NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NJ Proposes Cash Aid for Low Income Expectant Mothers, Astoria Smoke Plumes Linked to Soccer Fan Celebration, and Yankees Advance in MLB Playoffs

Episode Date: October 3, 2025

New Jersey lawmakers are considering a program that would provide direct cash payments to expectant mothers earning less than $44,000 a year in an effort to reduce child poverty. Meanwhile, large plumes of smoke over an Astoria baseball field earlier this week were traced to fireworks and flares set off by fans of a Moroccan soccer team during a North American meetup. And the Yankees are advancing in the MLB playoffs after shutting out the Boston Red Sox 4–0 in the decisive Wild Card game, with rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler delivering a dominant performance.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, October 3rd. Here's your morning headlines from Michael Hill. Soon to be moms in New Jersey who earned less than $44,000 a year could be eligible for a new direct cash payment program meant to end child poverty. WNIC's Karen He reports. The organization, the Bridge Project, is expanded. It's no strings attached to direct cash program into New Jersey. It already runs similar programs in New York and Massachusetts.

The monthly cash payments will be given to 250 pregnant people for the first three years of their child's life. Advocates say the cash payments have helped other women find stable housing, lower stress levels, and increase how much they can save. Pregnant New Jerseyans need to be 18 years or older, meet income requirements, and live in Newark, Patterson, or Trenton to apply. The first payments will go out in November. member. A story of residents are getting some answers as to why they saw huge plumes of smoke over a baseball field in the neighborhood this week. WNIC's Liam Crigley explains. It was a celebration,

not an emergency. Dozens of supporters for a Moroccan soccer team gathered at Whitey Ford baseball field earlier this week. It was the fan base's North American meetup. They chanted, unfurled giant banners, and lit off fireworks and flares. Plumes of pink smoke, world in the night sky. Frank Lag just moved in next door and couldn't help but notice. I just saw some fireworks. I'm not sure what was going on there. They'd had a big display on the surface of the baseball field and they were doing some chanting and some fireworks. Supporters of the park say they had to clean up the flares afterwards. The NYPD says there have been no arrests. The New York Yankees are moving on in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Bronx bomber shut out the bus in Red Sox and the decisive game. Game three of the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium. Last night, Yankees for Red Sox Zero. Rookie pitcher Cam Schlitter tossed eight shutout innings, struck out 12 batters, and didn't walk a single one. Next, tomorrow, the Yankees will play the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada and game one of a five-game series. 36 and clear right now, sunny and 72 as we begin a warm-up here.

Calm win tonight, clear and cool in the upper 50s, and then Saturday and Sunday, 81 and still dry. 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.