Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated a win this week with her chief judge pick receiving approval, but it comes as the lawmakers and the governor are still struggling to approve a budget well past deadline.
Meanwhile, a Syracuse Congressional candidate kicked off their campaign for the 2024 election, a city school drew praise from the national teacher's union and the mayor is worried about violence in the city.
1. Lawmakers ready to pass fifth extender as state budget talks drag
![The bright lights within the New York State Capitol building can be seen at nighttime in Albany, N.Y.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/56d81d7/2147483647/strip/true/resize/880x^/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2Fb1%2F4a627bf94c70a0fb177c16249e78%2Fhochul.jpg)
New York state lawmakers have the weekend off, after they failed to reach an agreement on the state budget, which is now three weeks late. Before they left, they passed another spending extender to keep the state going until Monday.
2. Rowan Wilson confirmed as New York's first African American chief judge
![Judge Rowan D. Wilson.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3900e1e/2147483647/strip/true/resize/880x^/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0c%2Fe5%2F70bcb2684242ac679abf14ea53aa%2Frowan.jpg)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul's nominee for the position of chief judge, Rowan Wilson, was approved by a 40-19 vote in the State Senate. Wilson's confirmation marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first African-American to hold this position.
3. Sarah Klee Hood says she's running again to be CNY's Congressional rep
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bd99cd7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6016x4016+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F38%2Faf%2F818ad4864280a54325df09ddd0c8%2Fsarah-klee-hood-provided-photo.jpg)
Sarah Klee Hood, a Democrat and former Air Force veteran, has announced her candidacy for the 2024 congressional election in Syracuse.
4. Flow of guns into state driving up Syracuse crime rate, mayor says
![Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh speaks during the State of the City Address at Corcoran High School in Syracuse, N.Y. on Thursday, January 26, 2022.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b93dd34/2147483647/strip/true/resize/880x^/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3e%2Fc2%2F6e3c213a469a91e07655d633cb82%2Fguns.jpg)
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has stated that the increase in violent crime rates in the city during the first few months of the year is linked to the continued proliferation of guns.
5. Syracuse's semi-auto trash pick up gets June kickoff
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d61157a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/613x395+0+0/resize/880x567!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fwaer%2Ffiles%2F201505%2Fsyr_cleanup_trash.png)
The city of Syracuse is set to begin the first phase of its semi-automated trash pick up plan in June, with approximately 20% of residents receiving new 96-gallon bins. Sanitation employees are currently training to operate the new semi-automated trucks.
6. Syracuse school's hands-on learning draws national union's attention
![A man types at a computer at a desk with engineering instruments in a classroom.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0fc9ffb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6b%2Fdd%2F4673e95b442bb66abacdbb3195f8%2F20230418-100911.jpg)
The Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central is using innovative methods to help teachers address the learning loss caused by the pandemic, as shown during a recent visit by the head of the national teacher’s union.
7.Onondaga County DA's office presents plan to address lawyer shortage
![Seven men and women sit around a large oval table in a meeting room.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/18d3830/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2016x1512+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F91%2F8e4c5a0c42c68d5714d53c2d9258%2Fcounty-leg-pub-safety-4-19.jpg)
The Onondaga County Legislature's Public Safety Committee is set to consider a proposal to address the loss of lawyers from the district attorney's office.
8.New York state Board of Regents votes to end Native American mascots and imagery
![Public schools in New York will no longer be able to use Native American names, mascots and imagery. Districts will have until the end of the 2025 school year to finalize the changes that take effect May 3rd.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4a506f5/2147483647/strip/true/resize/880x^/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2Ff0%2F516757b2460e806db6f1f0afb69b%2Fstate.jpg)
New York public schools are prohibited from using Native American names, mascots and imagery, following a unanimous vote by the Board of Regents.
9. New York's renewable energy projects coming along
![Solar panels on top of an apartment building.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7b5f6e3/2147483647/strip/true/resize/880x^/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9d%2Ffc%2F7e35804841dea98ab4b4130b9152%2Fenergy.jpg)
In celebration of Earth Week, New York State has completed multiple renewable energy projects, including wind, solar and hydroelectric developments.