On the eve of Veterans Day, a bill was introduced in the County Legislature that would direct more county contracts to veterans and active-duty service members who own local businesses. more

Most people don’t like Congress, and most people think the New York State Legislature is doing about the same job as Congress. more

The Herald endorses Democrat Kathleen Rice in the spirited race for the 4th Congressional District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat who is retiring following a cancer diagnosis. more

The race for the New York State Legislature’s 14th Assembly District pits the incumbent, Republican David McDonough, of North Merrick, against Gaspare Tumminello, a Democrat from Merrick, who is deputy chief of staff for the Nassau County Legislature’s Democratic minority. Tumminello, a native of Franklin Square, had previously run unsuccessfully for Nassau County legislator in the 8th District in 2009. This year, the Herald asked each of the candidates to fill in a four-question survey about their positions on salient state issues. The 14th Assembly District takes in all or parts of Freeport, Roosevelt, Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Wantagh, North Wantagh, Seaford and Massapequa. more

An attorney for Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg indicated that a settlement between his client and Davidoff Hutcher & Citron — which is suing Denenberg for $3.6 million — may be in the works. more

With the gridlock in Washington, and the latest scandal involving Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s alleged meddling in the work of the commission he created to help root out corruption in Albany, it’s too easy to think that “government” — and government shenanigans — are something far away, either up the Hudson or down I-95. more

The Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature on June 16 approved fee increases for many county services, including parks, museums, pools, golf, marinas and vendor registration. County Executive Ed Mangano, who proposed the fee hikes in May, signed them into law June 19. more

The Nassau County Legislature has decided to post transcripts of its public hearings dating back to 2005 online, along with videos of sessions going forward. We can only say thank you, hallelujah –– and it’s about time. more

Long Islanders have a lot to be happy about these days. Not only is this wretched winter coming to an end, but our average proposed school-tax hike is the lowest it has been in more than four decades. more

Somehow, some way, in the next week, New York state will have a new budget. Almost all of the details will remain out of the public eye until the very last moment, and that’s probably a good thing. more