ReportWire

Tag: Budget

  • LA’s chief financial officer says the city has big financial problems

    LA’s chief financial officer says the city has big financial problems

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    LOS ANGELES – The City is under going an audit of finances and spending on Mayor Karen Bass and the city’s Inside Safe program after the LA Alliance for Human Rights and a federal judge expressed frustration over the management of funds to tackle homelessness through that and other services programs.

    LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia however, is raising alarms over what he says is a serious budget deficit that is creating greater financial issues for the City. “It’s fair to say that the city of L.A. should be worried about our financial health. It’s not looking good and the people of Los Angeles will suffer based on decisions that City Hall makes,” Mejia told KABC 7.

    According to Mejia, Los Angeles has a projected budget deficit of $476 million dollars, which is made up of $289 million in overspending and $187 million in less than expected revenues. The overspending occurred in three departments: police and fire – mainly because of staffing issues and overtime – and in liability claims.

    “We’re not in a recession. This is not COVID. This is a budget deficit that we made here in City Hall,” said Mejia.

    The City Controller in a statement when his office released the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in January said: “It is my responsibility to report the bad news: this year the City is spending well beyond our actual revenues. Projected deficits for years to come will force wrenching choices that threaten the vital services Angelenos rely on. This is not the result of a sudden economic downturn, but the culmination of years of short-term budget balancing at the cost of long-term fiscal sustainability.”

    Mejia also pointed out that “despite widespread staff vacancies, General Fund departmental spending actually exceeded last year’s adopted budget by nearly $200 million. Had the vacancy rate been closer to normal, the budget would have been in the red.

    As our Office has consistently pointed out, citywide deferred maintenance of vital infrastructure requires urgent attention. Last year’s underspending of $316 million in budgeted capital expenditures underscores that the City continues to fall behind – which means even higher costs in the long run.

    Again, as we have warned, current staff shortages and long-term underinvestment in the training, technology, equipment and facilities for our workforce hobbles productivity and shortchanges our residents. The homelessness crisis and the reality of a changing climate put even further strain on City resources.”

    Mejia told KABC 7 he’s against eliminating 2,000 vacant positions to save money.

    “It’s not like these positions have been vacant for many years. They haven’t. All these departments have been trying to fill these positions. A few months ago, we were talking about ‘We need to fill these vacant positions. Come on, join the city.’ And now, we’re like ‘Oh wait. We need to hold back because we’re overspending on police, liability claims, on fire.’ Now, we have to cut other positions in other departments in order to cover that overspending,” said Mejia.

    He also warned that without a long-term approach to “putting our fiscal house in order, short-term decisions will doom Los Angeles to an inexorable decline in public services, undermining our quality of life and the economic prospects of our residents.”

    In a statement provided to KABC 7 and the Blade, the mayor’s office said they remain “focused on the work that has resulted in thousands more Angelenos coming inside last year than the previous year, a record number of LAPD applications, and finalizing a budget in partnership with our city department heads that will be balanced and protect services for Angelenos.”

    The deadline for Mayor Bass to release her budget for next year is April 22.

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    Brody Levesque

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  • My Favorite 30-Minute Dinner Is Guaranteed to Make You Fall in Love with SPAM

    My Favorite 30-Minute Dinner Is Guaranteed to Make You Fall in Love with SPAM

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    James ParkVideo Producer

    James Park is a food content creator, food personality, and social media strategist based in Brooklyn. He was professionally trained at the International Culinary Center. He loves to share his love and passion for Korean cuisine and culture, fried chicken, and all things noodles. He’s currently working on his debut cookbook that’s all about chile crisp.

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    James Park

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  • NYS lawmakers continue to work on 2025 state budget

    NYS lawmakers continue to work on 2025 state budget

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    ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — As the original deadline has passed, New York State lawmakers continue to work on a 2025 state budget. The budget was originally due on April 1, but an extender was put in place through April 4.

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Tuesday he believes both the state senate and assembly are close to approving a state budget. He said they are close on several factors, including Medicaid, housing and education.

