NYC NOW

Roy Lee was suspended from Columbia University after creating an AI app that helped users cheat on technical interviews. He dropped out, went viral, and raised $5.3 million to grow a startup. WNYC's Janae Pierre speaks with reporter Ryan Kailath about what the story reveals about AI, ethics, and academic accountability

Federal aviation officials say Newark Airport was hit with another tech outage Friday morning, the second such meltdown in as many weeks. The NYPD arrested more than a dozen protesters at Brooklyn College Thursday night. Plus, May 10th is now officially Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day. And finally, the Sunset Park community board adopted a plan to redesign Third Avenue under the Gowanus Expressway but they recently learned the plan is on hold.

Air traffic controllers lost radar contact with planes approaching Newark Airport Friday, according to the FAA, the second incident in two weeks. Meanwhile, federal mediators have called NJ Transit and its engineers union to Washington, ahead of a possible strike. Also, a Brooklyn man is charged with setting multiple fires in NYCHA buildings. And after a dog attack on the Upper West Side, lawmakers are pushing for stricter rules for owners.

New York has a state budget, more than a month after its deadline after lawmakers finalized the $254 billion spending plan late Thursday. Meanwhile, health officials have confirmed three new measles cases in Orange County. That brings the state's total to seven so far this year. Plus, prosecutors say 20 people have been charged in one of the most prolific auto theft rings in New York City in the past decade

New Yorkers gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan as a new pope was elected. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams is promoting his new budget proposal to restore cleaning crews to some of New York City's busiest green spaces. Plus, a school on the Upper West Side is wrestling with how to discipline seniors who staged a prank some teachers described as xenophobic. Also, a new ICE detention center in Newark is drawing the ire of the mayor of New Jersey's largest city. And finally, three Republican candidates vying to be New Jersey's next governor made their case to voters at a forum Wednesday hosted by WNYC and NJ Spotlight News.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says federal officials are "reviewing the visa status" of people arrested Wednesday during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Columbia University. Meanwhile, a woman is suing New York City after a car hit her following a protest and police responded by arresting her. Plus, it's allergy season. WNYC's Michael Hill speaks with Dr. Guy Robinson, the lone individual tasked with tracking that data in the city.

Speed cameras may soon ticket drivers in work zones on MTA bridges and tunnels new state budget lets the agency use them at spots like the Verrazzano Bridge and Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Meanwhile, In Brooklyn, Councilmember Lincoln Restler lost a court challenge to remove his primary opponent from the ballot after claiming their supporters misled residents into signing a petition. Plus, the Knicks now lead the Celtics 2–0 after another one-point win on the road. Game 3 is Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Game 4 is Monday.

Westchester County officials say Rye Playland amusement park will open in time for the season after all. Also, two New York City hospitals have agreed to a $750 million dollar settlement of hundreds of sexual abuse claims by patients of former gynecologist Robert Hadden. Plus, New York State lawmakers are loosening requirements for private and religious schools to show they provide a basic education. And finally, some undocumented immigrants are opting to leave the country on their own, rather than risk deportation.

Two Manhattan lawmakers say New York should deny a money transmitter license to X, Elon Musk's platform formerly known as Twitter. Musk is seeking approval in all 50 states to launch X Money, a service that would compete with apps like Venmo. Meanwhile, the Knicks are looking to take a 2–0 lead over the Boston Celtics in the NBA semifinals on Wednesday night. Plus, a group of Bronx student journalists is facing tough questions about press freedom, personal safety, and how their work lives online. We hear from their advisor Debbi Porterfield and student editor Cesar Jimenez.

Nearly half of the NYPD's bomb squad is eligible to retire this year, including many of their dogs. Meanwhile, starting this Wednesday, travelers without a passport must show a REAL ID to board domestic flights. Plus, the MTA will close the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel overnight from Wednesday through May 13th to test its massive flood doors as part of hurricane preparedness.

Gov. Hochul and legislative leaders are taking $8 billion from reserves as part of the New York state budget deal. Plus, New York City's Park Commissioner Sue Donoghue is stepping down later this month. Also, city council members in Summit, New Jersey have been considering a contentious law that would allow police to arrest homeless people camping in public places. And finally, a special thanks to all teachers on National Teacher Appreciation Day.

