March 18, 2020 By Christian Murray An off-duty police officer aided a woman who was about to commit suicide in the East River near Astoria Park yesterday. Eileen Fitzgerald, a port authority police officer, was running along a path in Astoria Park Tuesday when she came across a crowd at the shoreline by 20th Avenue… Read more »
March 18, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The MTA has requested a $4 billion federal bailout to offset the impact coronavirus is having on the agency as ridership levels plummet and costs to combat the virus increase. In an urgent letter to New York’s congressional delegation, MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye said the transportation authority… Read more »
March 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Six cases of coronavirus are tied to a Catholic church in East Elmhurst, the Diocese of Brooklyn announced. Six congregants at St. Gabriel’s Church, located at 26-26 98th St., have tested positive for COVID-19 and participated at three recent church community group meetings. The cases emanate from meetings on… Read more »
March 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Eucharistic minister who distributed the Holy Communion at a Catholic church in Woodside has tested positive for Coronavirus. The minister last handed out the Eucharist to congregants of Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, located at 31-30 61st St., on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26. He last attended mass on… Read more »
March 18, 2020 By Christian Murray Forget about the inexpensive Uber ride-share option. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday that he has signed an executive order than bans shared rides in an effort to promote social distancing. “We want to protect drivers and we want to protect riders alike,” the Mayor said during a press… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should prepare for a possible “shelter-in-place” order as the number of coronavirus cases in New York City jumped more than 75 percent in one day. Across the five boroughs, there are now 814 positive cases of COVID-19 — up from 463 confirmed… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Organizers of the Queens World Film Festival have announced the event will go ahead this week and will be live-streamed over the Internet. The event – which kicks off Thursday, March 19 – will screen over 200 films from 32 nations after receiving submissions from almost 800 moviemakers across… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Board of Correction is calling on New York City to release prisoners deemed at high risk from the COVID-19 virus. The board says that it should reduce the prison population by identifying and potentially releasing people over the age of 50; those with underlying health… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Western Queens residents are coming together with acts of kindness to help those most in need get through the coronavirus pandemic. In Astoria, a young family has taken the positives from a vacation cancellation by setting up a local volunteer group to help the sick, elderly and vulnerable throughout… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The City has put plans in place to help small businesses ride out the crisis–but many local business groups say the programs do not go far enough. The New York City Department of Business Services is now providing zero interest loans to help small business stay afloat and is… Read more »