Governors push to ban smartphones in schools in New Jersey and New York
Two governors along the East Coast are taking steps to limit smartphone use in schools. New Jersey and New York are considering new policies aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom.
States who have issued bans have distinguished between smartphones like iPhones and basic cellular phones that can only call or text.
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy has voiced strong support for a bill moving through the state legislature that would ban phones in public schools. Murphy has said the devices have become a growing distraction in classrooms, impacting students’ ability to focus and retain information.
“They are fueling a rise in cyberbullying. And they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn,” Murphy said in his State of the State address. “Honestly, is it any surprise that the rise in smartphone usage has coincided with a growing youth mental health crisis?”
The bill has already passed the state Senate unanimously. It would require New Jersey’s Department of Education to set a policy on smartphone and social media use in all public schools. Including elementary, middle and high schools, districts would be required to adopt the policy if passed.
Just across the state line, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is taking similar steps. Hochul announced that the next state budget would include a plan to create a “distraction-free learning environment.” It would likely include restrictions on smartphone use during school hours.
“Young people succeed in the classroom when they’re learning and growing—not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said in a statement.
The New York State Teachers Union is working with Hochul’s administration to develop a policy that could include keeping phones out of reach from the start of the school day until dismissal.
The details of the policy are still being worked out, but the idea is gaining traction among educators and policymakers.
However, parents in both states are raising concerns about the potential downsides of a cell phone ban, particularly in the case of emergencies. Some worry their children may need to have access to their phones to contact them during critical situations.
Many school districts in both New Jersey and New York have already implemented their own policies to limit cell phone use during school hours. However, these measures have not been uniform across the region.
Early congestion pricing numbers show NYC traffic reduced by 7.5%: MTA
Data from the first week of New York City’s congestion pricing policy shows it’s having an effect. MTA, New York’s public transit authority, reported a small but noticeable dip in traffic on some of Manhattan’s busiest streets.
The program faced major pushback in New York and New Jersey. However, officials from the MTA said total traffic dropped by 7.5% compared to the same time last year, removing roughly 43,000 cars from traffic each day.
The program charges $9 for most cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, with a handful of highways exempted and a lower rate outside of rush hour. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reduced the price from $15 following a public backlash.
An MTA spokesperson told the Associated Press that morning traffic into Manhattan in the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, two of the busiest entries into the heart of the city, saw drops of 40% or more.
It’s unclear whether the city’s public transit had more riders, but express bus routes moved faster. One route from Brooklyn into Manhattan crossing the Williamsburg Bridge saw its travel time reduced by 28%.
The MTA’s chairman told The New York Times, “There’s so much evidence that people are experiencing a much less traffic-congested environment. They’re seeing streets that are moving more efficiently, and they’re hearing less noise, and they’re feeling a less tense environment around tunnels and bridges.”
However, while the early data shows signs of success, MTA officials say it will take longer than one week to determine if the program is successfully reducing traffic and shifting drivers to public transit.
Step into the immersive ‘Saturday Night Live’ experience at Rockefeller Center
The iconic sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” is celebrating its 50th season in a big way. Fans will soon get to step into the world of “SNL” with a brand-new immersive experience in Manhattan.
The SNL Immersive Experience will take place at New York City’s Rockefeller Center. The event allows fans to explore a Studio 8H-inspired set, sit at the famous “Weekend Update” desk, and enjoy exclusive content and giveaways. According to a press release, visitors can expect to experience the on- and off-camera magic of “SNL” during a 20- to 30-minute walking tour.
The experience is open to guests 16 and older. However, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The SNL Immersive Experience runs from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Although the exact address has not been revealed yet, the event will be held in the heart of Rockefeller Center.
How to secure your spot
Reservations for the SNL Immersive Experience are free but required for entry. Fans can begin reserving their spots on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
New poll shows Andrew Cuomo could be poised for a political comeback
A new poll shows former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could be poised for a political comeback if he chooses to challenge Mayor Eric Adams in the Democratic primary to be the next mayor of New York City. Politico obtained the poll from Progressives for Democracy that showed Cuomo as the favorite to win, if he runs, with support from 32% of likely Democratic voters.
