A federal judge in Rhode Island has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting $11 billion from health programs nationwide, including in New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile, advocates say federal staffing cuts are threatening the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care to people exposed to toxins after 9/11. Also, a new study from Rutgers says changing one state rule could make childcare more affordable for tens of thousands of New Jersey families. And finally, April...
Apr 04, 2025•14 min
Governor Kathy Hochul says she’s willing to keep the state budget on hold until lawmakers agree to her key priorities, including changes to mask laws and criminal discovery rules. Meanwhile, New York City tour operators say Trump’s Canada rhetoric and new tariffs are driving away Canadian tourists. Also, the Mets return to Citi Field today for their home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Plus, on this week’s transportation segment — the newly redesigned MTA subway map, a fatal crash on a kno...
Apr 04, 2025•12 min
New York City had the lowest number of shootings during the first quarter of 2025 compared with any other year in the modern era. Plus, Trump’s federal cuts to education will lead to the closure of an education department office investigating civil rights violations of students. And finally, research on long COVID is advancing but some patients worry the Trump administration's budget cuts targeting science and medical research could set the effort back
Apr 03, 2025•10 min
Mayor Eric Adams says he’ll bypass the June 24th Democratic primary and run as an independent in November’s general election, just one day after a judge dismissed his federal corruption case for good. Meanwhile, the New York Public Library’s new Joan Didion archive is drawing researchers and fans from across the country. Plus, WNYC’s Jon Campbell joins us to explain how Adams’ decision could reshape the mayoral race.
Apr 03, 2025•9 min
A federal judge has dismissed Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption case with prejudice, blocking prosecutors from reviving the charges after the election. Meanwhile, the City Council is set to hold a hearing on food insecurity amid rising pantry demand and looming federal aid cuts. Plus, city officials say they’re scrambling to cover a $175 million shortfall after the Trump administration slashed emergency housing voucher funding.
Apr 03, 2025•3 min
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' criminal case is officially over. Plus, “buy nothing” groups are booming in the city as people navigate rising rents and high living costs. And finally, 89-year-old Johnny Mathis announces his retirement. He’ll play his last and final show on May 18 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
Apr 02, 2025•11 min
Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption case is officially over, after a judge dismissed the case with prejudice. Meanwhile, the MTA says it’s ramping up subway security after two teens attacked a conductor. Plus, Queens State Senator John Liu is backing Steve Cohen’s casino plan near Citi Field in exchange for a pedestrian bridge called the Flushing Skypark.
Apr 02, 2025•11 min
Con Edison is facing pushback for proposing a major rate hike, and lawmakers are questioning how the state approves those increases. Meanwhile, the city has started issuing fines to property owners who don’t comply with the composting mandate, but NYCHA isn’t following the rule yet. Officials say public housing compost collection won’t begin until next year. Plus, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker breaks a Senate record with a 25-hour speech protesting President Trump’s latest actions.
Apr 02, 2025•3 min
Department of Correction officials are investigating after another detainee died on Rikers Island Monday night. Plus, a new report from the Center for NYC Neighborhoods finds it's still possible to purchase affordable housing in the city. Also, concerns about Elon Musk’s work in the Trump administration have led to demonstrations at Tesla dealerships around New York. And finally, Congress is eyeing billions in cuts to the federal food stamps program, which could directly affect nearly two millio...
Apr 01, 2025•9 min
Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown last year. Meanwhile, former FDNY chief Brian Cordasco has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption. In Brooklyn, a fatal crash has renewed calls to install speed limiters in the cars of drivers with multiple violations. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with Senator Andrew Gounardes who sponsored the bill. Plus, New York City begins issuing fines to build...
Apr 01, 2025•14 min
New York lawmakers are pushing a bill that would force repeat speeders to install technology that limits how fast their cars can go. The move follows a deadly crash in Brooklyn and would apply to drivers with 11 points in two years or six speed camera violations in one. Meanwhile, Roxbury, New Jersey has reached a deal to lower its affordable housing mandate after raising concerns about building on a former explosives site. Plus, immigrant advocates are suing to block the Trump administration’s ...
Apr 01, 2025•3 min
Lawmakers in Albany are pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul to add more money to a state voucher program that helps families pay for child care. Plus, a key filing deadline in the mayoral race is this Thursday and Mayor Adams’s defense lawyer is asking the judge for a “prompt resolution in the case.” Also, a progressive mayoral candidate shares some of the strategies left-leaning democrats will need to win the mayor’s race. And finally, we wrap up Women’s History Month with a profile of a local musician a...
Mar 31, 2025•11 min
Queens Democratic Party Chair and Congressman Gregory Meeks is endorsing Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor. Meanwhile, State Senator John Liu is backing Mets owner Steve Cohen’s plan for a casino near Citi Field and pushing a bill to reclassify land to make it happen. Also, students are weighing in on a proposed state ban on smartphone use during the school day. Plus, to close out Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the women engineers who make our radio happen.
Mar 31, 2025•12 min
The city is preparing for strong storms and high winds, with inspections planned at construction sites and safety guidance for property owners. Meanwhile, the City Council is considering legislation to better protect tenants who are displaced by disasters or major building repairs. And the Yankees are making headlines with a historic offensive start to the season, including nine home runs in a single game and the debut of attention-grabbing “torpedo” bats.
Mar 31, 2025•3 min
Mar 29, 2025•20 min
In White Plains, the federal government is ending its lease on a social security office, calling it a cost-saving measure. Plus, outdoor dining kicks off next month but many restaurants won’t be participating. And finally, some locals fear a plan to build a casino and entertainment complex on Coney Island puts much of its history and the neighborhood's quirky charm at risk.
