NYC NOW

The Knicks made the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, and then fired head coach Tom Thibodeau just days later. What happened? What’s next? And did this team just peak, or are they on the brink of something bigger? Newsday Knicks beat reporter Steve Popper joins us to break it all down. Plus, he answers a few questions from around the WNYC newsroom.

Democratic candidate Jessica Ramos is endorsing her opponent Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race. Plus, a South Indian restaurant tops the New York Times' list of Best One Hundred New York restaurants. And finally, recent data show New York City beaches are the site of a surprising conservation success story for horseshoe crabs.

Immigrant rights groups say the Trump administration’s new travel ban set to take effect Monday will deeply impact New Yorkers with ties to Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, and other affected countries. Meanwhile, student advocates warn that Mayor Adams’ “Afterschool for All” plan needs to do more to serve kids with disabilities. Plus, New Jersey’s primary race for governor wraps up Tuesday. Max Pizarro of Insider NJ previews what to expect in the final stretch.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release hundreds of millions of dollars in housing and transit funds it was withholding from New York City. Meanwhile, the two leading Democratic candidates for public advocate, Jumaane Williams and Jenifer Rajkumar, traded sharp attacks in their first televised debate. Also, the New York Liberty have opened the season with eight straight wins, their best start in franchise history. Plus, in this week’s transit segment: a new 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes, bus-only lanes coming to Flatbush Avenue, and Amtrak proposes direct service to Long Island for the first time.

Immigrants appearing for required check-ins with a private contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Lower Manhattan are being arrested instead. Plus, security camera footage shows Rep. Jerry Nadler's staffer being handcuffed last week by Homeland Security police. Also, modular construction becomes the latest attempt to address New York State's affordability crisis. Meanwhile, multi-family, energy efficient affordable housing could become harder to build in New Jersey under the Trump administration. And finally, New York City’s summer stargazing begins!

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is endorsing Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Ocasio-Cortez calls Mamdani the best candidate to energize working-class voters and defeat frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. A new survey shows New Yorkers feel safer than last year, but not as safe as before the pandemic. Plus, WNYC’s Brigid Bergin recaps the first mayoral debate, where all nine Democratic candidates, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo, appeared on stage.

The first Democratic mayoral debate featured sharp interruptions and direct attacks on frontrunner Andrew Cuomo. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams confronted the former governor for saying he had no personal regrets during his time in office. Meanwhile, the U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is urging federal authorities to review Columbia University’s accreditation status, accusing it of showing “deliberate indifference” toward Jewish students facing antisemitism. Plus, a new early childhood center is coming to PS 6 in Flatbush. It will include a mix of general and special education seats along with a specialized autism program.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing back against questions about how he's responding to ICE arrests in the city. Plus, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is suing a Trump administration appointee following his arrest at a controversial immigration detention center last month. Also, a lack of local infrastructure and resident resistance are delaying some construction projects for affordable homes in New Jersey. And finally, a new style duplex is replacing traditional, single-family homes in northern New Jersey.

Air quality alerts are in effect today across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with ozone levels expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Meanwhile, Amtrak is pitching its first-ever direct service from the Northeast Corridor to Long Island. The plan includes stops in Jamaica, Hicksville, and Ronkonkoma. Also, the first Democratic mayoral debate airs Wednesday night, ahead of the June 24th primary.

Immigration advocates and the New York City Council are urging a judge to block federal law enforcement officials from working on Rikers Island. Plus, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is running for governor of New York. Also, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams banked $2 million last week in matching funds thanks, in part, to her opponent. Meanwhile, the city’s child welfare agency is seven times more likely to investigate a Black family than a white one according to the agency’s own numbers. And finally, a Harlem neighborhood is the first to have its trash fully containerized and picked up by a fleet of new garbage trucks.