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Articles by Michael Prentice
Empire State Weekly: Midterms see Democrats win big
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The 2026 midterm elections saw a swell of support for Democrats both nationally and in New York. Democrats once again hold supermajorities in the State Senate and the Assembly, in addition to the governor’s office. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican who represents the 19th District and serves as the minority leader in the Assembly, spoke on the shift in state politics.
Empire State Weekly: Midterms see Democrats win big
ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The 2026 midterm elections saw a swell of support for Democrats both nationally and in New York. Democrats once again hold supermajorities in the State Senate and the Assembly, in addition to the governor's office. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican who represents the 19th District and serves as the minority leader in the Assembly, spoke on the shift in state politics.
Empire State Weekly: Midterms see Democrats win big Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The 2026 midterm elections saw a swell of support for Democrats both nationally and in New York. Democrats once again hold supermajorities in the State Senate and the Assembly, in addition to the governor’s office. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican who represents the 19th District and serves as the minority leader in the Assembly, spoke on the shift in state politics.
Empire State Weekly: 2026 midterms see high early voting
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — In the days leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, voters across New York cast ballots ahead of time. Prior to this year’s Election Day on November 3, over one million voters participated in early voting. This week on Empire State Weekly, Kathleen McGrath, Director of Public Information at the State Board of Elections, gave some insight into early voting numbers. She discussed the reasons why voters may have turned out for the most submitted early votes since 2022.
Empire State Weekly: 2026 midterms see high early voting Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — In the days leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, voters across New York cast ballots ahead of time. Prior to this year’s Election Day on November 3, over one million voters participated in early voting. This week on Empire State Weekly, Kathleen McGrath, Director of Public Information at the State Board of Elections, gave some insight into early voting numbers. She discussed the reasons why voters may have turned out for the most submitted early votes since 2022.
Empire State Weekly: Midterm elections could influence balance of power Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, Democrats, both in New York and nationally, continue their push to flip key seats in Congress in order to shift the balance of power. This week on Empire State Weekly, Keshia Clukey, a capitol reporter with newsday.com, explained the races that are affected by this power struggle. Democrats have made a strong push to win a supermajority by flipping traditionally red counties or districts.
Empire State Weekly: Debate reveals challenges in governor’s race
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The candidates in New York’s 2026 gubernatorial election took to the stage on Tuesday for their first and only debate before Election Day. Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul traded barbs with Republican challenger and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. This week on Empire State Weekly, Morgan Hook, a partner at Bluejacket Strategies, analyzed how both candidates performed in the debate.
Empire State Weekly: Debate reveals challenges in governor’s race
by: Michael Prentice Posted: Oct 17, 2026 / 10:28 AM EDT Updated: Oct 17, 2026 / 10:28 AM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The candidates in New York’s 2026 gubernatorial election took to the stage on Tuesday for their first and only debate before Election Day. Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul traded barbs with Republican challenger and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Empire State Weekly: Debate reveals challenges in governor’s race Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The candidates in New York’s 2026 gubernatorial election took to the stage on Tuesday for their first and only debate before Election Day. Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul traded barbs with Republican challenger and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. This week on Empire State Weekly, Morgan Hook, a partner at Bluejacket Strategies, analyzed how both candidates performed in the debate.
Empire State Weekly: Sexual assault laws under review amid Cornell rape case
by: Michael Prentice Posted: Oct 3, 2026 / 08:40 AM EDT Updated: Oct 3, 2026 / 08:40 AM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A case of alleged gang rape at Cornell University has brought New York’s sexual assault laws into the spotlight. A former female Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against both the university and the seven men who are accused of attacking her.
Empire State Weekly: Sexual assault laws under review amid Cornell rape case Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A case of alleged gang rape at Cornell University has brought New York’s sexual assault laws into the spotlight. A former female Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against both the university and the seven men who are accused of attacking her.
Empire State Weekly: Reaction to regents changes
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Board of Regents announced a major shift in how public schools across the state operate. The board removed the requirement for students to pass the regents exam in order to graduate. This week on Empire State Weekly, David Albert, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the New York State School Boards Association, explained his support of the change. The new requirements will impact students who graduate in 2028 and beyond.
Empire State Weekly: Reaction to regents changes Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Board of Regents announced a major shift in how public schools across the state operate. The board removed the requirement for students to pass the regents exam in order to graduate. This week on Empire State Weekly, David Albert, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the New York State School Boards Association, explained his support of the change. The new requirements will impact students who graduate in 2028 and beyond.
