Welcome to our new weekend series! Over the next few Saturdays, host Janae Pierre and a cast of WNYC reporters will take a deep dive into the chaos that has consumed the Adams Administration. For months now, the mayor has been at the mercy of colliding political powers — caught between his base of Democratic voters, federal prosecutors, a governor with the power to remove him from office, and, of course, President Trump. We explain how we got to this moment and dig into what’s at stake for the m...
Mar 22, 2025•20 min
Gov. Kathy Hochul says thanks to congestion pricing, traffic is down and business is up. And, Randy Mastro is named first deputy mayor after a failed bid to be New York City’s top lawyer. Plus, a new idea for an economic development program is getting a chilly reception in Albany. Also, the convenience of having a washer and dryer in a New York City apartment comes at a cost. And finally, Chelsea’s Barracuda Bar is shutting its doors after 30 years in business.
Mar 21, 2025•12 min
Mar 21, 2025•7 min
Undocumented immigrants across the tri-state area are grappling with a new online registry unveiled by the Trump administration, prompting legal questions about whether to enroll. Meanwhile, officials say asbestos has been detected at the site of last week’s massive Bronx fire, though no public health risk has been confirmed. Also, Governor Hochul is reportedly considering raising taxes on large New York City employers to help fund the MTA. Plus, on this week’s transportation segment, the Trump ...
Mar 21, 2025•12 min
National Grid customers in New York City will see their monthly bills go up about $10. Plus, two New Yorkers help residents discover the city’s privately owned spaces that are free for public use. And finally, the Independent Rikers Commission says the COVID-19 pandemic delayed work on four borough based jails that are supposed to replace the Rikers Island Jail Complex.
Mar 20, 2025•11 min
New York City jail officials say a woman died Thursday on Rikers Island, marking the fourth local detainee death this year. Plus, New York City is launching a new program to keep 18-wheelers from parking in residential neighborhoods. And finally, sports reporter Priya Desai discusses a few of the local college basketball teams set to make a splash in the NCAA tournament.
Mar 20, 2025•7 min
Summary: National Grid customers in New York City will see their monthly bills rise by $8 to $10 starting April 1st, following a larger increase last September. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing for new restrictions on mask-wearing in public, urging lawmakers to include a partial ban in the state budget. Also, Jamaica Station in Queens is the third busiest rail hub in the city and now, it’s the focal point of a major housing plan that could bring 12,000 new homes to Southeast Queens.
Mar 20, 2025•3 min
Transportation officials say a speed limit of 20 MPH is coming to four New York City neighborhoods. Plus, city health officials are warning New Yorkers about certain skin lightening products that contain high levels of mercury. And finally, what New Yorkers can do to help support the butterfly population.
Mar 19, 2025•12 min
The MTA says they'll stop selling MetroCards by the end of the year, as part of the agency's push to convert all subway and bus fare collection to the tap-to-pay OMNY system. Plus, a new report reveals the number of eviction filings in the city declined nearly 50% between 2017 and 2024. And finally, a doctor and her patient reflect on the COVID pandemic, 5 years on.
Mar 19, 2025•11 min
The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from the MTA unless it takes steps to improve safety in New York City’s transit system. Meanwhile, thousands of NYC cab drivers are celebrating a federal court ruling that found their licenses were unfairly suspended. Plus, two Long Island volunteer fire departments have agreed to stop displaying Confederate flags on their vehicles, equipment, and apparel following public backlash.
Mar 19, 2025•3 min
Jury selection is underway in the federal trial of Nadine Menendez, the wife of former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez. Plus, a rent-controlled apartment battle gets decided by a love story. And finally, a wealthy family plans to build affordable housing in a forest amid environmental concerns.
Mar 18, 2025•10 min
New York teachers support Governor Hochul’s proposal to ban student smartphone use during school hours, but school administrators are pushing back. Meanwhile, a North Jersey professor says his university lost his collection of 380-million-year-old fossils. Also, New York City is embarking on a multi-year effort to reconnect communities long divided by the Cross Bronx Expressway, while the Adams administration considers yet another redesign for the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Plus, we continue ou...
Mar 18, 2025•11 min
Police are searching for a suspect with a “distinctive walk” in the fatal shooting of Newark Imam Hassan Sharif, who was killed in January before morning prayers. Meanwhile, new data reveals that despite millions spent on clearing homeless encampments in New York City, very few people enter shelters as a result. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams is not ruling out an independent run for re-election, following reports that he may leave the Democratic Party.
Mar 18, 2025•3 min
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams collected more than $128,000 a few days into her campaign but won’t qualify for matching funds. Plus, the head of the Brooklyn Democratic party moves support in the mayoral race to New York’s former governor. Also, city officials are taking more steps to crack down on drivers who obstruct their license plates. And finally, some Republicans in New York are feeling bullish about their chances of winning statewide office next year.
Mar 17, 2025•9 min
President Trump’s decision to pause offshore wind development is delaying plans to convert New York City’s largest fossil fuel plant into a green energy hub. Meanwhile, New York’s annual brush burning ban is now in effect, with officials urging extra caution due to dry conditions. Also, five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, education experts say learning loss continues to affect students in both New York and New Jersey despite billions spent on recovery efforts. New Jersey Senate Majorit...
Mar 17, 2025•10 min
A new report from the Center for an Urban Future proposes significantly expanding the number of affordable three-bedroom apartments in New York City, aiming to curb what it describes as an “exodus” of young families. Meanwhile, the city’s largest power plant is struggling with bureaucratic obstacles as it attempts a transition to green energy. Plus, New York City celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with its annual parade on Monday.
