Karen DeWitt
Capitol Bureau chiefKaren DeWitt is Capitol Bureau chief for the New York Public News Network, composed of a dozen newsrooms across the state. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.
She is also a regular contributor to the statewide public television program about New York State government, New York Now. She appears on the reporter’s roundtable segment, and interviews newsmakers.
Karen previously worked for WINS Radio, New York, and has written for numerous publications, including Adirondack Life and the Albany newsweekly Metroland.
She is a past recipient of the prestigious Walter T. Brown Memorial award for excellence in journalism, from the Legislative Correspondents Association, and was named Media Person of the Year for 2009 by the Women’s Press Club of New York State.
Karen is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo.
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The legislature approved one budget bill, to authorize the state to continue paying its debts, and adjourned until next Tuesday, April 2, one day after the budget is due.
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A bill that would extend New York state’s ban on natural gas fracking is heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk after the State Legislature acted recently to prohibit using liquid carbon dioxide to extract the gas from shale rock. It’s one of a number of measures that lawmakers are considering to combat climate change.
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The upcoming solar eclipse, which is occurring in two weeks, will be fully visible in 29 counties in western and northern New York and at least 88% visible in the rest of the state.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul this week took charge of New York’s troubled recreational cannabis rollout, appointing one of her top commissioners to temporarily oversee the process.
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While birth control medicines remain legal in the U.S., some states are placing restrictions on obtaining the pills or contraceptive devices. Gov. Kathy Hochul says in New York, there will be full access.
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New York legislators are beginning what they hope is the final stretch to accord on a state budget before it’s due at the end of the month.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to raise criminal penalties for anyone who assaults a store employee. Democrats in the Legislature say they'd rather focus more closely on repeat offenders.
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Some state lawmakers want to take health insurance companies out of the business of providing home health care. They say it’s a failed experiment that’s costing the state too much money that could better go to directly paying for that care.
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The Assembly and Senate want to restore Gov. Kathy Hochul's reductions to school aid, embark on an ambitious affordable housing program, and raise taxes on the rich.
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The proposal is part of the Senate's one house budget plan, which lawmakers will use as a basis of negotiating a final budget with Gov. Kathy Hochul.