Governor Hochul Announces Construction Underway for New $1.7 Billion Public Health Laboratory

Department of Health’s New Wadsworth Center Laboratory To Enhance State’s Readiness To Respond to Public Health Crises

State Releases Renderings Revealing Future Lab’s State-of-the-Art Design

Lab Expected to be Complete in 2030

Wadsworth Center Has Grown Into the Largest and Most Diverse State Public Health Laboratory in the Nation, Protecting the Health of New Yorkers and Communities Far Beyond State’s Borders

Governor Kathy Hochul announced construction is officially underway for the planned $1.7 billion state-of-the-art public health laboratory that will transform New York’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging threats. The new Wadsworth Center facility will consolidate five unconnected sites across the Greater Albany area into one single, modern facility, strengthening the State’s ability to effectively respond to future public health threats, support the next generation of scientists, and provide opportunities for collaboration across the country. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Since 1901, the Wadsworth Center has grown into the largest and most diverse state public health laboratory in the nation.

“The new Wadsworth Center Laboratory is a powerful investment in the health of every person in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “The lab will allow the State to better predict and prepare for emerging threats to public health and will be one of the most authoritative public health laboratories in the country, impacting public health policy and practice at the state, national and international level.”

To be located on the W. Averell Harriman Campus in Albany, the Wadsworth Center will foster an even closer collaboration with the nearby SUNY University at Albany campus, building on academic partnerships that date back to the mid-1980s, as well as with the adjacent New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Laboratory. The laboratory will house nearly 800 staff and is being designed to adapt to evolving needs over its lifetime, with a strong emphasis on energy, efficiency, and sustainability.

The design-build team is a joint venture between Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in association with HOK architects. The team’s design for the new laboratory shows a five-story, 663,000 gross square foot laboratory.

The Wadsworth Center leads a wide array of nation-leading programs that have made New York a model for public health laboratories nationwide. Together, these programs have driven innovation, strengthened preparedness, and safeguarded communities from emerging threats.

• Public Health Emergency Response: Led detection and surveillance of the 2022 poliovirus outbreak, including identification of the first U.S. case of paralytic polio.
• Wastewater Surveillance and Diagnostics: Serves as New York State’s primary wastewater surveillance laboratory for the detection of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
• Environmental Health Leadership: Functions as the State’s lead Safe Drinking Water Act laboratory and a national leader in detection, monitoring, and reporting.
• Innovative Diagnostic Testing Pipelines: The Center’s diagnostic developments outpace the CDC in areas of testing for tuberculosis, Mpox, and influenza.
• Newborn Screening Program: Advances the screening of newborns for more than 210,000 babies annually for 50+ disorders, enabling early diagnosis and life-saving care.
• Regulatory and Oversight Programs: Sets and enforces rigorous statewide laboratory standards, exceeding federal requirements and serving as a national model.

The Wadsworth Center celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The new laboratory will carry this proud legacy forward, ensuring the Wadsworth Center remains a world-class public health institution serving New York State and beyond for generations to come.

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Meeting Tuesday February 10th at 7 PM

 

WE HAVE BOOKED A GREAT GUEST FOR TUESDAY FEB.10! THE NEW OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AT 626 PELHAM PARKWAY SOUTH (THE OLD APPLE BANK) FIND OUT WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO AT THAT SITE !

The Community meeting will be held at Bronx House,990 Pelham Parkway South Bx NY 10461.We start at 7 pm sharp.!!We look foward to seeing all of you at this event.Please find us on FaceBook ,Instagram. 

ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Criminal Illegal Alien Accused of Throwing Rocks at School Bus and Fracturing 8-Year-Old’s Skull in New Jersey

 

This criminal illegal alien was released into New Jersey communities after multiple arrests

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer against Hernando Garcia-Morales, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico accused of throwing a baseball-sized rock into a school bus and fracturing an 8-year-old student’s skull in Teaneck Township, New Jersey.

Hernando Garcia-Morales

According to local reports, on January 7, the school bus was traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike to Yeshivat Noam, a local Jewish day school, returning from a field trip at Liberty Science Center. This is when Garcia-Morales threw a rock at the vehicle, breaking a window and hitting the third-grade student. The young girl was forced to have surgery.

