NYC NOW

Damien Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is laying out more details on the federal charges leveled against Mayor Eric Adams. They include fraud, bribery and solicitation of contributions by a foreign national. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams continues to strike a defiant tone in the face of the allegations. In other news, Broadway theaters will dim their lights Thursday night to honor the late actor James Earl Jones. Plus, WNYC’s Janae Pierre speaks with reporter Samantha Max who breaks down the Adams indictment.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York City Mayor Eric Adams denies wrongdoing following media reports Wednesday of a federal indictment. Meanwhile, a Rikers Island correction officer, already facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, was accused in another lawsuit filed against the city this month. WNYC's Samantha Max reports. Also, Governor Kathy Hochul is allocating $80 million in state funding to support nonprofit arts programs. Plus, WNYC’s Brigid Bergin has more on the reports of Mayor Adams’s indictment.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says the recent high turnover of some of his top officials is normal. Plus, a new report shows jobs are booming on Coney Island. Also, WNYC’s Sean Carlson and Arun Venugopal discuss the economic benefits and perils of casinos, as a number of gaming companies vie for a spot in the five boroughs. And finally, WNYC’s Ryan Kailath attends a naturalization ceremony in Brooklyn to meet some of the newest Americans.

The MTA board unanimously approved a $65 billion capital plan to rehabilitate the city's transit infrastructure over the next five years. Meanwhile, the NYPD says the Battery Tunnel remains closed due to the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, despite plans to reopen it by noon Wednesday. Plus, New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks is stepping down at the end of the year. The announcement comes just weeks after the FBI searched his home and seized his phone. WNYC’s Jessica Gould has the latest.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks announced Tuesday he plans to step down at the end of the year, several weeks after the FBI seized his phones. Meanwhile, mosquito-borne illnesses are still circulating in the region, despite the fall weather, and can be deadly. WNYC's Giulia Heyward has more. Plus, the New York Liberty are advancing to the second round of the WNBA Playoffs after defeating the Atlanta Dream 91-82 at home. The Liberty will face the Las Vegas Aces next.

The NYPD says two men are facing murder charges in the death of a Bronx fruit vendor earlier this month. Meanwhile, a new report shows two Brooklyn communities are thriving economically, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the New York City Department of Education has expanded its Black Studies program, making it part of the Citywide Public School Curriculum this year. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with Joe Schmidt and Brian Carlin from the Department of Education to learn more about teaching Black history in the city. Finally, 21 schools in New York, including 16 in the city, are being recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic excellence.

The New Jersey State Attorney General is recommending broad reforms of the State Police to address racism, sexism and a "weaponized" internal affairs process. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced new measures after an Ulster County resident died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis, the state’s first human case since 2015. Plus, two men pleaded guilty to distributing drugs that killed a New York advocate for trans and sex workers' rights. WNYC’s Giulia Heyward reports. Finally, a former NYC education official was sentenced to two years in prison for a school corruption scandal. WNYC’s Jessica Gould has more.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New data shows New York City’s B-HEARD program routed nearly 15,000 mental health calls to social workers and EMTs in 2023 but responded to only 30% of calls in areas where it operates. Meanwhile, the city’s top health official, Ashwin Vasan, says he will step down by early next year. Plus, the MTA reports a 4.6% increase in bus fare payments in areas targeted by law enforcement in its latest crackdown on fare evasion.

Councilmember Sandy Nurse says a four-month-overdue report on homeless encampment sweeps, promised by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022, is key to helping the public understand their impact. Meanwhile, jaywalking is common in New York City, but hundreds of people are still cited each year. WNYC’s Ramsey Khalifeh reports on who is getting ticketed. Plus, the share of Black students admitted to top universities, including Columbia, has dropped significantly since the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions. WNYC’s Arun Venugopal explains the impact. Finally, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office is funding a program called Neighborhood Navigators to connect homeless individuals with services before they enter the criminal justice system. WNYC’s Samantha Max reports.

Emergency crews are cleaning up a 100-gallon fuel spill reported Monday morning on the Upper East Side. In other news, Mayor Eric Adams says a new initiative has removed hundreds of so-called ghost cars from city streets. Those are vehicles with fake or obstructed plates. Meanwhile, the board game Monopoly, where players buy, sell, and trade properties, will soon release a Queens, New York, edition. Plus, questions are swirling around interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon after he acknowledged federal agents searched his homes Friday. This comes as the NYPD continues to face fallout from last weekend’s controversial police shooting in Brooklyn. WNYC reporter Bahar Ostadan has the latest.