Sanitation officials are taking landlords to court over rat-infested lots. In Harlem, a judge let the city into a trash-covered property after the owner ignored orders. Officials say they've done this nine times this year. Meanwhile, rain is expected through Friday, with multiple rounds of showers moving through the region. Plus, new reporting this morning from various outlets including Bloomberg and the New York Times say air traffic controllers briefly lost communication with planes at Liberty Newark Airport last week.

New York City will stop enrolling new families who are eligible for child care vouchers. Plus, one of the six guards charged in the deadly beating of upstate prisoner Robert Brooks has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Also, a plan to add protected bike lanes in Long Island City is getting the green light from a Queens judge. And finally, New York City's Rent Guidelines Board voted on a range of potential increases ahead of its final vote in June.

Hundreds of flights at Newark Airport face delays or cancellations due to staffing shortages and weather. Meanwhile, New York City's cultural institutions are rushing to fill funding gaps after the Trump administration cut support for the National Endowment for the Arts. Plus, with just over a month to go until New Jersey's primary, money is pouring into the governor's race, but following the cash trail isn't easy. NJ Spotlight News reporter Colleen O'Dea joins us to explain why.

Car crashes in Manhattan's congestion zone have been dropping for three years and congestion pricing may be speeding that up. Meanwhile, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks this Monday, with up to 30 meteors an hour before dawn. It continues through mid-May. Starting Saturday, the International Space Station will be visible over the city during the evening. Plus, Bronx Week kicks off this week with free events through May 18.

The New York Knicks are headed to the second round of the NBA playoffs after beating the Detroit Pistons 118-115 in Game 6 on Thursday. The win wasn't pretty and required a last-second buzzer-beater from Jalen Brunson to seal the victory. Next, the Knicks face the defending champion Boston Celtics. WNYC's Janae Pierre speaks with Newsday Knicks beat reporter Steve Popper about what the win says about the team and how they match up with the Celtics.

The NYPD says an officer shot a man holding his own mother at knife point Thursday night in a Pelham Bay, Bronx apartment. Plus, police will start issuing criminal summons for e-bike and e-scooter riders who run red lights and stop signs. Also, a spicy wine with jalapeños is trending just in time for Cinco de Mayo. And finally, some New York City residents are taking an extreme approach to eliminating their carbon footprints.

Governor Kathy Hochul is backing a new law that would increase penalties for wearing a mask while committing a crime. Forecasters are warning of rain and thunderstorms in the New York City area this weekend. And Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled a $115 billion city budget plan that could define the final stretch of his mayoralty as he faces a tough re-election battle. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim has more.

State lawmakers are proposing a bill that would allow the New York City Council to remove a sitting mayor with a three-fourths vote after a public hearing. Meanwhile, the city's Department of Transportation is kicking off National Bike Month with events across the five boroughs. Also, the Knicks clinch a spot in the second round of the NBA playoffs after edging out Detroit. Plus, on this week's transportation segment: Amtrak tunnel repairs, a looming NJ Transit strike, and the MTA begins testing new subway fare gate designs to fight evasion.

Gov. Hochul's budget includes money to add new spaces in subway stations where mental health outreach workers can connect with homeless people. And, Mayor Adams' $115 billion budget plan includes new spending on policing, affordable housing and more. Also, a new proposal from the Adams administration could mean a rent hike for people using housing vouchers. Plus, reporters at the Marshall Project look into prisoners' safety in jail infirmaries. And finally, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is pitching a new idea that would base social services underground.

TD Bank shut down Mayor Eric Adams' campaign account within a week of his federal indictment, according to new documents filed with the city's Campaign Finance Board. Meanwhile, the MTA is urging Amtrak to rethink its plan for a three-year tunnel closure, warning it could disrupt Long Island Rail Road service for years. Plus, WNYC's Jessica Gould breaks down the city's new approach to math education and why even parents may need a refresher.

New Jersey Transit engineers may go on strike May 16th if no contract deal is reached. In New York City, the Rent Guidelines Board is weighing rent increases for more than a million stabilized apartments, with a final vote expected in June. Meanwhile, the New York Attorney General says federal cuts have wiped out AmeriCorps funding across the state. Plus, this week's politics segment dives into Mayor Adams' campaign finance issues, updates in the mayoral race, and the latest from state budget negotiations.

