A new artificial intelligence training center for New York City teachers is raising concerns among some educators about creating a harmful environment that stunts student learning and critical thinking. Meanwhile, the United Federation of Teachers has voted to endorse Zohran Mamdani in the mayoral election. Also, a WNYC analysis finds Mamdani won about 30 percent of districts that previously voted for Donald Trump. Data show many of the voters in those Trump-Mamdani neighborhoods are Asian Ameri...
Jul 09, 2025•9 min
A federal judge has paused New York City’s solitary confinement ban, saying a court-appointed monitor must first review whether the law is safe for Rikers Island. Meanwhile, an arts group housed at West Park Presbyterian Church is being evicted as the landmarked building faces possible demolition amid financial struggles. And the Adams administration is calling for the release of a 19-year-old Grover Cleveland High School student detained by ICE in Texas, arguing federal authorities are undermin...
Jul 09, 2025•3 min
The Adams Administration is calling for the release of an 11th grader who was detained by federal immigration authorities last month. Also, a new report from the city health department finds that doulas were involved in more than 6% of births last year, up from less than 5% in 2022. Plus, after being threatened with a knife, Albany’s interim U.S. Attorney wants the permanent job. Meanwhile, a New York City nonprofit is offering psychiatric services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers by pulling u...
Jul 08, 2025•9 min
City officials are warning New Yorkers to prepare for dangerous summer weather through Wednesday, with a heat advisory in effect and a flood watch starting Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams is pitching a major shakeup to city elections by introducing “open primaries” where all candidates run together regardless of party. Plus, WNYC’s Liam Quigley explains why Staten Island beaches could be the perfect spot for New Yorkers looking to avoid the crowds.
Jul 08, 2025•6 min
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Tuesday, warning it could feel as hot as 100 degrees in the city. Older adults, outdoor workers, and those without air conditioning are especially at risk. Meanwhile, a new city health department report shows more pregnant New Yorkers are using doulas for support, with Mayor Adams expanding free access as part of efforts to improve Black maternal health. Plus, the city is increasingly relying on drones to monitor beaches for sharks
Jul 08, 2025•3 min
Mayor Adams is calling on former Governor Andrew Cuomo not to run in the general election this November. Plus, service disruptions are coming to the G train. And finally, a search for the subway line with the most hot car complaints.
Jul 07, 2025•7 min
New York City’s transportation department plans to hire dozens of new officers to crack down on reckless delivery drivers on mopeds and e-bikes. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is warning of showers, thunderstorms, and possible flash flooding across the metro area starting Tuesday. Plus, as global pollinator populations decline, the city’s parks department is working to protect bees and butterflies with 23 pollinator-friendly gardens across the five boroughs. Matthew Morrow, director of ...
Jul 07, 2025•11 min
The New York City Council has passed a bill eliminating misdemeanor charges and potential jail time for street vendors who violate city laws. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to expand the state’s film tax credit program, reserving $250 million in incentives for productions that choose the Garden State over Hollywood. Meanwhile, the NYPD reports a steep decline in catalytic converter thefts across the city over the past three years.
Jul 07, 2025•3 min
Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation designed to position New Jersey as a hub for film and television production. The new law expands tax incentives to attract studios and production companies, with the goal of competing directly with Hollywood. WNYC’s Mike Hayes explains what this could mean for New Jersey’s entertainment industry.
Jul 05, 2025•6 min
The NYPD commissioner has cleared an officer who fatally shot an unarmed man during a 2019 traffic stop, going against a judge’s recommendation to fire him. Meanwhile, Fourth of July celebrations in Plainfield, New Jersey, are canceled after severe thunderstorms swept through the area. Plus, the Mets and Yankees square off this weekend in their second Subway Series of the season. And Congress narrowly passed a sweeping tax and spending package this week, handing President Trump a major legislati...
Jul 04, 2025•13 min
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s top spokesperson is on leave after an allegation of sexual harassment. Plus, deadly car crashes are trending down in New York City, according to new data from the city's transportation department. Also, New York City officials are reminding residents to prioritize firework safety ahead of 4th of July celebrations. Meanwhile, New York City officials backed off a plan to turn the Elizabeth Street Garden in Lower Manhattan into a housing complex for low income seniors. ...
Jul 03, 2025•8 min
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is losing support for a potential independent mayoral run, with Reverend Al Sharpton joining others urging him to step aside. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have hired Mike Brown as their new head coach. And in Newark, a new program is offering high school graduates contracts to return to the district as teachers.
Jul 03, 2025•7 min
The NYPD is asking the White House for authorization to intercept and disable potentially hostile drones flying over New York City. Meanwhile, a city commission is recommending that borough presidents get new authority over land use decisions, allowing them a decisive vote if the City Council rejects rezoning or development plans. And New York’s baseball stars shine: Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge have been named starters for this year’s MLB All-Star Game.
Jul 03, 2025•3 min
A New York jury has found music mogul Sean Diddy Combs not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering in a split verdict. Plus, data from New York City’s Democratic Primary shows that assemblymember Zohran Mamdani won without a majority of black voters. Also, we discuss the impact of we Bangladeshi aunties campaigning for Mamdani. And finally, homeless service providers are accusing officials in Emerson, New Jersey of hypocrisy.
Jul 02, 2025•10 min
Port Authority police are investigating a multi-bus crash that shut down service to the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal during Wednesday’s morning rush. Meanwhile, hospital groups in New York say President Trump’s new tax and spending bill could strip health coverage from 1.5 million New Yorkers and cut $8 billion from hospital funding. Plus, an investigation by NJ Advance Media finds more than 100 youth sports coaches and trainers across New Jersey have been accused of sex crimes since 201...
