NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Air Quality Alerts Across Tri-State, Amtrak Eyes Direct Long Island Service, and First Democratic Mayoral Debate on Wednesday

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

Air quality alerts are in effect today across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with ozone levels expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Meanwhile, Amtrak is pitching its first-ever direct service from the Northeast Corridor to Long Island. The plan includes stops in Jamaica, Hicksville, and Ronkonkoma. Also, the first Democratic mayoral debate airs Wednesday night, ahead of the June 24th primary.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, June 4th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The air in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut is about to get a little rough. Officials have issued air quality advisories for today as they predict ozone levels to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. Officials say the hot, sunny weather helps or helps from ground-level ozone. which can irritate the lungs, children, older adults, and people with harder lung conditions should limit their time outdoors. Some of the smoke is coming from wildfires burning in Canada,

which has forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians to flee their homes. Never in history has there been a one-seat Amtrak train ride between Long Island and the mainland United States. But that could change. As WNYC, Stephen Nesson reports. This is a train to Ron Concoma. That's something Long Island Railroad riders are used to hearing, not Amtrak passengers. But now, the National Railroad is pitching a new service that would send three daily northeast corridor trains to the island. The trains would stop at Jamaica and Queens, Hicksville, and Ronconcoma.

It might not sound like much, but it would mark the first time in history riders could travel between Long Island and places like New Jersey and Washington, D.C. without switching trains at Penn Station. Amtrak says to make it a reality, it needs new train cars, which are at least five years away from delivery, as well as permission from the MTA to use the tracks. The first two debates among the Democratic candidates for mayor will take place tonight. Nine candidates competing in the June 24th primary are set to take the stage. Polls show former governor Andrew Quartz.

Cuomo leading the field by a large margin. Zoran Mamdani, a Queen's Assembly member, is in second place. The two-hour debate will air at 7 on WNBC and Telemundo, as well as their streaming platforms. All right now, here's our forecast. 62 in sunny, as we said, an air quality alert for New York City, parts of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey. It means limiting outdoor activity for folks who are sensitive to pollution. Today's forecast sunny in 84 with a calm wind and then tomorrow partly sunny and warmer all be up near 90 degrees. And on Friday, a chance of some showers, partly sunny and low 80s.

Once again, 62 with sunshine. This is Morning Edition on WNYC. 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. Subscribe wherever you get your podcast. I see.