INSIDER
New York City lawmakers approve bill to study slavery and reparations
Read full article: New York City lawmakers approve bill to study slavery and reparationsNew York City lawmakers have approved legislation to study the city’s significant role in slavery and consider reparations to descendants of enslaved people.
New York City to require warning labels for sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurants
Read full article: New York City to require warning labels for sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurantsNew York City residents may soon see warning labels next to sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurants and coffee shops.
Trump Organization offloads Bronx golf course to casino company with New York City aspirations
Read full article: Trump Organization offloads Bronx golf course to casino company with New York City aspirationsThe Trump Organization will offload its rights to operate a Bronx golf course to a company that is seeking to build a casino in New York City.
Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio ordered to pay $475K for misusing public funds on failed White House bid
Read full article: Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio ordered to pay $475K for misusing public funds on failed White House bidFormer New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been ordered to pay nearly half a million dollars after he was found to have misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.
RoboCop? No, RoboDog: Robotic dog rejoins New York police
Read full article: RoboCop? No, RoboDog: Robotic dog rejoins New York policeNew York City officials have unveiled three new high-tech policing devices including a robotic dog that critics called creepy when it first joined the police pack 2 1/2 years ago.
Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio heads to Harvard as teaching fellow
Read full article: Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio heads to Harvard as teaching fellowFormer New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is headed to Harvard this fall as a teaching fellow at the both the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard T.
Times Square show will go on despite virus surge, mayor says
Read full article: Times Square show will go on despite virus surge, mayor saysMayor Bill de Blasio says New York City will ring in 2022 in Times Square as planned despite record numbers of COVID-19 infections in the city and around the nation.
A look at de Blasio's NYC mayoral tenure and what's next
Read full article: A look at de Blasio's NYC mayoral tenure and what's nextBill de Blasio swept into the New York City mayor’s office eight years ago promising a liberal remolding of the nation’s largest city that would level deep inequities and reform police practices.
NYC OKs safe sites for drug use, aiming to curb overdoses
Read full article: NYC OKs safe sites for drug use, aiming to curb overdosesNew York City says the first officially authorized safe havens for people to use heroin and other narcotics have been cleared to open in the city in hopes of curbing deadly overdoses.
9,000 NYC workers on leave as vaccine mandate takes effect
Read full article: 9,000 NYC workers on leave as vaccine mandate takes effectAbout 9,000 New York City municipal workers were put on unpaid leave for refusing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that took effect Monday and thousands of city firefighters have called out sick in an apparent protest over the requirement.
Schools debate: Gifted and talented, or racist and elitist?
Read full article: Schools debate: Gifted and talented, or racist and elitist?Public school programs for the gifted and talented are getting increased scrutiny as critics denounce them as modern-day segregation and push for broader access or outright elimination.
Federal judge deals blow to vaccine mandate for NYC teachers
Read full article: Federal judge deals blow to vaccine mandate for NYC teachersNew York City schools have been temporarily blocked from enforcing a vaccine mandate for its teachers and other workers by a federal appeals judge days before it was to take effect.
Prince Harry, Meghan visit World Trade Center observatory in NYC
Read full article: Prince Harry, Meghan visit World Trade Center observatory in NYCPrince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, got a hawk’s-eye view of New York City on Thursday with a visit to the rebuilt World Trade Center’s signature tower.
Rikers Island should close, say 4 House Democrats from NY
Read full article: Rikers Island should close, say 4 House Democrats from NYFour members of Congress from New York demanded the release of inmates and the closure of New York City’s troubled Rikers Island jail complex after another inmate was reported dead at the facility this weekend.
School starts for 1 million NYC kids amid new vaccine rules
Read full article: School starts for 1 million NYC kids amid new vaccine rulesClassroom doors are swinging open for about a million New York City public school students in the nation’s largest experiment of in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus rebound
Read full article: Henri thwarts Central Park concert hailing NYC virus reboundA superstar-laden Central Park concert meant to celebrate New York City’s recovery from the coronavirus was cut short because of severe weather as Hurricane Henri approached.
NYC will require vaccination proof for indoor dining, gyms
Read full article: NYC will require vaccination proof for indoor dining, gymsNew York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, see a performance or go to the gym, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.
NYC concert lineup: Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson
Read full article: NYC concert lineup: Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer HudsonNew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Jennifer Hudson will headline an August concert in Central Park marking the city’s comeback from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Latest: Washington state resumes J&J inoculations
Read full article: The Latest: Washington state resumes J&J inoculationsGov. Jay Inslee said Saturday that inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can begin in Washington state following a review by scientific experts in a western states work group.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, mayor open new Times Square vaccine site
Read full article: Lin-Manuel Miranda, mayor open new Times Square vaccine site“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda joined New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at the grand opening of a Times Square COVID-19 vaccination site intended to jump-start the city’s entertainment industry.
