New York Gov. Hochul announces $77M plan to increase police on subways
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced a major effort to address crime on the city’s subway system following a number of high-profile, violent incidents. Hochul said her office is deploying double the NYPD officers to patrol train stations beginning Monday, Jan. 20.
“Last March, we had a big surge in crime. We started to see a decline in the fall, and then for some reason, there was a 46% increase in crime in the month of January,” Hochul said of the numbers in January 2023 and 2024.
The move comes in response to a series of violent incidents, including the murder of a woman who was set on fire while sleeping on a train at Coney Island station in December. Days later, a man allegedly stabbed two people at Grand Central Station in Manhattan.
Hochul already called in the National Guard to boost security on the subway after six people were fatally shot in February 2024.
“Go ahead and ask people, do they feel better when they see someone in uniform who can protect them in advance of someone trying to do harm to them, or certainly be there to help in the aftermath,” she said.
The governor emphasized that most violence in the subway system occurs during the overnight hours.
To combat the increased violence, Hochul outlined a $77 million, six-month initiative that will roll out a comprehensive five-step plan aimed at improving subway safety:
At least two NYPD officers will be assigned to each of the 150 overnight trains. An additional 750 officers will patrol subway platforms.
LED lighting will be installed at all stations to enhance visibility.
The city will implement stricter enforcement on fare evasion.
The plan also includes expanded outreach services to help address homelessness.
Provide mental health support, with a focus on getting individuals in need, off the subway system.
Hochul’s plan will prioritize the 30 stations that have been the site of half of all crimes in the transit system.
“The NYPD has 2,500 officers assigned to transit stations around the city,” Hochul said. “They’re not going anywhere; this is not taking people out who are already performing important protection services.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expressed his support for the initiative, calling it an important step to enhance safety in the subway system.
New York has already installed cameras in every subway car and put up barriers to prevent fare evasion, which has been a growing issue.
Millions of tourists expected to flock to largest ice and snow park in the world
Winter is in full swing, and while summer is typically the season for travel, China is expecting tourists to book a flight to see the largest ice and snow park in the world. The frozen wonderland is taking shape in Harbin, located in the country’s northeast province.
For 26 years, the winter attraction has drawn in millions with the help of towering ice sculptures illuminated with glowing neon lights. The “Big World of Ice and Snow” festival is the world’s largest ice and snow theme park, equipped with 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow.
Park officials expect people from all over the world and other parts of China to make the trek to the attraction.
Chinese officials said they’re preparing for half a billion visitors to the country during the snowy season.
In an attempt to draw in domestic and international guests, the Chinese government has increased flight routes and reduced travel restrictions.
Snow-covered ski resorts, parks and landscapes are keeping China’s economy booming. The government saw a 500% increase in revenue during last year’s winter season.
The country’s economy is expected to keep growing during the Ninth Asian Winter Games in 2025, a sports event that will bring athletes from around Asia to Harbin to compete.
Seattle police have released a video showing officers responding to a call about a man experiencing a mental health crisis on a downtown bridge. The man stood on a ledge about 25 feet above train tracks as officers tried to persuade him to come down to safety.
In the video, one officer can be heard pleading with the man, saying, “I want to help you, and I need you to hear me when I say that.” However, before officers could get him to safety, the man slipped and fell onto the rocks next to the tracks.
At that moment, a freight train approached at high speed. Officers immediately rushed to the tracks. With the train’s horn blaring, one officer managed to drag the man off the tracks just seconds before the train passed.
Seattle police detailed the event in a Facebook post, stating, “Policemen on the lower platform ran across the tracks to rescue the man while a train approached them at high speeds. An officer dragged the man to safety, risking his life, with only seconds to spare.”
The 57-year-old man suffered serious injuries, including multiple fractures, and was unable to move after the fall. Despite police requesting a halt to incoming trains, the freight train was already en route when the call was made.
Thanks to the swift actions of the officers, the man survived. He was treated at the scene by the Seattle Fire Department before being rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Switzerland to install solar panels on train tracks, safety concerns remain
Swiss startup Sun-Ways is leading an initiative to install solar panels along the country’s approximately 3,300 miles of railway. The company says that utilizing the rail network could supply nearly a third of the energy required by Switzerland’s transportation sector.
This could potentially offset around 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually — roughly equivalent to taking 50,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road.
However, the International Union of Railways has highlighted several potential safety issues with this plan. Reflections from the solar panels may impair train operators’ visibility and there is also the risk that the added infrastructure could increase fire hazards along the tracks.
Critics have pointed to additional logistical challenges, such as the potential for solar panels to complicate track maintenance, suffer damage in the exposed locations, or face efficiency losses. The harder surfaces are also likely to make trains louder as they pass over the panels, causing an uptick in noise pollution.
