NYC NOW - July 10, 2024: Midday News

Episode Date: July 10, 2024

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in New York City and officials are asking people to consider masking back up in crowded settings. Also, WNYC's Matt Katz reports on whether the federal government will indeed take over the beleaguered Rikers Island jail. And, if you've noticed more fireflies this season, you're not alone. Zoologists have noticed too and they're trying to figure out if there's an increase in local population. Lastly, WNYC's Jessica Gould and Sean Carlson discuss what New York City's summer camps are doing to keep kids cool during yet another heat wave.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, July 10th. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill. COVID-19 case is on the rise again in New York City, and officials are asking residents to consider masking back up. Public health officials say people should consider face coverings and crowded indoor settings,

especially those older than 65. or have health conditions that make COVID a bigger risk. The average number of COVID cases per day in the five barrels saw a big jump in late June, up some 250 percent from April. State wastewater testing data also show proof of this summertime bump, similar to the increase in cases New York City saw this time last year. Well, the federal government take over New York City jails. WNIC's Matt's reports on the fate of Rikers Island.

Federal prosecutors and attorneys representing Rikers Island detainees want federal judge Laura Taylor-Swain to appoint what's known as a receiver. That's someone who would have authority over the city department of correction to arrest control of the jails away from the mayor. The lawyers say a receiver is the only way to fix the long-troubled facility. The city opposes the power grab. But a decision won't come soon. The two sides are due to meet again in court in September, and Swain says that she'll only be considering whether New York should be held in contempt for violating court orders to improve jail safety. She says she'll just consider the receivership if she rules in favor of the contempt motion,

and that means a decision on control of the jails could be pushed to 2025. Have you noticed more fireflies than usual this summer? Some zoologists have noticed, too, and they're trying to figure out if there's been an increase in the local population. Katie Hedola Henshaw is a zoologist at the New York Natural Heritage. program. It's conducting a three-year survey of fireflies in New York. She says the possible increases despite an overall decline in the population due to a host of factors. Habitat loss and degradation, light pollution, pesticides, and climate change. New York State has about 30

different species of the bioluminescent beetle. In New York City, the species are most likely to espouse the photinis paralysis. They fly kind of slow. They fly kind of low. They have like a lingering glow that the common name is the big dipper, so it's kind of like a j-shaped dip. Hedley Henshawologists don't have enough data to confirm there are more local fireflies this year or why that might be. But she suspects it could have to do with the weather last summer. The wet summer that we had last year probably created good conditions for high survival rates. So the larvae, they need wet conditions. Fireflies in general rely on moisture. She says while firefly populations are under threat, they're not close to being extinct.

So she encourages kids or even adults to keep catching them. Just do it gently. They are like the squishiest of the beetles, though. So do handle with care. You can tell if you caught a male or a female by the size of its lantern. The males will have a lantern that occupies the entire abdominal segment, whereas the female has a reduced lantern. just in the center. But make sure you release them that same night in the same spot you caught them.

And if the spectacular sight leaves you feeling inspired to help the insect, support more green spaces and less use of insecticides. The fact that people are seeing how impressive these light shows can be, I'm hoping more people get really excited and they don't want to lose this natural phenomenon. She says their light shows are best spotted at dusk to make spotting fireflies easier, turn off as many lights as you can. 86 with some sunshine out there now, mostly sunny and 89 today. The real feel in 96, it'll be gusty, and then hot again tomorrow and hot through the weekend as well.

Stay close. There's more after the break. I'm Sean Carlson. We are in the midst of another heat wave here in the New York region. We also happen to be in the middle of summer camp season with days full of outdoor activities. But as extreme heat becomes a more regular feature of life in New York, what are camp operators doing to protect the kids and teens attending their programs? Dublin IC's Jessica Gould joins us now to tell us. Jess, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that this year is likely to be the hottest on record. Now, that would break the record set all the way back in just last year.

So safety first, what are camps doing to keep kids safe and cool? Sure. So some of it is what they've always had to do, right? Like find shade and take lots of hydration breaks. They have to make use of those sprinklers or pools whenever they can, ice pops. But because it's been so hot, some have also beefed up their trainings for counselors to spot signs of overheating in kids. So that might be like profuse sweating or muscle cramps, even nausea. And then some camps have told me that they've been investing in building structures for additional shade or air conditioning.

And I should mention there's also the option that they let the kids go early or, you know, you come pick them up. And in fact, I got one of those calls today. My kid was wilting a little bit, so I went over and got her and she's in the AC now. Oh, no. Well, I hope she's okay. Thank you. It's not just the heat we're talking about, right? Like, there's all kinds of weather emergencies this time of year. Sure. In recent years, camps have had to pivot indoors for wildfire smoke. There have been storms and floods. And then some summers have just been really rainy, So they've had to do a lot of things indoors. I got to say, I don't want to give folks the impression that, like, summer camps are all doom and gloom now because of all of this.

Camp is supposed to be fun, right? Did you hear of some creative ways that camps are trying to beat the heat? I did. I heard some funny stories. The head of the local YMCA told me that they do this thing where they freeze a counselor's t-shirt in a block of ice, and then the kids race to melt it down with cups of water until the counselor can put it back on. And then I heard about this other elaborate game with cardboard forts and water balloons where they throw water until those forts collapse. And then I've heard about the things they're doing indoors.

So one camp director told me about a storm when kids had this runway fashion show with outfits made out of cut up garbage bags, which they then decorate. And other kids use their flashlights for a spotlight or to be paparazzi. And this is just so much more elaborate than the good old ghost stories in the barn from my camp days. Yeah, totally. What can parents do to help their kids stay safe in the heat? Yeah, they can provide light clothes, of course. Send a kid with the sunscreen they're actually willing to wear and just lots and lots of water in those bottles. That's WNYC's Jessica Gould.

You can read more of her reporting on this story on our news website Gothamus. Jess, thanks so much. Thank you. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a date, for the latest news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcast.

We'll be back this evening.