Mar 17, 2025•3 min
Gov. Kathy Hochul met with President Donald Trump Friday at the White House. Plus, wet markets across New York City are back after Gov. Hochul closed them to contain the spread of bird flu. And finally, we reflect on what school closures looked like for New York City five years ago, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar 14, 2025•12 min
Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security searched two Columbia University student residences Thursday night but did not make any arrests or seize any items. Meanwhile, the New York City health department is investigating two unrelated cases of house cats contracting bird flu. Also, we look back five years ago when schools across New York City shut down due to COVID-19. First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg reflects on how the pandemic reshaped education. Plus, New York City Public ...
Mar 14, 2025•11 min
The man accused of fatally stabbing a 14-year-old in the Bronx has been deemed unfit to stand trial. Meanwhile, Suffolk County health officials have alerted 12 residents of potential measles exposure after a new case was reported this week. Also, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s $8 billion casino and entertainment complex near Citi Field cleared a key hurdle with City Council approval of necessary zoning changes. Plus, in this week’s transportation segment, we break down a new proposal to redes...
Mar 14, 2025•12 min
New York City residents will have more options to apply for municipal identification cards. Plus, a case of measles has been reported in Suffolk County. Also, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson pushes for more birthing centers in the area. And finally, a 5th grader learns how to advocate for change in his community.
Mar 13, 2025•10 min
New York and New Jersey are suing the U.S. Department of Education over planned staffing cuts that could slash the agency’s workforce in half. Meanwhile, a veterinarian hired by the NYPD has a history of poor record-keeping and dishonesty about his care of animals. Also, health officials in Suffolk County have confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated child, marking the third case in the state this year. Plus, during a visit to Albany, President Trump’s top immigration official, Tom Homan, was...
Mar 13, 2025•13 min
The Trump administration wants to move Columbia University graduate and green-card holder Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation case out of New York City while he remains detained in Louisiana. Meanwhile, after a sharp decline during the pandemic, New York City’s population is growing again. Plus, parents are urging the Adams administration to expand free childcare to two-year-olds, arguing high costs are pushing families out of the city. Finally, Khalil’s detention is fueling political backlash over fre...
Mar 13, 2025•12 min
A detained Palestinian Columbia University graduate student appeared in court Wednesday, as lawyers aim to fend off the Trump administration's attempt to deport him. Plus, Gov. Hochul’s main budget proposals on rebate checks and banning cell phones from schools received pushback in Albany. Also, how New York City’s Chinatown has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, when xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans was at an all time high. And finally, TSA agents at Newark Airport detected a l...
Mar 12, 2025•11 min
Local officials in more than 150 New Jersey towns say home builders shouldn’t dictate how much affordable housing they must develop, intensifying a statewide debate. Meanwhile, the NYPD is searching for a gunman who fatally shot a 21-year-old man at an auto shop in Brooklyn. Police are also searching for three burglars targeting businesses in Queens. Plus, the St. John’s University men’s basketball team is having its best season in decades. Now it's gearing up for the Big East Tournament and the...
Mar 12, 2025•7 min
New Yorkers say they’re cutting back on eggs and meat as food prices rise, with some falling into debt just to buy groceries. Meanwhile, a new proposal to rebuild Penn Station includes tearing down Madison Square Garden and constructing a new arena across Seventh Avenue, incorporating neoclassical elements favored by President Trump. Plus, the Elizabeth Street Garden in Lower Manhattan is facing another eviction notice as the city moves forward with plans to replace the space with affordable sen...
Mar 12, 2025•3 min
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says she does not believe a walkway at Columbia University needs to be closed because of apparent security concerns. Plus, a look at the effort by former Sen. Bob Menendez to win a pardon from President Trump. And finally, how a crop of new lawyers is vying for attention on the subway.
Mar 11, 2025•9 min
Governor Hochul is pitching New York City teachers on her plan to restrict smartphones in schools. Plus, NJ Transit averted a potential strike by its locomotive engineers, as both sides reached a tentative contract agreement Monday. And finally, questions continue to swirl around a brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn, following a recent shooting. WNYC’s Ben Feurherd explains why.
Mar 11, 2025•6 min
Mayor Adams and NYPD officials say New York City recorded the fewest shootings in January and February since record-keeping began. Meanwhile, the head of the city’s teachers union is urging lawmakers to oppose President Trump’s education policies. Also, New York State’s corrections commissioner says the wildcat strike by correctional officers is officially over, with more than 2,000 officers fired for not returning to work. Plus, New York City is weighing landmark status for the former Whitney M...
Mar 11, 2025•3 min
A new Siena College poll shows nearly half of New York voters have an unfavorable view of Gov. Kathy Hochul. Plus, residents who live near JFK Airport say their neighborhoods are inundated with illegally parked trucks and other commercial vehicles. Also, the latest from a busy campaign weekend for those in the race for New York City mayor. And finally, students in New York City Public Schools share projects that encourage them to use their voices to advocate for changes in their communities.
Mar 10, 2025•10 min
New York is under a state of emergency after wildfires scorched parts of the Pine Barrens region on Long Island over the weekend. Meanwhile, a plan to turn a historic but shuttered hospital in Orange, New Jersey, into apartments is facing opposition. Plus, five years after COVID-19 first shut down New York City, some aspects of life still haven’t returned to normal. WNYC’s Arun Venugopal discusses how the pandemic continues to shape daily routines in unexpected ways.
Mar 10, 2025•10 min
