NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NY Assembly Advances Medical Aid in Dying Bill, Rye Playland’s Summer Season in Jeopardy, and Knicks Blow Chance to Close Out Series

Episode Date: April 30, 2025

New York is moving closer to legalizing physician-assisted suicide, as the State Assembly advances the Medical Aid in Dying bill. Meanwhile, the future of Rye Playland is in doubt after a contract collapse with the park’s operator. And the Knicks fall to the Pistons at home, missing a chance to clinch the series. Game 6 is set for Thursday in Detroit. **Correction: An old episode of NYC Now was inadvertently uploaded this morning. It was has since been updated with the correct version.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, April 30th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York State is moving closer to allowing physician-assisted suicide. WNYC's Jimmy Veilkind has more. The State Assembly is advancing legislation that would let doctors provide a lethal dose of drugs to terminally ill New Yorkers. Assembly member Amy Paul.

Hollen says the medical aid and dying bill would provide compassion. She told the story of her late sister. The lasting memory I have of my sister is shouting in pain. Several Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the bill. Max Rodriguez is a disability rights advocate. He's concerned ill people could be coerced into medically assisted suicide. Really, we just need to kind of make sure that we're not opening Pandora's box. It's unclear whether the bill will become law.

State Senate leaders haven't scheduled to vote, and Governor Hockel hasn't taken a position on the subject. Families planning to visit Rye Playland this summer in Westchester County may have to rethink those plans. WN.C's Julia Hayward reports on the amusement park's uncertain future. Westchester County officials don't know when the storied park will open for the season. The uncertainty follows the messy collapse of a contract with the park's former operator, standard amusements, which pulled out earlier this year. The company says the county failed to meet construction deadlines needed to finish park upgrades. County officials say the broken deal will cost taxpayers millions more than originally expected.

If Playland doesn't open this summer, it would leave families without the park's signature attractions, including rides, an ice rink, and a wildlife sanctuary. In Illinois, this morning, you're in New York Knicks, and my New York Knicks, lost to the Detroit Pistons last night, 106 to 103 at the Garden, so it's back to Michigan for Game 6. The Knicks still lead the series, though, three games to two, but missed the opportunity last night to end the Piston season and for the Knicks to move on to another round. Each team now has lost two games on their own court. Game 6 is tomorrow night at 7.30 in the Motor City. If the Knicks lose that game, it'll force a winner-take-all game 7 Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

And taking a look now at that forecast. We have an elevated risk for fire spreading today, so don't start one because it's so dry, such low humidity, and it's windy. 67 and partly sunny right now, mostly sunny and 73 for a high with the winds, as we said, gusting up to 14 miles an hour, and then tomorrow mostly sunny, upper 60s, chances of showers Thursday night and on Friday. It's WNYC. Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WMYC.

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