NYC NOW

Governor Kathy Hochul is set to announce a $9 congestion pricing fee for vehicles. Meanwhile, New York doctors and health experts are raising concerns about vaccination rates in a new Trump administration, as the president-elect plans to give vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a prominent role. Also, New Jersey is under a drought warning as the Northeast faces a record-breaking dry spell. Finally, WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with newly elected House members Laura Gillen of New York’s 4th District and Mike Lawler of the 17th in separate interviews about their plans for the future.

Amtrak trains from Penn Station to New Haven remain suspended Wednesday afternoon after a transformer fire in the Bronx. Meanwhile, a Hudson Valley judge struck down the New York Voting Rights Act last week, calling it overly broad. Plus, the City Council is expected to pass a law Wednesday requiring landlords, not tenants, to pay broker fees. WNYC’s David Furst speaks with Anna Klenkar, a real estate broker at Sotheby’s who supports the bill, and Dev Awasthi with the Real Estate Board of New York, who opposes it.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start the day: Public health experts worry President-elect Donald Trump could undermine vaccination efforts in his second term, but WNYC’s Caroline Lewis reports that states like New York have guardrails against sweeping changes. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to revive congestion pricing. Plus, New Jersey and New York City are under Code Blue advisories Wednesday morning due to below-freezing temperatures.

A wildfire on the New York–New Jersey border that claimed the life of a young parks worker continues to burn. Meanwhile, Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal has launched its annual holiday fair in Vanderbilt Hall. Plus, New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim made history last week as the first Korean-American elected to the U.S. Senate. WNYC’s Michael Hill spoke with Kim about his recent win.

A 7-year-old girl is recovering after being shot in Harlem on Monday. Two teenagers are in police custody awaiting charges. Meanwhile, New York City residential buildings with nine or fewer units are now required to use secure containers for trash pickup. Plus, the New York Times tech workers’ union is ending its weeklong strike. Finally, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. WNYC’s Jon Campbell has more.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York City saw its first measurable rain in weeks over the weekend, but dry conditions persist across the region. WNYC’s Giulia Heyward reports. Meanwhile, New Jersey officials have announced a plan to create over 150,000 affordable homes in the next decade, though there’s still confusion about who qualifies. Plus, New York Cares begins its annual winter coat drive Tuesday, distributing hundreds of coats to students at P.S. 20 on the Lower East Side, starting at 9 a.m.

Donald Trump's re-election casts doubt on the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which shields some immigrants from deportation. Also, landlords in the city soon could face more serious punishments for illegally evicting tenants — while tenants could get more protections. Next, new rules that aim to get piles of smelly trash bags off New York City sidewalks take effect tomorrow After the break, authorities say there’s a sharp increase in sex work along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. WNYC’s Arun Venugopal reports the situation has deeply impacted business owners and local residents.

Fire department officials are investigating after a car exploded in South Ozone Park, Queens Friday morning. Plus, New York City's medical examiner's office is leaving Queens and will instead consolidate those services in Brooklyn and Manhattan. And finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre discusses New York City’s historic lack of rainfall with Rohit Aggarwala, commissioner of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.

We get the latest on the trial of Daniel Penny, the former Marine charged with fatally choking fellow rider Jordan Neely on the subway last year. Plus, New York Attorney General Letitia James is condemning racist text messages sent to some New Yorkers, including middle school students. And finally, in our weekly transit segment, we look at how Donald Trump’s return to the White House might affect the future of the congestion pricing plan, which was put on hold by Governor Hochul earlier this year.

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day. The NYPD is trumpeting a drop in shootings and transit crimes, according to its latest crime data. But some experts say the bigger picture is more complicated. Also, Mayor Adams says he spoke with President-elect Trump on Wednesday. It's their first conversation since the election. Finally, New York City remains under a drought watch. FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker says that means New Yorkers should use extra caution when they're out in city parks.