NYC NOW - July 11, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: July 11, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Hudson Valley confronts road blockages from fallen trees and abandoned cars, with officials estimating damage in tens of millions following the weekend’s storms and floods. Meanwhile, Mayor Adams admits hosting a Gracie Mansion reception attended by an ex-NYPD colleague at the heart of an illegal fundraising plot. Lastly, a $5,000 reward is on offer by federal investigators for tips on vandals who pillaged nests and swiped eggs from rare birds in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, July 11th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Fallen trees and abandoned cars continue to block roads in the Hudson Valley after massive storms and flooding over the weekend. Officials say Sunday night storm caused tens of millions of dollars worth of damage. State Senator James Scoofus represents the Hudson Valley. he says he expects the bulk of the cleanup costs will come from the federal government.

I expect there's going to be a lot of federal money that comes in. There is certainly going to be state money that comes in. Look, you know, Senator Schumer, he's committed that he's going to do whatever he can to get infrastructure money from the Infrastructure Act directed towards New York. At least one person drowned, Highland Falls is among the hardest hit places alongside Fort Montgomery and West Point. Mayor Eric Adams says a former NYPD client, colleague at the center of an illegal fund-raising scheme, a tenant of reception he hosted at Gracie

Mansion. WNIC's Elizabeth Kim has more. Adams is facing questions about his relationship with Dwayne Montgomery, who served as a police inspector in Harlem and socialized with Adams. He's among six individuals charged last Friday with steering illegal donations to the mayor's 2021 campaign. I think he was at the Black History Month reception. I believe. one of the receptions I recall of seeing them from the stage. Adams, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, did not specify whether the event took place this year or last.

The mayor says his campaign consistently followed the rules. Montgomery has pleaded not guilty. Federal investigators are offering a $5,000 reward for information on the vandals who damaged the nest and stole eggs of rare birds in Far Rockaway Queens. Fencing around the two piping plover nest was damaged sometime between June 9th and June 10th. Two eggs were stolen from each nest. The piping plover is a small migratory shorebird and considered a threatened species, meaning it's likely to become endangered.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the culprits could face up to a $25,000 fine and six months in jail per stolen egg if convicted. 70 and Sunny out there right now. sunny in 89 for a high today and dry, and then tomorrow dry again, sunny and a little bit hotter in the low 90s. 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.