    Other issues being discussed include AI and closing down illegal pot shops.

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    Courtney Ward

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  • Disability justice groups demand more resources in Detroit’s budget

    Disability justice groups demand more resources in Detroit’s budget

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    Two influential disability justice groups have joined forces to launch a campaign calling for “substantial increases” in funding for people with disabilities in Detroit.

    The objective of Fund Disabled Detroiters is to persuade Mayor Mike Duggan’s administration and Detroit City Council to devote more resources for people with disabilities.

    Detroit Disability Power and Warrior on Wheels are leading the campaign, which runs through April.

    A disproportionate number of Detroiters live with disabilities. According to the 2020 American Community Survey, more than 128,000 Detroiters — or one out of five residents — have at least one disability. By contrast, roughly one out of seven Michigan residents live with disabilities.

    “Disability is not a niche issue; it’s a universal concern that can affect anyone at any time,” Lawrence Franklin III, lead organizer with Warriors on Wheels, said in a statement Monday. “By prioritizing disability funding, we’re investing in a Detroit where everyone thrives.”

    The campaign is running now because the Detroit City Council is beginning to explore Duggan’s annual budget proposal, which goes into effect on July 1.

    In previous years, Detroit Disability Power led a campaign to increase the budget of the Office of Disability Affairs to $1.4 million annually. This year’s campaign is different because it’s taking a more comprehensive approach, calling for increases across multiple departments.

    Among the key demands are:

    • Adding $3 million to the Department of Election to increase physical accessibility and federal compliance at polling locations. Only 16% of the polling locations in metro Detroit are fully accessible, according to the campaign.

    • $7.8 million for the Detroit Department of Transportation to improve paratransit and fixed-route accessibility for buses.

    • $25 million to the Department of Public Works to repair sidewalks and ensure greater mobility for people using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

    The full list of requests is available online.

    “This campaign underscores the importance of recognizing that funding for disability extends beyond the Office of Disability Affairs,” NaJaRee Nixon, lead organizer from Detroit Disability Power, said. “It’s about fostering inclusivity and dismantling ableism in every direction our tax dollars flow.”

    People with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty or unable to afford essentials, such as housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care, according to a report from the Michigan Association of United Ways and research hub United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).

    As part of the campaign, activists are encouraging residents to participate in a letter-writing initiative to urge the council and mayor to support the budget recommendations.

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    Steve Neavling

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  • Gun-free zones, more money for higher education and renter protections this week in the Colorado legislature

    Gun-free zones, more money for higher education and renter protections this week in the Colorado legislature

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    Transgender and nonbinary people would be better protected from harassment in Colorado under new bill

    Transgender and nonbinary people would receive more explicit protections in Colorado’s anti-bias and harassment law if a newly introduced bill becomes law.

    Advocates characterize the bill as a simple legislative fix to ensure gender identity and expression are protected across state law, while also sending a message about Colorado’s values.

    “(The bill) ensures nonbinary and trans people are seen and represented in every part of Colorado law, which is especially important now with the wave of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation across the country,” said Garrett Royer, political director for LGBTQ advocacy organization One Colorado. “It helps the state remain a leader on LGBTQ rights with a very simple legislative fix.”
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    Colorado legislators set aside $7.2 million to fund longer psychiatric hospital stays

    Low-income Coloradans with mental illnesses are poised to receive longer hospital stays after state legislators set aside money to expand a decades-old Medicaid rule.

    Federal law requires that Medicaid patients hospitalized in psychiatric facilities be discharged after 15 hospital days in a month or the facility doesn’t get paid. The rule was intended to prevent hospitals from warehousing patients, but advocates and psychiatrists say that it instead pushes hundreds of vulnerable Coloradans out of the facilities prematurely and into a cycle of homelessness, incarceration and emergency room visits.
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    Parks, bars, protests stripped from bill that would create gun-free zones in Colorado

    A proposal to limit where people can carry firearms in Colorado, openly or with concealed carry permits, was narrowed substantially Wednesday as sponsors fought to win a key committee vote in the state Senate.

