Tuesday Headlines: State Of The State Edition

The 2026 State of the State address kicks off at 1 p.m. in the Egg Performing Arts Center's Hart Theatre. What is nominally a mood board of the governor's plans for the upcoming state budget also serves as a tone setter for the rest of the year.

Maybe that means Gov. Hochul will attack President Trump and his regular (and often poorly executed) threats on the Empire State. She'll of course rile up lawmakers who are raring to make New York more safer and more affordable, especially in an election year. Her base will get some love, too. One imagines it's easier to pitch policy to voters when the Buffalo Bills are just a couple wins from a Super Bowl. Good vibes all around.

Streetsblog Empire State will have a hint on some of Hochul's transportation policy moves, too. Check back later this morning for a scoop or two.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will also be in attendance. He has a transit affordability agenda to push for in Albany this year, and Hochul's address will serve as a litmus test for how much noise he and his allies in the state Legislature need to make in order to declare success.

Will the fate of fast and free buses be one of people centered compromise or teeth pulling? It's hard to say this early.

All we know is that in Albany, ain't a damn thing fast or free.

More news from around your empire:

• Hochul is planning to to crack down on insurance fraudsters who stage car crashes (Newsday)
• Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will be showing his face around Albany more than usual as he charts his primary challenge against his boss. (City & State)
• The Halfmoon Valvoline employee who was pinned by two vehichles while at work has died. (the Times Union)
• Erie County legislators are trying to wrangle the county's vehicles after an audit found misuse of its fleet. (The Buffalo News)
• A Syracuse trucking company is alleging that contractors for the I-81 viaduct project only awarded it work to meet local hire and minority-owned business requirements before renegging. (Central Current)
• A 79-year-old man was struck and killed in Long Beach on Sunday night. (Patch)
• Monroe County is stepping up its school bus crossing safety efforts, and drivers are officially on notice. (Democrat & Chronicle)
• Truman show: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's only true friend in politics, the charming labradoodle Paisley, made an appearance.