Oct. 19, 2020 By Christian Murray Enforcement of the plastic bag ban started today. The ban, which was approved by Governor Andrew Cuomo last year, went into effect on March 1 but the state did not enforce the law due to the coronavirus pandemic and a lawsuit filed by plastic bag manufacturers. The lawsuit was… Read more »
Oct. 19, 2020 by Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that he will reevaluate the five COVID-19 clusters across New York State and announce any changes — such as a rollback of restrictions — on Wednesday. The data for the Central Queens cluster continues to improve, with the infection rate in the red zone… Read more »
Oct. 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin Police are looking for three teens who have stolen thousands of dollars worth of iPhones and Apple watches from stores across the city in an ongoing grand larceny scheme from September through to last week. The teens, according to police, have a modus operandi where one of the teens… Read more »
Oct. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin Local lawmakers are again calling on the city to shut down a crime-ridden hotel in Kew Gardens after it was discovered that a man was forcing a 16-year-old girl into prostitution inside its hotel rooms. Council Member Karen Koslowitz and a representative from Assembly Member Daniel Rosenthal’s office denounced… Read more »
Oct. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 72-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in Kew Gardens Hills early Friday morning. The senior was crossing Horace Harding Expressway at the intersection of Main Street when he was struck by a 2008 Toyota Sienna at 4:45 a.m. He reportedly crossed the street against a… Read more »
Oct. 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The death of a 79-year-old groundskeeper who died after being attacked by a group of teens inside a Woodhaven golf course last month was ruled a homicide today– just days after the alleged perpetrator was arrested on lesser charges. William Hinchey, a Whitestone resident, got into an argument with… Read more »
Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Less than half of public school students in New York City are enrolled in blended learning, in which they combine in-person and remote learning. More and more students and their parents are opting out of the blended model in favor of fully remote learning, according to data released by… Read more »
Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Karen Koslowitz will not be setting aside any funds for participatory budgeting next year given the pandemic-related budget woes and her desire to complete outstanding capital projects, she said Wednesday. Koslowitz told Community Board 6 last night that she will instead use what little discretionary funds she… Read more »
Oct. 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for a man who allegedly burglarized two apartment buildings in Kew Gardens earlier this week and made off with power tools. Cops said the suspect first struck shortly after midnight Sunday when he broke into a residential building in the vicinity of Lefferts Boulevard and Metropolitan… Read more »
Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin A decision on how long the COVID-19 shutdown zones will remain in force could come as soon as Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. De Blasio said the COVID-19 positivity rates have improved in the cluster zones from what they were a week ago when nonessential businesses and… Read more »