July 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin BJ’s Wholesale Club will open a Long Island City location early next year, the company announced Wednesday evening. The bulk goods warehouse store will open on 48th Street, taking the spot in the Plaza 48 mall that was once home to National Wholesale Liquidators. The news that BJ’s was… Read more »
July 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin The State Senate passed a bill Wednesday that aims to make sure that people are not detained longer than 24 hours if they have not been charged. State Sen. Mike Gianaris introduced the bill after seeing protesters at Black Lives Matter rallies being held for extended periods without being… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin A gun trafficking ring in Queens has been dismantled after its ringleaders were arrested Tuesday. Three Queens residents who oversaw the operation were arrested and arraigned Tuesday for smuggling guns from Virginia to New York, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced. A Virginia man was also arrested Tuesday as… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Christian Murray Ample Hills Creamery, the popular ice cream purveyor, is reopening its Astoria store Thursday after its exit from bankruptcy. The company is reopening two other stores tomorrow—one in Prospect Heights and the other in Chelsea. The openings represent the first steps taken by Schmitt Industries, an Oregon-based company that… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Progressive newcomer and housing counselor Zohran Mamdani has beaten incumbent Aravella Simotas in a close Democratic primary to represent Astoria in the State Assembly. Simotas — who was first elected in 2010 — conceded to the first-time candidate and Democratic Socialists of America member today. “I congratulate @ZohranKMamdani for… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin A new drive-in movie series is coming to Flushing Meadows Corona Park next month to offer Queens residents a safe film screening experience with a retro flair. Rooftop Films is partnering with the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) and the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) to bring… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for a number of suspects following a drive-by shootout in Astoria early Sunday morning. The driver of a white SUV pulled up alongside two men in the vicinity of 36th Street and 28th Avenue at around 3:50 a.m. and an occupant inside the car fired off… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin The State Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits that come from commercial breeders. The bill, introduced by State. Sen. Mike Gianaris, aims to end puppy mills and breeding farms, where animals are typically overbred and often confined to poor living… Read more »
July 21 2020, By Michael Dorgan Several Queens officials have slammed President Trump for issuing a memorandum that aims to block undocumented immigrants from being counted when the number of congressional seats are determined following the 2020 census. The memo, which was issued Tuesday, would exclude undocumented immigrants from the population count used to determine… Read more »
July 22, 2020 By Christian Murray A woman who was walking along 35th Street near 36th Avenue in Astoria Monday night was stabbed and slashed by a knife-wielding man, police said. The victim, 38, was attacked while walking between 35th and 36th Avenues at around 10:15 p.m., police said. One person who arrived on the… Read more »