These concerns contributed to an initial rejection of Sun-Ways’ project in 2023 by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport. The company revised its proposal to include additional safety documentation and resubmitted the plan, which then underwent another 10 months of review before authorities approved a pilot project to begin in 2025.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
We have a recap of the first, and likely only, vice presidential debate of 2024. And Iran has launched its largest attack ever on Israel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
For the first time, the two vice presidential candidates took the stage next to one another Tuesday night, Oct. 1. Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz introduced themselves to American voters while defending their running mates’ opposing views.
Vance and Walz kept the vice presidential debate cordial, at various times saying they agreed with the other, but they sparred on the policies and the statements made by their parties’ presidential nominees, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Look if you’re going to be president, you don’t have all the answers. Donald Trump believes he does. My pro tip of the day is this, if you need heart surgery, listen to the people at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, not Donald Trump,” Walz said.
“I honestly, Tim, I think you got a tough job here because you’ve got to play whack-a-mole; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver rising take-home pay, which of course he did; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver lower inflation, which of course he did; and then you simultaneously got to defend Kamala Harris’ atrocious economic record,” Vance said.
The debate covered many topics including abortion, climate change, the economy and health care. The two opened the 90-minute CBS News debate discussing the conflict in the Middle East and the need for stability in the White House.
“I’m 40 years old, when was the last time that an American president didn’t have a major conflict break out? The only answer is during the four years that Donald Trump was president,” Vance said.
“So Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before because of Donald Trump’s fickle leadership. And when Iran shot down an American aircraft in international airspace, Donald Trump tweeted because that’s the standard diplomacy of Donald Trump,” Walz said.
On illegal immigration, Vance and Walz disagreed on whether former President Trump’s involvement helps or hurts solving the border crisis.
“But as soon as I was getting ready to pass [legislation] and actually tackle this, Donald Trump said no, told them to vote against it because it gives him a campaign issue,” Walz said.
“We have a historic immigration crisis because Kamala Harris started and said that she wanted to undo all of Donald Trump’s border policies — 94 executive orders, suspending deportations, decriminalizing illegal aliens, massively increasing the asylum fraud that exists in our system. That has opened the floodgates,” Vance said.
When the debate turned to gun violence, the two VP contenders shared a moment, highlighting the human aspect and often the aftermath.
“I think all the parents watching tonight, this is just your biggest nightmare. Look, I got a 17-year-old and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball, those things don’t leave you,” Walz said.
When it was his turn to speak, Vance responded, “Tim, first of all, I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting and I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, it is it is awful.”
Things, however, turned contentious over the 2020 election and Jan. 6.
“[January 6, 2021] was a threat to our democracy in a way that we had not seen, and it manifested itself because of Donald Trump’s inability to say — he is still saying, he didn’t lose the election,” Walz said.
Vance replied, “Tim, I’m focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?”
“That is a damning non-answer,” Walz said.
Both candidates thanked each other for the debate and the viewers at home, who will make their decision at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5, in just 34 days.
Trump backs out of ’60 Minutes’ election special; Harris interview to still air
CBS News says former President Trump has backed out an upcoming interview with “60 Minutes.”
For decades, “60 Minutes” has broadcast election specials with the candidates. CBS reported both Trump and Vice President Harris had agreed to take part in this year’s special in separate one-on-one interviews, but Trump has since reportedly changed his mind.
In a press conference last night, Trump said his decision was based on his last interview with CBS anchor Lesley Stahl in 2020 — which he walked out of early.
“They came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first, I want to get an apology because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. And I said, ‘It wasn’t from Russia, it was from Hunter [Biden].’ And I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes’, I do everything.”
In a statement of its own, “60 Minutes” said the special will still move forward.
“Our election special will broadcast the Harris interview on Monday as planned,” the statement read. “Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on ’60 Minutes’ stands.”
The special is set to air Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
Iran launches largest-ever attack on Israel; Israel vows retaliation
Israel has vowed to retaliate after Iran launched its largest ever attack on Israel. Late Tuesday, Iran fired more than 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which seem to have been intercepted by the Israeli military with help from the United States and other allies.
So far, one person has been reported to have died in the attack, and the extent of the damage is not yet known.
Iran’s military chief also warned of broader strikes if Israel responds. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already vowed to do so, saying, “Iran made a big mistake and it will pay for it.”
Also Tuesday, just before Iran’s barrage began, at least six people were killed and a dozen more hurt when Israeli police say two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a train station in Tel Aviv. Police say the shooting was an act of terrorism and one of the gunmen was killed at the scene while the other was severely injured.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for that deadly attack.
Search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina after Helene
Combs is already being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have said he is innocent of all charges.