Video shows vicious attack of Asian American woman in NYC
Read full article: Video shows vicious attack of Asian American woman in NYCOn Friday, in the same neighborhood as Monday's attack, a 65-year-old Asian American woman was accosted by a man waving an unknown object and shouting anti-Asian insults. He is not suspected in Monday's attack. Andrew Cuomo called Monday's attack “horrifying and repugnant" and he ordered a state police hate crimes task force to offer its assistance to the NYPD. The neighborhood where Monday's attack occurred, Hell's Kitchen, is predominantly white, with an Asian population of less than 20%, according to city demographic data. Shea called Monday's attack “disgusting," telling TV station NY1: “I don’t know who attacks a 65-year-old woman and leaves her on the street like that."
The Latest: Texas state judge upholds Austin's mask mandate
Read full article: The Latest: Texas state judge upholds Austin's mask mandateDoug Ducey said the site switch will maintain the state’s vaccination program’s presence in southeastern Maricopa County while protecting staff, volunteers and people getting vaccinated. Greece is currently grappling with a surge in coronavirus infections which has seen many hospitals run by the state health system reach capacity. 23, a total of 42,028 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed on the island nation of around 900,000 people, of which 248 died due to COVID-19. Kate Brown said those groups will now be eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5. ___PHOENIX — Arizona on Friday reported 571 new coronavirus cases and 24 deaths as the number of virus-related hospitalizations remained fairly stable.
New York City launches push to vaccinate theater workers
Read full article: New York City launches push to vaccinate theater workersAfter the virus descended on New York, the only sounds in the streets were wailing ambulance sirens. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)NEW YORK – New York City is taking steps toward the reopening of the city's theaters, creating vaccination and testing sites for stage workers in a bid to restore a key part of New York's draw. It’ll be staffed by workers from the theater industry. The city also plans for a mobile unit that will serve off-Broadway theaters and pop-up testing sites at or near theaters. “Vaccination and testing sites for theatre workers are a great step towards recovery and bringing Broadway back," said a statement from The Broadway League.
St. Patrick's Day to be largely virtual in NYC for 2nd year
Read full article: St. Patrick's Day to be largely virtual in NYC for 2nd yearBagpiper Joe Brady leads a smaller version of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)NEW YORK – A largely virtual St. Patrick's Day was planned for New York City on Wednesday, one year after the annual parade celebrating Irish heritage was canceled because of the pandemic. A live broadcast of the St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral took place. AdMultitudes of people usually line Fifth Avenue for New York’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which traces its roots to the 1760s. Patrick’s Day: A Celebration For All” at 7 p.m.
Could solitary confinement on Rikers Island be laid to rest?
Read full article: Could solitary confinement on Rikers Island be laid to rest?FILE - In this May 23, 1935 file photo, solitary confinement cells are shown at Rikers Island prison in New York. New York City officials have unveiled reforms they claim add up to a groundbreaking ban on solitary confinement on Rikers Island. As a teenager, Browder spent two years in solitary confinement at Rikers Island — and three years in in jail overall — when he couldn't make bail on a charge that he stole a backpack. The mayor called Browder’s death the “original sin” fueling a reform movement that had previously resulted in a ban on solitary confinement for 16- and 17-year-old inmates who broke jailhouse rules. That move followed a scathing Department of Justice report that found teenage inmates were too often placed in solitary confinement and beaten by jail guards.
The Latest: New Zealand opens 1st big vaccination clinic
Read full article: The Latest: New Zealand opens 1st big vaccination clinicNew Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. (New Zealand Ministry of Health via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. AdThe nation of 1.3 million has seen a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases n the past few weeks. Italy’s total virus cases surpassed 3 million last week, with a new surge powered by the highly contagious variant that was first identified in Britain.
Cuomo avoids public amid outcry over harassment allegations
Read full article: Cuomo avoids public amid outcry over harassment allegationsAndrew Cuomo has avoided public appearances for days as some members of his own party call for him to resign over sexual harassment allegations. Under the bill, Cuomo would still have the power to keep alive his existing COVID-19 rules or tweak them. State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs, a close Cuomo ally, said it’s “premature” to opine before the investigation concludes. Asa Hutchinson, the association's vice chair, called the allegations against Cuomo “very serious” but said it’s up to Democratic governors to decide who will chair the NGA. The story was updated March 3 to report Cuomo did a phone briefing on Feb. 22 where he took questions.
