an office that will authorize $900 million a year for six years for programs to combat crime in schools,  including drug and gang-related activities throughout the nation.

New York State received $10.5 million in 2010 from COPS.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio