Mar. 20, 2025 By Bill Parry A high-ranking member of the Queens-based “Black Rain” drug crew was sentenced Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court to thirty years in prison for his role in three cold-case murders across south Queens. In August, Jerome “Sha” Jones, 60, of West Virginia, pleaded guilty to murder while engaged in…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Hundreds of seniors gathered at Queens Borough Hall on Wednesday morning to protest a proposed $102 million budget cut to the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA)—a reduction that advocates warn could lead to the closure of up to 90 senior centers across the city. The…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Barbara Russo-Lennon The MetroCard is officially going the way of the subway token. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced on Wednesday that the agency will retire the MetroCard by the end of the year. Sales and distribution of the cards will end on Dec. 31, 2025, making way for…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Ethan Stark-Miller Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday blamed the perception that New York City is unsafe and its sprawling homelessness crisis squarely on the Democratic challenger in the 2025 NYC Mayor’s Race who says he is best positioned to fix those issues: former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Adams, during a Wednesday…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Ethan Marshall Permits have been filed for the construction of a 5-story mixed-use building with 17 residences at the vacant lot at 84-18 Grand Ave. in Elmhurst. The building would be 55 feet tall and yield a total of 12,896 square feet of space, with 11,949 square feet dedicated to…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Bill Parry Police from the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights are still looking for two suspects who allegedly attacked a senior aboard a Q66 MTA bus in East Elmhurst and remain at large. The incident occurred at around 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, as the bus was on Northern…
Mar. 19, 2025 Staff Report Vincent “Vinny” Riso, senior principal of the Bayside-based Briarwood Organization and a lifelong advocate for affordable housing and community service, died peacefully on Monday, March 17, 2025. He was 90 years old and surrounded by his loving family. Vincent was born on September 7, 1934, in Queens, New York.…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Czarinna Andres The Queens Public Library (QPL) has been recognized as one of the top midsize employers in the United States, ranking 46th on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. The annual list, compiled by Forbes in partnership with market research firm Statista, evaluates companies with 1,000 to…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Jessica Militello Young performers from across the tri-state area, including talented acts from Queens, will take the stage at Radio City Music Hall on April 8 for the annual Garden of Dreams Talent Show, a heartwarming showcase that gives children facing adversity a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the iconic…
Mar. 19, 2025 By Athena Dawson Queens residents with a passion for the arts can celebrate National Poetry Month at St. John’s University, which is hosting a series of readings and lectures on its Queens campus in April. Titled “Spring Poetry in Performance,” the event will feature a lineup of poets, followed by a…