CNN's Chris Cuomo says he 'obviously' can't cover brother
Read full article: CNN's Chris Cuomo says he 'obviously' can't cover brotherCNN host Chris Cuomo told viewers on Monday, March 1, 2021, that he obviously could not cover the charges against his older brother, New York Gov. (AP Photo/File)NEW YORK – CNN host Chris Cuomo told viewers Monday that he “obviously” couldn't cover the stories surrounding his older brother, New York Gov. “Obviously, I'm aware of what's going on with my brother,” Chris Cuomo said on Monday. Chris Cuomo had caught COVID-19 and was doing shows from his basement, quarantined from his family. “An apology would have been a good start.”As Chris Cuomo said, CNN has covered the story elsewhere on the network.
NYC schools chancellor exits, citing virus' personal toll
Read full article: NYC schools chancellor exits, citing virus' personal tollNew York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza is shown this still image, from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's media availability, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in New York. (New York City Office of the Mayor via AP)NEW YORK – New York City's Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza announced Friday he will step down, citing the coronavirus pandemic's personal toll on his family. Porter is set to take over March 15, ready to “hit the ground running and lead New York City schools to a full recovery,” she said. Some elementary school students returned to in-person schooling in December, but upper-grade classrooms have remained closed except for those serving some special-needs students. “From day one, Carranza challenged white supremacy in education and called out the inequity, bias and segregation in New York City schools.
New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concern
Read full article: New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concernResearchers have flagged another mutated version of the coronavirus spreading in New York but experts say its too soon to know if the variant will be problematic. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)NEW YORK – Another mutated version of the coronavirus has popped up in New York City, and experts reacted to the the news with a mixture of caution and concern. Two research groups — at Caltech and Columbia University in New York — released papers this week describing their findings about the new variant. Both groups noted that the new variant has a mutation that could potentially weaken the effectiveness of vaccines — a mutation seen in other worrisome variants. New variants have been showing up throughout the pandemic, but three are considered the most worrisome — they've been designated “variants of concern."
Chief who knelt with protesters retires in new NYPD shake-up
Read full article: Chief who knelt with protesters retires in new NYPD shake-upFILE In this June 1, 202 file photo, Chief of Department of the New York City Police, Terence Monahan, kneels with activists as protesters paused while walking in New York. Between the pandemic and the protests, Monahan said, “this was the toughest year that I've ever spent in law enforcement.”Rodney Harrison, the chief of the NYPD's detectives squad, is replacing Monahan as chief of department. Juanita Holmes, a Black woman, succeeded the patrol chief who quit last summer, and Jeffrey Maddrey, a Black man, is the Chief of Community Affairs. Critics accused police of acting aggressively, and the city later settled a lawsuit with protesters for $18 million. In July, he was injured in the hand during a scuffle between pro-police and anti-police protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge.
US tops 500,000 virus deaths, matching the toll of 3 wars
Read full article: US tops 500,000 virus deaths, matching the toll of 3 warsThe first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020. Virus deaths have fallen from more than 4,000 reported on some days in January to an average of fewer than 1,900 per day. And in Nashville, Tennessee, health officials were able to vaccinate more than 2,300 senior citizens and teachers over the weekend after days of treacherous weather. She made multiple calls to health officials Monday, but they weren’t returned. New York City officials expected to catch up on vaccinations after being forced to delay scheduling tens of thousands of appointments last week, the mayor said Monday.
Crippling weather hampers vaccine deliveries, distribution
Read full article: Crippling weather hampers vaccine deliveries, distributionThe National Weather Service forecasts temperatures barely hovering at 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and likely slipping into the single digits by Tuesday morning. After her appointment for a vaccine on Saturday was canceled, Dohogne said a neighbor's friend has been helping her navigate the vaccine enrollment process. Some shipments of the vaccine made by Pfizer were delayed in the South because of the bad weather, but the company was unaware of any vaccine spoilage, said spokesman Eamonn Nolan. Fran Goldman, 90, of Seattle, told The Seattle Times she walked 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) round trip in the snow to get her vaccine. In other developments, Pennsylvania is facing a temporary shortage of second shots of the Moderna vaccine after providers inadvertently used them as first doses.
2nd major snowstorm in a week blankets Northeast
Read full article: 2nd major snowstorm in a week blankets NortheastIt was the second major snowstorm in less than week to hit the area. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK – A major snowstorm pushed through the Northeastern United States on Sunday, less than a week after a storm dumped more than 2 feet on parts of the region. The National Weather Service reported 11 inches had fallen in Walpole, Massachusetts. Weather service forecaster Bob Oravec said a mix of snow and rain would move northward up the East Coast. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday's snowfall, which started at around 9 a.m. in the city, would not close COVID-19 vaccination sites.
