Dec. 28, 2021 By Christian Murray The Queens Public Library announced Monday that it has closed eight of its 61 branches due to staff shortages stemming from COVID-19. The library system said the branches have been closed until further due to staff members testing positive. The branches that have temporarily closed include the following locations:… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Christian Murray New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling on the public to watch out for price gouging when it comes to buying COVID-19 at-home test kits. James said that her office has received complaints of COVID-19 testing products being sold at double or triple their retail price. A standard… Read more »
Dec, 21, 2021 By Christian Murray Procrastination pays. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that New Yorkers who get the booster shot at a city run or SOMOS vaccination site will get $100—starting today. The incentive, which comes as the city is waging battle against the omicron variant, will be offered through Dec. 31, he… Read more »
Dec. 20, 2021 By Christian Murray A Jackson Heights man who bought firearms with the intention of carrying out a mass shooting in Times Square pleaded guilty in federal court last week to gun-related charges. Ashiqul Alam, 25, who is a citizen of Bangladesh, admitted Friday that he had purchased a firearm with an obliterated… Read more »
This article was originally published by The CITY on Dec.15, 2021, 7:50 p.m. By Samantha Maldonado The City Council on Wednesday passed a bill making New York the largest city in the United States to effectively ban the use of gas in new buildings and to turn to electricity for power. More than 50 municipalities… Read more »
This article was originally published by Chalkbeat New York on Dec.14, 2021, BY Christina Veiga New York City officials unveiled long-awaited details on how middle and high schools will accept students for the coming year: Middle schools will continue a pause on academic screens, and high schools will dramatically streamline their competitive admissions criteria, education… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Christian Murray Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday plans for a $9.5 billion terminal that will anchor the south side of John F. Kennedy International Airport. The international terminal will be a 2.4 million square foot facility that will be built out in phases starting in 2022. The Port Authority reached a… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Christian Murray Two Queens elected leaders are urging the NYC Schools Chancellor not to end geographic priority in the high school admissions process. Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside) and State Sen. John Liu (D-Bayside) sent a letter Friday to Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter in response to the Department of Education’s proposal to… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Max Parrot Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman released a draft proposal for a “streets master plan” Wednesday that is aimed at guiding bus, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure over the next five years. The 96-page plan, a product of a 2019 law sponsored by Council Speaker… Read more »
Nov. 17, 2021 Staff Report Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced grant funding Wednesday to 28 community-based organizations for the implementation of her Office’s Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project (CYDCPP). The District Attorney’s initiative aims to provide youth activities and wrap around services to help prevent crime and keep young people out of… Read more »