NYC NOW is a feed of the most up-to-date local news from across New York City and the region. With three updates a day, every weekday, you'll get breaking news, top headlines, and in-depth coverage. It’s all the news you need to know right now to make New York work for you.
The long-promised Second Avenue Subway extension is finally making its way into East Harlem, bringing the promise of long-overdue transit access. But for some, that progress comes at a cost. The MTA is using eminent domain to acquire at least 19 properties, mostly residential, to make way for a future station at East 116th Street. WNYC's Ramsey Khalifeh meets the Diego family, who have just 90 days to leave the apartment they've lived in for decades.
Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to New York State Attorney General Letitia James related to two of her most controversial cases. Plus, a downstate casino proposal is offering residents of a nearby development a cut of the action. Also, it'll be another weekend of transportation troubles across the 5 boroughs. Meanwhile, thousands felt the shake of earthquakes in New Jersey this week. And finally, summer brings a seasonal variety of fruits and we're sharing tips for what's in abundance at your local market right now.
A Vital City report shows that hiring more police officers doesn't necessarily mean less crime. Meanwhile, two people are facing charges for allegedly stealing the home of an elderly woman in hospice care. Also, a stretch of streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Dyckman Street will be closed to cars Saturday for the city's Summer Streets program. Plus, New Jersey secures a more than $2 billion settlement with DuPont and related companies to clean up “forever chemicals” at four contaminated sites. Columbia University's Dr. Julie Herbstman joins us to discuss the health impact of these chemicals.
Mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo is proposing free subway and bus service for low-income New Yorkers. Meanwhile, a 100-year-old historic home near Staten Island's New Dorp station is on the market for only the second time in its history. A new report from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli warns of severe doctor shortages in rural New York counties, with some lacking pediatricians, OBGYNs, and mental health providers. Finally, in this week's transit segment: plans for a new 34th Street busway, Cuomo's free transit pitch, and safety upgrades to Canal Street following a deadly crash.
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is walking back criticisms he leveled at the NYPD in 2020 during the George Floyd protests. Plus, Gov. Hochul says she's open to charging more teenagers as adults following an uptick in youth defendants committing more serious crimes. Also, officials say they're installing barriers and sand-filled barrels in front of pedestrian crossings at Canal Street and Bowery. And finally, the way you walk may soon be enough to reveal your identity through gait recognition technology.
A former top NYPD lawyer is suing the department, saying she was pushed out after recommending discipline against a close ally of Mayor Eric Adams. Meanwhile, the Delacorte Theater in Central Park reopens tonight with a star-studded production of Twelfth Night after a major renovation. Plus, WNYC's analysis finds city inspections for Legionella dropped to post-pandemic lows ahead of a Harlem outbreak that has killed three and sickened dozens. Reporter Joe Hong joins us to break down the data.
Two men, Miguel Mora and Christhian Aybar have been arrested in connection with the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer now face state charges, including robbery, assault and weapons possession charges. Meanwhile, New York City mayoral candidates are trading attacks over policing after last week's mass shooting in Midtown. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim reports on how one of the victim's families is distancing itself from the tragedy's politics. And New York state officials explain why they're waiving millions in penalties for a developer who missed an affordable housing deadline at Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards.
New York City Representatives Nydia Velazquez, Adriano Espaillat, and Dan Goldman were looking to conduct an oversight visit at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn but were turned away. Plus, New Jersey's gubernatorial race continues to tighten. And finally, New York's climate law calls for the retirement of fossil fuel infrastructure. But that's not stopping a natural gas giant from resurrecting a pipeline plan that was already rejected by the state nearly a decade ago.
A 15-year-old carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died on a Hell's Kitchen street Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Port Authority has broken ground on a new truck parking plaza at JFK Airport to reduce congestion in southeast Queens. Plus, New York City health officials are urging residents in Central Harlem to remain alert for signs of Legionnaires' disease, as the outbreak in the area grows to 67 cases and three deaths. Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse joins us with the latest.
A third person has died in connection to the ongoing Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Harlem. City health officials say 67 people have been diagnosed since late July. Meanwhile, a Harlem resident who recovered from a previous Legionnaires' infection shares their advice for others. Plus, New York City has opened the nation's first city-funded shelter specifically for transgender and gender-nonconforming people experiencing homelessness, located in Queens.