    The bill as introduced would have banned firearms from being carried at a slew of places, including stadiums, protests at public locations, bars, places of worship, public parks, libraries and more. It was amended to only ban firearms at schools, from preschool to college, as well as polling places, the state legislature and local government buildings, though local governments could opt out. It would allow exceptions for security and law enforcement.
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    Colorado lawmakers’ $40.6 billion budget caps tuition hikes, includes money for auto theft prevention

    Colorado lawmakers unveiled a state budget proposal Tuesday that would provide more money for higher education, address long waitlists of jail inmates with competency issues and boost pay for home health care workers.

    Those are among the highlights as legislators look to spend about $40.6 billion in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. The bipartisan Joint Budget Committee will now usher the bill — one of the few must-pass measures considered by the General Assembly each year — through the legislature and to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk in coming weeks.
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    “For-cause” eviction protections for renters overcome moderate Democrats’ challenge in Colorado Senate

    Democrats in the Colorado Senate fought off a challenge from within their own party Monday and advanced a bill that would increase displacement protections for tenants — clearing that hurdle nearly a year after the legislative death of a similar proposal.

    The bill generally would give renters of apartments and other housing a right of first refusal to renew an expiring lease. Landlords would need to have a good reason for not allowing them to renew, such as failure to pay rent or plans for substantial renovations.
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    How Wyatts Towing allegedly circumvented Colorado’s new towing law — and why legislators are pushing for further reform

    HB24-1051, introduced this legislative session, would outlaw property owners from using automated emails to authorize tows. The bill also would mandate that the authorizing party must be a property owner or someone from a rent-collecting third party — banning parking management companies from doing this on the tower’s behalf.

    The bill, as introduced, sought to tackle what lawmakers and consumer advocates said was an economic incentive for towers to haul away as many cars as possible. They wanted to shift the entire landscape of residential towing by making property owners pay for tows rather than vehicle owners.
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    Colorado poised to ban cities’ limits on how many people can live together

    Colorado lawmakers are poised to ban occupancy limits in cities and towns across the state, clearing the way for more roommates to live together as part of Democrats’ push to reform local zoning regulations and address the state’s housing crisis.

    Roughly two dozen cities and towns in Colorado have the type of occupancy limits that would be prohibited under HB24-1007, which cleared the state Senate on Tuesday. The measure would prohibit local governments from limiting how many unrelated people can live in one home or housing unit, except for health and safety reasons.
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    Why Colorado’s push for more high-density housing near transit irks cities — even some that allow it

    Colorado cities are ready for a legal fight if necessary to stop a state push to overhaul local housing density rules and allow more tightly packed development along train and bus routes.

    While many local governments support the goal of concentrating people in apartments around transit hubs so they drive less, mayors have objected to what they see as state leaders intruding on local power. It’s the same local control problem that led to the defeat of a similar state push last year in the Colorado legislature.

    Lawmakers revived the transit-focused housing density bill last month and are moving it through the state House.
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    Next year’s state budget, gun restrictions and Front Range trains under debate in Colorado legislature this week

    The Colorado legislature this week will take on one of its only mandated actions — and by far its costliest: The state’s budget.

    The budget package, known as the long bill, lays out how the state will spend some $18 billion in general fund dollars in the next year. It also reveals some of the state’s priorities — such as the end of the so-called budget stabilization factor that has shortchanged state education funding — as the proposal works its way through both chambers.
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    Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.

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    The Denver Post

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  • Don’t get stuck on financial advice that doesn’t ring true – MoneySense

    Don’t get stuck on financial advice that doesn’t ring true – MoneySense

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    Dividends are after-tax profits a company distributes among its shareholders, typically every quarter, and can be paid in cash or a form of reinvestment.

    Heath said a company that pays a high dividend reinvests less of its profit into growth, potentially losing out on opportunities to up its market value. In Canada, stocks with high dividends come from a narrow slice of the stock market—banks, telecoms and utilities. 

