Good evening, New York City. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know about for tonight and tomorrow, as well as your weather outlook.
Your Weather Planner
Bright skies and comfortable temperatures will linger into the weekend.
Skies will be partly cloudy tonight, with lows dropping to around 70.
Our Forecast
Lows: Near 70
Partly cloudy night
Hourly Forecast | Interactive Radar
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Today’s Big Stories
1. Chinatown intersection to get safety upgrades after deadly crash, DOT says
A Chinatown intersection where two people were killed last month in a high-speed crash will be getting upgrades to improve safety, the city’s Department of Transportation said.
Kevin Cruickshank, 55, and May Kwok, 63, were killed July 19 when a stolen vehicle, allegedly driven at more than 100 miles per hour by 23-year-old Autumn Romero, crashed into them near Canal Street and Bowery, authorities said.
2. Shakespeare in the Park returns to the Delacorte Theater
It’s a New York tradition to secure one of the most coveted but free tickets in town: lining up before sunrise in Central Park to ensure a seat inside the Delacorte Theater for Shakespeare in the Park.
It has been two years since Shakespeare in the Park took the stage at the Delacorte. The production traveled around the city after the stage closed in 2023 for renovations.
3. Netanyahu says Israel plans to take over Gaza as officials discuss widening its offensive
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that to destroy Hamas Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip and eventually transfer its administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive.
Asked in an interview with Fox News if Israel would “take control of all of Gaza,” Netanyahu replied: “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza.” The Security Cabinet would still need to approve such a decision.
A federal judge today ordered a temporary halt to construction of an immigration detention center — built in the middle of the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” — as attorneys argue whether it violates environmental laws.
The facility can continue to operate and hold detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but workers will be barred from adding any new filling, paving or infrastructure for the next 14 days.
5. Victims feeling exhausted and anxious about wrangling over Epstein files
Women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein are feeling skeptical and anxious about the Justice Department’s handling of records related to the convicted sex offender, with some backing more public disclosures as an overdue measure of transparency, and others expressing concerns about their privacy and the Trump administration’s motivations.
In letters addressed to federal judges in New York this week, several victims or their attorneys said they would support the public release of grand jury testimony that led to criminal indictments against Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell — if the government agreed to allow them to review the material and redact sensitive information.
6. U.S. applications for jobless benefits rise modestly, but remain in range considered healthy
The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits rose modestly last week, a sign that employers still retaining workers despite economic uncertainty related to U.S. trade policy.
Jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 2 rose by 7,000 to 226,000, the Labor Department reported today, slightly more than the 219,000 new applications that economists had forecast.
(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)
Hudson Square mural reflects neighborhood’s transformation
Wrapped around a building that once housed the legendary music club Don Hill’s is a colorful mural that tells the story of the neighborhood called Hudson Square. It’s located at the corner of Spring and Greenwich streets.
The mural, created by artists Misha Tyutyunik and Chris Soria, was commissioned by the Hudson Square Business Improvement District, which since 2009 has been taking the lead in the area’s transformation from the “Printing District” to a creative hub.