In the News

Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who are hoping to join the United Automobile Workers asked a federal agency on Monday to hold an election, a key step toward the union’s longtime goal of organizing nonunion factories across the South.

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products.

Hochul, who visited Southampton to pull a ceremonial switch for the $2.01 billion, 12-turbine array, said it marked “an incredible milestone of progress for New York” and for “all America,” with enough energy to power 70,000 homes.

An East Patchogue construction company will pay $144,000 in federal fines and “take substantive steps” to improve jobsite safety as part of a settlement over the death of a worker killed in a 2018 building collapse while installing roof panels.

New York generates more power from renewable energy than any state in the Eastern United States. Clean hydropower provides 21% of the state’s energy generation, with another 8% from wind capacity and 5% from solar capacity.

Long Island municipalities will receive more than $17 million in state money for water quality projects aimed at improving sewer systems, reducing nitrogen pollution and enhancing storm resiliency, according to state officials.