NYC NOW - December 15, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: December 15, 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 Friday, December 15. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. A federal judge is holding the New York City Department of Correction in contempt of court. Federal judge Laura Swain made the decision yesterday. After she learned, jail's officials had put detainees accused of setting fires and a specialized unit without sprinklers in their cells.

She said jails officials did not get the required permission from a federal monitor to move those detainees. The judge said new strict requirements for jails officials to keep the federal monitor in the loop. If they fail, she said she will consider charging the city at least $1,000 a day per violation. The race to replace former Congressmember George Santos is heating up. WN.C's Bridget Bergen reports. Republicans have picked Nassau County lawmaker Mazi Pilipp as their candidate after Democrats chose former Congressmember Tom Swazi. Pellip was first elected in 2021 and re-elected just this November. She was born in Ethiopia and fled to Israel to avoid religious persecution in the 90s and later served in the Israeli defense forces.

She now lives in Great Neck Long Island with her husband, a cardiologist. Together, they have seven children. Pellup's nomination comes nearly two weeks after Governor Hokel set February 13th as the date for the special election. Republicans said they were vetting candidates to avoid another Santos, who lied extensively about his biography and was ousted from Congress for ethical and potentially criminal violations. A former NYPD officer is facing federal charges for allegedly sexually abusing underage boys, including ones he met while on the job. 34-year-old Christopher Teranova went to Brooklyn Federal Court yesterday to learn his charges. He pleaded not guilty, and his lawyer says his client is innocent and looks forward to clearing his name. But prosecutors say, Teranova used social media to ask boys as young as 12 for sexually explicit photos.

He's also accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old. If convicted, Teranova faces at least 15 years in prison. Your forecast now, 37 and clear. chilly out there. Sunny and 54 today with a slight breeze. 41 tonight, then tomorrow, mostly sunny and 51, then on Sunday, early afternoon rain likely, cloudy, 56 and gusty, and then a lot of rain Sunday night and Monday as well. 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.