NYC NOW - February 16, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: February 16, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Several people accused of scuffling with NYPD officers in Times Square last month will face a judge in a Manhattan courtroom on Friday, and there may be political implications. Also, the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission has voted to approve a new congressional map in New York. Plus, scientists are reporting that fin whales are traveling to New York City for food.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, February 16. Here's the morning headlines from David Furts. Several people accused of scuffling with NYPD officers in Times Square last month will face a judge in a Manhattan courtroom today. Whether they're ordered to remain in jail while their cases are pending could have political implications.

WNYC's Matt Katz reports. A decision by a judge to initially release several migrants accused in the incident was criticized across the political spectrum. Two of the suspects have since been arrested by federal authorities on immigration violations, and one was re-arrested after allegedly acting as a lookout during a shoplifting attempt in Queens. Two others are currently free. One made bail, and the other is on supervised release. Whether those two show up to court and whether prosecutors recommend and the judge orders that the five be held on bail, could fuel the continued debate over bail reform, policing, and new migrants to the city.

New York State Democratic lawmakers will get to decide whether to approve another new congressional map. The bipartisan independent redistricting commission voted yesterday to approve a new layout for the state's 26 congressional districts. IRC chairman Ken Jenkins says the map came about through compromise by the panel's bipartisan membership. The process was not without its challenges. But I am proud to say that we have worked cooperatively and collaboratively to address those challenges. The map makes only minor changes to the city's districts in Brooklyn and Queens, but a key swing district in the Syracuse area gained Democratic turf. The Democrat-dominated state legislature will vote on the map later this month.

If they reject it, Democrats can draw new lines themselves, but Republicans have threatened to sue. Scientists think Finn Wales are moving. to New York City. They're coming for food like sand eels and small silvery fish called Menhaden. Scientists analyzed over 2,000 hours of whale songs collected over five years. They discovered that the endangered sea creatures may be here to mate. Dr. Howard Rosenbaum is a co-author of the new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society. This is an important year-round habitat for these animals. They're present in every month of the year, you know, right off of our shores. Finn whales are the second largest animal on the planet weighing up to 180,000 pounds.

You can potentially spot the whales from the rockaways or along the Brooklyn coast. 39 degrees now. It's going to be sunny and breezy today. We're expecting a high of 44 this afternoon. 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.