Two days later, on January 9, New Jersey Turnpike State Police arrested Garcia-Morales for Aggravated Assault, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Weapon. The Bogota Police Department also charged him for Aggravated Assault, Criminal Trespassing-Defiant, Criminal Trespassing Peering, and Criminal Mischief-Damage Property.

Garcia-Morales has had an extensive criminal history while living in sanctuary state New Jersey. In 2023, he was arrested for burglary. In 2006, he was arrested for possession of a weapon and theft.

This illegal alien entered the country at an unknown date and time.

“Violently targeting a school bus full of children is extremely wicked and heinous,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Hernando Garcia-Morales should have never been in this country, let alone released after multiple arrests into New Jersey communities. ICE has lodged an arrest detainer against this monster, and we hope New Jersey’s sanctuary politicians will help us keep him off American streets for good. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens have no place in the U.S.”

Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime with a nexus to immigration.

If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423).

Prolific Fentanyl Distributor in Greater Seattle Area Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

 

Part of Drug Ring that Dealt Thousands of Fentanyl Pills in University District

Fentanyl pills seized from Saho.

A 40-year-old Everett, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Lamin Saho, aka “Buck,” was a significant fentanyl dealer identified in a wiretap investigation that culminated with fourteen arrests in October 2024 and five additional arrests in late 2025. The drug trafficking ring operated from Kent to Everett and members of the ring frequented two distribution locations in the University District of Seattle. Many of the drug traffickers were armed when guarding their stash or distributing their drugs. The leader of the drug crew was gunned down in the summer of 2024, in front of one of the U District locations. At the sentencing hearing Judge John H. Chun said, “Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has devastated far too many lives. One has only to walk out on the streets of Seattle to see how it has devastated our community.”

“Mr. Saho distributed thousands of fentanyl pills – the calls recorded on the wiretap indicated he had access to as many as 10,000 pills at a time,” said U.S. Attorney Floyd. “Each one of those pills had the potential of killing the user. Our community is safer when we are able to prosecute these drug trafficking rings and get the suppliers behind bars.”

“Homeland Security Investigations, working closely with our law enforcement partners, led the investigation that brought Saho to justice and indictments for 18 others,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Together, we are combatting the lethal effects of fentanyl in our communities by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling dangerous networks. Garnering this sentence for one of the defendants in this case shows our commitment to protecting the public and fighting violent crime at every level.”

“Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand in hand, and this case highlights the unfortunate reality, peddling deadly fentanyl and weapons in Seattle’s University District posed a clear and present danger to the entire community,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The collaborative efforts of our federal prosecutors along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners resulted in the dismantlement of this drug trafficking organization and brought us one step closer towards making America Fentanyl Free. DEA is committed to protect the United States from synthetic opioids by disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability, and saving American lives.”

The month-long telephone intercepts of Saho’s phone revealed he was one of the most prolific distributors of fentanyl within the drug trafficking group. Even after law enforcement seized 5,000 pills from Saho in a traffic stop, wiretap intercepts show he was wholly undeterred and continued to traffic fentanyl through the end of the interception period.

In the yearlong investigation, law enforcement seized 200,000 fentanyl pills, four kilograms of cocaine, 60 firearms, several Glock “switches,” multiple suppressors, and $250,000 in cash drug trafficking proceeds.

Members of the drug ring have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four years to ten years.

Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 28, of Seattle, who was a leader in the organization, was sentenced in November 2025 to ten years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup,” 28, of Kent was sentenced in August 2025 to six years in prison for two counts of illegally possessing firearms. He was identified as a member of a drug trafficking conspiracy. He was injured in a fatal hookah bar shooting in South Seattle on August 20, 2023.

Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 36, of Seattle was sentenced in August 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He helped staff an apartment on the edge of Seattle’s University District that was a known drug distribution location.