    “Ideally, an investor should consider a combination of stocks with high and low dividends to have a well-diversified portfolio,” he said.

    Contribute to RRSP, save on taxes

    “There’s a lot of taxpayers, investment advisers and accountants who really promote the concept of putting as much into your (registered retirement savings plan) as you absolutely can,” said Heath.

    As a financial planner, he thinks the contrary. Heath says using RRSP contributions to get the biggest tax refund possible is not necessarily the best approach for people in low tax brackets and can hurt them in the long run when they withdraw those savings at a higher tax bracket in retirement.

    “Sometimes, it’s OK to pay a little bit of tax, as long as you’re paying at a low tax rate,” he said.

    Instead, tax-free savings account (TFSA) contributions could be better for someone with a low income. 

    It can be wise to use the low tax bracket by taking RRSP withdrawals early in retirement, even though it might feel good to withdraw only from your TFSA or non-registered savings and keep your taxable income low. 

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    The Canadian Press

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  • These Korean Jammy Eggs Make My Laziest Meals Feel Extra Special

    These Korean Jammy Eggs Make My Laziest Meals Feel Extra Special

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    James ParkVideo Producer

    James Park is a food content creator, food personality, and social media strategist based in Brooklyn. He was professionally trained at the International Culinary Center. He loves to share his love and passion for Korean cuisine and culture, fried chicken, and all things noodles. He’s currently working on his debut cookbook that’s all about chile crisp.

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    James Park

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  • While You Were Sleeping, The Senate Averted a Government Shutdown

    While You Were Sleeping, The Senate Averted a Government Shutdown

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    In the wee hours of Saturday morning, the Senate finally approved a mammoth $1.2 trillion spending package to fund the government for the rest of the current fiscal year, successfully staving off a revolt of conservative Republicans.

    The 74-to-24 vote finished at around 2 in the morning, which was technically two hours after the midnight deadline to fund the government. Shortly after the Senate passed the deadline, the White House put out a statement saying that the Office of Management and Budget had ceased preparations for a government shutdown, citing “a high degree of confidence that Congress will imminently pass the relevant appropriations and the President will sign the bill on Saturday.”

    The bill caps a long, contentious process for funding the government during this fiscal year. It began over six months ago, in October 2023, and helped tank the political career of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Several temporary extensions were necessary in recent months to keep the government from entering a shutdown.

    The House narrowly reached the two-thirds majority necessary to pass the package Friday morning. A majority of the Republican caucus voted against the deal, with many hard-right Republicans calling it a capitulation to Democrats. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who came to power thanks to anger among right-wing House Republicans over McCarthy’s deal-cutting with Democrats to keep the government open, is now facing a similar revolt from his party.

    On Friday, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Johnson of “betrayal of the American people” and promised to begin the process of ousting him. “The Republican speaker of the House handed over every ounce of negotiating power to Chuck Schumer and the Democrats and went ahead and funded the government when this was our point of leverage,” Greene said.

    But Republicans will get to tout significant funding increases for immigration enforcement, as the funding bill will increase the number of Border Patrol Agents to 22,000. The legislation also eliminates funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which Israel has accused of participating in Hamas’ October 7 attack. Democrats, meanwhile, secured funding increases for early childhood education and cancer and Alzheimer’s research.

    “House Republicans achieved conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals, and imposed substantial cuts while significantly strengthening national defense,” Johnson said after the House vote, calling the bill “the best achievable outcome in a divided government.”

    Senate Majority Leader Schumer described the vote as “no small feat” on Saturday. “It’s been a very long and difficult day, but we have just reached an agreement to complete the job of funding the government,” he said after the vote. “It is good for the country that we have reached this bipartisan deal. It wasn’t easy, but tonight, our persistence has been worth it.”