Louisiana governor supports bringing back live tiger mascot to LSU games
College sports are known for fierce competition. Now the governor of Louisiana is looking at making things even more ferocious by bringing back an old Louisiana State University football mainstay.
Officials from PETA are now speaking out against the idea, saying it would be cruel and dangerous for the animal.
These days, the current tiger mascot is on campus in an enclosure near the stadium, but the governor says returning the tiger to the field would be “an unbelievable opportunity.” LSU officials have not yet commented on whether there is a possibility of seeing a live tiger at football games once again.
East Palestine residents may wait years for payments due to appeal of settlement
East Palestine residents may have to wait up to two years before getting paid out by Norfolk Southern for a disastrous train derailment in 2023, according to lawyers on Monday, Sept. 30. Settlement checks were reportedly supposed to go out by the end of this year but now that appears it will not happen after an appeal by one of the plaintiff’s last week.
The appeal challenges whether a federal judge’s decision to approve a more than $600 million settlement gave enough money to East Palestinians.
Some residents reportedly expressed outrage over the weekend about the appeal by a local pastor because they said they needed those payments to move out of town.
Other residents said that they had deeper concerns about the chemicals they were exposed to from the rail disaster after officials decided to blow up the boxcars filled with toxic chemicals. Those residents want the plaintiff’s lawyers to reveal what their expert found when he tested for any lingering contamination in East Palestine.
Now, an appeals court will have to determine whether or not the settlement offers enough money to residents and if enough information was given to East Palestinians before an agreement was reached.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys vowed on Monday to do everything in their “power” to “quickly resolve this appeal,” adding, “It is tragic that one person is substituting their judgement for the entire community who wants this settlement, and instead of opting out, they have gone this route.”
Lawyers say it is likely the payments will be delayed six months to a year. However, they say the wait may be even longer if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court or gets sent back to federal court.
The settlement offers payments of up to $70,000 per household and up to $25,000 per individual. The funds are meant to cover health issues and property damage to the community from the derailment disaster.
Murders in New York City’s subway system are rising this year, with eight reported killings as of Sept. 8, according to NYPD data. This marks a 60% increase from the five murders reported during the same period in 2023. It also puts the city on track to reach the record of 10 subway murders set in 2022, the highest number since 1997.
Despite the surge in homicides, overall crime on the subway has decreased by nearly 6%, with significant drops in robberies (down 18%) and felony assaults (down 5%). The NYPD credits these reductions to increased patrols, with an additional 1,000 officers deployed in the transit system, and the removal of a record number of weapons, including 43 guns and 1,536 knives this year.
However, the rise in murders left many commuters fearing for their safety. The NYPD attributed the increase in violent crime to a combination of factors, including mental health issues and a police force stretched thin.
City officials face mounting pressure to address the safety concerns as subway riders continue to express unease.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris closed out the Democratic National Convention (DNC) by accepting her party’s nomination for president. And one of the largest diamonds ever found was just unearthed in Botswana. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
VP Kamala Harris formally accepts Democratic presidential nomination at DNC
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted her party’s nomination for president. The Democratic National Convention came to a close Thursday night, Aug. 22, after Harris addressed the crowd, laying out more of her policy vision for the nation and going after her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans,” Harris said. “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
During her speech, Harris vowed to create what she called an “opportunity economy.” She also reiterated her stance that Israel has a right to defend itself but pressed for a cease-fire deal and pledged to reform the U.S. immigration system.
When Harris turned her attention to the former president, she blamed Trump for Republicans voting against a bipartisan border bill, said he sent a mob to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and highlighted his now-criminal record.
“The biggest reaction is why didn’t she do the things she’s complaining about,” he questioned. “She could’ve done it three and a half years ago. She could do it tonight, by leaving the auditorium and going to Washington D.C. and closing the border. She doesn’t need a bill. I didn’t have a bill; I closed the border. She could still do them. She’s got four and a half to five months left.”
All eyes will be on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party candidate, on Friday, Aug. 23, as he’s set to hold a press conference. The speculation is Kennedy will be dropping out of the presidential race and potentially endorsing Trump.
They had planned to march toward the convention center but were blocked by rows of police in riot gear.
#WATCH : More videos of Massive pro-Palestine protest engulfs DNC convention
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, outraged over Dems' backing for Israel in the Gaza war.
The group of about 40 unconfirmed delegates and supporters spent Wednesday night, Aug. 21, outside the United Center on the sidewalk and remained there until after 8 p.m. Thursday before finally going back inside to the convention.
Supreme Court allows Arizona to enforce proof-of-citizenship law
The United States Supreme Court agreed to temporarily reinstate a portion of a 2022 Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when people register to vote. In a 5-4 ruling, the high court gave a partial victory to Republicans who have been trying to enforce proof of citizenship as a requirement to cast a vote in November.
