NYC NOW - August 9, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: August 9, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Right-leaning City Council members lauded improvements at Rikers Island after a recent visit. Meanwhile, New York's Education Department strives to accommodate the influx of migrant students, especially those learning English. Also, Lincoln Center kicks off its "Hip-Hop Week" today with various events celebrating the genre's 50th anniversary.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, August 9th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Mostly right-leaning city council members toward the city's troubled Rikers Island yesterday, declaring it, quote, a complete turnaround. WNMC's Charles Lane reports on what else they said. Composed mostly of Republicans, the council's common sense caucus pointed to quote, fresh paint and, quote, shiny floors as proof that Rikers doesn't need a federal takeover. Robert Holden represents Queens.

Even ping pong, which one of the council members got involved with playing one of the detainees. Holden's view contrasts sharply with yet another scathing report from federal monitors released on Monday. It details additional abuses where corrections officers stood passively by for three minutes while a detainee was beaten. In another instance, an incarcerated person was used in a hostage drill for officers and was pepper sprayed. A hearing set for this week could put Rikers in federal receivership. The New York State Education Department says it's committed to ensuring migrant students are placed in schools that can support their children learning English.

Commissioner Betairosa met with school leaders from across the state on Monday to discuss the expected arrival of more new students. They're finding enough bilingual teachers to support migrants. students has been challenging in New York City. Officials say more than 17,000 new students arrived at city schools during the last academic year. More children continue to arrive every day. As the city and the world celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Lincoln Center's got a few events planned. Their hip-hop week gets underway today. There's a storytime for family and kids today at 1130 this morning, among other events, and at 8 tonight, there's a concert in Damraj Park.

That will feature legendary producer, Jay Period, who is from Brooklyn. He's expected to be joined by iconic rappers, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane. The Ladies of Hip Hop Dance Collective will be tomorrow and hold a free event in the evening. That's at 7 o'clock. Admission is on the first-come, first-served basis. There's more fun on the Friday and over the weekend. So visit Lincoln Center.org for more details. So how about for more hip-hop anniversary events?

Check out our news website, Gothamist. 70 and clear right now, sunny and 86 for a high. 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. See you this afternoon.