NYC NOW

James Baldwin was a well-known writer, activist, and poet from New York City who inspired countless individuals with his powerful words. To celebrate Baldwin's 100th birthday on August 2nd, singer and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello is releasing a new album, "No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin." Music journalist Marcus J. Moore talks with Ndegeocello about the inspiration behind her tribute to Baldwin.

Police are investigating a shooting that left two women dead on the Upper East Side Friday morning. Plus, as Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign takes off, WNYC's Brigid Bergin talks with some of New York’s leading political women about how they’re feeling in this unprecedented moment. Meanwhile, odor complaints made to 311 since May are the second highest they've been in 15 years. And finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre talks with Anne Cebulo about her upcoming competitions at the Paris Olympics and her journey to joining the U.S fencing team.

The Paris Olympics kick off this Friday with a special guest from New York City: the NYPD canine unit. WNYC’s Bahar Ostadan has the details. Meanwhile, New Jersey is receiving $250 million in federal funding to build charging infrastructure for electric trucks. Governor Phil Murphy says the project will help create a “clean corridor” along I-95 in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland. Plus, on Thursday, the New York City Charter Revision Commission approved five ballot measures. With a thumbs-up from Mayor Eric Adams, these potential changes to the city charter will be on the ballot in November. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with reporter Michelle Bocanegra, who covered the vote. Finally, residents near the North Woods in Central Park are complaining about drug use on the park grounds. WNYC’s Rosemary Misdary reports.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: In New York City, homeless families without children increasingly have to apply multiple times to get placed in a shelter. WNYC’s Karen Yi reports. Meanwhile, officials in Princeton, New Jersey, have approved a controversial plan to bring affordable housing to the campus of a 200-year-old theological seminary. Plus, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says eight organizations that work to fight gun violence in the borough will each get $20,000 for various initiatives that build on their current efforts. Finally, on this week’s episode of On The Way, WNYC’s transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse discuss two new lawsuits against congestion pricing, one which challenges it on environmental grounds and the other argues that Governor Hochul doesn’t have the authority to halt the plan. Also discussed is the NYPD testing gun detectors in high-traffic subway stations this week, and problems with the 1 train line’s air conditioners.

Some New York City public school students who use the city’s transit system will receive a special OMNY card for the new school year. Plus, elected officials continue to call for better safety measures on New York City's shoreline. Also, WNYC’s Rosemary Misdary joined NYU researchers as they study what's known as the luxury effect. And finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre and Nancy Solomon discuss the resignation of convicted New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and who’s on the list to fill his seat.

Two lawsuits filed on Thursday by a collection of advocacy groups argue that Governor Kathy Hochul’s order to halt congestion pricing violates state law and that the governor has no legal authority to stop the tolling program. In other news, Long Island Democrats say Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is playing politics with critical infrastructure funding by spending millions in legislative districts held by Republicans but not in districts held by Democrats. Plus, New York City is legally mandated to set a plan to expand tree coverage by almost 10% by 2035. But it's facing challenges in achieving that goal. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks to Interim New York Cities Director for The Nature Conservancy Tami Lin-Moges and City Council Member Erik Bottcher, who represents parts of Lower and Midtown Manhattan.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: New York City health officials report spotting mosquitoes with the West Nile virus earlier than usual due to hot and humid weather. Meanwhile, New York City's competitive housing market is prompting new crowdsourced listing services to help renters find available units faster. Plus, New York State's Labor Department is investigating claims from two dozen migrant workers that local construction companies cheated them out of more than $100,000 in wages.

Thirty-two New York senators are urging the state Board of Elections to revise the draft language for the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. They want simpler terms like “abortion” and “LGBT” included to ensure clarity on the ballot question. The amendment guarantees access to abortion and protects LGBTQ individuals from discrimination. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is dropping its indictment against a police officer who shot a man running away from him based on new evidence. The case will be re-investigated. Also, WNYC’s Ramsey Khalifeh reports on why air conditioners on New York City’s 1 trains are failing. Plus, WNYC’s Community and Partnerships Desk is transforming some laundromats across the New York metro area into civic engagement hubs. George Bodarky, who leads the project titled “Suds & Civics,” makes a stop at Star Laundromat in Staten Island. Finally, starting this Wednesday, the Sanitation Department is opening a new site in Brooklyn where New Yorkers can get free compost for their gardens.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams questions Clinton Hill residents on where else migrant shelters should go after a Tuesday protest called for shelter removals from the neighborhood. Meanwhile, New York City is nixing plans to set up more free public health vending machines across the five boroughs. Plus, as leading Democrats continue to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive nominee for a presidential run, WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with WNYC’s Editor In Chief Audrey Cooper, who covered Harris extensively while working at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Some residents of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, rallied on Tuesday, urging city officials to downsize migrant mega-shelters in the neighborhood after two deadly shootings near the sites. Meanwhile, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry helped arrest a suspected car thief in Washington, D.C., while assisting federal police in monitoring protests during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit. Plus, after several pedestrian deaths, the city is revamping the western stretch of Atlantic Avenue running through Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill.