NYC NOW - April 17, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: April 17, 2023

Get up and get informed!! Here's all the local news you need to start your day

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, April 17th. Here are your morning headlines. House Republicans plan to paint New York City as a dangerous community at today's hearing on district attorney Alvin Bragg's policies. As WNYC's John Campbell reports, voters still see crime as a big issue. Major crime spiked in New York City. during the first two years of the COVID pandemic. But this year, NYPD data shows shootings are down by 23% and murders down 10% compared to the same point last year.

Still, New Yorkers are worried about crime. Sienna College pollster Steve Greenberg says nine out of every 10 voters in the state say it's a serious issue, even as the crime rate dips. What the facts are, unfortunately, aren't always as important in campaigns. campaign as what the perception of voters of those facts are. Democrats say the House Judiciary Committee's hearing is nothing but a political stunt. Forest Rangers in New York are continuing to fight fires across the state after the recent heat wave. State conservation officials say they're still monitoring several fires through Saturday's

rain, though Saturday's rain has helped tamp down their intensity. One fire in Orange County has been completely contained according to the local fire service, about 300 acres are burned. A separate fire in Ontario County covers nearly 100 acres. It's mostly contained as of Sunday. Governor Kathy Hokel says state and local authorities have responded to almost 20 wildfires in the last few days. It's curtains up for Phantom of the Opera, whose final performance was last night. This caps off a 35-year run, the longest ever for Broadway show. Phantam opened in January 1988 and has been performed almost 14,000 times.

The show's composer, superstar Andrew Lloyd Weber, just received a key to the city from Mayor Adams. Broadway has always been my kind of dream. And as the mayor said, quite brilliantly, Broadway is the reason that so many people come to New York. Phantom was also a resounding financial success at gross more than a billion dollars. Weber's other smash hits,

include Jesus Christ, Superstar, Cats, and Evita. Your forecast now, cloudy becoming mostly sunny, 50-50 chance of showers, fog this morning, and this afternoon, highs in the upper 60s, and becoming gusty. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.