Nov. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Queens COVID-19 yellow zone has been expanded northward to cover parts of Astoria, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. Cuomo said the COVID-19 positivity rate of Astoria reached 2.5 percent, putting it into a yellow zone — one of three zones where state-imposed restrictions apply to bring down the… Read more »
Nov. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City public schools will close in-person classes starting Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Public schools will switch to fully remote classes beginning tomorrow — until further notice. The move comes as New York City’s COVID-19 positivity rate reached 3 percent over a seven-day rolling average,… Read more »
Nov. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin Catholic schools in Queens and Brooklyn will remain open for in-person learning even if New York City public schools shutter due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Brooklyn and Queens announced Sunday. Queens and Brooklyn Catholic schools will continue to provide in-person instruction… Read more »
Nov. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Queens man was arraigned Saturday on attempted sexual abuse and other charges after he allegedly pounced on a 14-year-old girl and two women in broad daylight in Kew Gardens, Forest Park and Richmond Hill last week. Makijah Lino, 22, allegedly grabbed the teen and two women in three… Read more »
Nov. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The future of an ambitious 13-tower, mixed-use development along the Flushing Creek remains uncertain as the City Council begins to weigh in. The fate of the “Special Flushing Waterfront District” project lies in the hands of the City Council and many members have expressed misgivings about the plan over… Read more »
Nov. 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Police arrested a 35-year-old woman Thursday for her involvement in what many have called an anti-Muslim hate crime in Rego Park last week. Giselle Dejesus, of Woodhaven Boulevard in Rego Park, was charged with assault and other crimes after she and an unknown man allegedly beat a Muslim man… Read more »
Nov. 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Police are searching for a man who allegedly tried to rape a 14-year-old girl in Kew Gardens and a woman near Forest Park Thursday. The first incident took place in Kew Gardens at around 12:35 p.m. when the man targeted a 14-year-old girl. Police said the suspect approached the… Read more »
Nov. 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin Restaurants, bars and gyms across New York State must close by 10 p.m. beginning Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo said the new mandates were needed since the COVID-19 infection rate continues to rise across the state. He told reporters that bars and restaurants play an outsized role… Read more »
Nov. 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mental health experts will be sent out next year instead of police officers in response to 911 calls involving non-violent people experiencing mental illness problems, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. The new plan, which will be piloted in a number of neighborhoods next year, involves dispatching FDNY Emergency Medical… Read more »
Nov. 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Michael Gianaris introduced a bill Monday that would speed up the counting of absentee ballots in New York State to ensure elections are called quickly. The bill would require local boards of elections across the state to begin tallying absentee ballots on Election Day as opposed to… Read more »