News without the noise · New York Edition
Monday, May 18, 2026 · 66 stories
A potential strike by Long Island Rail Road workers could result in an estimated loss of $61 million per day for the region, according to the state comptroller. The financial impact may increase as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.
A deal has been reached to end the strike by Long Island Rail Road workers, who had been on strike since Saturday due to a lack of raises since 2022. The labor action had disrupted travel between New York City and Long Island.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an increase in free preschool slots for three-year-olds in New York City, responding to the demand from parents awaiting offers. This initiative aims to expand access to early childhood education as part of the city's broader educational policies.
New York City will expand its early childhood education system by adding 2,000 new 3-K seats across all five boroughs, as announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This initiative includes the opening of nine previously vacant child care centers and aims to enhance accessibility to affordable, high-quality child care for families. The new seats will be allocated through a waitlist process, allowing families to express interest in preferred locations.
Governor Hochul announced that the MTA and LIRR unions have reached an agreement to end a three-day strike that had shut down the Long Island Rail Road, affecting thousands of commuters. Negotiations resumed after the unions and MTA officials faced challenges in reaching a deal, with both sides expressing concerns about the urgency of the discussions. The MTA is providing limited shuttle bus services to help mitigate the disruption caused by the strike.
The recent apartment fire in Fordham, Bronx, has resulted in the deaths of three children, including a toddler and his twin siblings. The fire occurred last Monday night on Bainbridge Avenue, and officials believe that open doors may have contributed to the fire's spread. In addition to the fatalities, two adults and three firefighters sustained injuries during the incident.
The conductor of a bus carrying passengers from Tanzania said they could not get to Nairobi in the morning because of roadblocks and were stranded in Kajiado, a town about 75km (46 miles) from the city. Four people have been killed and at least 30 injured in protests linked to Kenya's nationwide transport strikes against recent increases in the cost of fuel, according to the interior minister. People are now stranded and frustrated because transport has been disrupted," he told the BBC.
At least 100 deaths have been reported in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with more than 390 cases suspected, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has told the BBC. More than 28,600 people were infected by Ebola during the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, the largest outbreak of the virus since its discovery in 1976. Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that in the absence of vaccines and effective medicines people should follow public health measures, including the guidance about.
There has also been a case in eastern DR Congo's biggest city, Goma, which has a population of around 850,000 people and is under rebel control. Rwandan authorities have said they are reinforcing their screening for people entering the country after the confirmed case in Goma, which is on its border. An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared a public health emergency of international concern, by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued an investigative subpoena to the NFL regarding the Rooney Rule, which mandates in-person interviews with minority candidates for certain coaching and executive positions. Uthmeier argues that the rule may violate state law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring. The Rooney Rule has been criticized for not significantly increasing minority hiring despite its expansion to include more positions and candidates.