Emilie Munson

And I found that the state matched campaign contributions that over 100 candidates gave to themselves or their families made
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Why NY candidates broke spending records in 2024 The average state legislative candidate in New York in 2024 spent more money than they had in any of the past 25 years.

I also looked at how the Public Campaign Finance Program caused candidates across the board to spend more money on their campaigns, raising the floor for what it takes to run for office in the state
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Election officials say Senate candidate defrauded state of over $200,000 Caleb Slater, a former state Senate candidate, has been directed to repay more than $200K his 2024 campaign received through a taxpayer-subsidized program intended to reduce influence of big...

Fittingly, just yesterday, New York ordered the candidate to pay back over $200K for his fraud to the state
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Homeless people say they got paid to be donors in Senate campaign Law enforcement are investigating whether Caleb Slater allegedly paid people in exchange for donations to get money from the New York State Public Campaign Finance Program during the 2024 election.

I found a state Senate candidate defrauded the Public Campaign Finance Program by reporting fake contributions that he paid homeless people to make in a scheme coordinated with the local drug dealer.
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Toner Prizes The Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting recognize the best U.S. national or local political reporting in any medium or on any platform—print, broadcast or online.

Big thank you to @syracuseup.bsky.social for selecting me as a finalist for the Toner Prize in Political Reporting! What an incredible honor. My work investigating NY’s public campaign finance program was selected. Links below!
newhouse.syracuse.edu/centers/robi...

UPDATE: @emiliemunson.bsky.social's reporting on New York's public campaign finance program — including her Slater bombshell — was just honored as a finalist for this year's Toner Prize for Local Political Reporting. newhouse.syracuse.edu/centers/robi...

Election officials say Senate candidate defrauded state of over $200,000 Caleb Slater, a former state Senate candidate, has been directed to repay more than $200K his 2024 campaign received through a taxpayer-subsidized program intended to reduce influence of big...

New York investigators say a state Senate candidate ran a “straw donor scheme,” “participated in material misrepresentations and fraud” and now owed the state more than $200K. Confirms findings of my August investigation

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Election officials say Senate candidate defrauded state of over $200,000 Election officials say a New York senate candidate Caleb Slater defrauded the state of over $200,000 during his 2024 campaign in the Syracuse area.

Republican state Senate candidate Caleb Slater rooked the state out of more than $200K in a 2024 political fundraising scheme, a probe by the NY Public Campaign Finance Board has concluded. New reporting from @emiliemunson.bsky.social, who exposed the scam last summer.

Blind refugee abandoned by Border Patrol dies in Buffalo. A nearly blind refugee abandoned by Border Patrol miles from his home dies in Buffalo after having been missing for nearly a week.

This blind man - a refugee from Burma - was dropped off by Border Patrol at a Tim Horton's in Buffalo, NY.

In the middle of February.
A mile from a home where he no longer lived.
While his relatives were searching for him.

Cops found his body 5 days later

www.investigativepost.org/2026/02/25/b...

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people local newspaper reporters are rarified elites instead of ink-stained wretches driving their Honda Civic to a crime scene so you know don’t have to rely on Nextdoor and the police press release.

The invitation came as Cuomo traveled to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with real estate mogul Andrew Farkas, who was close to Epstein. Epstein offered to send a helicopter to pick them up.

Jeffery Epstein invited Andrew Cuomo to his island Jeffrey Epstein invited the New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to his island in 2014 through real estate tycoon Andrew Farkas according to texts in the U.S. Department of Justice's Epstein files.

NEWS: Jeffrey Epstein invited Andrew Cuomo to his island in October 2014 while Cuomo was governor and campaigning for re-election. Cuomo said he never went. Much more in @timesunion.com

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Lawmakers said legislature must act after 'timeout box' found in school New records show the Salmon River Central School District bought supplies at a local hardware store. Lawmakers have proposed bills to ban such boxes.

ICYMI: Lawmakers say the NY legislature must act after "timeout boxes" found at an upstate school. They say state education regulations revised three years ago do not go far enough
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Out-of-state police are using Connecticut license plate camera data for immigration enforcement A full record of which police departments are using the equipment is not kept by state officials.

License plate camera data from Connecticut towns searched to track woman who Texas officials say had an abortion.

And

Out-of-state police are using Connecticut license plate camera data for immigration enforcement.

www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

Schoharie County rejects another election commissioner candidate The Schoharie County Board of Supervisors has rejected another nominee for the Democratic Board of Elections commissioner.

