NYC NOW - March 12, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: March 12, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York Republicans are acknowledging they have an early voting problem after losing last month's special congressional election in eastern Queens and Long Island. Meanwhile, an independent report commissioned by Governor Phil Murphy shows New Jersey had an emergency plan in place when COVID hit the state but didn't follow it. Plus, former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Tuesday, March 12th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York Republicans are acknowledging they have an early voting problem. WNYC's Bridget Bergen reports it comes after losing last month's snowy special congressional election in eastern Queens and Long Island. More than twice as many Democrats as Republicans voted early. early by mail in the race to replace George Santos in the third congressional district.

And about a third more Democrats than Republicans opted for in-person early voting ahead of election day. That's according to a WNYC analysis of the voter data for the special election. Former Congress member Peter King, a Republican, cited one reason for the GOP deficit. We had President Trump basically in 2020 telling us not to do where we're voting, certainly downplaying it. Going forward, he says Republicans need to. to push voters to vote early, even if they don't love it. New Jersey had an emergency plan in place when COVID hit, but did not follow it. WNIC's Caroline Lewis reports on a new postmortem on the pandemic. An independent report commissioned by Governor Phil Murphy puts New Jersey's pandemic response

under a microscope. Among the findings, New Jersey officials were largely unaware of a 2015 plan that had been prepared for a, quote, pandemic influenza. According to the report, the plan was extremely accurate in predicting how the COVID pandemic would later play out. The report notes that the state has taken steps to improve its preparedness, such as increasing its stockpile of masks. But it says there needs to be greater investment

in public health overall and efforts to ensure that state leaders are aware of the emergency plans that are in place. New York Giants fans are saying, goodbye to one of their favorites. Running back, Sequin Barclay, has agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and arch rival of the Giants. Barclay reported will sign a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed. That's according to two people familiar with the deal who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Free agents such as Barclay cannot officially sign with the new teams until tomorrow.

The Giants drafted Barclay second overall in the 2018 draft and impressed Big Blue faithful with his agility and speed. 44 with clouds out there right now. We have sunshine in the forecast for the day in the high of 62. It'll be gusty. Warmer tomorrow all the way up near 70 with some sunshine and mostly sunny and 67 on Thursday. Thanks for listening.

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