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    Jack McCordick

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  • Biden’s Budget, Pretty Privilege, and the Horrors of ‘Quiet on Set’

    Biden’s Budget, Pretty Privilege, and the Horrors of ‘Quiet on Set’

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    Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay start the show off with some “gender wars” banter (02:21) and a quick shout-out (04:37) before diving into Biden’s proposed budget (18:42). Then, they talk about the Nickelodeon atrocities highlighted by the documentary Quiet on Set (50:13) and the internet’s reaction to Beyoncé’s latest drop (1:22:07).

    Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
    Producer: Ashleigh Smith

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher

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    Van Lathan

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  • Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services impacted by nationwide outage

    Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services impacted by nationwide outage

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    A nationwide outage is interfering with Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services today, including most driver’s license and online services.

    The outage stems from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the agency announced in a news release Thursday morning.

    Services that are still up and running include driver’s license knowledge tests, endorsement tests, commercial driver’s license instruction permit tests, scheduling hearings and requesting motor vehicle records.

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    Katie Langford

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  • My Feta-and-Spinach Stuffed Pastry Pockets Are Worth Fighting Over

    My Feta-and-Spinach Stuffed Pastry Pockets Are Worth Fighting Over

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    Rachel PerlmutterCulinary Producer

    Rachel Perlmutter is a recipe developer, food stylist, and culinary producer at The Kitchn. Originally from Houston, Texas, she spends her free time trying to perfect kolaches and breakfast tacos that taste like home. Rachel currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner, dog, cat and rabbit, where they all share a love of seasonal local produce.

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    Rachel Perlmutter

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  • My Glazed Carrots Are So Special, Everyone Demands the Recipe

    My Glazed Carrots Are So Special, Everyone Demands the Recipe

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    This umami-packed, buttery glaze will make you love roasted tender carrots.
    READ MORE…

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    James Park

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  • Dating dilemma: When to talk about finances – MoneySense

    Dating dilemma: When to talk about finances – MoneySense

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    There’s often a stigma around discussing money, but I’ve found it really helpful to have these conversations early and often. My husband and I have monthly budget review chats, and we’re constantly discussing our financial goals and how we can achieve them. Money has never been a taboo topic for us, and we discussed our debt loads, salaries, savings and attitudes towards money shortly after we started dating. It’s a trend that’s continued into our marriage, although now the topics of conversation are things like life insurance, registered education savings plans (RESPs) for our kids, wills and estate planning, and retirement, instead of whether we can afford that weekend trip to NYC.

    I love that money is an easy topic of conversation for us. I didn’t choose my life partner based on his financial footing, but in an increasingly challenging economic climate, financial health may be as important as looks, personality and intelligence when it comes to what people look for in a love interest. (See, for example, the short-lived new dating app exclusively for singles with good to excellent credit.) There’s a hitch, though: many Canadians find it incredibly hard to talk about money with a romantic partner.

    The most difficult topics for Canadian couples

    My husband and I are the co-founders of Willful, an online will platform. We were curious to know how comfortable Canadians are with discussing taboo topics, so, together with the Canada Will Registry, we commissioned an Angus Reid study to find out. It revealed that other than trauma, money is the hardest thing to talk about with a partner for the first time, followed closely by sex and death. This has led to Canadians delaying the discussion. The study, which polled over 1,500 Canadians, found that of the 77% who are in relationships, one-third (33%) didn’t start discussing finances with their partner until after a year of dating. Another 7% said they’ve never discussed their finances with a partner at all, and one-third have never talked about end-of-life planning.

    Avoiding money talk? You’re likely missing key financial details

    Over a third of survey respondents (39%) said they felt or will feel nervous discussing finances with their significant other for the first time. In addition, many respondents said they wouldn’t know how to access key documents and information in the event of an emergency. Over half of those in relationships say they don’t have a will, and even fewer know where their partner’s will is stored.

