News without the noise · New York Edition
Friday, September 18, 2026 · 15 stories
The New York City watchdog has initiated an investigation into the knowledge of past mayors regarding air quality in Lower Manhattan following the September 11 attacks. This comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani disclosed approximately 170,000 documents related to the air conditions around Ground Zero, where residents were assured the air was safe shortly after the attacks.
NYU Langone has reached a settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to pay $8.5 million to cease providing gender-affirming care for minors. This settlement mirrors a similar monetary penalty imposed on Mount Sinai earlier this month.
NYU Langone Health has agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a federal investigation regarding its gender-transition treatments for adolescents. This decision follows scrutiny from the Justice Department over the hospital's practices in providing care for transgender youth.
A suspect has been arraigned in connection with a fatal machete attack in Uniondale, Long Island. Jorge Alexander Huezo Villatoro, 35, allegedly attacked 40-year-old Tadeo Alvarado-Chavez following a bar fight, striking him multiple times with a machete. Villatoro, who pleaded not guilty, faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life if convicted.
An art class in Upper Manhattan, part of Columbia University's 'Arts and Minds' program, is designed for individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia, fostering creativity and community. The initiative, started in 2010, aims to provide positive emotional and cognitive experiences, particularly reaching out to Black and Hispanic communities where these conditions are more prevalent. Participants engage in discussions about art, helping them feel connected and valued.
A federal judge has ruled that President Trump must provide a 30-day notice before demolishing the Kennedy Center. Additionally, there are ongoing lawsuits aimed at preventing armed federal officers from being present at polling sites.
A car-bomb attack on a mosque in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has resulted in at least 21 fatalities and over 100 injuries. The attack occurred during Friday prayers, with a vehicle loaded with explosives ramming into the mosque at approximately 1:15 PM local time. Officials suspect a faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was responsible, and at least six attackers were killed in the ensuing violence.
A British woman, Nurat Osman, was rescued by police in Malawi after being kidnapped outside her home. During the rescue operation, four of her alleged abductors were killed. Osman was reported to be safe and not severely shaken by the incident, according to her brother.
The holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial expressed certainty about her criminal responsibility for the deaths of her three children, stating he believed the evidence indicated she planned the killings. The jury, which deliberated for nearly 40 hours, ultimately could not reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial declared on September 4. Clancy's defense argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors maintained the killings were intentional.
Both the New York Jets and the New York Giants have started their seasons with wins, marking the first time since 2009 that both teams are 1-0 at this point in the season.