NYC NOW

New York City's app-based delivery workers are getting a pay raise. Plus, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe is kicking off its $24 million renovation. Also, WNYC’s Brittany Kriegstein looks into the rise of domestic violence deaths in New York City. And finally, a pair of community health workers strike up conversations with New Yorkers about their mental health and the wide range of concerns that might contribute to it.

Police are investigating what they say is an unprovoked assault involving a woman attacked with a hammer in Central Park, which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service forecasts a rainy week ahead. Also, of the thousands of migrants arriving in New York City, nearly half of new immigrants are from places like Africa, Asia, and Europe, according to immigration court data. WNYC’s Tiffany Hanssen speaks with reporter Arya Sundaram who has analyzed the data. Finally, spring is here, and WNYC culture reporters Ryan Kailath and Precious Fondren have the scoop on cool activities for April, offering their top suggestions for things to do.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: If you’re driving in New York while using your phone, you could be targeted as law enforcement intensifies its crackdown. WNYC’s Tiffany Hanssen has more. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway after a fire broke out at Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, a Catholic church in Williamsburg, disrupting Easter Sunday mass. Additionally, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that starting Monday, New York State veterans and Gold Star families will have free access to state parks, campgrounds, day-use areas, historic sites, and recreational areas.

A federal court judge is blocking New Jersey’s ‘county line’ system from being used in the June primary. This system groups candidates into slates who appear all together in a single line or row. Meanwhile, in honor of the annual Transgender Day of Visibility, the MTA is honoring Bernie Wagenblast, one of the voices of New York City subways. Additionally, WNYC’s Sean Carlson explores why New York’s Professional Women’s Hockey League team isn’t as popular as some others in the league. Finally, Bushwick is having a fashion moment right now with its ‘Bushwick style’ craze. WNYC’s Precious Fondren reports.

Videos of women sharing stories of being assaulted on streets in Manhattan are trending on TikTok. WNYC’s Giulia Heyward has more. Also, the Department of Transportation recently approved the use of longer e-cargo bikes to take the place of traditional large delivery trucks. The approved bikes are pedal-assist electric bikes that look like mini trucks and take only one person to operate. Finally, Long Island Rail Road customers are enjoying expanded service thanks to the Third Track project completed in 2022. But building that additional track to relieve one of New York’s worst transit bottlenecks wasn’t easy. A new report in Newsday finds that the MTA spent $20 million on projects in Nassau County that had nothing to do with the LIRR to shore up support for the project. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with reporters Alfonso Castillo and Darwin Yanes who broke the news.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The Adams Administration has made boosting literacy its top educational priority. However, new data obtained by WNYC show that reading proficiency remains low, as reported by Jessica Gould. Meanwhile, city officials plan to expand curfews in April at three migrant shelters for single adults located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens—one in each borough. Plus, New York City will welcome more than a hundred electric vehicle fast chargers by 2026, part of the state’s $1 billion investment in electrifying transportation to meet its climate act goals. Finally, in this week’s segment of On The Way, transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse discuss the MTA’s final approval of congestion pricing and Mayor Eric Adams’ Thursday announcement of new metal detectors in subway stations.

The man accused of killing NYPD officer Jonathan Diller is facing murder charges that could land him in prison for life. Plus, WNYC’s David Furst and Brigid Bergin discuss early voting for New York’s presidential primary. And finally, WNYC’s Community Partnerships Desk shares what they heard from residents of Brownsville, Brooklyn.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking at ways to help prevent supply chain disruptions resulting from the collapse of Maryland’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this week. Also, more than 50 new English learning centers are opening across New York City to support immigrant New Yorkers to learn the language and connect to city resources. Finally, in a historic moment for the country's largest public transit system, the MTA Board gave its final approval to congestion pricing on Wednesday, tolling drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th St. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with MTA Chair Janno Lieber about the plan.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: The MTA’s plan for congestion pricing, which will charge drivers $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, has officially been approved by the MTA board. WNYC’s Stephen Nessen reports the incoming fee has some drivers fuming. Meanwhile, elected officials in Brooklyn are calling for more oversight of the private companies picked to manage public housing complexes, after one of them was fired late last year.

The chair of the New York City Council's criminal justice committee is calling for an oversight hearing in light of WNYC's new investigation into sexual assault on Rikers Island. Plus, state officials say Beth Israel hospital has delayed lifesaving care by cutting services. Also, WNYC’s Michael Hill talks with Annemarie Gray, executive director of Open New York, about the new super PAC Abundant New York. And finally, we visited Rainbow Garden of Life and Health, in the South Bronx. It's one of New York City's many neighborhood gems.