Dominique Sanders, 35, of Everett, who served as a redistributor in the organization, was sentenced in September 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Jaquan Means, 46, of Bellevue, who brokered at least two fentanyl transactions, was sentenced in December 2025 to six years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Oche Poston, 32, of Everett, who served as a runner for several fentanyl transactions and conducted other drug trafficking related activities at the direction of leaders within the organization, was sentenced in September 2025 to five and a half years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Patrick Smith, 28, of Seattle, who served as a redistributor in the organization, was sentenced in August 2025 to four years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Anteneh Tesfaye, 41, of Edmonds was sentenced in December 2025 to four years in prison for one count of illegally possessing a firearm. He was a drug redistributor who was supplied by one of the leaders of the drug trafficking organization.

At today’s sentencing Lamin Saho was ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his six-year prison term. However, he is a citizen of The Gambia who does not have immigration status in the U.S. and will likely be removed following his prison term.

This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant participation by Seattle Police Department (SPD), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Patrol (WSP), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

Investigation into International “ATM Jackpotting” Scheme and Tren de Aragua results in Additional Indictment and 87 Total Charged Defendants

 

A federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska returned an additional indictment charging 31 individuals for their roles in a large conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” Fifty-six others have already been charged. Many of the defendants charged in this Homeland Security Task Force operation are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals including illegal alien Tren de Aragua (TdA) members. This indictment alleges 32 counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, bank fraud, bank burglary, and damage to computers.

“Tren de Aragua is a complex terrorist organization that commits serious financial crimes in addition to horrific rapes, murders, and drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice has already prosecuted more than 290 members of Tren de Aragua and will continue working tirelessly to put these vicious terrorists behind bars after the prior administration let them infiltrate our country.”

“A large ring of criminal aliens allegedly engaged in a nationwide conspiracy to enrich themselves and the TdA terrorist organization by ripping off American citizens," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "After committing bank robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes, they will be vigorously prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes. The Justice Department’s Joint Task Force Vulcan will not stop until it completely dismantles and destroys TdA and other foreign terrorists that import chaos to America.”

“This latest indictment demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to dismantling cartels, including when they attack our nation’s financial systems with sophisticated malware,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The announcement of charges against a total of 87 defendants underscores both the massive scale of these alleged conspiracies and the strength and skill of our investigators and prosecutors who dismantle them. As cartels level up their criminal game, so will we.”

“Tren de Aragua uses ATM jackpotting crimes committed all across America to fund its terrorist organization which is responsible for horrific crimes such as human trafficking (to include sex trafficking of children in Nebraska), kidnapping, murder and other unspeakably evil and violent acts,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska will fight TdA directly by taking every action at our disposal to shut down their financial pipeline and handicap their ability to terrorize American communities.”

“TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization. Using sophisticated malware to empty ATMs and damage U.S. financial institutions that also fund TdA’s terrorist activity will not be tolerated,” said Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) Co-Director Chris Eason. “The charges against certain TdA members are directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”

“A dedicated team of FBI Omaha agents and analysts are working shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners to disrupt and dismantle an international criminal conspiracy ultimately funding a foreign terrorist organization,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “The wide variety of sophisticated criminal tactics employed by TdA poses a direct threat to communities across our country. This case highlights TdA's plot to deploy malware to steal vast funds from financial institutions across the United States. We will never stop following the money and surging resources to arrest and apprehend TdA members and leadership.”

The following photographs depict just a few of the alleged ATM jackpotting scheme in progress and equipment used:

The alleged conspiracy developed and deployed a variant of malware known as Ploutus, which was used to hack into ATMs and force ATMs to dispense cash. The conspiracy relied on the recruitment of a number of individuals to deploy Ploutus malware nationwide. Members of the conspiracy and TdA would travel in groups, using multiple vehicles, to the locations of targeted banks and credit unions. These groups would conduct initial reconnaissance and take note of external security features at the ATMs. Following this reconnaissance, the groups would open the hood or door of ATMs and then wait nearby to see whether they had triggered an alarm or a law enforcement response. The groups would then take steps to install malware on the ATMs, by removing the hard drive and installing the malware directly, by replacing the hard drive with one that had been pre-loaded with the Ploutus malware, or by connecting an external device such as a thumb drive that would deploy the malware. The Ploutus malware’s primary purpose was to issue unauthorized commands associated with the Cash Dispensing Module of the ATM in order to force withdrawals of currency. The Ploutus malware was also designed to delete evidence of malware in an effort to conceal, create a false impression, mislead, or otherwise deceive employees of the banks and credit unions from learning about the deployment of the malware on the ATM. Members of the conspiracy would then split the proceeds in predetermined portions.

