WNYC News

New York, NY —

A new report says the number of hate crimes in New York City has decreased, but the severity of the violence has worsened. The New York Anti-Violence Project says it based the report on FBI statistics, and found there were five murders against members of ...

New York, NY —

As the United Nations, the United States and countries around the world continue to denounce the military coup that ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya, a small group of Honduran immigrants in the Bronx have added their voices to the chorus. About 20 Hondurans took ...

New York, NY —

The City Council is urging the Bloomberg administration to add two Muslim holidays to the public school calendar. Councilwoman Annabel Palma supported the resolution that passed this afternoon.

PALMA: This is not just another day off. This is a city embracing yet another culture, a city ...

New York, NY —

Some civic and community groups say the city's regulation to stop harassment in public schools, isn't working. A report released today by the Sikh Coalition and other groups says most students see no decrease in discrimination and bullying since Mayor Bloomberg signed the measure last ...

New York, NY —

Cars will not be welcome once again on Park Avenue and other city streets later this summer. Transportation officials are once again shutting down a seven-mile stretch from the Brooklyn Bridge, to Central Park, on three Saturdays in August. Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan says the ...

New York, NY —

A new Queens neighborhood is officially in the works. Mayor Bloomberg announced today that the city has acquired 30 acres at Hunter's Point South in Long Island City, an area that's now mostly vacant. The mayor says it's actually a good time to move forward ...

New York, NY —

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is endorsing Cyrus Vance Jr. as his would-be successor. Vance, who served as a prosecutor under Morgenthau in the 1980's is currently in private practice. Morgenthau says Vance is tenacious, fair and respected by his peers.

MORGENTHAU: The next district attorney ...

New York, NY —

New Yorkers raising grandchildren find it hard to get help from city agencies. So says a new report from the New York City Kincare Task Force. Co-chair Deborah Langosch says older caretakers often need housing and financial help, but don't find much support.

LANGOSCH: Many of ...

New York, NY —

The city's teachers union president is stepping down after over 10 years in the post. Randi Weingarten is leaving the United Federation of Teachers to focus on her role as president of the national union, the American Federation of Teachers, a post she took last ...

New York, NY —

Move over, Fashion Week! This fall, the city will be hosting Climate Week, in support of a summit on climate change at the United Nations. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon hopes the September 22 meeting of world leaders will pave the way for a ...

New York, NY —

City Councilman Bill de Blasio is calling on the Rent Guidelines Board to vote for a rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants this year, something the board has never done. De Blasio says the city is not doing enough to help lower and middle income New ...

New York, NY —

Former New York City mayor Ed Koch is scheduled to have open heart surgery within the next week. Koch suffered a heart attack 10 years ago, and a spokesman say he's in New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia for the past two days. Mayor Bloomberg says ...

New York, NY —

Three undocumented workers have reached a nearly $4 million settlement with their employers, after a two-year case in New York state supreme court. The two construction workers and a plumber are from Mexico and Ecuador, and claimed they were severely injured on the job. Attorney ...

New York, NY —

Iranian New Yorkers are protesting the results of the election in Iran. About 25 of them gathered outside the U.N. today, to challenge the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. Protester Sinan, who gave only his first name, says the election results don't reflect what he ...

New York, NY —

While the budget deal between Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Quinn would save 16 firehouses, 350 civilian NYPD employees are still slated for pink slips. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says he's still negotiating with City Hall to try to restore those positions, so that active ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson says he won't step into the state Senate leadership dispute. But with crucial legislation languishing since last week's Republican coup, Paterson is pleading with senators to reconvene and get to work.

PATERSON: As a leader in this state, I'm crying out for the other ...

New York, NY —

Sikh transit workers forced to wear MTA logos on their turbans since 9-11 will appeal to local legislators today at City Hall. Two of the workers are suing the MTA claiming the policy amounts to religious discrimination.

Amardeep Singh is the executive director of the Sikh ...

New York, NY —

A sailboat known as New York's floating environmental classroom, the Clearwater, is undergoing its last year of a five year renovation project. Congressman Maurice Hinchey says he's secured $150,000 for the historic ship, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary on the Hudson River. The ship, ...

New York, NY —

Despite uncertainty in the state Senate, the City Council is moving forward on next year's budget. David Weprin, the chair of the finance committee, isn't worried about the budget's future once it reaches Albany.

WEPRIN: I'm optimistic that we'll be able to pass our budget regardless ...

New York, NY —

An appellate court judge has granted State Senate Democrats an injunction that partially blocks the new coalition leadership from taking control. The order blocks Pedro Espada, the dissident Democrat elected Senate president on Monday, from being in line to succeed the governor if he's out ...