Two Episcopal church members face detention by ICE, prompting parishioner warnings across New York. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the drowning of a 20-month-old girl at a Bronx daycare on Friday. Plus, Andrew Cuomo says he wants to beef up the NYPD unit that responded to last week's mass shooting in Midtown. Finally, food writer Robert Sietsema spotlights Williamsburg's culinary boom.
City health officials confirm another death linked to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Central Harlem, bringing the total number of cases to 58 since late July. Meanwhile, a Long Island City gym has agreed to change its cancellation policy after the attorney general's office said it violated state law. Plus, after an 18-month renovation, the Delacorte Theater reopens this week, marking the long-awaited return of Shakespeare in the Park. Patrick Willingham, Executive Director of the Public Theater that runs Shakespeare in the Park, joins us ahead of the new season.
Parents of students with disabilities in summer school say broken air conditioning and overheated buses are making an already difficult experience worse. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul says it's time to move past nonpartisan redistricting in New York. Plus, Senator Elizabeth Warren shows support for democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
The NYPD's quality of life enforcement teams are expanding to Brooklyn after launching in the Bronx and Manhattan last month. Plus, New York City is moving forward with a plan to build new affordable and market-rate housing at the Elliott-Chelsea Houses but not before vacating its senior residents. Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul is promising to protect cannabis dispensary owners who are facing relocation after state officials already approved their licenses and locations. Also, a crackdown on cyclists and e-bike riders is impacting delivery workers. And finally, we share a few free events to get into this month.
Governor Hochul says she's welcoming Texas Democrats who departed their state to protest a Republican redistricting plan. Meanwhile, the Delacorte Theater in Central Park reopens this week following an 18-month, multi-million dollar renovation. Plus, the latest episode of Terrestrials, a podcast from Radiolab, explores the surprising ecosystem of the Hudson River with a focus on one unexpected resident: crabs. Producer and music director Alan Goffinski joins us to talk about it.
Prosecutors and investigators in Manhattan are adopting new research-backed methods for questioning suspects, witnesses, and victims aiming to improve accuracy and reduce wrongful convictions. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul warns that cuts to federal Medicaid funding could destabilize New York's healthcare system. Plus, Assembly-member Amy Paulin is calling on ICE to release a South Korean national and recent Scarsdale High School graduate detained after a routine court appearance.
A WNYC investigation found dozens of forged signatures on petitions submitted by Mayor Eric Adams' campaign to get on the November ballot. The petitions also included names of deceased voters. We break down the findings and the implications.
Since 2015, Stephen Colbert has been one of the most familiar faces in political comedy, broadcasting from Manhattan's Ed Sullivan Theater. But now, CBS says The Late Show will end in 2026. WNYC's Janae Pierre speaks with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman about what's behind the decision and what it signals for the future of satire, late-night television, and Colbert himself.
A WNYC investigation has found dozens of people who say their signatures were forged or that they were misled into signing ballot petitions for Mayor Eric Adams. Meanwhile, the state of New Jersey is set to raise taxes on cigarettes. Plus, the story of two photographers who track coyotes in Central Park.
New York City's subway system has a lower rate of major violent crime compared to public transit in other large U.S. cities, according to a new report. Meanwhile, New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew says he worked to preserve a special Medicaid program threatened by a new federal tax and spending bill. But as WNYC's Mike Hayes reports, New Jersey hospitals are still expected to lose hundreds of millions in funding.
A New Yorker has died amid a Legionnaires' outbreak in Central Harlem, with more than 20 people sickened. Meanwhile, New York's cannabis regulators are forcing over 100 dispensaries to move or shut down. Plus, Mayor Adams vetoes the City Council's casino ban in the Bronx, and the MTA considers lifting its ban on alcohol ads across subways and buses.
Local officials are warning residents to stay off the roads and prepare for flash flooding as hefty storms roll through the area Thursday night into Friday. Meanwhile, dozens of New York cannabis dispensaries may have to move or close. New York law bars dispensaries from opening within 5-hundred feet of schools. Plus, there's another MTA fare hike coming. WNYC's transit reporter Stephen Nessen joins us with what to expect.
The NYPD has released new information about Shane Tamura, who fatally shot four people in a Midtown Manhattan office building this week. Investigators say Tamura had ammunition, prescription drugs, and a second suicide note in his Las Vegas apartment. Meanwhile, a federal official tells WNYC that the investigation into former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban's alleged ties to a nightlife industry shakedown is now on hold. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams is unveiling a $3 million plan to redesign Manhattan's 14th Street.