Following him were former city comptroller Scott Stringer at 10%, his successor Brad Lander at 8%, State Sen. Jessica Ramos at 7%, and Adams and state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, who were both at 6%.
Adams has been under scrutiny, as he faces five federal counts of bribery, corruption, wire fraud and accepting donations from foreign nationals, leading to multiple members of his administration resigning.
As for Cuomo, he resigned as governor in 2021 after a series of scandals. They included allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women, including former and current staffers, which were detailed in a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
He also faced criticism for his management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which centered on his controversial March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, potentially leading to an increased spread of the virus among elderly residents.
The scandal worsened when it was revealed that the Cuomo administration had underreported the true number of nursing home deaths, prompting accusations of a cover-up.
The new numbers are the second recent poll to show wide support for Cuomo. A New York Times and Siena College poll from October 2024 showed him with 21% support.
Cuomo has not officially announced his candidacy for New York City mayor.
How the accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter could get away with murder
Could the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on video get away with murder? While the immediate response would seem to be “no” considering the evidence, legal analysts say there is a chance, however small, Luigi Mangione could avoid a murder conviction.
Increasing public sympathy for Mangione could result in what’s called jury nullification despite the large amount of evidence stacked against him, according to some legal experts.
Jury nullification is when a jury returns a not guilty verdict even though all the jurors believe beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant did what he is accused of.
Mangione has been charged with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism, under federal law. He also faces state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.
He faces the death penalty in the federal charges, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors say the two cases will be tried in mostly the same way, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.
Since his arrest, Mangione has gained many supporters. Many of them have posted sympathetic messages online or created fan accounts.
Supporters have even raised thousands of dollars on crowdfunding sites to pay for his legal defense fund. Many see Mangione’s alleged crimes as a form of protest against the American health care system.
Court proceedings in Mangione’s case were slated to start on Jan. 18. However, the deadline for indictment was pushed to Feb. 17 after both prosecutors and Mangione’s attorneys told a federal court they need more time to prepare.
Trump sentenced in hush money case: no jail, no conditions
President-elect Donald Trump received no jail time in his hush money case sentencing. While the move was expected, he’s now a convicted felon 10 days before the start of his second term.
Judge Juan Merchant sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge on Friday, Jan. 10. That means even though he won’t go to jail, get probation or face any fines, he will enter office as a convicted felon, making him the first to carry that distinction into the White House.
Trump appeared virtually for the sentencing after being found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges involved an alleged scheme to hide a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in the last weeks of Trump’s first campaign in 2016.
The court released audio playback of the sentencing, which was not allowed to be broadcast on live media.
“This has been a very terrible experience,” Trump said at one point. “It’s been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose that election and obviously that didn’t work.”
Shortly after the sentencing, with Trump’s gag order expired, the president-elect reiterated what he said during his court hearing posting to Truth Social that there was “never a case” and called it a “hoax” and an “un-American witch hunt,” adding that he will appeal.
The sentencing was allowed to go forward after the Supreme Court decided Thursday, Jan. 9 to reject Trump’s request to drop the proceeding. Trump’s legal team asked the court to intervene after the judge said he would go forward with the unconditional discharge ruling.
At least 10 dead as major wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
The death toll rises as the onslaught of fires continues in Southern California, destroying complete neighborhoods. And President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced for his conviction in the New York hush money case after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid to stop the proceeding. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.
Death toll rises as wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles area
Flames have destroyed entire neighborhoods, obliterating 10,000 homes and buildings between the Palisades and Eaton Fires alone. Firefighters made some progress as the Santa Ana winds weakened, but wind and dry conditions are expected to continue through the weekend. This will make it difficult for crews to battle the flames.
The biggest and most destructive fire in Pacific Palisades now spans nearly 20,000 acres, which is more than 30 square miles and is only 6% contained.
Nearly 180,000 people in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders and another 200,000 are on standby to leave their homes if necessary. The wildfires and strong winds fueling them have led to mass power outages.
Entire stretches of Pacific Ocean beachfront property along Malibu have been charred, as well as homes and neighborhoods up and down the Pacific Coast Highway.
The latest fire to break out, the Kenneth Fire, sparked Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near Calabasas. That fire spans 1,000 acres and is 35% contained, according to CalFire’s last update. Police arrested one man on suspicion of arson in connection with that fire.
