Oct. 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York State has closed applications for the Excluded Workers Fund as the $2.1 billion fund is running out. The state department of labor stopped accepting new applications Friday night to the program, which provides monetary aid to undocumented New Yorkers who lost their jobs during the pandemic and… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that the city will phase out the gifted and talented program at city public schools — sparking criticism from several elected officials in Queens. The highly competitive program, which requires kindergarteners to take a screening test, has been criticized by experts for exacerbating… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York City Department of Education is facing backlash for not releasing public school enrollment and attendance numbers for the school year thus far. City Council members along with the head of the city’s powerful teachers union criticized the DOE for what they say is a lack of… Read more »
Oct. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 15,500 New Yorkers have received a total of $107 million to help bury their loved ones who died of COVID-19. The recipients were able to tap into the funds from the federal COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program, which recently expanded eligibility after facing pressure from two local legislators…. Read more »
Oct. 7, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The National Parks Service has designated John Bowne House in Flushing as a research facility for the anti-slave movement in America. The oldest house in Queens, known primarily for its role in establishing religious tolerance in America, has been selected to join the agency’s National Underground Railroad Network to… Read more »
Oct. 7, 2021 By Max Parrott Traffic deaths across New York City hit a seasonal high under Mayor de Blasio’s tenure this summer with 77 killed in crashes over a three-month period, a new study found. The striking summer death toll is reflective of overall trends this year. The study by safe streets advocacy group… Read more »
Oct. 6, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Hundreds of people laced up their sneakers Saturday and took part in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The annual event sees participants walk two miles around the Unisphere in order to raise money for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. More than 360 walkers took part… Read more »
Oct. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin A man was killed in a hit-and-run collision while riding his e-bike on the Belt Parkway in South Ozone Park early Wednesday morning. The unidentified victim was riding an e-bike westbound on the Parkway when a driver of a 2019 Dodge Charger struck him from behind near Exit 18B… Read more »
Oct. 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Queens County Farm Museum is offering a variety of fun fall activities for Queens families this month ahead of Halloween. Families visiting the farm can pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch; munch on apple pies, donuts, cider and the fruit itself; take a hayride around the… Read more »
Oct. 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin Several Queens lawmakers want Gov. Kathy Hochul to kill the controversial LaGuardia AirTrain project altogether after she announced Monday that she has directed the Port Authority to review other options. The lawmakers want Hochul to officially slam the lid on the $2 billion plan to build a 1.5-mile rail… Read more »