Crime · New York, NY
Francis Cabello, 32, was arrested and charged with murder after police responded to a 911 call at 95-24 110th St. in South Richmond Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 14, where they found her 5-year-old daughter Fabiana unconscious and bleeding in an upstairs bedroom. The child was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center but was pronounced dead; the mother was taken into custody Thursday night while undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at the same hospital. Her father told reporters she had psychological issues, had been off medication, and spent a month hospitalized before returning home about two months prior. Cabello's arraignment was pending Friday in Queens Criminal Court.
Public Safety · Queens County
Council Member Phil Wong has called for urgent safety improvements at the intersection of 75th Avenue and 60th Lane in Glendale after a 12-year-old boy was hospitalized with serious injuries when struck by a vehicle around 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Wong wrote letters to DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch requesting a comprehensive review of 75th Avenue and an immediate increase in safety resources. The intersection is near PS 68Q, Evergreen Park, and several daycare facilities, and residents say drivers frequently ignore stop signs at 61st Street. This marks the second serious incident near the intersection in 2026; a hit-and-run on March 17 left resident Michael Benham with a broken leg and ligament damage. The DOT said it is exploring safety upgrades at the location and is in touch with the 104th Precinct.
Housing & Development · Queens County
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards held a town hall on Oct. 13 at East Flushing Library for Community District 11 residents concerned about the city's Affordable Housing Fast Track, which takes effect January 2027. The policy, approved by NYC voters in November 2025, streamlines rezoning review to 90 days for eligible affordable housing proposals in 12 designated districts, including Queens CDs 4, 5, 10, 11, and 13. Residents voiced concerns that the process bypasses City Council review, potentially removing local elected officials' ability to reject unpopular projects. Richards noted his office retains concurrent community board and borough president reviews, public hearing authority, and a planning commission appointee, while acknowledging CD11 produced just 883 of 63,870 citywide affordable homes over five years.
Community News · Queens County
Officials announced Wednesday plans for a $34 million Boys & Girls Club community center in Jackson Heights, Queens, funded by the city, state, and federal sources including $10 million from Steve Cohen's Metropolitan Park for land purchase. The facility on 34th Avenue near Paseo and Travers Parks will include Jackson Heights' first public pool, an indoor gym, and an auditorium-style theater, operated by Variety Boys & Girls Club and serving up to 10,000 local children. Councilmember Shekar Krishnan said the $33.8 million allocated so far covers initial construction, but total design, build, and programming costs are estimated at approximately $60 million. No completion timeline has been set; Governor Kathy Hochul allocated an additional $10 million on Wednesday.
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Local Politics · New York, NY
City Council Speaker Julie Menin demonstrated during a Friday hearing that xAI's chatbot Grok produced a sexualized image of her in under 30 seconds using the free version, moments after SpaceXAI senior manager Gabriela Castillo Madrid testified the platform has "strict controls" preventing such content. The hearing marked SpaceXAI's first appearance before the Council after skipping an Oct. 5 AI safety hearing despite a subpoena. Former xAI employee Devin Kim, who is suing the company for retaliation, testified that during his tenure only three employees worked on AI safety while hundreds developed models, and alleged he was fired in September 2025 after raising concerns about bio-risk safeguards. The Council is weighing bills to let elected officials bar AI systems from generating manipulated images of their likeness and to allow lawsuits over foreseeable harms from third-party misuse of AI models.
Crime · Queens County
Steven Jorge, 52, of Beach 54th Street in the Ocean Bay Apartments complex in Queens, was arraigned Oct. 13 on two counts of attempted murder in the second degree after allegedly slashing a 57-year-old woman and her 53-year-old husband with a kitchen knife during an argument inside his apartment around 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. Jorge barricaded himself with his victims until NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers gained entry; one officer discharged a firearm without striking anyone. Both victims were transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable condition, and Judge Indira Khan remanded Jorge without bail. The incident occurred three days after a separate fatal shooting of 14-year-old Malakai Adams in the same complex on Sept. 21, for which a Far Rockaway teen was arraigned Oct. 14.
Community News · Queens County
A $10 million restoration project is underway at the Queens County Farm Museum, located at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy in Glen Oaks. The work includes roof and façade repairs, window and interior upgrades to the historic barn house and garage, a new ADA-accessible ramp, new road and sidewalk, additional greenery, and electrical, plumbing, and fire safety system improvements. The 47-acre site, dating to 1697 and designated an individual landmark in 1976, is the largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland in New York City. Partners on the project include the Department of Design and Construction, NYC Parks, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Historic House Trust of New York City.
Housing & Development · Queens County
The Queens Chamber of Commerce held its 100th annual Building Awards Gala on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in Jamaica, Queens. NYC Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani served as keynote speaker, with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Chamber President/CEO Tom Grech among attendees. The event recognized architects and builders for projects across Queens neighborhoods including Astoria, Long Island City, Bayside, Maspeth, and Jamaica. Honored projects included the Hillside Tower, Link Apartments QPN, Forte Preparatory Academy High School, JFK Airport Terminal 5, and the Northwell Cancer Institute Queens Radiation Center.
Social Events · New York, NY
The Center for the Women of New York (CWNY) is hosting "Witches Among Us: The Treacherous Coven," a 25-minute immersive theatrical walkthrough inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, on Oct. 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. at CWNY Building 207 in Fort Totten Park, Bayside, Queens. Tickets are $10 on Thursdays and $15 on Fridays and Saturdays, with proceeds supporting CWNY's workforce development, education, advocacy, and wellness programs for women and families. The production follows guests through a narrative that begins with fear of accused women and shifts to themes of prejudice, false accusations, and the silencing of women's voices.
