NYC NOW

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: State Sen. Kevin Parker from Brooklyn won't face charges for an altercation with an advocate in Albany last week. The New York City Parks Department says it has hired 230 lifeguards for Memorial Day weekend but is still hundreds short, which could lead to shorter operating hours. Plus, Fleet Week, the annual celebration for the men and women of the armed forces, is back in New York City.

New Jersey pharmacist Ghada Abukuwaik has returned home safely after being trapped in Gaza for several weeks along with other medical workers due to the ongoing Rafah border closure. In other news, New York State's highest court issued a unanimous ruling on Tuesday upholding the requirement that health insurers cover medically necessary abortions. Meanwhile, the FDNY is investigating the cause of a three-alarm fire that tore through five commercial buildings in the Bronx. Plus, time is running out for New York lawmakers to consider two measures that would make it easier for some inmates to secure early release from prison. WNYC’s Samantha Max reports. Finally, ahead of the three-day Memorial Day weekend, Eater NY offers a suggestion on where you should visit: Kingston, New York. WNYC’s David Furst speaks with food critic Robert Sietsema to learn more.

Plus, after being fast-tracked through the legislature, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy must now decide whether to place sweeping restrictions on the state’s Open Public Records Act, which requires local and state agencies to provide the public with access to government records. Changes would make it harder to get government emails, give clerks more reasons to deny citizens who request them and even let the government sue people it thinks are asking for records too often. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with editor of the New Jersey Monitor, Terrence T. McDonald for the latest.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Brooklyn Pastor Lamor Whitehead is headed to jail after a judge revoked his bail on Monday for proclaiming his innocence on a podcast. In other news, street safety advocates say five people were killed by cars in Queens over the weekend, making 2024 one of the deadliest years for the borough since the Vision Zero initiative began. Plus, flags will fly at New York state buildings in honor of retired New York State Police member Benedicto Albizu Jr., who died earlier this month from an illness related to his assignment at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks.

Starting Wednesday, migrants who reach a limit of 30- or 60-day stays can be evicted, with limited opportunities to remain depending on their age. In other news, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing questions after over 2,000 families were unable to secure a seat in the city’s 3K program this fall. Meanwhile, New York state lawmakers are proposing a bill that would require large public venues to have EpiPens on hand for treating life-threatening allergic emergencies. Plus, disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein’s recently overturned conviction in New York could pave the way for a new state law. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with reporters Samantha Max and Jon Campbell to learn more.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is defending the NYPD's overall response to a pro-Palestinian rally in Brooklyn on Saturday after video emerged showing two officers punching three protesters. In other news, a video screen that lets people in New York and Dublin peer into life on opposite sides of the Atlantic has re-opened after reports of "inappropriate behavior." Plus, MTA data shows that subway strikes are increasing, with 2024 on track to have nearly double the number of fatal strikes as 2019. WNYC’s Brittany Kriegstein reports that families are often left with little clarity or closure.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The NYPD is investigating a video showing an officer repeatedly punching a demonstrator during a pro-Palestinian protest in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, on Saturday. In other news, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration plans to shut down a Midtown homeless hub that offers places to rest, eat, and shower. WNYC’s Karen Yi reports.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is scrambling to reassure families they’ll get a spot in the city's free 3K program. Meanwhile, WNYC’s Karen Yi follows a homeless outreach team around Grand Central Terminal that helps people find services and housing. In other news, the 31st annual New York African Film Festival starts this Friday. Finally, due to pandemic-related financial issues, Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, is looking to sell off land to be developed for housing.

Child poverty rates in New York have reached their highest level since 2016, according to a new report from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Meanwhile, about 26,000 runners are expected to participate in a half marathon in Brooklyn on Saturday. In other news, school districts nationwide are seeking ways to address COVID-related learning loss. However, the Union City, New Jersey, School District, which serves some of the state's lowest-income students, is meeting academic goals with little state assistance. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with district Superintendent Silvia Abbato and Bergen Record education reporter Mary Ann Koruth to learn why.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Harvey Weinstein's overturned rape conviction has spurred a new push to update New York's laws. Meanwhile, New York City shelter provider WIN is launching a pilot program on Monday to give homeless families debit cards to help them find housing more quickly. Plus, the New York Knicks will try to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night against the Indiana Pacers. Finally, on this week’s segment of On The Way, WNYC’s Stephen Nessen and Clayton Guse discuss New York City Transit head Richard Davey leaving his job, plans to build housing near two new Metro-North stations in the Bronx, and a street redesign in Brooklyn.