    This wasn’t surprising to us at Willful—we hear stories daily about people dealing with a loved one’s estate and trying to find key information like passwords to accounts, legal documents like wills, life insurance documents and other key info. In fact, that’s what inspired my husband and I to start Willful. His uncle passed away without having his end-of-life plans organized, and he was the sole breadwinner in the family. We saw first-hand how difficult it is to honour someone’s legacy while trying to find information and end-of-life wishes. That’s why we’re passionate about ensuring that Canadians are now having the important but tough conversations that will save their loved ones burden and conflict down the road.

    4 money moves to make as a couple

    So how do you get more comfortable talking about money with your partner? MoneySense’s articles about money and relationships (see links below) share these strategies:

    • Discussing finances early and often
    • Being upfront about key information like debt load, credit scores and savings
    • Setting a “money date” so you can get into a money mindset at a set date and time
    • Considering combining your finances through joint accounts and other tactics in order to have a shared financial picture and shared goals

    Whether you’re in a new relationship or already married, discussing money with your partner can set the stage for your shared financial success—and help you avoid conflicts over money—in the future.

    Read more about money and relationships:

    This article was created by a MoneySense content partner.

    This is not advertising nor an advertorial. This is an unpaid article that contains useful and relevant information. It was written by a content partner based on its expertise and edited by MoneySense.



    About Erin Bury


    About Erin Bury

    Erin is the CEO at Willful, a company that makes it easy to create a will online in less than 20 minutes. Willful has helped Canadians create over 300,000 documents since 2017.

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    Erin Bury

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  • How to save money on a Disney Cruise – MoneySense

    How to save money on a Disney Cruise – MoneySense

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    My family’s one-way cruise (also known as a repositioning cruise) will begin in Galveston, Texas, and end in San Juan, Puerto Rico. By booking through a Disney travel agent, we were able to take a six-night cruise for the same price as some of the four- and five-night cruisetours also available at the time of booking. 

    Take advantage of the onboard booking option

    The sooner you book, the better. Generally, a year in advance is a good guideline, as holiday cruises can sell out quickly. Not only will the prices be lower, but there are more options to choose from when you book your stateroom (cabin). That gives you a better shot at getting an interior stateroom, which is generally more affordable than booking a room with an ocean view.  

    If you’re good at planning ahead, you may want to take advantage of onboard booking options and reserve a spot on a future cruise. You can save up to 10% on your next sailing by paying a USD$250 deposit, suggests Goldberg. You have two years from the time of booking to redeem, and if you ultimately don’t end up booking, your deposit is automatically refunded, she says. 

    The best time of the year to go on a Disney cruise

    Disney’s Christmas and Halloween cruises are typically the most expensive of what’s offered. If you’re looking for the best value and willing to forego a holiday cruise, Goldberg says the end of summer, early fall, first weeks of January, and first week of February are generally cheaper. 

    If you’re sailing out of one of the Florida ports, booking for mid-August to mid-October comes with the risk of travelling during peak hurricane season. However, those sailings tend to be cheaper. If you decide to take that risk, consider getting travel insurance, in case Mother Nature isn’t on your side.

    Save on foreign exchange fees 

    Disney vacations are charged in U.S. dollars, making them costlier for Canadians, after factoring in the exchange rate. When using a Canadian credit card, you may also have to pay foreign transaction (forex) fees—which typically cost an extra 2.5% of the purchase price—unless you have a no foreign transaction fee credit card.

    If getting a new credit card isn’t an option for you, Goldberg suggests to purchase Disney gift cards to save on forex fees. Gift cards are available at major retail stores, such as Costco, Walmart, Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart (or Pharmaprix, if you live in Quebec). And you can use those GCs to book your trip and make purchases on the ship. By buying gift cards in Canadian dollars, you’ll still have to pay the U.S. exchange rate, but you’ll save on forex fees. 

    Choi agrees with this strategy. He says getting the gift cards from a grocery store also allows you to earn some loyalty points. The American Express Cobalt, for example, gives you five Amex Membership Rewards (MR) points per $1 spent at grocery stores. 