Mar 28, 2025•10 min
Lawyers for detained Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil return to court as the Trump administration pushes to deport him. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy vows legal action as the White House moves to cut $350 million in federal public health funding. Plus, with April around the corner, WNYC kicks off its National Poetry Month challenge. Morning Edition producers Verónica Del Valle and Amanda Rozon explain how listeners can take part.
Mar 28, 2025•6 min
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is asking 3D printer manufacturers to prevent users from making untraceable “ghost guns.” Meanwhile, a new documentary called The Arrivals highlights the work of volunteers welcoming migrants at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. In Queens, Donovan’s Pub in Woodside has been named the borough’s best bar. Plus, Governor Hochul is touting a $160 million plan to add a dedicated bus lane on the BQE to improve transit access to LaGuardia Airport. WNYC’s transit t...
Mar 28, 2025•12 min
A change by Gov. Hochul would take hundreds of millions of dollars away from city schools every year. Plus, a recent court ruling makes it harder for some sexual abuse victims to sue the state but some lawmakers are trying to change that. Also, next month the sanitation department will issue tickets to New York City building owners who don’t separate their compost from the rest of their trash. And finally, an exhibit at the New York Hall of Science celebrates America’s female astronauts.
Mar 27, 2025•10 min
An abandoned NYPD precinct in Brownsville will be converted into affordable housing after a deal between the city and developers. Meanwhile, authors Otessa Moshfegh and Eddie Huang are auctioning off personal items — including a fake Birkin bag and a used toothbrush — at Chinatown’s Golden Unicorn restaurant. Plus, as wildfires become more frequent in New York and New Jersey, WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with Friends of Firefighters founder Nancy Carbone, counselor Kia Carbone, and FDNY firefighte...
Mar 27, 2025•12 min
New York state is getting closer to prohibiting students from using smartphones during the school day. Meanwhile, a new documentary about the Columbia University protests premieres Thursday, as one of its key figures remains in federal custody. Plus, it’s Opening Day in the Bronx and while the Yankees are coming off a tough offseason, fans are still dreaming big.
Mar 27, 2025•3 min
New York State is inching closer to prohibiting students from using smartphones in schools. Plus, officials are investigating after a man died in NYPD custody at Manhattan criminal court Wednesday morning. Also, the Yankees start their season against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday afternoon. And finally, we’re posing questions through a new segment called “Ask a Super,” where we’ll ask your questions to a building superintendent.
Mar 26, 2025•10 min
Columbia University professors are taking the Trump administration to court over hundreds of millions of dollars in revoked federal funding. Meanwhile, officials in Newark are weighing a major housing development in the Ironbound and not everyone's on board. Plus, Governor Hochul and top lawmakers are pushing President Trump to help cover the MTA's budget gap. WNYC's Jon Campbell explains why that may be a tough sell.
Mar 26, 2025•8 min
New York City officials say they’re preparing for the end of a federal rent voucher program that currently helps more than 7,600 low-income households. The Trump administration says the program will run out of money next year. Meanwhile, Con Edison has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a workplace discrimination case involving 17 women and people of color. Plus, the City Council is voting on bills to crack down on sidewalk sheds that linger for years, with the goal of improving public space and h...
Mar 26, 2025•3 min
Luigi Mangione's lawyers say prosecutors are withholding key evidence in his case at the same time that law enforcement is leaking information to the press. Plus, the Trump administration announces that a federal rental assistance program is out of cash, leaving nearly 8,000 New York City households wondering what’s next. And finally, Brooklyn state Senator Zellnor Myrie lays out the opportunities and potential obstacles for his plan to expand the city’s childcare offerings.
Mar 25, 2025•10 min
Governor Hochul and top New York lawmakers are asking President Trump and congressional Republicans for more federal funding to support the MTA, citing its vital importance to New York City. Meanwhile, a Columbia University student is suing the Trump administration, alleging she’s being targeted for deportation over her pro-Palestinian activism. Plus, WNYC’s Samantha Max recaps the first day of Nadine Menendez’s federal bribery trial.
Mar 25, 2025•8 min
City Councilmember Justin Brannan says he’ll push to divest city pension funds from Tesla if elected comptroller, accusing CEO Elon Musk of targeting NYC over migrant funding. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul wants to ease discovery requirements for prosecutors, saying it will reduce case dismissals. And New York City Council members say more funding is needed for mobile mental health treatment teams, with nearly 700 people currently on the wait-list.
Mar 25, 2025•3 min
The MTA says they collected $52 million from drivers through its congestion pricing program in February. Plus, a new report from New York State comptroller shows that the wage gap between women and men persists in New York State. Also, new legislation would put health warnings on new gas stoves. And finally, we mark Women’s History Month by profiling local musicians and their journey through the music industry.
Mar 24, 2025•8 min
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says women earned 87 cents for every dollar men made in 2023, a wage gap that would require women to work 53 extra days per year to match men’s earnings. Meanwhile, Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani says he’s done fundraising in the mayoral race after hitting the primary spending cap. Also, New York lawmakers are reviving a bill to require warning labels on gas stoves, citing health concerns. Plus, Tuesday is the last day for teens in Newark to register...
Mar 24, 2025•11 min
Starting Monday, NJ Transit is offering 50% off roundtrip fares from five northern New Jersey stations to relieve traffic caused by a sinkhole that closed I-80. Meanwhile, a coalition of advocacy groups has released a detailed plan for how New York City’s next mayor can end homelessness, focusing on targeted housing and mental health investments. Plus, the eastbound Grand Central Parkway ramp to the Long Island Expressway will close overnight through April for a $15 million construction project.
Mar 24, 2025•3 min
