Dec. 27, 2021 By Allie Griffin Governor Kathy Hochul signed two bills into law last week that were sponsored by state Senator Michael Gianaris that aim to improve the voting system. One bill requires absentee ballots to be counted by election night, while the other requires the state to increase the number of early voting… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The city’s annual Mulchfest is back for another year, giving residents a chance to dispose of their Christmas trees in an eco-friendly way. Residents can bring their Christmas trees to a select number of city parks to be turned into mulch during the annual Mulchfest. This year’s event will… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin The federal government has opened three COVID-19 testing sites in Queens as officials from all levels of government rush to raise testing capacity amid a surge of cases. The first site run by the CDC opened in Travers Park in Jackson Heights Wednesday. Two more mobile test sites —… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A woman is dead — and two others injured — following a hail of gunfire outside an Astoria bar during the early hours Thursday morning. The shooting took place outside Solletto, located at 23-66 Steinway St., just after 4 a.m. and left a 27-year-old woman dead after being shot… Read more »
Dec. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin CityMD, a popular chain of urgent care clinics, has temporarily closed 13 locations across the city — including three in Queens. The chain, which has been a go-to spot for many to get both rapid and PCR tests for COVID-19 during the pandemic, has temporarily closed select locations in… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens officials are calling on the mayor to add more COVID-19 testing sites in western Queens — especially sites capable of testing children too young to receive the vaccine. Nine elected officials from Queens held various press conferences Tuesday to demand the city open more COVID-19 testing sites in… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Mayor-Elect Eric Adams announced Monday that he has selected Astoria native Lorraine Grillo to be his first deputy mayor when he takes office Jan. 1. Grillo, who currently serves as “Recovery Czar” under Mayor Bill de Blasio, will be tasked with helping Adams run the day-to-day operations of City… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Dolphins were spotted off the coast of Queens Sunday. A pod of at least six dolphins was seen swimming in the Flushing Bay by the NYPD Harbor Unit. The department posted a video of the pod on Twitter and joked that the marine mammals are holiday tourists visiting the… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Christian Murray New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling on the public to watch out for price gouging when it comes to buying COVID-19 at-home test kits. James said that her office has received complaints of COVID-19 testing products being sold at double or triple their retail price. A standard… Read more »
Dec, 21, 2021 By Christian Murray Procrastination pays. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that New Yorkers who get the booster shot at a city run or SOMOS vaccination site will get $100—starting today. The incentive, which comes as the city is waging battle against the omicron variant, will be offered through Dec. 31, he… Read more »