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    Sandy Yong

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  • These Filipino Meatballs Are So Good, I’ve Made Them for Dinner 3 Nights in a Row

    These Filipino Meatballs Are So Good, I’ve Made Them for Dinner 3 Nights in a Row

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    Crisp, juicy, and so flavorful.
    READ MORE…

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    Kristina Razon

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  • State lawmakers prepare to reveal budget proposals

    State lawmakers prepare to reveal budget proposals

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    ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)— The New York State Senate and Assembly are expected to reveal their one-house budgets on Monday. Senate Majority leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, said earlier this week that it differs from what the Governor has proposed.  

    “We are concerned about the education proposals that the governor has put forward,” said Stewart-Cousins. “I think I’ve been very, very clear that because almost half of the school districts in the state will be receiving less funding than they would’ve anticipated. We’re very, very concerned about that.”

    The governor proposed allocating $35 billion to education, as well as making a change in the equation that helps determine school aid. Opponents say it will negatively impactrural and suburban schools.

    The administration is open to compromise.  

    “Amending the formula to provide a meaningful result that the legislative leaders can agree upon— we would be receptive to that, of course,” said Budget Director, Blake Washington.

    On Wednesday, a handful Senate Republicans wrote a letter to Stewart-Cousins urging her to adopt some of their priorities. They want her to reject the governor’s plan to alter the school aid formula, as well as the $2.4 billion dollars the governor has proposed for migrants. 

    In the Assembly, a spokesperson for Speaker Carl Heastie shared in a statement, “The Assembly Majority’s budget proposal will benefit all New Yorkers and comprehensively address health care, education and host of other priorities.”

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    Jamie DeLine

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  • This 6-Ingredient Pasta Carbonara Might Not Be Traditional, but It’s So Good You Won’t Care

    This 6-Ingredient Pasta Carbonara Might Not Be Traditional, but It’s So Good You Won’t Care

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    Rachel PerlmutterCulinary Producer

    Rachel Perlmutter is a recipe developer, food stylist, and culinary producer at The Kitchn. Originally from Houston, Texas, she spends her free time trying to perfect kolaches and breakfast tacos that taste like home. Rachel currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner, dog, cat and rabbit, where they all share a love of seasonal local produce.

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    Rachel Perlmutter

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  • Ukraine vows more self-reliance as war enters third year

    Ukraine vows more self-reliance as war enters third year

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    Ukrainians have questions

    On the anniversary of Putin’s aggression, however, uncertainty and irritation were undisguised in Kyiv. Ukrainians wanted to know why Western sanctions on Russia are not working, and why Moscow keeps getting components for its missiles from Western companies. Why Ukrainians have to keep asking for weapons; and why the U.S. is not pushing through the crucial new aid package for Ukraine.

    “We are very grateful for the support of the United States, but unfortunately, when I turn to the Democrats for support, they tell me to go to the Republicans. And the Republicans say to go to the Democrats,” Ukrainian MP Oleksandra Ustinova said at a separate Kyiv conference on Saturday. “We are grateful for the European support, but we cannot win without the USA. We need the supply of anti-aircraft defenses and continued assistance.”

    “Why don’t you give us what we ask for? Our priorities are air defense and missiles. We need long-range missiles,” Ustinova added. 

    U.S. Congressman Jim Costa explained to the conference that Americans, and even members of Congress, still need to be educated on how the war in Ukraine affects them and why a Ukrainian victory is in America’s best interests.

    “I believe that we must, and that is why we will decide on an additional aid package for Ukraine. It is difficult and unattractive. But I believe that over the next few weeks, the US response will be a beacon to protect our security and democratic values,” Costa said.

    The West is afraid of Russia, Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s security and defense council secretary, told the Saturday conference.

     “The West does not know what to do with Russia and therefore it does not allow us to win. Russians constantly blackmail and intimidate the West. However, if you are afraid of a dog, it will bite you,” he said.

    “And now you are losing not only to autocratic Russia but also to the rest of the autocracies in the world,” Danilov added.

