July 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin City officials announced a multi-million dollar plan today to reboot New York City public schools after the majority of students spent a year learning online. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter outlined a $635 million “academic recovery plan” Thursday that focuses on improving early literacy… Read more »
July 8, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Eligible parents will begin receiving a monthly payment starting on July 15 from the federal government. The payment comes in the form of an early child tax credit, which was included as part of the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law by President Joe Biden on March… Read more »
July 8, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Science is back! The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) opened its doors for the first time in nearly 16 months today after being closed due to health risks stemming from COVID-19. The science museum has fully reopened and features a new interactive exhibit called The Happiness Experiment. The… Read more »
July 8, 2021 By Christian Murray A man who killed his half-brother by stabbing him 137 times has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and faces 19 years in prison, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Wkorasky Voltaire, 30, pleaded guilty Wednesday for the stabbing death of his half-brother McKenzie Placide that took place inside an… Read more »
July 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens borough president candidate Elizabeth Crowley slammed her opponent’s allegations of racism as “slanderous and untruthful” in a statement Wednesday. Crowley said there was zero evidence to back up the claims made by incumbent Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who accused her of racism in a series of tweets… Read more »
July 7, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A disgraced Queens lawyer has been charged with bilking nearly 20 would-be home buyers out of more than $1 million in down payments. Freddie Berg, of the Berg Law Firm LLC., was arraigned Tuesday in Queens Criminal Court on charges that include grand larceny in the second degree, conspiracy… Read more »
July 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Borough President Donovan Richards declared victory in his bid for re-election Tuesday, while blasting his opponent as an alleged racist on Twitter. Richards, the presumptive winner of the Democratic primary for borough president, released two victory statements — one via Twitter and one via a spokesperson — with… Read more »
July 7, 2021 By Ryan Songalia An annual festival for outdoor enthusiasts will be taking place at Jamaica Bay this Saturday. The Jamaica Bay Festival, organized by the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, will provide the public with the opportunity to paddle a kayak, learn how to fish, watch nature, go sailing and participate in various… Read more »
July 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin The leading candidates in Queens council races have secured victories after absentee ballots were counted Tuesday. The NYC Board of Elections (BOE) released the most complete results Tuesday, with the majority of absentee ballots tallied and ranked choice voting tabulations applied. Several races that were nail-biters on election night… Read more »
July 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Borough President Donovan Richards maintained a narrow lead in his bid for re-election after absentee ballots were tallied Tuesday. Richards, who was sworn into office last year following a special election, is all but certain to serve a full term as borough president now that almost all the… Read more »