Bronx Boosters: Yankee Stadium becomes mass vaccination site
Read full article: Bronx Boosters: Yankee Stadium becomes mass vaccination sitePeople line up at a COVID-19 vaccination site at Yankee Stadium, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York. Yankee Stadium opened as a COVID-19 vaccination site Friday, drawing lines of people from surrounding neighborhoods in the Bronx. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)NEW YORK – Yankee Stadium was opened as a COVID-19 mass vaccination site Friday by officials trying to boost inoculation rates in surrounding Bronx neighborhoods hard hit by the pandemic. I was registered around town and nobody called me," she said, but her doctor "was on the ball, and found out as soon as Yankee Stadium got the vaccine.”Not everyone had a smooth experience. "So, you know, it’s an issue.”Plans to provide COVID-19 inoculations at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, the New York Mets’ home in Queens, were delayed by a shortage of vaccine doses.
The Latest: Sri Lankan officials say vaccinations advancing
Read full article: The Latest: Sri Lankan officials say vaccinations advancingFILE - In this Jan. 29, 2021, file photo, Sri Lankan nursing staff administer COVID-19 vaccines to front-line health workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reynolds issued the earlier restrictions in November when hospitals were struggling to care for a surge of coronavirus patients. Officials say it could help up to four COVID-19 patients. ___LISBON, Portugal — Portugal has set a new daily record for COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care with 904 patients on Friday. AdThe Austrian government offered to take in five COVID-19 patients and five non-COVID patients to relieve Portuguese hospitals.
VIRUS TODAY: COVID-19 cases down as US ends deadliest month
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: COVID-19 cases down as US ends deadliest monthThe deadliest month of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. drew to a close with certain signs of progress: COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downward, while vaccinations are picking up speed. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)Here’s what’s happening Monday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY:— The deadliest month of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. has drawn to a close with certain signs of progress: COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are plummeting, as vaccinations are picking up. Several people in the mostly Black city are trying to set an example by getting vaccinated. The now-90-year-old Gray stresses that the syphilis study and the COVID-19 vaccine are completely different. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
The Latest: Massachusetts braces for snow's arrival, wind
Read full article: The Latest: Massachusetts braces for snow's arrival, windThe winter weather prompted school districts to cancel in-person learning on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed and rescheduling appointments. As much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was predicted to fall in areas throughout the day Monday and overnight. 11:30 a.m.BOSTON — The second phase of Massachusetts’ coronavirus vaccine rollout is being disrupted by a winter storm that’s causing schedule changes and at least one vaccination location to shutdown. A winter storm warning remained in effect until Tuesday for much of the state. Most of the state remained under winter storm warnings or winter weather advisories that were expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning.
'A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snow
Read full article: 'A long two days': Major storm pummels Northeast with snowAlthough the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. “We’re looking at a long two days here,” New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.
The Latest: Wash. state warns hospitals on VIP vaccinations
Read full article: The Latest: Wash. state warns hospitals on VIP vaccinationsThe state crossed that mark Monday, exactly a year after officials reported the first case of a coronavirus infection in Massachusetts. — Maryland’s acting health secretary says the state’s hospitals have received less than half of their expected allocations of second doses of the coronavirus vaccine for front-line health workers this week. Schrader says state officials were talked with the federal Department of Health and Human Services all weekend trying to figure out what happened. The CDC says Iowa has delivered 190,689 first vaccine doses to individuals, or 6,044 per 100,000 people, the third lowest rate in the nation. Ad___PRAGUE — The Czech Republic is not planning to limit use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for elderly people like some other European Union nations.
Push to reopen schools could leave out millions of students
Read full article: Push to reopen schools could leave out millions of studentsFor the first time since shuttering schools in March, Atlanta began returning the youngest and special education students to some in-person learning last week. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday that he expects middle school and high school students back in some capacity later this school year. AdClaiborne Wade, 31, has three children in the Chicago Public Schools system, ages 10, 9 and 7. Wade believes the district is not quite ready to reopen schools, and he favors distance learning for now. Ad“Any plan for reopening schools needs to be centered around equity for all,” she said.
The Latest: Lockdown in Perth, Australia reaches 5 days
Read full article: The Latest: Lockdown in Perth, Australia reaches 5 days(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)PERTH, AustraIia — The city of Perth has been locked down for five days after Western Australia state’s first case of local COVID-19 infection in almost 10 months. With hospitalizations and confirmed cases falling, health officials are optimistic that the worst of the latest surge is over. The businesses can reopen, following a 25% capacity limit, given the improvement in the number of COVID-19 cases and in the city’s positivity rate. Authorities had warned that riots in the Netherlands over coronavirus restrictions could spark similar protests in neighboring Belgium. He said the number of weekly COVID-19 cases in nursing homes has declined by 66% in the last three weeks.
