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<\/a>\nIntroducing Spectrum News+
Watch the latest news and more local stories from across the country.<\/p>\n
Today’s Big Stories<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0City speed cameras to stay on for another five years<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The city\u2019s speed cameras will remain active for another five years, with Gov. Kathy Hochul signing legislation today extending the program through 2030.<\/p>\n Launched in 2013, the program authorizes automated speed enforcement in school zones and now includes about 2,200 cameras across 750 locations citywide. The initiative requires periodic legislative approval and\u00a0was set to expire July 1\u00a0without the governor\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0City to give away 100,000 free tickets to Macy’s July Fourth fireworks show<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n With Independence Day fast approaching, Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the city will distribute thousands of free tickets to the public for the annual Macy\u2019s Fourth of July fireworks show.<\/p>\n Adams said the city will make 100,000 tickets for two official viewing sites available for free\u00a0online<\/a>\u00a0beginning at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Those tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Queens man sentenced to 25 years to life for fatally stabbing EMS captain<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n A Queens man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing EMS Captain Alison Russo in 2022.<\/p>\n Peter Zisopoulos, of Astoria, was\u00a0convicted in May\u00a0of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the attack.<\/p>\n 4.<\/b>\u00a0Queens residents take first weekday commute with new bus routes<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n A lot has changed in Queens since the 1950s, and now, so have the borough\u2019s bus routes. Phase 1 of the Queens Bus Network Redesign<\/a> is officially in effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n All but three bus routes have been modified as part of the overhaul, with the first set of changes centered mostly on Eastern Queens and Ridgewood.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Rent Guidelines Board to hold final vote on proposed rent hikes<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The city\u2019s Rent Guidelines Board is expected to vote tonight on proposed rent increases for rent-stabilized apartments across the five boroughs.<\/p>\n The\u00a0final vote\u00a0follows a month of debate and public hearings, during which tenants urged the board to freeze rents and landlords called for higher increases to offset rising operating costs.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Staten Island family fighting with city to keep beloved pet pig<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n A Staten Island family is fighting with the city of New York to keep their beloved pet: a pygmy pig named Lucy.<\/p>\n Owner Michael Gannone rescued Lucy and registered her as his emotional support animal after recovering from several surgeries years ago. She now lives with the family in their Tottenville home as a pet, no different than their dog and cat.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0Jury deliberations begin and quickly hit a snag at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Barely an hour into jury deliberations today at Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u2019 federal sex trafficking trial, the foreperson alerted the court that a juror was having trouble following the judge\u2019s instructions. That prompted the judge to send a note back reminding jurors that they must abide by what he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are concerned (the juror) cannot follow your honor\u2019s instructions,\u201d the foreperson wrote in a note just after 12:30 p.m.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0New York pays off nearly $7B in unemployment insurance debt that piled up during pandemic<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n New York has paid off the nearly $7 billion in unemployment insurance debt to the federal government that ballooned in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic after it was\u00a0included in the state budget that was passed in May,\u00a0Gov. Kathy Hochul announced today.<\/p>\n After initially declaring the state would only pay off the interest on the unemployment insurance debt earlier this year, Hochul said she met with business leaders during state budget negotiations this spring and reasoned this payout would help businesses should an economic downturn take place.<\/p>\n
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