The most recent indictment follows a previous one returned on Dec. 9, 2025, that alleged that TdA, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, conducted jackpotting attacks across America. The Dec. 9, 2025 indictment charged 22 individuals with offenses for their roles in the conspiracy: 13 individuals are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 10 with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud and related activity in connection with computers, and 22 with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also alleges that TdA used jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in the United States and then transferred the proceeds among its members and associates to conceal the illegally obtained cash. The indictment alleged a national conspiracy to commit these offenses with crimes committed all over the United States in furtherance of these conspiracies that generated millions in illegal proceeds for the combined defendants and the TdA organization.

A related indictment returned on Oct. 21, 2025 charged 32 individuals and alleged 56 counts including one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and computer fraud, 18 counts of bank fraud, 18 counts of bank burglary, and 18 counts of damage to computers.

If convicted, the defendants face maximum terms of imprisonment ranging between 20 and 335 years.

According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking, to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.

In the past six months, the Justice Department has charged a total of 87 TdA members and leaders with a range of federal offenses that include material support to a designated foreign terror organization, bank burglary, money laundering, damage and unauthorized access to protected computers, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same offenses.

FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the U.S. Secret Service, United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, Bates County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Warrant Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Colombus Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory, Bluff City Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Police Department, Gothenburg Police Department, Loudon Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Milford Police Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Papillion Police Department, Central City Police Department, Holdrege Police Department, New York State Police, Berkeley Police Department, Cook County Electronic Monitoring Unit, Aurora Police Department, Austin Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, City of Rome Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, McCook Police Department, Nebraska DMV Crime Analysts, Rantoul Police Department, Olathe Police Department, North Platte Police Department, Walla Walla Police Department, Milton-Freewater Police Department, Missoula Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Denver Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Glendale Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Grafton Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Dubuque Police Department, Fargo Police Department, and Paducah Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the District of Colorado, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General provided significant assistance.

This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from the FBI and HSI.

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

An indictment or a complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Attorney General James Demands More Action from xAI to Stop Grok Chatbot from Producing Inappropriate Images to Protect Children and Adult Users

 

Bipartisan Coalition of AGs Call on xAI to Share its Plans to Eliminate Nonconsensual Images Created by Grok and Suspend Users Who Created Harmful Content

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan coalition of 34 other attorneys general demanded that xAI take additional steps to protect users from inappropriate images and content created by its AI chatbot Grok and shared on the social media platform X. In a letter to xAI, the attorneys general write that the company’s recent changes to Grok are not enough to protect children and women users who are being harassed with inappropriate, nonconsensual images. The coalition is calling on xAI to explain how it intends to ensure that Grok is unable to create nonconsensual images, eliminate the inappropriate content created by Grok, and suspend users who created the harmful content.

“I am deeply disturbed by reports that Grok created and shared inappropriate images of women and children, and that is why I am joining a bipartisan coalition of my colleagues to demand answers from the company,” said Attorney General James. “xAI claims that it has made changes to address this problem, but more must be done ensure that Grok is not creating child sex abuse materials and other nonconsensual images. I will continue to work together with my colleagues to hold the company accountable and protect children and all online users.”

xAI owns and operates Grok, an artificial intelligence chatbot, that has been creating and sharing nonconsensual explicit images of women and children. Grok allowed users to alter innocuous images of women, without their knowledge or consent, depicting them in suggestive and sexually explicit scenarios and “undressing” them to show them in bikinis, underwear, or nothing at all. The attorneys general write that some users are seeking Grok’s AI image editing feature to embarrass, intimidate, and exploit people.

