NYC NOW

Former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Linda Sun, was arrested Tuesday morning on charges of using her position to boost the Chinese government and communist party. Her husband, Christopher Hu, was also arrested in connection with the case. Meanwhile, global experts will meet in Syracuse this Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the future of energy technologies and strategies. Plus, WNYC has been investigating hundreds of claims by female detainees alleging sexual assault by jail staff on Rikers Island. Some of those staff members accused of assault are still employees at the jail today. Reporter Jessy Edwards has more.

Police say a 25-year-old man was killed, and four others were injured in a shooting at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn on Monday. One victim is in critical condition. Meanwhile, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will testify publicly next week about his administration’s COVID-19 response. Also, regular G-train service resumes this Monday. Plus, summer is typically a high season for airline disruptions, with more flights and increasingly common severe weather. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with Jason Rabinowitz, an aviation expert and co-host of the podcast AvTalk about the current state of air travel. Finally, with just over 60 days until the November 5th election, an estimated eight million Americans will reach voting age by then. WNYC teamed up with Y Vote to hear from young people eligible to vote in a presidential race for the first time. Meet soon-to-be 18-year-old Shreeya Thakur from Brooklyn.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: P.S. 372 in Brooklyn will begin classes as scheduled this week despite chemical fumes in the building’s basement. Plus, the city plans to spray pesticide treatments for mosquitoes in parts of Southeast Queens on Tuesday night to reduce the risk of West Nile virus.

Students at Laura Donovan Elementary School in Freehold, New Jersey will start the year scattered at other elementary schools after mold was discovered in school building classrooms. Also, New York City high school students taking the ferry to school can get a ticket for $3 less than the regular ticket price for a total of $1.35 per ride. In other news, a historic military building in Ft. Tilden in the Rockaways will soon be demolished. And lastly, Happy Labor Day! As the West Indian Day Parade takes over Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, WNYC’s Janae Pierre talks with content creator Nicolas Nuvan who has gained a major social media following by sharing stories, trying local dishes, and shining a spotlight on the vibrant traditions of Caribbean communities.

Three people are in critical condition after an explosion in East Flatbush Thursday night. Meanwhile, NYPD transit chief Mike Kemper is stepping down next month according to an internal document obtained by WNYC. Reporter Bahar Ostadan has the details. And finally, WNYC’s David Furst talks with a Rutgers marine and coastal science professor about why the ocean off the Jersey Shore has been frigid cold at times, despite the blistering heat.

New Jersey is likely to send its first Latina to Congress in November after Democrats selected State Senator Nellie Pou to replace the late Bill Pascrell on the ballot. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports. Meanwhile, New York City workers have removed a plywood passageway that covered a sidewalk in Kips Bay that spanned three mayoral administrations. But as WNYC's David Brand notes, it's just a small step in addressing the city's vast network of sidewalk sheds. Plus, New Jersey is making changes to how police respond to mental health crises and how rape kits are handled. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, whose office is overseeing both initiatives.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York State is launching a pilot program to invest healthcare dollars in things like housing, food, and transportation for low-income residents. WNYC's Caroline Lewis reports. Meanwhile, former NYPD officer Linpeng Gao is suing the department, claiming he was fired after issuing a parking ticket to a city employee. Plus, five sea turtles trapped in a fire at New Jersey's Turtle Back Zoo are recovering at a Long Island facility. WNYC's Charles Lane has more. Finally, on this week's segment of On The Way, WNYC transportation reporters Stephen Nessen, Ramsay Khalifeh, and editor Clayton Guse give updates on the MTA's crackdown on bus fare evasion, lawmakers taking credit for Governor Kathy Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing, and the likelihood of upgrades to N train subway cars.

Hate crime in New York state is up by double-digits, according to a new report from state comptroller. Plus, WNYC’s Stephen Nessen went to East Harlem, and reports many people there are desperate for the MTA to complete the extension of the Second Avenue subway. And finally, WNYC’s Tiffany Hanssen talks with Albany reporter Jon Campbell about Gov. Hochul's pause on the congestion pricing plan and how it’s playing out in congressional campaigns in New York City’s suburbs.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Bronx Republican district leader Nicole Torres faces federal charges for allegedly charging poll workers $150 for assignments and pocketing $28,000. Meanwhile, New York City secured new funding to install 600 electric vehicle chargers across the five boroughs. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams is enlisting residents in his "war on rats," with WNYC's Giulia Heyward reporting from the city's "Rat Academy."

The MTA and NYPD are planning to send a surge of officers onto bus routes as part of a new fare evasion crackdown. Meanwhile, repairs are still underway after the Coney Island Cyclone was shut down a week ago due to mechanical issues. Plus, a new report shows that detainees at Rikers Island aren’t getting prompt medical care. WNYC’s Matt Katz has more. Finally, WNYC teams up with the nonprofit Street Lab to highlight stories from neighborhoods across New York City. This week, we set up shop at Brooklyn Black Utopia, an event at the Flatbush African Burial Ground.