NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Heat Advisory Issued, Pregnant New Yorkers Turning to Doulas, and Drones Spot More Sharks at City Beaches

Episode Date: July 8, 2025

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Tuesday, warning it could feel as hot as 100 degrees in the city. Older adults, outdoor workers, and those without air conditioning are especially at risk. Meanwhile, a new city health department report shows more pregnant New Yorkers are using doulas for support, with Mayor Adams expanding free access as part of efforts to improve Black maternal health. Plus, the city is increasingly relying on drones to monitor beaches for sharks

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Tuesday, July 8th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The National Weather Service is issuing a heat advisory for today from 10 this morning until 8 this evening. It'll feel as hot as 100 degrees at times. The agency is warning that those without air conditioning, older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and people who work outside are most at risk. signs of heat illness include hot, dry skin, confusion, nausea, and trouble breathing.

Official safety experience any of these symptoms, drink water, try to get to a cool place and call 911. More than 500 New Yorkers died last year from preventable heat illness. A small but growing share of pregnant New Yorkers are leaning on doulas for information and emotional support. A new report from the City Health Department finds that doulas were involved in more than 6% of births last year, that's up from less than 5% in 2022. Doolers are not clinicians, but studies show they help reduce the likelihood of getting a C-section and provide other benefits. Mayor Adams has expanded free access to Duelas as part of a larger effort to improve black maternal health. Doolers do more than spend a time with the parent.

They nurture them. They encourage them. They answer so many questions. But city data show. White New Yorkers are still far more likely to use duels during pregnancy than other groups. New York City is increasingly relying on drones to spot sharks at city beaches, but more eyes in the sky means more shark sightings. Chris St. Lawrence is a naturalist who works on a whale watching boat.

He says sharks are a common sight. The people flying these drones are now seeing what we've known and what we've been observing on these jet watching boats for a long time It is a really vibrant ecosystem just off the shore of New York City. Already nine shark sightings have taken place in the Rockaways this summer, resulting in multiple closures. Deputy Mayor from Public Safety Kaz Dautry says the drones are an important safety measure. 77 and sunny right now with a heat advisory from 10 until 8 and a flood watch kicking in this afternoon.

Good chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, a high near 92, but feelings we set much harder than that because of the high humidity. Be careful out there. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. More soon.