News without the noise · New York Edition
Saturday, March 28, 2026 · 40 stories
A fire in a Flushing, Queens building resulted in four fatalities, including a child, and has been classified as a homicide. The structure had a documented history of illegal units and gambling activity.
Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to exempt most new housing from state environmental reviews, citing existing local-level safeguards. This policy change addresses potential conflicts between environmental regulations and housing development goals in New York.
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are present at New York City area airports, including LaGuardia Airport in Queens. This activity may affect travelers, though specific operational details or local government responses are not detailed in the provided text.
The New York City Council passed legislation establishing protest buffer zones around houses of worship with a 44-5 vote, directing the NYPD to develop perimeters to protect worshippers from harassment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed constitutional concerns and has 30 days to decide on a veto, though the council holds a veto-proof majority. The measure addresses rising hate crimes while balancing free speech rights, with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch also questioning enforcement legality.
A series of 'No Kings' protests occurred in New York City and the Tri-State area on Saturday as part of nationwide events, with the Manhattan march expected to be one of the largest and likely causing traffic disruptions. The protests, organized by groups opposing what they describe as authoritarianism under President Trump, mark a third round of demonstrations, with organizers providing local event details through nokingsnyc.com.
MORE ACCUWEATHER RESOURCES Check AccuTrack Radar Air Quality Tracker NWS Advisories, Watches and Warnings School closings and delays For weather updates wherever you go, please download the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather forecast for NYC, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut NEW YORK (WABC) -- Sunday brings improvement: brighter skies filtered by high clouds and highs reaching the low 50s. Follow chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg , Sam Champion , meteorologist Brittany Bell , meteorologist Jeff Smith , and meteorologist Dani Beckstrom on social media.
A partial U.S. government shutdown continues after House Republicans rejected a Senate funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security. This has left around 50,000 TSA agents unpaid for over a month, leading to staff shortages, hours-long security queues, and widespread travel disruption at U.S. airports. Congress is now on a two-week break, delaying a resolution, though an executive order may provide some agents pay as early as Monday.
Bank of America has agreed to a $72.5 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging it facilitated Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation, with the agreement filed in New York federal court awaiting judicial approval. The bank maintains the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing, stating it allows the matter to be resolved and provides further closure for plaintiffs.
The U.S. embassy in Mexico posted an AI-generated video on its official social media accounts this week, depicting tattooed men in black caps performing a traditional Mexican corrido with lyrics encouraging migrants to 'return to your roots.' The video's promotion of 'self-deportation' has drawn widespread online criticism and disbelief.