It’s not just those in the fires’ paths in danger. Polluted air poses a threat even to those far away.
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to halt sentencing in hush money case
Trump’s sentencing on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels will proceed as planned.
The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, said earlier this month he would not sentence the president-elect to prison time, saying incarceration is not an option.
Instead, the judge is expected to impose a no-penalty sentence called an unconditional discharge.
Trump vowed to appeal his conviction, claiming evidence and testimony was admitted that implicated his duties as president during his first term. The Supreme Court ruled over the summer presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for some official acts.
Appeals court allows release of election interference case report
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected a bid to block the release but kept in place the judge’s order for a three-day delay, giving time for additional appeals. That means Trump could seek the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter.
Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the election interference case was eventually dismissed following his victory in November’s presidential election due to a Justice Department policy that forbids the prosecution of a sitting president.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he plans to release the report to the public once he is permitted to do so. In response, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said Thursday night that it’s time for Garland and President Joe Biden to “do the right thing and put a final stop to the political weaponization of our justice system.”
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in TikTok ban case
With less than two weeks until a ban on the social media app TikTok is slated to take effect, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments against the legislation Friday, Jan. 10. TikTok looks to show the justices that, despite claims from the federal government, it is not a national security threat to the U.S.
It is unclear when the court will deliver its ruling.
TikTok faces a nationwide ban in the U.S. that is expected to go into effect on Jan. 19, impacting roughly 115 million monthly users. That is unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform, as required by the law signed by President Joe Biden last year, or SCOTUS rules in favor of TikTok’s position that the law is unconstitutional.
Supporters of the ban believe the app allows China to access vast amounts of data from Americans and possibly influence public opinion in the U.S.
Trump opposes the ban and has met with TikTok’s CEO in recent weeks.
Macy’s to close 66 stores
Macy’s confirmed it will close 66 stores across the U.S. The department store chain said Thursday that the move is part of its “bold new chapter” strategy, which was announced in February of last year. The strategy will see the closure of approximately 150 underperforming stores, or about a third of its locations, over a three-year period.
Tony Spring, the retailer’s chairman and CEO, said that while “closing any store is never easy,” this will allow the company to focus its “resources and prioritize investments” in its other locations.
Macy’s told Axios clearance sales will begin this month and run for up to 12 weeks.
Friends, family remember President Jimmy Carter at state funeral in Washington
Family, friends and fellow lawmakers honored former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, a National Day of Mourning, during a state funeral in Washington, D.C. All five surviving presidents attended the service at the National Cathedral.
President Joe Biden, who declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning, delivered a eulogy for his late friend.
“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me and through his life taught me the strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. It’s a strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity. Respect that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot, not a guarantee, but just a shot. You know, we have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor. And to stand up to — my dad used to say was the greatest sin of all — the abuse of power. That’s not about being perfect as none of us are perfect. We’re all fallible. But it’s about asking ourselves ‘Are we striving to do things, the right things? What value, what are the values that animate our spirit? Do we operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it’s most tested?’ Or keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter’s life.”
Carter’s grandchildren also spoke about their late grandfather.
“They were small-town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives,” Jason Carter said. “But I recognize that we are not here because he was just a regular guy. As you’ve heard from the other speakers, his political life and his presidency for me was not just ahead of its time, it was prophetic. He had the courage and strength to stick to his principles, even when they were politically unpopular.”
Following a private funeral in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, Carter was laid to rest next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
Alleged Yakuza leader pleads guilty to trafficking nuclear materials
An alleged high-ranking leader of Japan’s Yakuza crime syndicate has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to trafficking weapons-grade nuclear material, believing it was destined for Iran’s nuclear program. The case sheds light on a sprawling international smuggling operation involving drugs, weapons and radioactive materials.
Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, entered his plea Wednesday, Jan. 8, in a Manhattan federal court, admitting to charges of nuclear and narcotics trafficking. Prosecutors said Ebisawa attempted to sell weapons-grade plutonium and uranium sourced from Myanmar to an individual he believed was an Iranian general. The “general” was, in fact, an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.
