American politician and former NYC mayor
City data shows enrollment applications for 3-K and pre-K have barely changed this year despite a heavy outreach push and a $73 million state boost. Officials say offers are closer to home, but demand remains steady and some families still opt for private care.
Los Angeles Unified has halted device issuance to the youngest students as a broader move to curb screen time. The district is rolling out a fall policy to limit device use, with benchmarks on higher grades, strict lunch/recess rules, and a review of ed-tech contracts. Critics and parents say the step reflects a national reckoning on classroom screens.
OpenAI has published research saying it has identified two small influence operations, likely linked to China, that used ChatGPT to generate social media posts and political cartoons about US data centres and tariffs. The company has said the campaigns gained little authentic engagement and found no evidence they meaningfully shifted public debate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said federal agents have contacted friends, former staff and donors tied to him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and has accused President Donald Trump of ordering a politically motivated investigation as he considers a 2028 presidential run. Multiple outlets report the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California has been handling separate inquiries that began with local whistleblower tips, including probes into the first partner’s taxes and former chief of staff Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after a horse-drawn carriage bolted in Central Park while his mother was injured. The incident has intensified calls to suspend or ban horse carriages; unions demand safety reforms as the city reviews Ryder's Law and related rules.
Romanch Mahajan’s death in Central Park after a horse-drawn carriage ride has intensified calls to phase out horse carriages. Lawmakers plan hearings and possible swift action; Romanch’s Law has been renamed in his honor, with a two-year phase-out to retrain drivers and shift workers.
The Associated Press reports that Frank Carone, a former top adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, his brother, and two others have been taken into custody as part of an investigation into a bribery scheme tied to a city contract. Indictments are expected to be unsealed today. Carone served as Adams’ chief of staff and helped secure his 2021 victory.
The Rent Guidelines Board has approved a rent freeze for about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, a key pledge of Mayor Mamdani. The decision is framed as a victory for affordability, coming as Mamdani extends influence after endorsing candidates who unseated incumbents. Critics warn the move could strain landlords and maintenance funding.
New York City’s rent-freeze policy has moved from plan to action, with the Rent Guidelines Board freezing increases on one- and two-year leases for rent-stabilized units. This update follows controversy over how the policy is financed and implemented, including calls for ownership transfers to community groups and tenants. Legal challenges loom as landlords push back.
A Manhattan judge has handed a life sentence to Isaac Argro, who murdered Azsia Johnson in 2022 as she pushed her infant in a stroller. Prosecutors say Argro abused Johnson, and the jury found him guilty after a two-hour trial. Johnson’s family described the impact as devastating while urging a severe punishment.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he believes Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs before the International Criminal Court and has told the city's law department to review whether existing New York law allows detaining Netanyahu if he visits for the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump has posted that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the United States.
An ongoing legal challenge and court-imposed pause have disrupted New York City’s pied-à-terre tax rollout. A 900,000-name property list and 17,000 exemption notices have fueled lawsuits and delays, with the extension of exemption deadlines now in place as the city defends the policy.
Thompson’s killer is scheduled for trial on Sept. 8 on state murder charges. A timeline shows his movements from late November 2024 to December 2024, including his arrest in Altoona and the later extradition to New York.