While the justices ruled the state can enforce the requirement of proof of citizenship to vote using the state’s registration form, the court turned down other requests that would bar voters who registered using a federal form or by mail unless they showed proof of citizenship.
This is only a temporary ruling while litigation continues. So, it’s unclear as of now if, come November, voters in the state will have to show documentation they’re a legal resident to cast a ballot.
Canadian government orders arbitration to end rail labor dispute
The Canadian government has intervened in a labor dispute involving thousands of freight train workers. The deadlock on workers’ contract negotiations could have led to a major economic disruption, impacting goods coming into the United States.
The trains are expected to resume running in a few days.
FDA approves updated COVID vaccines
The FDA has approved updated COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This puts the new shots on track to reach most Americans within days.
Today, we approved and granted emergency use authorization for updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) to include a monovalent (single) component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. https://t.co/pul33IEnIw
These shots target a strain called KP.2, which was the dominant COVID strain in May when a summer surge of the virus began, but now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases, according to the CDC. Still, Pfizer and Moderna said their KP.2 vaccines can produce stronger immune responses against other circulating sub-variants than last year’s shots.
Second largest diamond ever found is discovered in Botswana
The second largest diamond ever found was just unearthed in Botswana, according to the Canadian mining company that discovered the gem in one of its mines in Africa. The massive, 2,492-carat diamond is the biggest to be found in more than a century and it was located using X-ray technology.
The mining company presented Botswana’s president with the huge stone on Thursday, Aug. 22. The diamond will be evaluated over the next several weeks and will likely sell for tens of millions of dollars.
The colossal stone is believed to be the biggest one found since a 3,106-carat diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and cut into smaller stones — some of which make up the British royal family’s crown jewels.
A once-secret report reveals cleanup workers got sick at Ohio derailment site
A report undisclosed to the public since spring of 2023 revealed workers cleaning up the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment in February of 2023, became sick during the process. The Associated Press released the report on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The report said the cleanup workers reportedly fell ill while cleaning up creeks near the overturned Norfolk Southern boxcars, which had been carrying toxic chemicals.
Workers reported headaches and nausea while shooting compressed air into the creek bed. The process, known as air knifing, releases chemicals from sediment and water. However, the cleanup continued until three weeks later when another worker became ill. After that incident, air knifing was halted.
An independent toxicologist said that workers should have been told that they were spreading toxic chemicals into the air. The toxicologist also said that using air knifing “was not an informed decision.”
“The health and safety of our employees, contractors, and the community has been paramount throughout the recovery in East Palestine,” the spokesperson said.
Since the derailment, residents of the East Palestine have reported unexplained rashes, asthma and respiratory problems, and even diseases like male breast cancer. Researchers are still determining how many of the health problems are linked to the train derailment disaster. Furthermore, it is unclear if contaminants from other industries in the area were already in the creek bed as well.
East Palestinians have until Thursday, Aug. 22, to decide whether they will accept $25,000 as part of a $600 million lawsuit against Norfolk Southern. The money is meant to cover any future health care costs for residents.
Meanwhile, follow-up testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected small amounts of vinyl chloride and other chemicals at the crash site. However, the agency said that it is not a health risk because contaminated soil from the site has been removed. The entire clean-up effort is reportedly expected to wrap up by the end of this year.
California launches electric trains as US lags behind world in rail electrification
Around two decades after the concept was first proposed, California is launching two new all-electric commuter trains on its state-owned Caltrain rail line. The move comes as other nations have made significant strides in electrifying their railroads, while the U.S. is largely lagging behind.
“This is many, many years in the making,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, underscoring the long process that has led to this development. “Since 1999, electric trains have been proposed, and they are finally here. In bureaucratic years I would say that’s a little fast, but not as fast as these trains.”
The U.S. rail sector is one of the nation’s largest consumers of diesel fuel, using billions of gallons each year. Despite the potential environmental benefits of electrification, efforts to transition have largely been met with pushback from the leading companies in this sector.
The country’s four major rail operators have expressed concerns about the high costs associated with retrofitting existing trains and tracks, arguing that these expenses outweigh the potential benefits. This is part of why California has decided to deploy these electric trains on their own commuter rail in an effort to bypass this industry resistance.
“This is the most transformative project of its type in a generation,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, said. “The DNA in California, this shift towards electrification, low carbon, green growth, radically changing the way we produce and consume energy.”
Currently, electrified rail accounts for less than 1% of U.S. tracks, a stark contrast to global trends. Around the world, more than a third of trains are powered by electricity. India is close to achieving 100% electrification of its rail lines, China is nearing 75% and the European Union has nearly 60% of its rail system running on electric power.
Looking ahead, there are additional plans to expand electrified rail in the U.S. A new line connecting Las Vegas to Los Angeles is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2028.