Jul 02, 2025•7 min
Democratic nominee for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani says he'd break with predecessors, including Eric Adams, on a key education policy ... the mayor's control of public schools. Meanwhile, The NYPD says major crime keeps falling across New York City. Offenses such as murder, rape and robbery are down 6-percent citywide. Meanwhile, New York City is allocating nearly $14 million dollars toward gender-affirming care and other critical services for transgender and gender nonconforming New York...
Jul 02, 2025•3 min
New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board approved a 4.5% hike for nearly a million rent stabilized apartments. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams is calling the city's $116 billion spending plan "the best budget ever," but parks advocates disagree. And finally, we visit a new mental health community center that aims to help people with serious mental illnesses avoid social isolation.
Jul 01, 2025•11 min
Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has clinched the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor, with preliminary ranked choice results showing him winning 56 percent of the vote over former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Associated Press has now called the race in Mamdani’s favor. Meanwhile, federal investigators say they are still trying to determine what caused a historic Mexican sailboat to crash into the Brooklyn Bridge in May, killing two crew members. Plus, lawmakers in New Jersey have approved ...
Jul 01, 2025•8 min
Rents are going up for nearly 1 million New Yorkers in rent-stabilized apartments after the Rent Guidelines Board approved increases Monday night. Starting in October, one-year leases will rise 3 percent, and two-year leases will go up 4.5 percent. Meanwhile, New Yorkers are getting their first look at ranked choice results from last week’s primary election. Plus, a Staten Island family will be allowed to keep their pet pig temporarily while it receives medical treatment. But once it recovers, t...
Jul 01, 2025•3 min
We get the latest in the federal corruption case of a former aide to Governor Hochul. Plus, the city starts spraying for West Nile Virus. And finally, we hear from the social media influencers gathering outside the sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Jun 30, 2025•8 min
Police say a 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot in the head near the Stonewall Inn as Pride celebrations wrapped up Sunday night. A 17-year-old was also shot and is in stable condition. Meanwhile, the MTA will stop selling MetroCards by the end of the year as it completes its shift to the OMNY tap-to-pay system. A planned four percent fare hike could also raise the cost of a single ride to $3. Plus, the city’s Rent Guidelines Board is set to vote Monday night on potential...
Jun 30, 2025•9 min
The city’s Rent Guidelines Board is voting Monday on proposed rent increases for over a million stabilized apartments. Meanwhile, New York City is investing in new mental health clubhouses to support people with serious mental illness. And police are investigating a shooting that injured two teenage girls near the Stonewall Inn just hours after the Pride parade.
Jun 30, 2025•3 min
In this edition of Five Things, WNYC’s Janae Pierre and Brian Lehrer break down the Democratic mayoral primary, where Zohran Mamdani has taken a commanding lead over Andrew Cuomo. They discuss what the results say about the city’s political direction, whether Eric Adams could reemerge in the general election, and how Alvin Bragg easily held on to his DA seat.
Jun 28, 2025•9 min
New York City is starting a pilot program for free childcare. Plus, police investigate a spike in homicides across the city. Also, the city cracks down on illegal short term rentals. A town in New Jersey has a plan to create more affordable housing, but will it ever get built? Finally, hordes of influencers line up outside the Diddy trial in Lower Manhattan.
Jun 27, 2025•12 min
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo trails Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for the Democratic nomination for mayor, but he'll be on the ballot on another party's line. It remains to be seen if he'll actively campaign. Meanwhile, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is heading to the MLB All-Star Game. Plus, its WNYC's "Ask a Super" segment.
Jun 27, 2025•10 min
WNYC’s David Brand reports the city wants to build 6000 new apartments at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, twenty-year-old Arius Williams has been indicted for allegedly throwing his two-year-old son off the Bruckner Express Overpass. Next, NYC pools open today, including the brand new Gottesman Pool in Harlem. Finally, our transit team speculates how the recent election primary might affect the future.
Jun 27, 2025•12 min
Immigration authorities are now housing detainees at federal jail in Brooklyn. Plus, a mother looks for answers in her daughter’s Brooklyn killing. And health officials in New York warn about the addictive nature of vaping. Finally, many mental health professionals still try to win the trust of homeless clients so that they’ll accept hospital services voluntarily.
Jun 26, 2025•8 min
Thursday is the final day of classes for New York City public school students, but attendance has dipped significantly. A WNYC analysis found that many schools saw lower attendance this June compared to previous years. Meanwhile, New Jersey is spotlighting its ban on beach smoking with a 20-foot inflatable cigarette display in Asbury Park. Plus, in this week’s Politics Brief, WNYC’s Jimmy Vielkind and Brigid Bergin break down the implications of Zohran Mamdani’s presumptive win in the Democratic...
Jun 26, 2025•10 min
WNYC’s Clayton Guse reports that the head of Public Appeal has been accused and charged with assault and strangling his girlfriend. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, officials are using a twenty-foot inflatable cigarette to alert the public that smoking is not allowed on public beaches. Finally, the LGBTQ community is preparing for the annual parade to celebrate Pride Week.
Jun 26, 2025•3 min
With a commanding lead in the Democratic Primary, Zohran Mamdani says he’s now focusing his attention on New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Also, a slate of recently announced developments will create more than 700 affordable units in Coney Island. Plus, the MTA is making a small tweak to two lines that could bring big changes to riders. Meanwhile, residents in a small Queens neighborhood are in a battle over air quality. And finally, a new book dives into the stories behind thirty monuments and st...
Jun 25, 2025•9 min