Mayor Adams' controversial policy of limiting shelter stays for migrants could cost New York City up to $2 billion a year. Plus, New York University is requiring students who were arrested during recent protests over the war in Gaza to write essays on ethics, morality and character. And finally, WNYC’s Michael Hill talks with Newark Deputy Mayor Lakeesha Eure about the city’s Summer Safety Initiative, which includes a wide array of social programs. wnyc, new york, bronx, queens, brooklyn, manhattan, staten island, new york city, local news, new jersey

New York City plans to rezone areas for more housing in the East Bronx near two Metro-North stations currently under construction, but some local residents do not want a population boom. In other news, with warmer weather approaching, some students are considering summer jobs. Vilda Vera Mayuga, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, offers tips for students preparing to work this summer.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Lawyers for New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez tell jurors they can explain the discovery of gold bars, $400,000, and a Mercedes Benz during the raid on his home. Meanwhile, the Palestinian-American Medical Association reports that approximately 20 American health workers are stranded at a Gaza hospital after Israel closed the Rafah border crossing. In other news, the New York City Fire Museum in Manhattan remains indefinitely closed after an emergency evacuation last weekend. Plus, as Election Day nears, WNYC is turning metro area laundromats into hubs of civic dialogue. WNYC's George Bodarky shares what he’s been hearing from people between wash cycles.

DoorDash will reconsider how it treats prospective hires with criminal convictions after reaching a settlement with New York’s attorney general’s office. Plus, Volunteers of America-Greater New York says it might be forced to reduce the number of new backpacks it distributes to students living in shelters before the start of school. And finally, WNYC's data reporter, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, crunched twenty years worth of data since the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act was passed.

State officials are alerting New Yorkers with EBT cards about a scheduled outage from midnight to approximately 11 AM Sunday for system updates. In sports, the Knicks are one victory away from their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1999 after a Tuesday night win over the Pacers at the Garden. The New York Liberty also triumphed in their season opener against the Washington Mystics. Meanwhile, New York's Good Cause Eviction Law aims to limit big rent increases and help tenants stay in their apartments, but its numerous exceptions have confused many renters, including some of our listeners. WNYC’s housing reporter David Brand breaks down what he’s heard and answers some questions.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Edafe Okporo, a Nigerian refugee and LGBTQ activist, is running for an Upper Manhattan seat on the New York City Council, WNYC’s Giulia Heyward reports. Meanwhile, new good cause protections for tenants are now in effect across the five boroughs. Additionally, transit officials have announced plans to deploy 60 new electric buses in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island this fall.

The fight to keep New York state's Equal Rights Amendment on the November ballot is heading back to court. Plus, New York state senators passed a resolution to honor baseball Hall of Famer and a noted Yankee killer, David Ortiz. And finally, WNYC’s David Furst and Elizabeth Kim discuss the 2025 mayor’s race in New York City and who’s likely to face off against Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary.

Tuesday is the registration deadline for New Jersey's Democratic Senate primary. On Monday night in South Orange the three candidates debated several topics including the Israel-Hamas conflict. Meanwhile, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is pushing to rezone the Citi Field parking lot for a new casino, which Jackson Heights community groups say could generate a billion dollars in economic development. Plus, a new report from a New York State watchdog and a nonprofit law firm reveals that many city public hospital psychiatric patients lack access to fresh air during extended stays, an issue advocates claim violates patient rights. In response, NYC Health and Hospitals cites safety and security concerns as reasons for restricting outdoor access. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with reporter Caroline Lewis and former psychiatric patient Michael Kronenberg to learn more.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Jury selection has begun for the trial of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, with further questioning of prospective jurors set for Tuesday. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is scheduled to travel to Italy this week, followed by a visit to Ireland where she will speak at the Global Economic Summit. Plus, a new event series titled 'Death of the Party' is supporting LGBTQ+ young adults who are grieving the loss of a parent, whether or not they were accepted by them.

The New York City Commission on Racial Equity has released a list of 16 priority goals to reduce racial disparities in the city. In other news, actor Steve Buscemi's publicist confirms he is fine after being punched last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Williamsburg's Union Pool bar and music venue announced its lineup for the Summer Thunder series of free daytime shows. WNYC reporter Charles Lane explores the unique superstitions of New York Knicks fans. Finally, New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a bill to revise the state’s Open Public Records Act. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with media and public interest lawyer CJ Griffin to learn more.