A federal judge orders the release of Pro-Palestinian student activist Mohsen Mahdawi from detention. Plus, an NYPD paperwork snafu has landed someone in jail. Also, the Prospect Park Alliance is cutting down one-third of the trees in the Dog Beach Elm Grove because of Dutch elm disease. And finally, historian Marc Zinaman released a coffee table book documenting 100 years of queer history in New York City.

Governor Hochul and state lawmakers say a final budget deal could come this week or next, but changes may follow later in the year. Meanwhile, New Yorkers without a Met Gala invite have several stylish alternatives including the People's Ball, Debt Gala, and Metro Gala. Plus, the Jane's Walk NYC festival returns this weekend with hundreds of free history walks across the five boroughs.

New York is moving closer to legalizing physician-assisted suicide, as the State Assembly advances the Medical Aid in Dying bill. Meanwhile, the future of Rye Playland is in doubt after a contract collapse with the park's operator. And the Knicks fall to the Pistons at home, missing a chance to clinch the series. Game 6 is set for Thursday in Detroit. **Correction: An old episode of NYC Now was inadvertently uploaded this morning. It was has since been updated with the correct version.

MTA officials laid out plans Monday to use artificial intelligence technology to push its surveillance capabilities to new levels. Also, city officials say unauthorized demolition work and years of neglect caused the deadly collapse of a parking garage in Lower Manhattan in 2023. And a federal prosecutor is threatening to sue telecom companies in a bid to get them to monitor users' messages and crack down on child sex predators. Plus, GrowNYC's Greenmarket program supports over 200 local producers today. And finally, as National Poetry Month comes to an end, we share poems from a father-son duo in Brooklyn.

The MTA will test modern fare gates with sliding glass doors at 20 subway stations this fall, part of a pilot aimed at curbing fare evasion that costs the agency hundreds of millions annually. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs as they play the Pistons at the Garden. Plus, New York state lawmakers have a handshake deal on the state budget that's almost a month late. WNYC state government reporter Jimmy Vielkind. Has the details.

New York City will allow affordable apartments to bypass the housing lottery and list vacancies directly on real estate sites like StreetEasy, in an effort to speed up the rental process. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul and state lawmakers have struck a tentative deal on the nearly $254 billion state budget, almost a month late. Plus, the Trump administration is investigating whether New York's ban on Native American school mascots violates federal civil rights laws, with a Long Island school at the center of the dispute.

Elected officials, veterans and union workers are blasting the White House for its proposal to cut staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Plus, Mayor Adams' executive budget will invest another $46 million to revitalize New York City's supportive housing initiative. Also, residents of Staten Island's south shore head to the polls Tuesday to fill an open City Council seat. And finally, delivery workers in New York City are accusing DoorDash of a pattern of wage theft.

Starting Monday, New Yorkers receiving cash assistance must once again meet work requirements or risk losing benefits. Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker and Representative Hakeem Jeffries held an hours-long sit-in on the Capitol steps to protest looming cuts to social services. Plus, NYPD data show thousands of homeless encampment sweeps last year, but only about a hundred people wound up in shelter. WNYC's Karen Yi has more.

Newly reviewed data shows NYPD officers removed more than 27,000 homeless people from public spaces last year, mostly in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Amtrak is cutting service between Albany and New York City starting today for major tunnel repairs. Plus, Basketball Hall of Famer and Knicks legend Dick Barnett has died at 88, as the Knicks push to close out their playoff series against Detroit.

NYC Now is back this weekend with the final episode in its series on Mayor Eric Adams and how he has found himself at the mercy of intersecting political powers — from his voter base, to prosecutors, to Governor Kathy Hochul, and, of course, President Donald Trump. Now, with the mayoral election just a few months away, we look at what lies ahead for Adams and the city. Host Janae Pierre sits down with WNYC politics reporter Brigid Bergin and fellow host Brian Lehrer. Miss the previous episodes in our series? Listen to #1 here, #2 here, #3 here, #4 here and #5 here.

