Politics

Daycare Operator Grei Mendez Gets 45 Years for her Part in Fentanyl-Related Death of Nicholas Dominici

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Grei Mendez, 37, the operator of El Divino Niño Daycare Center in Kingsbridge Heights where one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici died on Sept. 15, 2023 from fentanyl poisoning, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl out of the daycare center. The undercover drug operation resulted in the unintentional death of Nicholas, and the poisoning of three other infants who survived being unintentionally poisoned. As reported, Mendez had pleaded guilty in Oct. 29, 2024 in relation to her part in the operation before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed sentence.  

NYS Launches Language Dashboard to Visualize Languages Spoken by New Yorkers Other than English

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy announced Feb. 18 the launch of the New York State Language Dashboard by the New York State Office of Language Access (OLA), which is part of general services. She said the dashboard seeks to provide a point of reference for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the population of New Yorkers whose primary language is not English or who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and inform data-driven decisions around language access that can eliminate communication-related obstacles.

Op-Ed: The Impact of DOGE on Catholic Relief Services

By LOIS HARR
The Catholic News Agency reported on Jan. 31 that U.S. bishops have asked Catholics to reach out to their members of Congress and request the resumption of foreign aid programs following the Trump-Vance administration’s decision to temporarily pause funding for many programs, including those provided by Catholic Relief Services, pending review.

UPDATE Trump Administration Layoffs on Advice of DOGE Worry Bronx Vets

By DAVID GREENE
Hours after rumors circulated on social media on Feb. 13 that members of the new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by unelected billionaire Elon Musk, a special federal government employee, would visit the Bronx VA Medical Center in Fordham Manor on Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the dismissal of 1,000 employees at unspecified VA sites across the country. 

UPDATE Poultry Markets Reopen & Zoo Tackles Bird Flu

By DAVID GREENE
Live poultry markets in New York are back open after a five-day closure was implemented by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Feb. 7, after the avian flu/bird flu or H5N1 virus was discovered in bird flocks at seven live bird markets in The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. Officials said the ordered closures were mandated for testing, cleaning and disinfection of poultry markets in New York City, Westchester and Long Island.