The coalition asserts that the creation and dissemination of child sexual abuse material is a crime, and that various state and federal civil and criminal laws also forbid the creation of nonconsensual intimate images. The attorneys general are demanding that xAI immediately detail how it intends to:

• Take all necessary measures to ensure that Grok is no longer capable of producing nonconsensual intimate images, including nonconsensual images that fall short of depicting full nudity or graphic sexual conduct but depict people in bikinis, underwear, revealing clothing, or suggestive poses, and child sexual abuse material;
• Eliminate inappropriate, nonconsensual content that has already been produced;
• Suspend users who have created these materials;
• Report these creators and users to the relevant authorities;
• Grant X users control over whether their content can be edited by Grok, including at a minimum the ability to easily prohibit the @Grok account from responding to their posts or editing their images when prompted by another user; and
• Ensure that the recently announced safeguards do not merely place NCII creation behind a paywall, but actually mitigate its production throughout X and the Grok platform.

This is the latest effort by Attorney General James to protect children online and hold tech companies accountable. Last month, Attorney General James and a bipartisan coalition of 41 other attorneys general sent a letter to Big Tech companies urging them to implement safeguards on AI chatbots to protect children and vulnerable people. In November 2024, Attorney General James led a bipartisan coalition of 36 attorneys general in urging Congress to reject language in a military spending plan that that would prevent states from passing or enforcing laws to regulate AI. In June 2024, Attorney General James announced that nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online has been signed into law.

Joining Attorney General James in sending the letter are the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Governor Hochul Announces Expanded Child Tax Credit for New York Families

Historic Expansion Increases Maximum Empire State Child Credit up to $1,000 Per Qualifying Child Under Age Four

To Receive the Credit, New Yorkers Must File a New York State Tax Return This Year; Filing Season is Now Open

Key Element of Governor Hochul’s Ongoing Affordability Agenda

Governor Kathy Hochul today reminded New Yorkers to take advantage of the State’s recently expanded child tax credit, also known as the Empire State Child Credit (ESCC), a refundable credit which can either help offset taxes or be paid out directly to taxpayers as cash back in the form of a refund.

“The Empire State Child Credit delivers a vital financial boost to New York families,” Governor Hochul said. “Now, after the largest expansion of the credit in New York history, more New Yorkers have access to the credit than ever, which will put money directly in families’ pockets and help make our state more affordable for millions of recipients.”

Last year, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature took action to enact the largest expansion of the ESCC in New York State history, increasing the value of the credit and making it available to more families:

• For the 2026 filing season (Tax Year 2025), eligible families can now receive up to $1,000 per child under age four and $330 per qualifying child age 4 through 16 years old.
• Next year (Tax Year 2026), the credit for children ages four through 16 will also increase to up to $500 per child and households with eligible children under age four will still be able to claim up to $1,000 per child.
• New York eliminated a longstanding provision that restricted New York’s poorest families from accessing the full credit, also known as the minimum income requirement or credit phase-in, so that these families can now access the full value of the credit as a refund.
• New York also adjusted the credit phase-out, so more middle-class families whose incomes were previously too high to qualify for the credit can receive the credit. The full credit remains available to jointly filing households up to $110,000, but now the expanded credit combined with its gradual rate of phaseout means even a family of four with a child under 4 and a child over 4 with household income of $170,000, who would not have qualified for any credit under the prior program, can now receive over $500 per year.

These major reforms will drive significant assistance to families with the youngest children and help families across the income spectrum, doubling the size of the average credit for families from $472 to $943.

If all eligible New Yorkers are able to access this expanded credit, independent research analysts estimate that this one initiative could reduce child poverty by more than eight percent.

You are eligible for the refundable Empire State Child Credit in 2026 if you:

• are a full-year New York State resident, and
• have at least one qualifying child younger than 17 years old as of December 31 of 2025, and
• file a New York State income tax return and provide a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for you and for each child you claim — learn how: www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file

You can receive the maximum value of the credit if your income is below $75,000 for single, head of household and $110,000 for married filing jointly.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for increasing and expanding New York’s Empire State Child Credit. The expanded Empire State Child Credit will provide a much-needed boost to household budgets for millions of families across New York State and will be especially impactful for families with young children who have little or no income. But it’s important that those families know they need to file a New York State income tax return in order to receive the money and that doing so will not impact other benefits they may receive, including SNAP and Medicaid. We will be reaching out to families to make sure they know about this important benefit and ask community partners to do the same.”

