In her first comments after Santos was expelled on Spectrum News NY1 , Governor Kathy Hochul weighs in on the special election, potential candidates and working with Jay Jacobs and Rep. Gregory Meeks.

LIVE NOW: Political anchors Susan Arbetter and Errol Louis (@errol.louis on Threads) host a podcast breaking down what you need to know for the June 28 primaries. Listen and join in the conversation here: twitter.com/i/spaces/1Mnxn…

Spectrum News begins its primary debate series next week with a showdown in the Democratic race for governor.

Jumaane Williams and Tom Suozzi have confirmed they’re attending. NY1 has not received a formal response from Kathy Hochul’s campaign.

More: specne.ws/PDaFbE

Municipal worker unions are clearly not applauding the mayor’s expected announcement today - to drop the vaccine mandate for athletes and performers. They claim it’s a double-standard. Almost 1500 city workers were fired in February for not getting vaccinated

'Absolutely, no question' Putin has committed war crimes.

In an interview, House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems Affairs Chair Rep. Gregory Meeks also told me that while Putin may be surrounding Kyiv, the whole world is surrounding Russia.

More here: bit.ly/3MmWpbL

#Ukraine Spectrum News NY1

New and first in Spectrum News NY1: NY Working Families Party backing Brittany Ramos @RanaForCongress in NY-11 and NY-12 primaries against bigger-name Dems specne.ws/KxiP5B

HAPPENING NOW: Chuck Schumer is meeting w/ #SCOTUS nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. First of several meetings for Jackson today.

'I am just so pleased that the president has nominated someone of such amazing qualification and breadth of experience.'

Spectrum News NY1 Capital Tonight

An Assembly seat in the heart of Manhattan is open for the first time in half a century. Meet the candidates to replace Richard Gottfried: Tony Simone Layla Law-Gisiko 罗蕾菈 Christopher LeBron Lowell Kern Harrison Marks Spectrum News NY1 ny1.com/nyc/queens/new…

In this new memo to his staff, Alvin Bragg Alvin Bragg puts in writing what he has been saying in recent weeks’ interviews and forums, that his Day One memo was confusing and he is being tough on gun crimes.

NEW: Karine Jean-Pierre previews President Biden's trip to NYC this Thursday.

She says AG Merrick Garland will be joining on the trip.

They'll meet with Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, & law enforcement leaders at NYPD HQs to talk about efforts to take 'guns and repeat shooters off of our streets.'

.Mayor Eric Adams takes one Q, says too much focus on proposal to roll back bail reform in his anti-gun violence plan: “That is one river. … The problem of violence is several rivers that’s feeding this crisis.”

A state appellate court will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. on New York state's request for a stay after a state Supreme Court judge overturned the indoor mask mandate

.Sen. Stewart-Cousins says they want to let the process play out in the courts first before legislature gets involved, when it comes to mask mandates. A Nassau County judge struck down Governor Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate, but the administration has appealed that decision.

.Sen. Stewart-Cousins says the bail reform laws ‘on some level have been working.’ Cites statistics showing only 2% of those out on bail are rearrested for violent crime. Stats from New York Public Safety also show 20% of those on bail are rearrested either for a crime or misdemeanor.

.Karine Jean-Pierre says President Biden spoke with Mayor Eric Adams last night.

'He expressed his firm support for Mayor Adams' efforts to combat gun violence and violent crime.'

New from SED this morning on the mask mandate for schools

NEW: Amid tensions in the region, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Gregory Meeks is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to #Ukraine and Belgium. Spectrum News NY1

Subway rides and Hochul’s $$$: Zack Fink Courtney Gross and I discuss in the latest #NY1OffTopic podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off… Spectrum News NY1

NEW: Rep. Rep. Nydia Velazquez has tested positive for #COVID19 and is experiencing symptoms, her office says.

She has received 3 doses of the vaccine. Spectrum News NY1

According to New York State Democratic Party, the New York State Democratic Convention is scheduled to take place February 10th in New York City.

The convention includes the nominating process for the Democratic ticket. It happens every four years when there are statewide races, including Governor.