Merf Radio | radioNOVO News NY News Roundup for May 27, 2026

Good morning.We turn first to Albany, where state lawmakers are back on the floor today grinding through a sluggish, historic legislative logjam. Marathon voting sessions continue this week as the state capital works to finalize a massive spending blueprint that is now nearly two full months overdue. While rank-and-file members began checking off individual spending bills late last week, an absolute final breakthrough on the most controversial policy items remains fluid. The legal deadline to have the books balanced hit way back on April first, making this sluggish cycle the longest-delayed state budget process since 2010. When the dust finally settles, the total price tag for the fiercely debated fiscal package is projected to land at a record-shattering two hundred sixty-eight billion dollars.Meanwhile, a critical statewide health alert has been issued as blood bank officials launch an urgent emergency appeal ahead of the summer rush. Both the New York Blood Center and New Jersey Blood Services announced Tuesday that regional inventories have plummeted to less than a two-day supply. Even more alarming, Type O—the universal blood type vital for emergency care—has dropped to under a one-day supply. Officials warn the shortage comes at the worst possible time, as summer traditionally sees a spike in car crashes and trauma patients. Demand is expected to surge even higher this year with a massive influx of international tourists arriving in the region for the FIFA World Cup. Anyone seventeen or older is urged to donate immediately.And a major legal battle involving the New York Giants is headed to open court following a blockbuster decision in Washington. On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court rejected the NFL’s aggressive push to force former coach Brian Flores’s racial discrimination lawsuit into private arbitration. Flores initially sued the league, the Broncos, the Texans, and the Giants back in 2022, alleging systemic racism in coaching and front-office hiring practices. The league wanted Commissioner Roger Goodell to oversee the dispute behind closed doors, but a federal appeals court previously slammed that idea. While the high court's ruling does not decide the merits of the case, it clears the path for the explosive allegations to be heard in front of a judge and jury.Turning to state theater news, Broadway is turning the lights back on for a massive musical favorite. The Book of Mormon will officially return to the stage Wednesday night for the first time since a sudden fire forced performances to shut down at the Eugene O’Neill Theater. The blaze, which broke out back on May fourth, started in an electrical room and quickly spread to the roof. The incident caused significant fire, smoke, and water damage to the upper structure, though theater management confirms the main public seating areas were entirely spared. Crews have spent the last three weeks working around the clock to safely repair the historic venue in time for tomorrow night's big reopening.And finally, a handful of brilliant Empire State students are putting their skills to the test on the national stage today. The preliminary rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee officially kick off this morning in Maryland, featuring nearly two hundred fifty spelling champions from across the country. New York is well-represented this year, sending elite spellers from New York City as well as two local Hudson Valley middle schoolers from Hartsdale and Goshen. The high-stakes quarterfinals and semifinals are locked in for Wednesday, while the final broadcast will air Thursday evening to crown the ultimate national champion.For more breaking news from across the Empire State, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.