Health experts blame rapid expansion for vaccine shortages
Read full article: Health experts blame rapid expansion for vaccine shortagesFlorida's top health official said the state would deal with the scarcity by restricting vaccines to state residents. The vaccine rollout so far has been “a major disappointment,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. Then, opening the line to senior citizens set people up for disappointment because there wasn’t enough vaccine, he said. But some public health experts said that the states have not been getting reliable information on vaccine deliveries and that the amounts they have been sent have been unpredictable. Florida was one of the first states to open vaccine eligibility to members of the general public over 65.
Biden puts forth virus strategy, requires mask use to travel
Read full article: Biden puts forth virus strategy, requires mask use to travelBut Biden officials say they're hampered by lack of cooperation from the Trump administration during the transition. AdThe U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. The Biden plan estimates that a national vaccination strategy with expanded testing requires $160 billion, and he wants another $170 billion to aid the reopening of schools and universities. As part of his COVID-19 strategy, Biden will order the establishment of a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to ensure that minority and underserved communities are not left out of the government's response. Biden is ordering FEMA to reimburse states for the full cost of using their National Guards to set up vaccination centers.
President Biden signs burst of virus orders, requires masks for travel
Read full article: President Biden signs burst of virus orders, requires masks for travelPresident Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. “We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it will take months to turn this around,” Biden said at the White House. A key difference is that under Biden, the federal government is assuming full responsibility for the COVID response. The U.S. mask order for travel implemented by Biden applies to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Biden is seeking to expand testing and vaccine availability, with the goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office.
States report vaccine shortages and cancel appointments
Read full article: States report vaccine shortages and cancel appointmentsThe Erie County Health Department said it scratched vaccinations for over 8,000 people in the past few days because of inadequate supply. Less than half of the 36 million doses distributed to the states by the federal government have been administered so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He urged health care facilities not to schedule appointments to dispense vaccine they haven’t been allocated yet. The county health department received 12,000 doses last week but fewer than 2,000 this week. In New York State, Barbara Carr, a 72-year-old retiree in Buffalo, was distraught when her vaccine appointment for Thursday was canceled.
NY attorney general sues NYPD over Floyd protest response
Read full article: NY attorney general sues NYPD over Floyd protest response"We found a pattern of deeply concerning and unlawful practices that the NYPD utilized in response to these largely peaceful protests,” James said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. Andrew Cuomo with investigating whether NYPD officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce Mayor Bill de Blasio’s nightly curfew. The lawsuit in federal court named the city, de Blasio, police Commissioner Dermot Shea and Chief of Department Terence Monahan as defendants. “A court process and the added bureaucracy of a federal monitor will not speed up this work,” de Blasio said. James’ lawsuit is the second major legal action to stem from the NYPD’s handling of the protests.
NYC to terminate Trump contracts after Capitol insurrection
Read full article: NYC to terminate Trump contracts after Capitol insurrection(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)NEW YORK – New York City will terminate business contracts with President Donald Trump after last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday. “I’m here to announce that the city of New York is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization,” de Blasio said in an interview on MSNBC. De Blasio had said earlier that the city was examining its legal options to end the Trump contracts. Removing the Trump name from the rinks, carousel and golf course won't erase him from New York City. He will still operate Trump Tower on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue and the Trump International Hotel on Central Park West.
Trump business backlash part of ‘cancel culture,’ son says
Read full article: Trump business backlash part of ‘cancel culture,’ son saysFILE - In this Tuesday, March 15, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters at his primary election night event at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. At right is his son Eric Trump. “The president incited a rebellion against the United States government, a clearly unconstitutional act,” Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Eric Trump seemed unruffled but combative as he spoke by phone from his office in Trump Tower. “You have a man who would get followed to the ends of the Earth by a hundred million Americans,” Eric Trump said. Learn from Donald Trump,” Eric Trump said before urging them to “march on the Capitol."
The Latest: 2 Chinese cities urge people to stay at home
Read full article: The Latest: 2 Chinese cities urge people to stay at homeLaura Kelly said Thursday that inmates will be vaccinated after health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. The governor warned Friday that initially, the supply of vaccines available to people other than health care workers and nursing home patients will be very limited. The announcement came as many local officials argued it was time to distribute the vaccine beyond health care workers. The governor’s plan came as the state’s new COVID-19 cases continue to rise and ICU beds are nearly full. Shots also are still being given to health care workers, first responders and staff and residents at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Governors scramble to speed vaccine effort after slow start
Read full article: Governors scramble to speed vaccine effort after slow startHis South Carolina counterpart warned health care workers they have until Jan. 15 to get a shot or move to the back of the line. If health workers aren’t lining up fast enough, he said, it is OK to expand eligibility to lower-priority groups. Across much of the nation, health care workers and nursing home residents are being given priority for the initial, limited supplies of the vaccine at this stage. Henry McMaster of South Carolina warned that health care workers will lose their place in line if they don't move quickly to get their shots. But Cuomo immediately shot down that idea, saying, “We need to get the health care population done first because they are the front line."