Empire State Weekly: Resources available 25 years after 9/11
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Friday, New York and the nation marked 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks carried out by Al Qaeda terrorists that killed nearly 3,000 people. Observances mourned the lives lost, and education efforts that work to help younger generations understand the event. This week on Empire State Weekly, Rob Cannata, a lawyer with Cannata, Hendele & Cannata, discussed the federal resources available for victims.
Empire State Weekly: Seneca Nation reacts to Lake America name change Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America drew strong reactions and voiced resistance by several groups, including the Seneca Nation. This week on Empire State Weekly, J Conrad Seneca, President of the Seneca Nation, explained his opposition to the name change. He said that the renaming order violates an 18th century treaty between the two nations. He also detailed what he sees as a trend of actions against first nations peoples.
Great summary of the benefits of Angular when using AI tooling to generate code.
Great summary of the benefits of Angular when using AI tooling to generate code.
Empire State Weekly: Opioid settlement funding explained
by: Michael Prentice Posted: Aug 22, 2026 / 08:07 AM EDT Updated: Aug 22, 2026 / 08:07 AM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — According to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), New York has been awarded billions of dollars from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors, as the state brought legal action various companies for their part in the opioid epidemic.
Empire State Weekly: Opioid settlement funding explained Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — According to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), New York has been awarded billions of dollars from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors, as the state brought legal action various companies for their part in the opioid epidemic. This week on Empire State Weekly, Doctor Chinazo Cunningham, the Commissioner for OASAS, explained how opioid settlement funds are distributed.
Empire State Weekly: Correction system update Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s prison system received an update from the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs on the ongoing deployment of thousands of troops to state prisons. This week on Empire State Weekly, Brian Stanley, the Manager of Court Advocacy and Outreach for Avenues for Justice reacted to the continued presence of National Guard troops in state prisons. He said it has contributed to an “us-versus-them” mentality between guards and incarcerated individuals.
Empire State Weekly: Debate continues over medical aid in dying
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Medical aid in dying took effect on August 5 after being passed in the legislative session. The measure had been debated for years and allows certain terminally ill patients the ability to request medication to end their own lives. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican who represents the 19th District and is the minority leader, spoke on the measure. He argued medical aid in dying takes focus away from other end of life care.
Empire State Weekly: Framework for new data centers takes shape
ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — Lawmakers have made progress in developing a regulatory framework for new data centers, the large scale sites that power online artificial intelligence models. The framework took shape as the state remained under a one year moratorium on data center construction. This week on Empire State Weekly, Jackie Bray, Director of State Operations with the Executive Chamber, gave insight into the development of data center regulations.
Empire State Weekly: Framework for new data centers takes shape Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Lawmakers have made progress in developing a regulatory framework for new data centers, the large scale sites that power online artificial intelligence models. The framework took shape as the state remained under a one year moratorium on data center construction. This week on Empire State Weekly, Jackie Bray, Director of State Operations with the Executive Chamber, gave insight into the development of data center regulations.
Empire State Weekly: State in court over ICE Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York became embroiled in a legal battle with the federal government over immigration regulations. New York sued the Department of Justice, in response to their suit against the state over recently signed ICE restriction measures. This week on Empire State Weekly, Cianna Freeman-Tolbert, an immigration lawyer with Whitman Osterman & Hanna explained the circumstances surrounding the lawsuits.
Empire State Weekly: Data center moratorium to impact AI in NY
by: Michael Prentice Posted: Jul 18, 2026 / 08:02 AM EDT Updated: Jul 18, 2026 / 08:02 AM EDT ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a moratorium which paused construction on new large scale data centers for at least a year. The pause will give lawmakers time to create policy to mitigate the impact of data centers on New York’s environment and electric grid.
Empire State Weekly: Data center moratorium to impact AI in NY Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a moratorium which paused construction on new large scale data centers for at least a year. The pause will give lawmakers time to create policy to mitigate the impact of data centers on New York’s environment and electric grid. This week on Empire State Weekly, John Olsen, Senior Vice President of Statewide Public Affairs, discussed the impact the moratorium will have on the growing AI industry in New York.
Empire State Weekly: Prediction market regulations
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Prediction markets saw another challenge in New York as the website Kalshi recently appealed a decision from a federal judge allowing the state to enforce gambling laws on the site. This week on Empire State Weekly, gambling industry consultant and commentator Steve Ruddock explained the regulations surrounding prediction markets.
Empire State Weekly: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. They determined that any person born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status. This week on Empire State Weekly, Murad Awawdeh, President of the New York Immigration Coalition, gave insight into the impact the ruling had on the state’s immigrant population.