For the lowest-income New Yorkers who were previously limited but are now eligible to receive the full credit:

• If you have no income or your income is below $4,000, you do not owe taxes and you can get the maximum credit as cash back by filing a New York State income tax return.
• If you have more than $4,000 income, file a New York State income tax return to receive the credit. If you do not owe taxes, you can receive the maximum credit as cash back. If you owe a small amount of tax, this credit can pay for that and even provide you with some additional cash.

To ensure as many New Yorkers as possible can access the expanded credit, such as the lowest-income families who would benefit the most, including families whose income is so low they do not have a tax filing obligation, Governor Hochul is taking a whole-of-government approach to raising awareness of the credit among eligible families. For example, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is developing materials to speak more directly to lower-income New Yorkers who receive other benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and who may be eligible for the credit. Findings from a recent national survey indicate that among American households who had not filed taxes or did so irregularly, 84 percent had participated in at least one other government, including 55 percent receiving SNAP benefits.

Receiving the Empire State Child Credit will not impact families’ Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, cash assistance or housing assistance. If New Yorkers receiving these programs choose to save their refund, it will not count against asset limits for 12 months.

The tax filing season for 2026 (Tax Year 2025) opens today Monday, January 26. E-filing is the easiest and safest way to file tax returns, as well as the fastest way to receive cash back from any tax refunds. Those who are eligible for the Empire State Child Credit are also likely to be eligible for free tax filing options available through the Tax Department.

The enhanced Empire State Child Credit is a key element of Governor Hochul’s ongoing Affordability Agenda. Other important elements include: Reducing middle class taxes to their lowest level in 70 years; Inflation Rebate Checks, which last year delivered more than $2.2 billion in direct financial relief to 8.3 million New Yorkers; and, ensuring universal free school meals to save families around $1,600 per child.

 

Mayor Mamdani, Schools Chancellor Samuels Announce Return to In-Person Learning Tuesday

 

TODAY, Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels (NYCPS) announced that all New York City Public Schools will be open for in-person learning Tuesday, Jan. 27, following a one-day pivot to remote instruction Monday.  

 

All programs and activities will resume as scheduled. 

 

“As dedicated city workers mobilized across all five boroughs to clear our streets and keep New Yorkers safe, teachers and students this morning came together online – reading, learning and staying connected,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Thanks to the round-the-clock work of our schools facilities teams, we are ready to welcome students and staff back to classrooms tomorrow. I am deeply grateful to our school leaders, educators and families for making today’s remote learning day a success and for preparing our students to return.” 

 

“When it mattered most, our communities worked together to weather the storm,” said Schools Chancellor Samuels. “To our dedicated school staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure our pathways are clear, our classrooms are warm and breakfast is served tomorrow – thank you. To all our educators, school leaders and staff who made the pivot to remote learning successful, and to our students and families for their partnership and adaptability – thank you. I’m proud to lead such a dynamic and resilient school system in a city that once again rose to the occasion.” 

 

Over the weekend and throughout Monday, NYCPS deployed facilities teams to every school building to prepare for students’ return. This work included ice and snow removal at school entrances and surrounding areas, as well as measures to ensure buildings are properly heated for students and staff.  

 

The decision to pivot to remote instruction on Monday prioritized the safety of students, families and staff while maintaining continuity of learning and meeting New York State’s 180-day instructional requirement. Preliminary data show that nearly 375,000 students and parents –  nearly 80% of expected students -- successfully logged into virtual classrooms, supported by more than 125,000 educators. High school students and students in grades six through eight attending schools that serve grades six through twelve maintained the day off on Monday, due to a previously scheduled professional learning day.   

 

The successful transition to remote learning was made possible through close interagency collaboration, which ensured students had the necessary devices and connectivity, log-in systems were stress-tested and classrooms were ready to open Tuesday.