News without the noise · New York Edition
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 · 69 stories
New York City plans to address the issue of vacant apartments for homeless families by establishing a new connection between housing developers and shelter providers. This initiative aims to reduce the time these apartments remain unoccupied, thereby improving housing access for families in need.
Dan Sohail pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to charges of damaging religious property after he rammed his car into the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in January. Sohail, 36, admitted to intentionally damaging the building and faces up to six months in prison, with credit for time already served. His actions occurred amid a reported rise in hate crimes against Jewish individuals in New York City.
A letter signed by 300 individuals has been sent to authorities, detailing allegations of mistreatment and 'torture' faced by detainees at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark. This letter reflects growing concerns among community members regarding the conditions within the facility, which has previously experienced unrest, including an uprising that led to multiple escapes.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the "SPEED" reforms aimed at expediting affordable housing development in New York City. The reforms will streamline processes across all stages of development, reducing timelines for affordable housing projects by up to eight months, and potentially two years for projects requiring zoning changes. Additionally, improvements to the housing lottery system are planned to enhance fairness and transparency.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $6 million state-funded shuttle bus service for FIFA World Cup matches, reducing the round-trip fare from $80 to $20. The service will provide 18,000 seats on non-school days and 12,000 on school days, with 20% of tickets reserved for New Yorkers. This initiative follows a similar fare reduction for NJ Transit train tickets, which dropped from $150 to $98.
A 5-year-old girl was hospitalized after suffering a graze wound to her ear from a shooting in the Bronx on Wednesday. The incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. at 1007 Southern Blvd., and the child was taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition. No arrests have been reported in connection with the shooting.
Waymo is recalling nearly 3,800 of its self-driving robotaxis in the U.S. due to a software issue that could lead vehicles to drive into flooded roads. This recall follows an incident in April where a Waymo vehicle was swept into a creek in San Antonio, Texas. The company has temporarily suspended its San Antonio service and is implementing software updates to prevent similar occurrences during extreme weather.
Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, including eight children, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes targeted vehicles in the Barja, Jiyeh, and Saadiyat areas, as well as other locations, amidst ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The Israeli military stated that the strikes aimed at Hezbollah's military infrastructure, while the Lebanese health ministry accused Israeli forces of violating international humanitarian law by targeting rescue personnel during their operations.
With Mexico under pressure from Trump to tackle drug trafficking groups, analysts say ‘it’s the most tense situation since the 1980s’ Relations between Mexico and the United States are being pushed to breaking point amid accusations by Washington that Mexican officials have been “in bed for years” with drug traffickers, and reports of CIA agents freely operating south of the border. “There are many who are betting.
The potential overlap of the NBA Finals and the World Cup could lead to significant congestion at Penn Station, which is located beneath Madison Square Garden. This situation may create logistical challenges for transit and crowd management in the area.