NYC NOW - October 31, 2023: Midday News

Episode Date: October 31, 2023

The Manhattan DA’s Office is asking a judge to overturn the convictions of two men who served time for the robbery and murder of a French tourist in 1987. Also, with the end of daylight saving time this Sunday, Dr. Fred Cohen with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai warns that changes to one's sleep schedule can trigger chronic headaches and migraines. Plus, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk has been sharing the wisdom and insight of people affected by breast cancer.

NYC now. Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, October 31st. Here's the midday news from Michael Hill. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office wants a judge to overturn the convictions of two men who served time for the robbery and murder of a French tourist in 87. WNYC Samantha Max reports. Eric Smokes and David Warren were both teens when they were criminally charged in the death of a tourist during the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration. Now, prosecutors say a joint investigation with the men's defense team has uncovered new evidence that could clear them of wrongdoing. The DA's office says some teens who testified against smokes and Warren at trial lied because they were afraid of being charged themselves. They also found that police had received information about two other potential suspects.

Smokes and warrants defense attorney is declining to comment until a judge makes a decision in the case. Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 a.m. for those with chronic headaches or migraines, a change in their sleep schedule could be a trigger. Dr. Fred Cohen of the Icon School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, says patients often assume that they only have to worry about a lack of sleep. Some people notice, oh yeah, if I stay in bed and sleep 10, 11 hours, I'll have a headache. and most people will, you know, be puzzled. But like, that doesn't make sense. I slept so much.

But again, it's a change in the rhythm. So changes are important. Dr. Cohen says monitoring when you get headaches and using treatments like melatonin to help regularly sleep can help. 51 and partly sunny. Now mostly sunny today and 50. Then tonight, it should be nice and cool and dry for trick-or-treating overnight, 41. And then tomorrow's slim chance of rain, mostly cloudy, and we stay in the 40s.

Again, now 51 and partly sunny. Throughout October, WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk has been sharing the wisdom and insights of people affected by breast cancer. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close today, we present one more voice in the series. My name is Madeline Rosario. I was born and raised in New York City. I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 2013 at the age of. of 22 and then again in 2019 at the age of 28. I didn't think that at 22 years old I was going to hear the words you have breast cancer. When I relapsed in 2019, it wasn't too much of a surprise for me

because I have the BRCA gene. After having conversations with my providers, I was well aware that at some point in my life, the cancer would come back. But I just didn't. think that I would be diagnosed at such an advanced stage. I was a stage three. I just remember those conversations that we were having about the intensive treatment that I would need. So when I was diagnosed, I was under a lot of stress. I had anxiety. I had PTSD thinking back about the first time that I was diagnosed and then knowing that I was going to have to deal with cancer again a second time. Thankfully for me, I've had the support of family and friends and also my medical team. I joined a lot of young adult programs.

Through those programs, I've been able to find my tribe, build community, bonds, connect with others that just get it. So, yeah, it's been a journey, but I'm grateful for the people that I've connected with over that process. And in terms of my mental health, I love to travel. I love taking long walks. I really love meditation, yoga. now I'm also very active at the gym. I just try to do more of like the hobbies that I enjoy. To me, that's self-care.

My cancer diagnosis put me face to face with my mortality. And as a result of that, I try not to take the time that I have on this earth for granted. Post-cancer, it's very important for me, at least, to live more in the present. Because by having my mind in the past or in the future, I realized that there's just so much that I'm missing in the now. Madeline Rosario is a breast cancer survivor from New York City.

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. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back this evening.