The Latest: Australia moves up vaccination start to February
Read full article: The Latest: Australia moves up vaccination start to February(AP Photo/Mark Baker)CANBERRA, Australia — Australia is advancing the start of its coronavirus vaccination program to mid-February, with plans to inoculate 15% of the population by late March. Mexico’s vaccination effort continues at a glacial rate, with about 7,500 shots administered Wednesday, a rate similar to previous days. John Bel Edwards and public health officials said Wednesday that efforts are being made to speed up vaccinations for the coronavirus. So far, state officials have administered 126,602 of the 522,550 doses the state has received. More than 329,000 people have been vaccinated in Florida — or about 1.5% of the population — almost all of them either health care workers, residents in care homes, or people over the age of 65.
Self-described American nationalist is held in NYC bomb hoax
Read full article: Self-described American nationalist is held in NYC bomb hoaxThis photo, provided by the New York City Police Department, Monday, Jan.4, 2021, shows the hoax explosive device at a mall in the Queens borough of New York. A police spokesman said that an initial investigation showed there was no explosive device. "An investigation is underway into the hoax," NYPD Sergeant Edward Riley said in an emailed statement. via AP)NEW YORK – A self-described American nationalist suspected of leaving a hoax explosive device in a car at a New York City mall is facing criminal charges after turning himself in to police, authorities said Tuesday. He mocked media coverage as “fake news” and derided reporters covering his arrest as "morons.”“It was a Tesla car being charged," Shenker said.
The Latest: China's Hebei toughens virus rules over outbreak
Read full article: The Latest: China's Hebei toughens virus rules over outbreakState health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey urged residents to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing their hands frequently. Health care officials are currently vaccinating health care workers, first responders and those living in long-term care facilities —all people in the highest-priority groups for getting doses. In the first phase, priority was given to health care workers and residents and staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Cuomo says hospitals need to do a better job of vaccinating the health care workers who are eligible now. Only health care workers and nursing home residents and staff members are currently being vaccinated in New York.
VIRUS TODAY: Vaccination efforts to end COVID-19 accelerate
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Vaccination efforts to end COVID-19 accelerateAn elderly woman applauds during a vaccination at a nursing house in Athens, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, said over the weekend that 1.5 million shots were dispensed over 72 hours, bringing the running total to about 4 million. Associated Press data shows more than 230 state lawmakers across the country have contracted COVID-19 and at least seven have died. — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city will set up 250 city-run COVID-19 vaccination sites this month in a push to administer 1 million vaccine doses by the end of January. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Watchdog: Floyd protests overwhelmed NYPD, sparking conflict
Read full article: Watchdog: Floyd protests overwhelmed NYPD, sparking conflictFILE In this June 1, 2020 file photo, New York City Police officers arrest a man during a solidarity rally calling for justice over the death of George Floyd, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. It also recommended that the department no longer use for protests a rapid-response unit that deals in terrorism and other emergencies. “The problems went beyond poor judgment or misconduct by some individual officers,” Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett said at a news conference. “Those two weeks in late May and early June were a very painful period in an already deeply challenging year for New York City,” Garnett said. “Our goal was to bring transparency and accountability to the events of that period.”___Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
Admissions changes aim to remedy segregation in NYC schools
Read full article: Admissions changes aim to remedy segregation in NYC schoolsIt wouldn't be fair for schools to rely on two-year-old data about children so young, Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said. “The status quo in New York City public schools cannot continue.”The system also will eliminate geographic priorities for high school admissions starting next year, beginning with neighborhood residency priorities. Calls to change the city's school admission system have been growing in recent years. Middle school academic screens were already scrapped in a Brooklyn area where de Blasio lived before becoming mayor. Liu, a Democrat, agreed that the pandemic had made the usual middle school screening process unworkable this year.
New sheriff in NYC? No, but pandemic lifts obscurity of one
Read full article: New sheriff in NYC? No, but pandemic lifts obscurity of oneFILE In this Dec. 1, 2020 file photo, New York City Sheriff's deputies stand outside Mac's Public House after co-owner Danny Presti was arrested, in the Staten Island borough of New York. A crackdown on COVID-19 restriction violators has drawn attention to a sheriff in New York City few knew existed. The pandemic crackdown by the New York City Sheriff’s Office raises the question: Is there a new sheriff in a town that barely knew it had one? Since August, sheriff's deputies have shut down 41 illegal large-scale gatherings, including underground parties featuring DJs, alcohol and maskless revelers. If that happens, it will likely be the sheriff's office, not police, trying to get people to obey the rules.