Empire State Weekly: Democratic Socialists review primary wins
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A key question heading into the 2026 primaries was the power of endorsements—specifically, whether backing from New York City Mayor Zorhan Mamdani and President Donald Trump would translate to victory. With candidates endorsed by both leaders securing wins, the answer seems settled. This week on Empire State Weekly, Megan Romer, the co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, spoke about the victories of Democratic Socialist candidates in several New York City races.
Empire State Weekly: Discussing primary election impacts
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s primary elections are drawing national attention as candidates make their final push for party nominations. Many are already looking ahead to the November midterms, where these races could shift the balance of power in Congress. This week on Empire State Weekly, David Lombardo, host of WCNY’s “The Capitol Pressroom,” speculated on the weight of political endorsements.
Empire State Weekly: Discussing primary election impacts Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s primary elections are drawing national attention as candidates make their final push for party nominations. Many are already looking ahead to the November midterms, where these races could shift the balance of power in Congress. This week on Empire State Weekly, David Lombardo, host of WCNY’s “The Capitol Pressroom,” speculated on the weight of political endorsements.
Empire State Weekly: 2026 legislative session lookback Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The 2026 session ended with a standard mix of legislation both passing and failing in the period’s final days. Some high profile items that saw progress included limiting federal immigration cooperation, and limiting some new construction. Morgan Hook, a partner at Bluejacket Strategies, looked back at the major items that passed during the session. He pointed out that unlike in previous years, environmental reforms did not see major progress.
Empire State Weekly: Corrections system still without solutions
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The corrections system in New York State faced many challenges following a “wildcat,” or illegal, workers’ strike that happened early in 2025. Corrections officers had protested unsafe working conditions and mandatory overtime, an event that ultimately ended with two thousand employees laid off. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator Dan Stec, a Republican who represents the 45th district, spoke about what he saw as a lack of progress in addressing these issues.
Empire State Weekly: Pushback against nuclear energy Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Legislation advanced in the New York State Senate that would put a moratorium on new nuclear projects for two years. The NYS Ratepayer Protection Nuclear Moratorium Act pushes back against plans to further develop nuclear energy. This week on Empire State Weekly, Anne Rabe with the Alliance for Nuclear-Free NY explained why her organization supports the pause on new nuclear energy use.
Empire State Weekly: Lawmaker explains budget frustration
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed “We got it done,” as she announced a budget deal this week for the late 2027 fiscal year’s state budget. The same day, lawmakers on both sides of the isle pushed back on the budget process and said work was not yet finished. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator Pat Fahy, a Democrat who represents the 46th Senate District, discussed her frustration with the budget process. She detailed why she believed the budget was delayed.
Empire State Weekly: Lawmaker explains budget frustration
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed “We got it done,” as she announced a budget deal this week for the late 2027 fiscal year’s state budget. The same day, lawmakers on both sides of the isle pushed back on the budget process and said work was not yet finished. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator Pat Fahy, a Democrat who represents the 46th Senate District, discussed her frustration with the budget process. She detailed why she believed the budget was delayed.
Empire State Weekly: Lawmaker explains budget frustration
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed “We got it done,” as she announced a budget deal this week for the late 2027 fiscal year’s state budget. The same day, lawmakers on both sides of the isle pushed back on the budget process and said work was not yet finished. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator Pat Fahy, a Democrat who represents the 46th Senate District, discussed her frustration with the budget process. She detailed why she believed the budget was delayed.
Empire State Weekly: Budget process favors Governor’s power Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Members of the New York State Assembly bemoaned the slow progress on the budget for the 2027 fiscal year. The comments come as lawmakers passed a sixth budget extender, roughly four weeks after the budget’s original April 1 deadline. This week on Empire State Weekly, Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University detailed why New York often faces delayed budgets.
Empire State Weekly: Long road until budget negotiations end Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Lawmakers failed to complete a budget agreement for the 2027 fiscal year by the April 1 deadline. The legislature passed a budget extender on Wednesday to keep state employees paid until April 7 as budget negotiations continue. This week on Empire State Weekly, Dan Clark, a Capital Region political expert and reporter with the Times Union, broke down the key issues that caused the budget to be late.
Empire State Weekly: Cannabis regulator speaks on product safety Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s legal adult-use cannabis industry is seeing a significant shift in consumer safety as the state’s “Seed to Sale” program implements rigorous new product requirements for dispensaries. This week on Empire State Weekly, Lyla Hunt, the Deputy Director of Public Health and Safety at the Office of Cannabis Management, outlined the specific steps the state is taking to protect consumers.