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    Veronika Melkozerova

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  • How to pick a cheap wine that actually tastes good, according to sommeliers

    How to pick a cheap wine that actually tastes good, according to sommeliers

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    (NEXSTAR) – Good wine isn’t known to be cheap, and cheap wine doesn’t have a reputation for being very good. But some sommeliers are trying to change the idea that you can’t enjoy wine on a tight budget.

    Samantha Capaldi calls herself a “no snob somm” – and she proves it when she recommends pairing a pinot noir with Cheez-Its or a $13 bottle of sauvignon blanc with a Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell.

    She acknowledged browsing the wine aisle at any store is overwhelming, but believes there are real gems you can find for under $10.

    The Pine Ridges Chenin Blanc Viognier is available at many Trader Joes locations (Credit Bill Disbrow).

    Her No. 1 favorite white wine is Pine Ridges Chenin Blanc Viognier, which she buys at Trader Joe’s. Another favorite she called a “porch pounder” is La Vielle Ferme’s rosé, an $8 to $10 bottle you’ll recognize by the rooster on the label.

    When it comes to red wine, she recommends the Ruggero Di Bardo Susumaniello, which you can find in a shorter, stubby bottle, also at Trader Joe’s.

    Sommelier Lucia Palm, who also posts videos of her wine picks, also finds herself in the Trader Joe’s wine aisle often. She has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants, but found her niche in recommending affordable wines to regular people.

    “I talked to my friends about it, and they would say, ‘To have a really good wine, I’ve got to spend a lot of money, don’t I?’ And that’s when the lightbulb went off,” she said.

    Palm recommends the Floriana Grüner Veltliner, an Austrian white wine that you can find at Trader Joe’s for around $6. Even cheaper than that, she recommends the Espiral Vinho Verde and the Emma Reichart Riesling, both of which the grocery store sells for $5.

    For those who don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby – or who live in a state where grocery stores can’t sell alcohol – Palm recommended some easy-to-find, widely available wines. For reds, she suggests a Famille Perrin Cotes du Rhone, a Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone, a Catena Malbec, or a Louis Jadot Beaujolais. For white wine lovers, Palm recommends Nobilo’s sauvignon blanc.

    Costco is also a great place to turn for affordable, high-quality wines, Palm said. She especially likes their Chianti Classico, New Zealand sauvignon blanc, Prosecco (with the purple label) and Gigondas wines. (In many states, you also don’t need a Costco membership to shop the big box store’s wine section.)

    If you can’t remember any of these exact labels or producers, both experts said to look to other parts of the world for fun picks. Great wines from South America and Europe can be cheaper than their U.S.-grown competitors, Capaldi said. Chilean blends can be found for under $15 and please people who’d usually like a cabernet sauvignon.

    “It’s a little bit trickier navigating which producers in the U.S. are going to be better than other ones, and I feel like other regions outside the U.S. stay a little bit more consistent,” Capaldi said.

    Wines from Croatia, Lebanon, Hungary and Mexico are all great, Palm added, even if they’re less famous for their winemaking.

    One thing to avoid is an overly generic wine label, Palm said. If the wine label just says it’s from “California,” and not the city where the vineyard is located, that’s a red flag.

    Food pairings can also really elevate a cheaper wine. Capaldi said she tried a $5.99 Grifone 1967 Toscana that she bought at Trader Joe’s and didn’t think it was anything special at first. But when paired with frozen pizza, the flavor totally changed. (She posts more pairing suggestions on Instagram and TikTok, as does Palm.)

    Capaldi said she thinks the wine world is slowly shifting toward a more open mindset on wine. She said she has seen blind taste tests surprise even the snobbiest of sommeliers. “We’ve all on multiple occasions done a blind tasting and rated a cheaper wine higher than the expensive wine. So I’ve proved it in real time.”

    At the end of the day, the best wine is the one that pleases your palate.

    “I’ll never feel bad if I still like my $10 Trader Joe’s wine more than that $100 Napa cab that I tried,” Capaldi said.

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    Alix Martichoux

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