Another casualty of 2020: The magic of the snow day
Read full article: Another casualty of 2020: The magic of the snow dayCOVID-19 has robbed a lot from children in 2020, and in many school districts in northern climes it is now stealing the magic of the snow day — waking up to find that school has been canceled and the day will be filled with snowballs and snow angels. “As a parent — and I was a kid once myself — I have to say I feel a little sad that the snow day we used to all know may be gone because it’s really not going to be a day off if we have a snow day,” he said. Superintendent Jeffrey Mohre says remote learning or not, he’ll still call snow days. If snow days go away, so would the fun of calling them, which some administrators have raised to a video art form. “Snow days are a part of our life.
Hopeful sign: Midwestern states see drop in new virus cases
Read full article: Hopeful sign: Midwestern states see drop in new virus casesAfter a punishing fall that left hospital struggling, some Midwestern states are seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)After a punishing fall that left hospitals struggling, some Midwestern states are seeing a decline in new coronavirus cases. With winter weather driving people indoors, where the virus spreads more easily, there’s no guarantee the improving dynamic can be maintained, doctors and public health officials say. In Iowa, for example, the number of new virus cases reported daily has declined over the past two weeks from nearly 1,800 to about 1,250. In Orange County, health officials said they plan to send large tents to four hospitals to help handle their patient caseloads.
US schools go back and forth on in-person learning
Read full article: US schools go back and forth on in-person learningPublic schools reopened for in-school learning Monday after being closed since mid-November. At least four school districts in South Carolina have returned to all-virtual learning. Middle schools and high schools will remain all-remote at least until after the holiday break. “This is a good day for New York City, even against a tough backdrop,” de Blasio said Monday. School districts across the country, both big and small, have reported an increase in the number of students failing classes.
Students return to NYC schools once more after virus closure
Read full article: Students return to NYC schools once more after virus closurePublic schools reopened for in-school learning Monday after being closed since mid-November. Public school doors reopened for preschool students and children in kindergarten through fifth grade whose parents chose a mix of in-school and remote learning. Overall, the city counts about 1 million public school students; most have opted to learn from home this fall. Masks and social distancing are required at all city schools. About 190,000 students were eligible to return to school buildings starting Monday.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turns on, with virus rules
Read full article: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turns on, with virus rulesPeople look from the windows of 30 Rockefeller Center as more than 50,000 lights on the 75-foot-tall Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree are illuminated at the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)NEW YORK – Rockin' around the Christmas tree looks different for visitors at Rockefeller Center this year, starting with Wednesday's tree lighting ceremony. In the days following the lighting until the early part of January, those wishing to take a look at the tree will have to follow a host of rules. At that point, they will be directed to specific pods, each of which can hold four people, to look at the tree. Workers at Rockefeller Center first put up a tree in 1931.
The Latest: Vietnam has 1st local transmission in 89 days
Read full article: The Latest: Vietnam has 1st local transmission in 89 days(AP Photo/Hau Dinh)HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnamese authorities are conducting intensive contact tracing after the country’s first confirmed local transmission of the coronavirus in 89 days. The flight attendant tested positive on Saturday, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said. The new case ended Vietnam’s streak of 89 days without any known local transmission of the virus. The country has reported 1,347 coronavirus cases, including 35 deaths. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Monday on Twitter that the record comes ahead of an “anticipated Thanksgiving acceleration” in coronavirus cases.
NYC to reopen schools, even as virus spread intensifies
Read full article: NYC to reopen schools, even as virus spread intensifiesThe plan for reopening middle and high schools is still being developed, de Blasio said. Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, said he supports de Blasio's school reopening plan. De Blasio said at a news briefing that he had discussed his reopening plan with Cuomo. Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, said the union supports the reopening plan as long as stringent testing is in place. More than 9,300 New York City residents have tested positive for the virus over the past seven days.
New York City's first Black mayor, David Dinkins, dies at 93
Read full article: New York City's first Black mayor, David Dinkins, dies at 93FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 2, 1990, file photo, David Dinkins delivers his first speech as mayor of New York, in New York. Dinkins, New York Citys first African-American mayor, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Frankie Ziths, File)NEW YORK – Few American leaders have faced the battery of urban ills that confronted David Dinkins when he became New York City's first Black mayor in 1990. De Blasio, who worked in Dinkins’ administration, named Manhattan’s Municipal Building after his mentor in October 2015. Newly freed Nelson Mandela made New York City his first stop in the U.S. in 1990.