Empire State Weekly: Minority Leader discusses budget issues Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The state budget for fiscal year 2027 continued to take shape after the “One House” budget presentations. Lawmakers began closed door meetings in late March with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration looking to come to a consensus ahead of the April 1 deadline. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assembly Minority leader Ed Ra, a Republican who represents the 19th Assembly District, gave a snapshot of where the budget process was as the deadline remained on the horizon.
Empire State Weekly: One house proposals continue budget process
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The New York State Senate and Assembly adopted their “one-house” budgets for the 2027 fiscal year. The proposals act as a rebuttal to the governor’s executive budget, and set the stage for ongoing negotiations. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator James Skoufis, a Democrat who represents the 42nd Senate District, explained the key items in the Senate’s $269.8 billion agenda.
Empire State Weekly: Corrections system still in need of support Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s prison system continues to face staffing challenges, even a year after the February 2025 “wildcat” strike ended. Corrections Officers protested over unsafe working conditions and mandatory overtime. This week on Empire State Weekly, Chris Summers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), described the state of the corrections system as tenuous.
Empire State Weekly: Lawmaker pushes for transparency in utility prices Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Utility prices are under increased scrutiny as state residents report rising bills. These costs have caught the attention of both citizens and lawmakers, the latter of whom have proposed several regulations to lessen the impact of the price hikes. This week on Empire State Weekly, Assemblyman Phil Steck, a Democrat representing the 110th Assembly District, explained the changes he wants to see within the state’s energy system.
Empire State Weekly: Election reforms ahead of midterms Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — At the start of the New York legislative session, some lawmakers already had their eyes on the 2026 midterm elections. Several pieces of legislation advanced in the State Senate aimed at increasing election safety. Download our WTEN+ streaming app on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV! This week on Empire State Weekly, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who represents the 59th District, supported the legislation in her role as chair of the Senate Elections Committee.
Empire State Weekly: Lawmakers propose anti-ICE legislation
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York lawmakers from both political parties have introduced legislation aimed at mitigating the impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns in the state. This week on Empire State Weekly, State Senator Jake Ashby—a Republican representing the 43rd Senate District—discussed a bill he introduced to limit ICE enforcement in civil cases. The legislation would bar ICE agents from entering childcare facilities, hospitals, and places of worship.
Empire State Weekly: Budget process highlights tension between NYC and Albany Original
Posted: Jan 30, 2026 / 03:09 PM EST Updated: Jan 30, 2026 / 03:12 PM EST SHARE ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — When Gov. Hochul announced her $260 billion spending plan for the 2027 fiscal year, it kicked off the routine budget process in the state. The budget faces several deadlines throughout the timeline toward completion. This week on Empire State Weekly, David Lombardo, host of WCNY’s The Capitol Pressroom, explained some of the key items that might cause debates during the budget process.
Empire State Weekly: Budget Director breaks down Governor’s budget proposal
by: Michael Prentice Posted: Jan 24, 2026 / 09:42 AM EST Updated: Jan 24, 2026 / 09:42 AM EST ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Hochul delivered her executive budget presentation for fiscal year 2027. The proposed budget was $260 billion dollars, a six billion dollar increase over the 2026 budget. This week on Empire State Weekly, Blake Washington, the State Budget Director discussed the key items in the governor’s executive budget proposal.
Empire State Weekly: Budget Director breaks down Governor’s budget proposal Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Hochul delivered her executive budget presentation for fiscal year 2027. The proposed budget was $260 billion dollars, a six billion dollar increase over the 2026 budget. This week on Empire State Weekly, Blake Washington, the state Budget Director, discussed the key items in the governor’s executive budget proposal. He explained how the money for education spending would be distributed.
Empire State Weekly: New session marks start of budget process Original
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — This week on Empire State Weekly, lawmakers returned to the State Capitol for the start of the 2026 legislative session. The State Senate and Assembly communicated their priorities to residents ahead as the state budget process started. Assemblywoman Gabriella Romero, a democrat representing the 109th Assembly District, explained her focus at the start of the session.
Experts react to impacts of budget policy items
ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) — Lawmakers in Albany have agreed on a framework for the 2026 state budget that has been delayed by over a month. The budget bills will be printed and voted on, which will mark the end of the budget process. This week on Empire State Weekly, one of the items included in the budget that caused debate and delay were the proposed changes to discovery law.
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