Aug. 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio and city health officials are “strongly recommending” New Yorkers to mask up indoors regardless of their vaccination status. De Blasio issued the recommendation Monday, but stopped short of calling for mandatory mask use—unlike what officials in some other big U.S. cities have done. The announcement… Read more »
Aug. 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 10 funding requests for community services — of which eight requests are for projects in Queens and two in the Bronx. The House passed a bill late Thursday that includes an allocation for updating the obstetrical facilities at Elmhurst… Read more »
Aug. 1, 2021 By Christian Murray Eight men and two women were shot in a mass shooting in front of a Mexican restaurant in Corona Saturday night, according to police. None of the victims sustained life threatening injuries, despite nearly 40 shots being fired in what police describe as a brazen assault. The mass shooting… Read more »
July 31, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Midwives at Elmhurst Hospital and dozens of their supporters picketed outside the facility Wednesday to demand better pay and working conditions while also sounding the alarm on patient safety. The midwives, who help patients throughout the childbirth process at the hospital, were joined by some of their former patients,… Read more »
July 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin The City University of New York (CUNY) will wipe out the debt of 50,000 current students and recent grads who experienced hardships during the pandemic. CUNY will erase as much as $125 million outstanding tuition and fee balances through the “CUNY Comeback Program,” CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez and… Read more »
July 30, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A popular kids program in Queens that aims to develop the next generation of hockey players returns to Long Island City in August—and spaces are filling up fast. The program, called Learn to Play, provides affordable hockey lessons and equipment to kids aged 5 through 8 to encourage them… Read more »
July 30, 2021 By Ryan Songalia The Queens County Farm Museum will be holding its first ever Pride event this Saturday that will feature Broadway singers to a Drag Queen Story Hour. The organizers are anticipating a capacity crowd of 2,000 visitors for “Pride on the Farm,” which will celebrate LGBTQ+ pride while giving family… Read more »
July 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Police have nabbed the creep who dragged an 11-year-old girl into an alleyway Sunday and threatened to rape and murder her. Officers arrested 34-year-old Jonathan Perez, of Woodhaven, Thursday on charges of robbery, assault, kidnapping, acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17, and menacing. Perez… Read more »
July 30, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A bill was introduced in the city council Thursday that aims to limit class sizes as a means to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The bill, sponsored by Council Education Committee Chair Mark Treyger and Council Speaker Corey Johnson, would raise the minimum per person classroom space to 35-square… Read more »
July 29, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Hundreds of runners are expected to fill the streets of Jackson Heights on Aug. 28 for a fundraiser to help the victims of a recent fire. The event is being organized by the Queens Distance Runners, a running group with about 1,500 members, and will take place on 34th… Read more »