The MTA is proposing to raise the cost of a single subway or bus ride to $3 starting in January. Plus, the NYPD is sending detectives to Las Vegas to question associates of Shane Tamura, the man police say shot and killed four people at a building in Midtown Manhattan. Also, some tips to keep mosquitos away this summer. And finally, the Parks Department is asking New Yorkers to help with its once a decade arboreal census.
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is back in New York City after a nearly two-week trip to Uganda. Meanwhile, the Adams administration is proposing changes to a senior housing subsidy to create more family-sized units. In Brooklyn, police say a man was killed by a train after a fight on the Prospect Park subway platform early Wednesday morning. Plus, the fatal shooting inside a Midtown office building this week is raising concerns about safety in buildings with high-profile tenants. Security Expert Brian Higgins joins us to help us understand how buildings with prominent tenants are guarded, and what corporate security teams are thinking about in the aftermath of such an incident.
Monday's deadly shooting inside a Midtown office tower is raising questions about whether existing security protocols are enough. Police say the shooter killed an NYPD officer and a security guard inside the Park Avenue building, despite both being stationed there. Meanwhile, a new count finds more homeless people in New Jersey are living on the streets or in abandoned buildings this year. Also, the MTA has voted to loosen its 2018 ban on alcohol advertising, potentially bringing beer and liquor ads back to city buses and subways.
The NYPD officer who was the first person killed in a shooting in a Midtown office building Monday evening was working a special assignment that many officers take to earn extra money. Plus, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is planning to implement phone restrictions in schools this fall. Also, New York's oldest residents are finding it hard to pay their bills, buy healthy food or leave their home. And finally, a new poll on the New Jersey governor's race puts Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill's lead against Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the single digits.
A power outage at the West 4th Street station is causing delays on the A, B, C, F, and M subway lines, according to the MTA. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams says it appears a gunman who opened fire inside a Midtown skyscraper Monday was targeting NFL offices. Four people, including an off-duty police officer, were killed. Plus, WNYC's Arun Venugopal reports on how mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is mobilizing some immigrant voters while facing criticism from others within his own South Asian community.
Four people, including an NYPD officer, were killed in a Midtown office shooting Monday night before the gunman turned the weapon on himself. Meanwhile, more than a dozen states, including New York and New Jersey, are suing the federal government over a new requirement to collect personal data from food stamp recipients. Also, city officials are warning outdoor workers to stay safe as a heat wave pushes temperatures into the mid-90s. Plus An investigation is underway after the Midtown office building shooting, WNYC's Brittany Kriegstein has the latest on the suspect.
A spokesman for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo pointed to a pilot program he announced in 2013 that invested $25 million to add 5,000 Universal pre-K seats. Plus, the New York City Health Department is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in central Harlem. Also, 311 complaints about dog waste on sidewalks have gone up every year since the pandemic. And finally, a mid-season check in on the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty.
The Trump administration's new agreement with Columbia University requires the school to reduce its reliance on international students. Meanwhile, legal experts say a new federal lawsuit targeting New York's sanctuary city laws is unlikely to succeed in court. The Department of Justice alleges the city unlawfully blocks immigration agents from enforcing federal law. Plus, the battle over New Jersey's top federal prosecutor is heating up. The Trump administration named Alina Habba as acting U.S. Attorney bypassing a panel of federal judges who had planned to replace her. Ry Rivard from Politico New Jersey joins us with the latest.
New York's mandatory paid sick leave for COVID-19 expires this Thursday. The policy required public employers and large companies to provide 14 days of paid leave to workers under quarantine. Meanwhile, Bronx elected officials are calling on federal lawmakers to do more to curb the flow of illegal guns into New York City. Plus, with a heat wave pushing temperatures as high as 105 degrees, officials are urging New Yorkers to stay safe and use available cooling centers across the five boroughs.
A new federal law is making major cuts to SNAP, the program that helps more than 1.8 million New Yorkers afford groceries. WNYC's Karen Yi reports on how the changes could strip benefits from older adults, low income workers, and others, while shrinking support for hundreds of thousands more.
