WNYC News

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon said he's been reckoning with what he says is a financial mess left by his predecessor, Steven Fulop. According to a report released by the current mayor, Moody's -- the global credit ratings provider -- downgraded the city's credit rating last year for the second time in three years. He joined WNYC host Michael Hill to discuss the report, as well as how snow removal is going, and about immigration agents making arrests in the city in recent weeks.

Former Mayor Steven Fulop, the new head of the business advocacy group Partnership for New York City, also joined the show to respond to the accusations.   

Get creative this Valentine's Day and celebrate your loved one with treats made from beets. From beet ravioli to a beet chocolate cake, the root veggie can (and will) dye everything purple and red. You can even use the scraps for arts and crafts with the kids. 

Amelia Tarpey is a Program and Publicity Manger for GrowNYC Greenmarkets. She says right now at Greenmarkets, beets are going for about $3 to $5 per pound.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate, adding regional balance to Hochul’s bid for a second full term. That and more in this week's Politics Brief roundup. 

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he’s dispatching 20 “warming buses” around New York City, where homeless people can eat sandwiches and escape the elements as the dangerously cold weather continues.

On a recent night at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, the flaws in that plan were laid bare. No one in the terminal — including homeless people, an NYPD officer and terminal employees — knew two warming buses were parked outside.

Young New York public school students are looking for ways to make their schools -- and communities -- more sustainable.  

Lena Goings is a senior at the NYC iSchool, and Ishfika Rana a senior at Brooklyn Technical High School. They recently presented their own climate action plans to school official, local leaders and others students.  

And Kailyn Fox is an Education and Training Manager in the New York City Public School Office of Energy and Sustainability. They joined WNYC host Michael Hill to discuss civic engagement, climate action and 

Today is Groundhog Day! That’s the tradition where a groundhog predicts the arrival of spring based on whether he sees his shadow.

But there’s one town in New Jersey that couldn't celebrate its annual Groundhog Day celebration because they couldn’t get a replacement groundhog. 

That’s because of a strict state regulation that doesn’t allow shipping groundhogs from other states due to rabies concerns. Their local groundhog “Milltown Mel” passed away shortly before Groundhog Day in 2022.

Milltown mayor George Murray joins WNYC's Sean Carlson to talk more about the saga.

February is one of the coldest months of the year. So it's an ideal time to get your stargazing fix by streaming NASA's mission to the moon from the comfort of your home.

Meanwhile, astronomy buffs who are willing to brave the frigid temperatures can catch the "parade of planets," when six planets in the solar system will be visible in the night sky. 

WNYC's Rosemary Misdary joins Weekend Edition host David Furst for this month's astronomy report.

To say New York City has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to live music is an understatement. On any given night, the five boroughs are overflowing with options. The trick can be deciding what to go and see. But music journalist Hank Shteamer is here to help.He's been writing about music for decades, and is now selecting monthly concert highlights for Gothamist. Speaking with Weekend Edition host David Furst, he picks some highlights for February.And check out his full list here.

Early voting is underway in the special election for a key congressional district in suburban New Jersey. This is the primary election for the seat Mikie Sherrill vacated when she was elected governor. The district covers parts of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. Early voting runs through Tuesday, Feb. 3. The primary is on Thursday, Feb. 5. 

While freezing cold weather may have an impact on voter turnout, the race may also offer some clues about the direction of the Democratic party in a midterm election year. WNYC's Mike Hayes joins Weekend Edition host David Furst with the latest. 

A state judge on Friday overturned the double murder conviction of a Queens man who has been in prison for more than three decades, ruling prosecutors improperly withheld key evidence from his 1995 trial.