amNY

Wilfredo Laracuente, a Bronx poet who served a 20-year prison sentence, won a $500 prize from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for his poem on life after incarceration. His work, part of the 'Next Verse: Voices for Change' contest, reflects on personal transformation and public safety, inspired by his education and writing during incarceration.

The New York City Bar Association urged the U.S. Senate to reject Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general, citing concerns that he prioritizes President Donald Trump's interests over ethical and constitutional obligations. The association criticized Blanche for politically motivated actions, including firing U.S. attorneys who prosecuted Jan. 6 rioters and settling the Trump v. IRS case in Trump's favor, which it deemed improper.

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Manhattan’s Upper East Side has reached 59 cases, with 15 hospitalized. While the city investigates the source, an unrelated Legionella detection in a Upper West Side building’s hot water system is not linked to the outbreak. Officials confirm tap water and air conditioning use remain safe, and a virtual town hall will update residents.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced five 'PIT Crews' to accelerate the development of government technology, starting with an online portal to enforce the city's Click to Cancel protections. The initiative, funded by $5.24 million in city funds and the Rockefeller Foundation, aims to transition policy ideas into functional tools within months rather than years.

A New York City appeals court approved the redevelopment of NYCHA’s Fulton and Chelsea-Elliott Houses, allowing demolition of 18 buildings to construct six new ones over seven years. The project includes 3,454 mixed-income apartments, with 1,038 at affordable rates, and relocates some residents temporarily. Opponents argued the plan bypassed proper approvals and involved private developers on public land, but the court dismissed their lawsuit as untimely.

Doctors in NYC report a surge in severe injuries from e-bike and scooter crashes, with trauma centers treating more patients for brain, spine, and internal injuries. A study from Bellevue Hospital found micromobility device-related trauma cases rose from 7.9% in 2018 to 55% in 2023, with pedestrians sustaining worse injuries than riders.

Two decomposing bodies were found in a Bronx apartment after a foul odor prompted a 911 call on July 12. Authorities discovered the unidentified individuals in advanced decomposition, with drug paraphernalia nearby. The deaths are not currently under suspicion, and autopsies are pending to determine causes.

Black students received 3.5% of offers to NYC's specialized high schools, with Asian students receiving over 50% and white students 23%. Stuyvesant High School and Staten Island Technical High School issued minimal offers to Black students. The admissions process relies on the SHSAT, except for LaGuardia High School, and faces calls for reform due to racial inequities.

Jay-Z's July 12 concert at Yankee Stadium was delayed over five hours due to crowds of non-ticket holders breaching security at multiple entrances. Security and NYPD assisted in controlling the situation, allowing attendees inside cautiously after 10 p.m., with the concert finally starting around midnight.

Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the federal Department of Homeland Security in a July 12 letter over undisclosed plans to establish immigration detention facilities in Rochester, Batavia, and Newburgh, New York. Hochul accused the agency of lacking transparency, as New Yorkers learned of the projects through media reports rather than official communication. She demanded details on the locations, capacities, and legal authority for the facilities.

Gateway Hospitality LLC, a subsidiary of ExplorUS, has assumed operations of the former Aviator Sports and Events Center at Floyd Bennett Field, renaming it Floyd Bennett Sports Complex. The transition follows months of community concern over the previous operator's plans to close indoor facilities, with the new operator prioritizing program continuity, facility assessment, and expanded access.

Donald Trump labeled antifa as a domestic terrorist group, citing NSPM-7 which claims left-wing activists engage in organized political violence. The article argues that antifa is a decentralized network opposing fascism and that the administration's narrative excludes other violent incidents, such as the Capitol attack. It also notes Trump's previous refusal to condemn white supremacists at the 2017 Charlottesville rally.

A third teen was arrested in a Bronx shooting that injured a 5-year-old girl holding her mother's hand. Three teenagers, aged 15-17, face charges including attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon after the May 13 incident outside a bodega on Southern Blvd. The child was grazed by a bullet and hospitalized, while a witness reported bullets shattering a store's glass door.

Two individuals were taken into custody after crashing their 2012 Nissan Rogue into a Staten Island home on July 13, prompting an evacuation. Emergency services reported no injuries, and the NYPD's Highway Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the incident.

NYPD officers rescued a 17-year-old girl from Newtown Creek after she fell into the water. Bodycam footage shows an officer diving into the creek to save her, while another provided medical assistance on land. The girl was hospitalized in stable condition, and the rescuing officer sustained an arm injury.

Protesters in Manhattan are opposing ICE operations at Pier 40 in Hudson River Park, accusing the agency of using the location as a discreet staging area for detentions. Despite a contract expiration following local outrage, ICE vehicles were recently spotted at the site, including one linked to a December 2023 custody case in Queens. Demonstrators argue ICE is evading public scrutiny to avoid protests, with groups like Rise and Resist and Hands Off NYC emphasizing peaceful advocacy against what they describe as covert immigration enforcement tactics.

The city reported 56 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, with 16 hospitalized and no deaths. A building on the Upper West Side tested positive for Legionella bacteria in its hot water system, prompting a disinfection plan, while the health department investigates potential sources like cooling towers.

NYC Parks Department and Mayor Zohran Mamdani will host a free, supervised 'Parents’ Night Out' event on August 16, offering children aged 6–13 recreational activities, arts, and dinner at borough-specific locations. Parents can drop off and pick up kids between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., with programs led by Urban Park Rangers and NYC Parks staff.

A 46-year-old man was stabbed to death in the Bronx after a verbal dispute, as murders in the area surge. The attack occurred near East 183 Street and Grand Concourse, with police investigating multiple suspects. Murders in the 46th precinct have increased by 133.3% compared to three in 2025.

Police are seeking witnesses after Kinu Rochford, a former basketball star, was fatally shot in Harlem during a basketball tournament on July 10. The incident injured two others, and authorities are investigating the motive behind the shooting.