Former New York Congressmember George Santos will be spending at least seven years in federal prison. Plus, comptroller candidate, Justin Brannan, has a plan to re-invest a $500 million piece of the city's multibillion-dollar pension funds and use it to pay for universal child care. Also, a report on the future of containerizing New York City's garbage. And finally, a food critic shares a few good eats in the West Village neighborhood.

A manhunt is underway after a deadly stabbing on a Manhattan subway platform during Friday morning's rush hour. Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney's office is urging more survivors to come forward after a finance attorney was indicted on more than 100 counts of sexual assault. Also, Catholic churches across New York City are holding Masses Friday night to honor the late Pope Francis, whose funeral is Saturday. Plus, as we wrap up coverage of Earth Week, we examine New York's progress and setbacks on its ambitious climate goals with Columbia University's Michael Gerrard.

The nonprofit that operates New York City's 988 suicide and crisis hotline says it may have to lay off staff due to a funding shortfall. Meanwhile, former Congressman George Santos is set to be sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to multiple federal charges. Also, the Mets are riding a seven-game winning streak and hold the best record in Major League Baseball. Plus, in this week's transportation segment, a misstep by federal prosecutors may weaken their legal case against the MTA's congestion pricing plan.

There's more turmoil swirling around the congestion pricing plan. Plus, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch destroyed more than 3,000 illegal guns at an event on Long Island this week. Plus, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams' mayoral campaign recently picked up some significant endorsements. And finally, an inside look at New York City's progressives' battle to pick Zohran Mamdani or Brad Lander for mayor.

The Trump administration may shift legal strategy in its bid to kill congestion pricing after accidentally uploading a letter suggesting current arguments are weak. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, a teen has been charged with setting a wildfire that's burned at least 15,000 acres in Ocean County. Also, the NYC Council is preparing to vote on bills aimed at limiting tourist helicopters following a deadly crash in the Hudson River. Plus, climate law expert Michael Gerrard joins us for Earth Week to discuss how New York State is progressing in its ambitious climate goals.

A new report shows nearly a third of foster youth who aged out of New York City's system last year couldn't secure housing and had to remain in care past age 21. Meanwhile, city officials say long-promised reforms to the private trash hauling industry won't be fully in place until 2027. Plus, wildfire smoke is affecting air quality today, with health officials urging vulnerable groups to limit outdoor activity.

A new report shows that young people in the New York City foster care system have a hard time finding housing once they age out of care. Also, three federal prosecutors assigned to Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case have resigned. Plus, houses of worship hope to be part of the solution to New York's affordable housing crisis. And finally, Eater New York recently released its list of the best pizza slices across the five boroughs.

Amid a public outcry, lawmakers in Summit, New Jersey, have delayed a vote on a planned local law that would ban homeless encampments in public spaces. Meanwhile, a Bronx Catholic school has been saved from permanent closure. Plus, local immigration advocates say more migrant children are going to court without lawyers, after the Trump administration cut funding for their representation. WNYC's Arya Sundaram has been tracking the impact on the ground in immigration court.

Mayor Eric Adams appeared to take aim at a U.S. senator from Maryland who met with a man the Trump administration deported in violation of a court order. Meanwhile, drug-related deaths in New York City shelters dropped 17% last year, according to a new city report. Plus, a new City Council bill would require the city to regularly review access to drinking fountains in public parks.

The wife of Mahmoud Khalil says immigration officials prevented her husband from being able to attend the birth of their first child. Plus, a new poll indicates that Gov. Hochul's standing with New York State voters is improving. Also, Brooklyn's Bedford public library is officially reopening this week following substantial renovations over the past few years. And finally, we're celebrating Earth Day with New York's climate and clean energy goals in mind.

A new Siena poll shows U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer's approval rating has fallen following his support of a Republican-led budget deal to avoid a federal shutdown. Meanwhile, the Adams administration says hundreds of new rain gardens and so-called infiltration basins are now in place across Flatbush and Canarsie to help manage stormwater and reduce flooding. Plus, on Earth Day, experts say New York State is lagging in its goal to fully transition off fossil fuels by 2040. WNYC's Rosemary Misdary reports on how the state might catch up.