Politics

Bronx Man Indicted for Packaging Fentanyl in Inwood: Deadly Drug Mixtures Seized

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Federal officials said a Bronx man, Narcisco Negrum, 45, and a second man, Jose Castillo, 44, from Manhattan, have been charged with various offenses following what they said was a long-term investigation into fentanyl/heroin packaging and distribution in New York City. A third man, Jose Lopez Paulino, 42, of Bridgeport, CT, had also been charged with related offenses by The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP).

Salamanca Secures Spot on Democratic Ballot for Election as Bronx BP

By SÍLE MOLONEY
City Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. (C.D. 17) announced on Wednesday, April 2, that he has submitted over 11,000 petition signatures to NYC Board of Elections to officially qualify for the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary race for Bronx borough president which takes place in June 2025.

UPDATE Court Extends Temporary Stop on State Homecare Program Transition as Advocates Hold Rally

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Advocates for older and disabled New Yorkers and their caregivers reacted on Friday, April 4, to a same day federal court ruling which has extended a temporary halt to a controversial, 3-month transition by NYS Department of Health (DOH) of its home care program to a new single, statewide financial intermediary (FI), in place of around 600 individual FIs. The deadline by which program participants (consumers and workers) were due to transition to the new FI was April 1, with the transition having started in early January, but there is at least some evidence that suggests it was not going as smoothly as anticipated.   

Op-Ed: Why I Oppose Gov. Hochul’s Proposed Mask Restrictions

By J. GOODMAN
Regarding Gov. Hochul’s proposed mask ban, which she seeks to bundle into New York’s upcoming state budget (due to be finalized by March 31), I oppose the ban. As a disabled Jewish woman who engages in activism, I find the possible codification of this measure to be a horrific violation of human and civil rights, in multiple ways:

Norwood Man Charged with Harassment over Threatening Texts

By DAVID GREENE
Police in Norwood have arrested a man after he allegedly sent threatening texts to a woman. A police spokesperson told Norwood News, “It was reported to police that on March 16, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m., an individual sent threatening messages to a 40-year-old female in the vicinity of Dekalb Avenue and East 212 Street.” The source added that no injuries were reported.   

NYS Assembly Passes Legislation to Restrict the Use of Harmful Chemicals in Menstrual Products

By SÍLE MOLONEY
NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (A.D. 83) and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal (A.D. 67) announced on Thursday, March 27, the passage of a new law (A.1502, Rosenthal) earlier this week that makes menstrual products safer by restricting the inclusion of certain chemicals like lead, mercury and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), among others, in their production.