A few notable cases out of today’s decisions handed down by N.Y.’s higest court, the Court of Appeals:

1. It upheld a decision by former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi to nullify a $46 million Thruway contract with Worth Construction, Connecticut-based firm, because of its alleged ties with organized crime. The contract was for building an [...]

The state Senate will take up a vote on bills to limit statewide officeholders (gov, lt. gov, AG, comptroller) to 8 years in office and to restrict legislators to 8 years as Senate or Assembly leader and 6 as a committee chairman.

The prime sponsor is a freshman, Sen. Joe Griffo, R-Rome, but the measures have [...]

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer came to Albany Tuesday night as part of the state Court of Appeals’ lecture series. His topic: the U.S. Constitution.

In a roughly 45-minute address and a follow up Q-and-A period, the judge did not make news. But he kept the crowd of about 100 entertained with his explanation of [...]

It’s not clear yet whether Gov. Spitzer and legislative leaders will be able to announce any agreements later today when they hold another public bargaining session. Neither the governor nor Joe Bruno nor Sheldon Silver indicated such in brief speaking appearances this morning on other topics.

In fact, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, R-Rensselaer County, again was [...]

The Cayuga Indian Nation would end its land-claim lawsuit and accept a much small tract of land in the Finger Lakes in exchange for rights to build a casino—probably in the Catskill Mountain region—under a tentative deal announced Wednesday.

The tribe would give up its claim to 64,000 acres in Seneca and Cayuga counties and instead [...]

Quinnipiac University is out with a new poll this morning on NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Take your pick of what’s the most intriguing finding:

a) at 74 percent approval, the mayor is near an all-time high popularity in the minds of city residents. b) if he were to run for governor, 60 percent say [...]

Motorcyclists from around the state converge at the Capitol today for their annual protest of the mandatory helmet law. Despite the annual event, the bikers’ cause has never gained much traction in the state Legislature.

In an unrelated note, two weeks ago hundreds of bikers jammed downtown Rochester to protest the acquittal of a former [...]

A downstate federal judge has denied a request by war protesters to be allowed to enter West Point next Saturday when Vice President Dick Cheney gives a graduation address. Accounts here and here.

A former court clerk in Syracuse alleged she was ousted because she refused to participate in a conspiracy to discredit a judicial [...]

Out in Western N.Y., the Seneca Nation announced it has voted to charge New York state $1 per vehicle for each one that passes through its Cattaraugus territory on the state thruway.

The tribe said it won’t harass motorists but will bill the state beginning Friday. It said it would erect signs notifying drivers they are entering [...]

One more time, he’s not running. For president. For governor. For anything.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn’t wait for the question to be asked at a news conference this afternoon. He jumped right in, cutting off the political speculation, while answering a question about his plan for congestion pricing cars entering NYC.

Bloomberg was giving his [...]