NYC NOW

The National Weather Service warns of high-risk rip currents at all New York City beaches and Long Island's South Shore today. Meanwhile, a judge has temporarily halted New York's issuance of new retail cannabis licenses through its CAURD program after a lawsuit from four veterans who say they were shut out of the process. Also in New Jersey, efforts to make education more comprehensive, including an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, face opposition. Last week, the state Board of Education narrowly passed new equity rules about gender education. Reporter Nikita Biryukov of the New Jersey Monitor has been following the story.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: A Queens councilmember's Whitestone home has drawn two dozen illegal occupancy complaints. Meanwhile, a new apartment complex rises near the Metro-North station in Harrison, New York. Also, former Queens doctor, Zhi Alan Cheng, was arrested for the second time since December 2022, facing charges of patient abuse and rape.

Hip Hop turns 50 this summer and WNYC is zoning in on women and the impact they’ve had on the genre. Aside from the music, there’s also the style. Celebrity hair stylist Dionne Alexander is behind some of the most iconic looks in hip-hop. She tells us the story behind Lil Kim’s infamous 1999 MTV Video Music Awards look and other iconic styles.

In Ozone Park, Queens, a local Dollar Tree store faces complaints of a severe rat infestation, with customers urging health officials to intervene. Also, New Jersey initiates a new tradition of commissioning official portraits for Lieutenant Governors, starting with the late Sheila Oliver and the state's first Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno. Finally, a Friday incident in Union Square sparks concerns about NYPD's handling of large crowds after a PlayStation giveaway announcement on Twitch led to a disorderly situation.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: C train riders can anticipate improved midday service from today, as part of Governor Kathy Hochul's subway enhancements plan. Meanwhile, friends and colleagues remember New Jersey's Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, the highest-ranking Black official in state history. Finally, the New York Mets, following a six-game losing streak, prepare to face the Cubs tonight at Citi Field.

Sunset Park Recreation Center in Brooklyn has been added to the list of green spaces the city plans to use to house adult asylum seekers. Plus, we take a look at a legal battle over a device that makes it easier to fire a barrage of bullets. Also, New York City’s animal shelters are bursting at the seams with unwanted animals. And finally, WNYC’s Amy Pearl looks into how plants are able to thrive across the five boroughs.

1700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick strike over high patient-to-staff ratios. Also, an emergency court conference convenes today regarding the city's "right to shelter" mandate after asylum seekers spent days sleeping outside a Midtown hotel. Meanwhile, Yankees' first baseman Anthony Rizzo, diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, is placed on the injured list. Lastly, if you love fried chicken, stay tuned as food critic Robert Sietsema shares his favorite NYC fried chicken spots with our very own David Furst.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Edward Mullins, former NYPD union boss, faces a two-year prison term after admitting to stealing union funds. Also, Mayor Adams' handling of the migrant crisis stirs controversy in a key neighborhood. Meanwhile, with a nationwide strike of actors and writers underway, thousands of freelance crew members in New York City have put their careers on hold in solidarity.

New York City college students will soon start helping some migrants file their asylum applications. Plus, trash bots are helping to keep downtown Brooklyn’s Albee Square a bit cleaner. Also, public health workers conducted a drill this week to practice how they would respond to a patient with Marburg virus. And finally, WNYC’s Jessica Gould highlights a new program that helps Brooklyn teens join the fight for the right to read.

A Manhattan court today hears the case of the blocked minimum wage increase for food delivery workers. Also, New Jersey’s last K-Mart in Westwood announces its closure this fall, leaving only two in the U.S. Finally, New York City Councilmembers Sandy Nurse and Shahana Hanif are introducing a bill to that could add a layer of oversight to city hall's ongoing efforts to clear homeless encampments. The councilmembers want to increase transparency about what happens after people are removed from public spaces, and Councilmember Nurse joining WNYC’s Tiffany Hanssen to discuss.