NY Receives Waiver for No Child Left Behind Act

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York was among seven other states who were granted a waiver Tuesday for the No Child Left Behind act that requires proficiency in state math and English exams by 2014, the New York Times reports.

The waiver allows the state freedom from requirements that were “unproductive or unrealistic,” New York state education commissioner, John B. King, said.

The federal government has waived 19 states from the law in 2012.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Cuomo Approval Rating Soars, Poll Says

(NEW YORK) -- A poll released Wednesday morning shows that Gov. Cuomo's approval ratings are at 71 percent, the highest approval rating of any governor in the seven states surveyed by the Quinnipiac University poll, The Albany Times Union reports.

The poll showed that a mere 16 percent did not approve of Cuomo's tenure, and he earned the highest score since Republican George Pataki hit an 81-12 percent approval rating following 9/11. Since Cuomo took office 17 months ago, his ratings have not dropped below 60 percent.

The poll also revealed that 79 percent of the 1,504 New Yorkers surveyed--including a majority of self-identified Republicans--supported raising the minimum wage, the paper says.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

State to Pass Legislation to Curb Telemarketers

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached to pass legislation aimed at better protecting residents across the state from intrusive tactics by telemarketers.

The new legislation bans telemarketers conducting business in New York from delivering pre-recorded messages over the phone to customers, without express consent from the recipient.

A release from the governor's office also stated that the legislation gives the Department of State the authority to ban telemarketing companies that violate New York’s telemarketing laws from doing business in the state.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Smoking Restrictions Lifted Across NY

(ALBANY, N.Y.) -- Public smoking restrictions are temporarily lifted across New York State, the Cuomo administration announced Tuesday.

Restrictions on smoking in parks, pools, beaches and historic sites were suspended after a smokers group announced their opposition for the bans, saying that the administration failed to consider opposing views.

The smoking prohibitions will be voluntary for at least two months while the administration works to revise the bans and to offer the public a chance to properly express their opinions, according to published reports.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Volunteers Help in Search of Missing Westchester Boy

(RYE, N.Y.) -- A 15-year-old Westchester County (N.Y.) high school student has been missing since Friday, and hundreds of volunteers are helping the boy's frantic parents search for him.

Pierce Crowley, a freshman at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, N.Y., was last seen in the White Plains area, according to LoHud.com.  The site also reported that Crowley's parents said their son was "in a fragile state" when he went missing.

Volunteers have help put up fliers with Crowley's picture in New York City, Westchester, and Connecticut.  Crowley stands 5'10", weights about 150 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio