NYC NOW

A federal judge is now considering whether the Trump administration can cut $11 billion in health grants, including $360 million for New York State. Meanwhile, New York City transportation officials say self-driving cars aren’t ready for the city’s streets just yet. Also, the Knicks begin their playoff run Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Plus, on this week’s transportation segment: The federal government is taking the lead on the Penn Station overhaul.

New York City’s public advocate released a report showing Black women are nine times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than white women in the city. Plus, defense lawyers have developed backdoor legal maneuvers to move their clients to the front of the line for mental health services. Also, criminal justice experts say the Adams administration is not doing enough to shutter Rikers Island on time. Meanwhile, many residents of the Garden State say the search for affordable housing is a timely one. And finally, it’s been 60 years since Mayor Robert Wagner signed New York City’s Landmarks Law, beginning an era of historic preservation across the city.

Neighbors say the man fatally shot by police in Astoria this week struggled with mental health issues and had been left without support following his parents’ deaths. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul vows to fight the Trump administration’s decision to pause a major wind energy project off Long Island. Plus, in this week’s Politics Brief, a Trump administration official is asking prosecutors to investigate whether New York Attorney General Letitia James committed mortgage fraud, former Governor Cuomo faces mixed news in the mayoral race, former Mayor Bill de Blasio reappears alongside Mayor Adams, and state lawmakers weigh a ban on flavored nicotine pouches as budget talks continue.

A record number of New Yorkers are on cash assistance, but starting April 28, recipients will once again need to meet work requirements to keep their benefits. Meanwhile, a new report finds that low-income Black and Hispanic families in the city face a disproportionate number of child welfare investigations. Plus, the sanitation department is opening a new compost pickup site in Astoria, offering free bags of compost to residents on select days.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio isn’t ready to back any candidates in New York City’s mayoral race. Plus, some Muslim worshippers on Long Island have a new ally in a quest to build an upgraded mosque in Nassau County. Also, there are a couple days left of juror selection in the high profile case of Harvey Weinstein. And finally, the Forest Hills Stadium summer concert series is officially back on after months of bitter standoff between venue organizers and a group of residents in the area.

New York state lawmakers have struck a deal on changes to pretrial discovery laws without Governor Hochul, potentially breaking the budget logjam. Meanwhile, Legal Aid attorneys are asking a judge to block the NYPD from arresting people for low-level offenses that should only result in tickets. Plus, WNYC’s Karen Yi reports thousands of working families in New York could lose their child care vouchers unless the city and state step in with more funding.

Some New York lawmakers want the state to penalize Tesla for failing to meet job targets at its Buffalo plant, amid CEO Elon Musk’s growing role in federal agency shutdowns. Meanwhile, City Councilmembers are demanding answers from Adult Protective Services after the agency rejected 80 percent of aid referrals last year. Plus, Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani receives the largest public matching funds payout in the 2025 mayoral primary so far, while Andrew Cuomo’s campaign blames a technical glitch for missing out.

The New York state budget is running more than two weeks late. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign failed to receive an expected $2.6 million payment in public matching funds. And a new Trump administration rule requires immigrants in the U.S. without legal status to register with the federal government.

Rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds are in the forecast for the New York City area Tuesday night. Meanwhile in Queens, Forest Hills Stadium will move ahead with its summer concert season after resolving a contentious permit fight. Plus, a new podcast explores the surprising dangers of sirens.

A new court filing reveals immigration officials detained another Columbia University student, Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder from the West Bank, possibly over his role in pro-Palestinian protests. Meanwhile, city officials want to rezone parts of Long Island City to build 14,000 more homes, sparking concern from longtime residents. Plus, federal investigators have recovered key components from the Hudson River helicopter crash that killed six people.