Category: News

NYC ISIS recruiter who tried to flee country sentenced to 19 years in prison: Feds

isis recruiter

Apr. 15, 2025 By Bill Parry An ISIS recruiter who was arrested by federal agents at JFK Airport attempting to flee the country in November 2016 was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison last week. Sinmyah Amera Ceasar, 30, of Brooklyn, also known as “Umm Nutella,” was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court…

Queens Public Library unveils winning banned books library card by Flushing student

Queens Public Library "Freedom to Read" contest with this design for a new banned book library card.

Apr. 15, 2025 By Bill Parry A Flushing illustrator and undergraduate arts student, Sammi Wu, was named the winner of Queens Public Library’s inaugural Banned Books Library Card Design Contest on April 10. The competition invited entrants from across the borough to vie for a $2,000 cash prize and the chance to have their…

New Yorkers invited to join citywide scavenger hunt supporting street vendors

Support local street vendors by participating in the Street Vendor Scavenger Ques

Apr. 14, 2025 By Athena Dawson A local nonprofit has kicked off a citywide scavenger hunt celebrating New York City’s iconic street vendors — and Queens residents are encouraged to join the fun while supporting a good cause. The Street Vendor Scavenger Quest, sponsored by Metro Plus Health, Turnstile Tours, and Culinary Backstreets., invites…

Council passes tree care legislation to clarify pruning and removal procedures

tree care

Apr. 14, 2025 By Athena Dawson Environmentally focused legislation led by Southeast Queens Council Member Nantasha Williams was recently approved by the New York City Council, aiming to make tree care services more transparent and accessible to residents. On Thursday, April 10, the Council passed Intro. 800 and Intro. 978, two bills sponsored by…

Queens’ first ever cat café makes purr-fect landing at Tangram Mall in Flushing

Grayson, one of the rescue cats

Apr. 14, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin Calling all cat lovers in Queens! Kokoro Cat Café, Queens’ first cat café at Tangram Mall in Flushing, located at 133-33 39th Ave, opened its doors last month on Saturday, Mar. 1, to the delight of feline fans across the borough. Enjoy Japanese-inspired beverages at this whimsical café…

Elected officials gather in Jackson Heights to protest over Trump’s FEMA funding cuts

trump

Apr. 14, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Elected officials, community leaders and homeowners gathered in Jackson Heights Friday to condemn the Trump Administration’s decision to cut more than $300 million in federal funding for flood protection and climate resiliency across New York State, including resources to combat flooding in Queens. State Senators Jessica Ramos and John Liu,…

Northwest Queens rental market continues upward trend with higher prices, more listings: report

Northwest Queens continued to see its inventory of listings

Apr. 14, 2025 By Ethan Marshall Northwest Queens experienced a huge boost in its inventory of listings in March 2025 compared to the same month the previous year, according to a report by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Year-over-year, the listing inventory in northwest Queens, which includes the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and…

Queens DA Melinda Katz swears in six new assistant district attorneys

The Spring 2025 class of new assistant district attorneys begins orientation after being sworn in by Queens DA Melinda Katz.

Apr. 11, 2025 By QNS News Team Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the appointment of six new assistant district attorneys who were sworn into office on March 31. The new hires—graduates of top law schools including Columbia, Harvard, and Cornell—have joined the Queens DA’s Office as part of the Spring 2025 incoming class.…

New York Democrats demand meeting with RFK Jr. over Trump health funding cuts

meeting

Apr. 11, 2025 By Shane O’Brien New York’s entire Democratic Congressional delegation has signed a letter requesting a meeting with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing “unprecedented attacks” on the state’s health funding. The effort, led by U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler, comes in response to the Trump Administration’s move to…