NYC NOW

Bridget Anne Kelly, a former aide to ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, is opposing Randy Mastro’s nomination as New York City’s top attorney. Mastro previously issued a controversial report that exonerated Christie during the Bridgegate scandal while blaming Kelly. Meanwhile, immigration experts warn that the mass deportation plan proposed by former President Trump, if reelected, could have severe consequences for New York and the nation. Finally, New York City health care workers who were on the front lines during the early COVID-19 pandemic have published a 400-page textbook titled “The COVID Response in New York City: Crisis Management in the Epicenter of the Epicenter.” WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with two of its authors, Dr. Eric Wei and Dr. Laura Iavicoli, to learn more.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: The latest COVID vaccine, designed to protect against current variants, will be widely available in New York City by early September. Meanwhile, newly unveiled text messages show some NYPD officers egged each other on before arresting hundreds of people at a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Mott Haven. WNYC’s Samantha Max reports. Plus, New York City will be under a heat emergency this Wednesday, with both temperatures and humidity expected to reach dangerous highs.

A new report from the Board of Correction reveals that a third of medical care requests for Rikers Island detainees were ignored last year. Meanwhile, Queens District Attorney says 37-year-old Saul Colon has been charged with stealing a $50,000 Torah from a Far Rockaway yeshiva. Plus, New York City is intensifying efforts to curb public drinking. WNYC reporters Jaclyn Jeffrey Wilensky and Bahar Ostadan analyzed the data and share their findings. Finally, WNYC’s Ryan Kailath reports on a New Yorker who built a museum dedicated to old signs.

Prosecutors say Rikers Island Correctional Officer Anthony Martin Jr., accused of sexually assaulting at least two women in jail, was arraigned Monday on allegations that he lured a woman to his Springfield Gardens home by pretending to be a TV producer and then raped her. Meanwhile, eligible New York families have until Tuesday, September 3rd, to apply for a new food benefits program providing up to $120 per child in EBT benefits. Plus, the U.S. Open saw a record-breaking 75,000 fans at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on opening day. Finally, the state is investigating potentially toxic air in 100 blocks around Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with Jack Riccobono of Voice of Gowanus and Walter Hang, founder of Toxics Targeting, for more details.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards supports New York City Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" plan, which aims to add up to 100,000 homes to the city's housing stock. Meanwhile, a city funeral home chain accused of mistreating customers will pay over $700,000 in a legal settlement. WNYC's Catalina Gonella reports. Plus, low-income New Yorkers now have access to the "Money in Your Pocket Guide," which compiles eligibility and application details for various government programs, including food assistance, rent discounts for seniors, and free meals.

Eligible families in New York State have a week to apply for a new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. Plus, WNYC’s David Brand visited the West Brighton Houses on Staten Island to find out how residents are feeling about recently announced renovation work. Also, WNYC’s David Furst talks with sports journalist Priya Desai for a preview of what’s expected at this year’s U.S. Open.

New York State's "Freelance Isn't Free" Act takes effect this week after initial delays. Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is waiving transit fares for buses, trains, and light rails starting Monday through September 2nd. Plus, a double chocolate chip muffin that went viral on TikTok is now making waves in the East Village, thanks to two women who imported it from the Olympic Village in Paris. WNYC’s Catalina Gonella reports. Finally, New York’s highest court has upheld the right for voters to continue voting early by mail, rejecting a Republican lawsuit aimed at overturning the nearly one-year-old law. WNYC Senior Politics Reporter Brigid Bergin has more.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Nassau County police are investigating five deaths in Syosset, Long Island after responding to reports of a shooting on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, a developer plans to buy a 124-year-old church on East 119th Street in East Harlem, potentially replacing it with a residential building, though not all residents are on board. Plus, New York City will extend the semi-protected bike lane along McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for the entire length of the busy roadway. WNYC’s Stephen Nessen gauged local residents' opinions.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins shares some advice for Vice President Harris on her path to the presidency. Meanwhile, New York City is advancing plans to build a waterfront greenway in front of the United Nations. Plus, tennis fever is sweeping through the city as the U.S. Open kicks off at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. WNYC’s Community Partnerships Desk spoke with local tennis enthusiasts during Fan Week to hear what the sport means to them.

The Centers for Disease Control is urging doctors to offer patients a range of pain relief options before they get an IUD which is a long-term birth control. In other news, the City of Newark is concluding Peace Week with a free community event called "24 Hours of Peace." Plus, thousands of new homes are planned for the East Bronx after the city council passed a rezoning proposal earlier this month near two new Metro-North stations. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with John Doyle, a district leader in Northeast Bronx, to learn more.