NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: DOJ Calls for Charges Against Adams to be Dropped, NY Sues Federal Government Over Science Research Cuts, City Updates Immigration Guidance, and More Snow on the Way

Episode Date: February 11, 2025

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Federal prosecutors have been ordered to drop charges against Mayor Eric Adams and halt their investigation, following speculation that President Trump would intervene. Meanwhile, New York and 21 other states are suing the federal government to stop funding cuts to scientific research, arguing it will harm essential studies. Also, the Adams administration is updating its guidance for city workers on handling federal immigration enforcement visits. Plus, more winter weather is on the way, with two rounds of snow in the forecast.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, February 11th. Here's the morning headlines. I'm Junae Pierre. A top official at the U.S. Department of Justice is ordering federal prosecutors to drop charges against Mayor Eric Adams and to halt the ongoing investigation. This comes after speculation President Trump would take steps to end the criminal case against Adams, who was accused of accepting bribes of free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions.

Trump had hinted at the possibility of a pardon in December, saying the mayor had been treated unfairly. Adams insists he's innocent. New York and 21 other states are suing the federal government to block billions of dollars in cuts to scientific research. The National Institutes of Health announced last week it's capping the amount of money it will provide to cover maintenance and administration costs at research. labs. The NIH says the move will mean taxpayer money is spent more efficiently. But Bruce Stillman, president and CEO of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, says it could mean layoffs. Now, we don't want to do that, and I'm going to try and not to do that, but we'll have to find the funds to make up this and keep the laboratories running. The Greater New York Hospital Association

estimates that New York research institutions could lose more than $850 million if the the cap is allowed to stand. The Adams administration is distributing new instructions for city workers who are confronted by federal immigration enforcement officials. The new instructions generally follow prior guidance. Workers should ask to see visitors ID and any judicial warrants, and they should contact agency lawyers. But the administration dropped controversial language that said workers should admit enforcement officers if they, quote, reasonably feel threatened by the officers. A city house spokesperson says the new guidance is meant to clear up confusion.

More snow? You heard that right. Not one but two rounds of winter weather are on the way for our area. Here's WMYC's Sean Cowleson. The first snowfall of the double whammy is expected to roll through tonight into tomorrow morning, with the potential for another few inches of snow overnight. The second will likely arrive tomorrow night into Thursday. With temperatures possibly reaching the 40s that day, the storm is expected to transition to a wintry mix and then just rain by Thursday afternoon. Neither of the storms are expected to bring as much snow as we saw this past weekend.

Still, the Department of Sanitation says crews are working 12-hour shifts and 700 salt spreaders and thousands of plows are at the ready. Alternate side parking is suspended today as well as tomorrow for Lincoln's birthday. 22 degrees currently, mostly cloudy skies today expect highs around 35 degrees and cloudy skies tonight and again a chance of snow overnight with lows around 30. 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.

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