Between 2020 and 2022, Ebisawa reportedly provided photographs, Geiger counter readings and supposed laboratory analyses to verify the material’s radioactivity. U.S. officials later confirmed the material was weapons-grade and suitable for constructing nuclear weapons.
One of Ebisawa’s co-conspirators claimed access to over 4,400 pounds of thorium-232 and more than 220 pounds of uranium in the form of U3O8, a compound commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as “yellowcake.”
Prosecutors said Ebisawa planned to use the proceeds from the nuclear material sale to purchase military-grade weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, for insurgent groups in Myanmar. But his scheme extended beyond nuclear materials.
He also conspired to traffic approximately 1,100 pounds each of heroin and methamphetamine into the United States. Additionally, he sought to launder $100,000 in drug proceeds between New York and Tokyo.
Ebisawa’s arrest in 2022 followed a DEA-led sting operation, which intercepted materials and dismantled parts of his narcotics and weapons trafficking networks. Thai authorities collaborated with U.S. agents during the operation.
Additional charges were filed in 2024 after investigators uncovered the full scope of Ebisawa’s criminal enterprise. His charges now include nuclear material trafficking, narcotics importation and money laundering.
Ebisawa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. Sentencing is scheduled for April.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram praised the investigation, calling it a testament to the agency’s ability to dismantle some of the world’s most dangerous criminal networks.
“This case exposed the shocking extent of international organized crime, dealing in drugs, weapons and even nuclear materials,” Milgram said.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim of the Southern District of New York described the plan as “brazen,” emphasizing the catastrophic risks posed by Ebisawa’s actions had the nuclear materials been sold or weaponized.
Once a dominant force in international crime, the Yakuza has seen its membership shrink to about one-third of its size two decades ago, according to Japan’s National Police Agency.
Strict anti-organized crime laws in Japan have limited the group’s ability to operate openly and financially, forcing members to adapt.
Ex-Rep. George Santos seeks sentencing delay to record podcast episodes
Expelled former Congressman George Santos says he is running low on money and asked a judge to delay his sentencing on federal fraud charges so he can make more episodes of his podcast, “Pants on Fire.” The New York Republican has hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines to pay and pledged he could make money to pay it off through the podcast.
Prosecutors say that Santos didn’t present any evidence for his claim that he had a little more than $1,000 in assets or that the podcast would bring financial success. As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, all four of the episodes posted to YouTube have less than 1,000 views.
Instead, prosecutors pointed to evidence that Santos has made a lot more money than that since leaving Congress. They cite more than $400,000 through his account on the video-sharing app Cameo.
They added that Santos made another $400,000 from participating in a documentary after the House expelled him in December 2023.
Santos is just the sixth member in the history of the House of Representatives to be expelled by a vote from his colleagues.
Even before taking office, however, it was becoming clear that he had exaggerated details of his professional and personal life.
Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges related to fraudulent campaign donations. He also pleaded guilty to taking campaign funds for personal use.
He faces anywhere between two and 22 years in prison.
Suspect in deadly subway attack doesn’t remember setting woman on fire: Report
The suspect accused of killing a woman after he set her on fire on a New York City subway train told investigators he doesn’t remember committing the fatal act, The New York Times reports. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, a Guatemalan citizen who reportedly entered the U.S. illegally, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in the death of 57-year-old Dabrina Kawam during a hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Court documents obtained by The Times reveal investigators interrogated Zapeta on the day of the attack. He described blacking out after drinking liquor all night.
The suspect said he had no memory of getting on the subway train or seeing Kawam.
When investigators showed him surveillance video of the attack, Zapeta said, “Oh, damn, that’s me.”
Kawam burns were so severe that it took the medical examiner’s office more than a week to identify her remains.
“I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to. But I really don’t know. I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry for that woman,” Zapeta told police.
Investigators say on the morning of Dec. 22, Zapeta walked up to Kawam as she slept on the F train and set her clothing and blanket on fire.
The flames engulfed Kawam, and the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, noting her thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
In a statement Tuesday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “My office swiftly obtained an indictment, and we are determined to exact the most severe punishment for this heinous and inhumane act. Ms. Kawam and her loved ones deserve a measure of justice, and New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in the subways.”
If convicted, Zapeta faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.