New York City officials are investigating a reported ATM scam involving payment cards issued through the city's Summer Youth Employment Program. Plus, Sunset Park residents are calling for the city to improve pedestrian safety along Third Avenue where two men were recently killed. And finally, The iconic Broadway musical “A Chorus Line” is turning 50 and it changed Broadway forever.
Planned Parenthood clinics across New York are scrambling to fill a multimillion dollar hole after being cut off from Medicaid reimbursements under a federal law. Meanwhile, a new state law now requires public schools to develop emergency response plans for cardiac arrests and other medical events among students and staff. Plus, the Trump administration is taking New York City to court, arguing its sanctuary policies, limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, violate the Constitution. WNYC's Michael Hill speaks with First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro about the lawsuit and the city's legal stance.
Nearly 50 percent of voters in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary filled out all five ranked choice slots, a slight increase from 2021. Of those, 70 percent left Andrew Cuomo off their ballots. Meanwhile, former Congressman George Santos is set to report to federal prison Friday after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft. Also, Yankees legend CC Sabathia will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Plus, the MTA is overhauling its train communication system, Hoboken PATH riders continue to face disruptions, more open gangway trains are arriving on the G line, and new guardrails along the 7th Avenue line are raising questions.
Columbia University has struck a deal with the federal government that ends multiple civil rights investigations and restores access to research funding. Plus, New York City will move forward with its ban on smartphones in public schools this fall. Also, domestic violence survivors can now access mental health services more easily in shelters. Meanwhile, the mayoral contest in Buffalo four years ago, has lots of parallels to the current race in New York City. And finally, some tips to deal with the heat and humidity this weekend.
New York City's Summer Streets program returns for five consecutive Saturdays starting this weekend, closing more than 22 miles of roadway to cars across the boroughs. Meanwhile, Prospect Park's LeFrak Center at Lakeside is also set to reopen after its first major renovation since 2013. Also, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is celebrating its 60th anniversary with events in partnership with Lincoln Center. Plus, in this week's politics segment: mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's trip to Uganda, Andrew Cuomo's campaign promises, and the latest on the governor's race.
A man involved in a Times Square fight between police and migrants earlier this year has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to assault. Meanwhile, mental health clinicians across New York are urging Governor Hochul to sign a bill safeguarding access to gender-affirming care. Plus, New York City is expanding a program that places therapists and mental health services inside domestic violence shelters.
Police data shows the NYPD issued ten times more criminal summonses to cyclists in the second quarter of 2025 than the first. Plus, Columbia University announces new punishments for students who took over part of a campus library during a Pro-Palestinian protest last spring. Also, Uber is giving free rides to domestic violence survivors. Meanwhile, the Senate is reviewing a state bill called the MELT Act; short for Mandating End of Lawless Tactics. And finally, a gladiator training class teaches the basics of sword fighting and more in Manhattan.
Representative Mike Lawler says he won't run for New York governor next year, opting instead to seek a third term in Congress. Meanwhile, a panel of judges declined to extend interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba's term in New Jersey as she awaits a Senate vote on her possible full-time appointment. Plus, after record rainfall and flash flooding killed two people in Plainfield, New Jersey, the city is working to rebuild homes and businesses. Jazz Clayton-Hunt, chief of staff to the mayor of Plainfield, joins us to talk about the recovery efforts.
Immigrant communities in New York are bracing for a crackdown following a warning from President Trump's immigration czar this week. Meanwhile, plans to redevelop the abandoned Parkway Hospital in Queens into housing for low-income seniors are moving forward, but the loss of $8 million in federal funding forced developers to scrap some green energy upgrades. Plus, New Jersey residents can expect higher electricity bills next year after a deal between energy companies and the state's grid authority.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced after-school programming for 40 new schools beginning this fall. Plus, New York is one of several states suing the Trump administration over new rules that block undocumented immigrants from receiving social services. Meanwhile, federal aid cuts won't stop New York State officials from sending out rebate checks this fall. And finally, a mayoral frontrunner is calling for city-owned grocery stores across the five boroughs. But New York City already has them.
School districts across New York have less than two weeks to figure out how to ban smartphones from classrooms after Governor Kathy Hochul pushed for the measure as part of this year's state budget. Meanwhile, New York and New Jersey are among several states suing the Trump administration over rules that block undocumented immigrants from accessing social services. Plus, federal officials say two men have been arrested in the shooting and attempted robbery of an off-duty Customs and Border Protection agent.