New York City schools to close again as virus rate rises
Read full article: New York City schools to close again as virus rate risesNew York City is shuttering schools to try to stop the renewed spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. Most of the city's public school students are already being taught online. ... Schools should be the last thing to close," said Carly Maready, who has three children in kindergarten through fifth grades. New York City’s school system, like others across the nation, initially halted in-person learning in mid-March as the virus spiked. As of midweek, more than 2,300 public school students or staffers had tested positive since the start of the school year.
The Latest: S Korea begins stronger limits in some areas
Read full article: The Latest: S Korea begins stronger limits in some areasIn September, the district reported about 13 new coronavirus cases weekly, mostly involving teachers and staff, when it first opened early childhood education classes. ___ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Five Florida mayors are expressing concern about the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, and are urging Gov. But the state’s rolling seven-day average for new coronavirus cases was more than nine times higher Wednesday than it was than when her first order took effect. Officials began instituting local shutdowns in neighborhoods where coronavirus cases were rapidly rising. There were 5,102 cases reported in Minnesota on Wednesday, along with 67 deaths.
The Latest: India registers over 30,000 new virus cases
Read full article: The Latest: India registers over 30,000 new virus casesIt said the country was showing a trend of declining average daily cases over the last two months. Worldwide, more than 54 million coronavirus cases have been reported with more than 1.3 million deaths. ___CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has set another weekly record for the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, even with one day left to count. The state set three daily marks for confirmed cases in the past week, including a record 821 cases on Friday. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
As coronavirus spikes, NYC prepares to close schools again
Read full article: As coronavirus spikes, NYC prepares to close schools again(AP Photo/Kathy Willen, File)NEW YORK – A coronavirus resurgence in New York City is threatening to halt the nation’s biggest experiment with in-person learning. Several states have kept schools open for in-person learning in areas where there are far more infections per capita than in New York City. Detroit Public Schools on Thursday joined a growing list of districts shifting to remote learning, telling students to stay home until Jan. 11. Minneapolis Public Schools on Monday put an indefinite hold on efforts to bring more children back to school. Sabretta Pryce said her 6-year-old son, Gavon, is doing well with all-remote learning at Public School 47 in the Bronx.
Virus surge: Schools abandon classes, states retreat
Read full article: Virus surge: Schools abandon classes, states retreat“It should frighten all of us,” Dr. David Peterman, CEO of Idaho's Primary Health Medical Group, said of the virus numbers. Reflecting what has largely been a divide between red and blue states, Republican Gov. In other states, officials have tightened restrictions, though not as much as when the virus first hit in the spring. Utah's governor put in place a statewide mask mandate, while Indiana's governor extended his state's mask rule for another month. Michigan’s largest school district, Detroit, said it will suspend in-person classes next week for its roughly 50,000 students, joining other districts that have shifted to online-only classes.
Trump defied gravity; now falls back to earth, future TBD
Read full article: Trump defied gravity; now falls back to earth, future TBDWASHINGTON – Donald Trump, who defied political gravity with his extraordinary rise from reality star and businessman to the presidency, has fallen back to earth. “Even in defeat, Donald Trump has exceeded expectations and helped other Republicans do the same,” said GOP consultant Michael Steel, who has worked on Capitol Hill and for campaigns. “When Donald Trump loses there will never be a peaceful transition to power,” said Trump’s longtime lawyer and fixer-turned-critic Michael Cohen. Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has become a particular favorite with the president’s loyal supporters on the campaign trail, meaning the Trump name could endure. Many of Trump’s supporters see his influence continuing.
Sale of Mets to Steve Cohen approved; Wilpon era nears end
Read full article: Sale of Mets to Steve Cohen approved; Wilpon era nears endFILE - In this Dec. 10, 2009 file photo, billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen attends a benefit in New York. Major League Baseball owners voted Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, to approve the sale of the New York Mets to Cohen. The Mets sale is likely to close within 10 days. “I am humbled that MLB’s owners have approved me to be the next owner of the New York Mets,” Cohen said in a statement. Cohen made his announcement as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city does not object to the sale.
Anxiety 2020: Voters worry about safety at the polls
Read full article: Anxiety 2020: Voters worry about safety at the pollsRecently, it’s become a hot spot of angry confrontations between Trump supporters and liberal protesters. Kauffman has seen some of the Trump supporters carrying weapons. With Election Day next week, voters can point to plenty of evidence behind the anxiety. About 7 in 10 voters say they are anxious about the election, according to an AP-NORC poll this month. Biden supporters were more likely to say so than Trump supporters — 72% to 61%.