If you've been following the battle over the reappointment of Schoharie County's 92-year-old elections commissioner, we have an update: the county rejected another candidate. Some county board members are still holding out hope to get Clifford Hay back
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Buffalo Bills fire head coach McDermott after 9 seasons Sean McDermott has been fired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

Buffalo Bills fire head coach McDermott after 9 seasons www.timesunion.com/sports/artic...

In New York, lawmakers often vote without knowing the price tag New York is one of 12 states that don't produce public fiscal notes on all bills that could impact the state's finances.

NY is one of 12 states that votes on legislation without knowing how much it will cost.
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Police probe another device at New York school with 'timeout box' Police showed a mother a photo of another object possibly used to block or confine students at Salmon River Central School District.

NEWS: After the discovery of multiple wooden "timeout boxes" at a school district in northern New York, police are examining a new device allegedly used to block or confine students there. More in @timesunion.com
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Police probe another device at New York school with 'timeout box' Police showed a mother a photo of another object possibly used to block or confine students at Salmon River Central School District.

SCOOP: Police are investigating the use of a new device at a New York school that allegedly confined students in 'timeout boxes.' It's a structure made of PVC pipes and mesh for dividing students from staff during behavior incidents. More in
@timesunion.com
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In Bridgeport, waiting years for public records while officials break transparency laws Despite pledges from Mayor Joe Ganim to improve transparency, Connecticut’s most populous city has fallen into a pattern of delaying and stonewalling requests for public records — routinely in...

This was a request for a simple policy. Imagine if you want something more complex... My colleagues at Hearst CT Media @jrabethomas.bsky.social, @joshuaeaton.bsky.social and @blockhartreporter.bsky.social detailed the city's stonewalling history in this 2023 story: www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

Thank you to Bridgeport CT for finally providing me a copy of their vehicle pursuit policy that I FOIA requested nearly SEVEN YEARS ago. This should come in handy for that story I was working on two jobs ago...

Judge disqualifies Sarcone from second criminal case in Albany A federal judge has rejected acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III's application for a court order to obtain tax records for a company targeted in a criminal investigation.

John Sarcone's tenure as the top federal prosecutor in New York's Northern District becomes more tenuous by the day. Brendan Lyons reports.

Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations

Albany rally supports Afghan family detained by ICE Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition seeks solutions for immigrants and calls for passage of Access to Representation and New York for All acts.

Members of an Afghan family detained by ICE in Albany last year have been released. About 200 people rallied in the city to support them this weekend
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Stefanik’s Out, but Sour Environment Shifts New York Governor Into Solid Democrat Rep. Elise Stefanik’s roller coaster of a year has finally reached its end. The Republican pulled out of the race for New York governor — and also passed on a reelection bid — on Dec. 19, explicitly a...

Rep. Elise Stefanik’s withdrawal from the New York governor race reflects an increasingly obvious reality: Republicans are not in a position to flip the state next year.

The race shifts from Likely D to Solid D.

School leaders put on leave amid fury over district's ‘timeout’ boxes Authorities are investigating the use of ‘timeout’ boxes used to isolate students at the Salmon River Central School District. Multiple top school officials have been placed on leave.

School leaders put on leave, state and local authorities investigating, and parents furious after discovering wooden “timeout” boxes in elementary schools in a NY district. Shocking story that you don’t want to miss

www.timesunion.com/news/article...

School district’s ‘timeout’ boxes spark parent outrage, investigations Authorities are investigating the use of ‘timeout’ boxes used to isolate students at the Salmon River Central School District. Enraged parents are demanding the resignation of district...

NEWS: This week, parents discovered an NY public school district had 3 wooden, "timeout" boxes for confining students. Only after photos surfaced did some parents learn their kids may have been held inside. Investigations and outrage ensued.
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

How much do you need to make to be ‘comfortable’ in the Capital Region? Many individuals and families in U.S. metro areas find it challenging to balance needs, wants and savings under the "50/30/20" budget rule, with many unable to meet basic, adequate living needs.

Fascinating (and alarming) data analysis by Julie Zhu about how much household income is required to be "comfortable" in different regions of New York.

State Commission Examines Lack of Diversity on Jury Panels Juries in New York are shockingly lacking in diversity, allege critics, who are pushing for reforms to make the system more representative

“There didn’t appear to be a single Black juror in the room.”

Probe progresses into state Senate candidate who allegedly paid for donations The state attorney general's office is investigating a former state Senate candidate who allegedly paid homeless people to falsely report donations to his campaign so he could garner matching funds.

Here's what we know about the ongoing Attorney General investigation into the campaign of state Senate candidate Caleb Slater, who is accused of paying people for political donations and then collecting thousands from a state program that matched those donations
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