Dec. 23, 2024 By Bill Parry QNS is looking back at our top stories throughout 2024 as we look forward to 2025. In terms of crime, the borough was shaken by several high-profile murders, police shootings and drug gang takedowns, many of which shocked the entire city. Here are some of the top 2024…
Category: News
Year in Review: The most popular QNS story from each month of 2024
Dec. 23, 2024 By Shane O’Brien As 2024 turns into 2025, QNS is looking back on its most popular stories from each month of the year. From new store openings to popular new pop-up festivals, a variety of stories have captured our readers’ attention throughout the year. Below, we offer a look at the…
Reps. Gregory Meeks and Pete Sessions introduce bill to support first-time homeowners
Dec. 23, 2024 By Athena Dawson U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, who represents New York’s 5th District, which covers southeast Queens and parts of Nassau County, and U.S. Representative Pete Sessions, who represents Texas’ 17th District, which covers areas including Waco and College Station, have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at alleviating financial burdens for…
Party’s over: Iconic chain Party City to close all stores, including two remaining Queens locations
Dec. 20, 2024 By Emily Davenport and QNS News Team After decades of helping New Yorkers celebrate life’s biggest moments, Party City is throwing its final party—announcing the closure of all its stores, including its last two locations in Queens. On Friday, Dec. 20, CEO Barry Litwin informed corporate employees during a meeting that…
Governor Hochul visits Queens Center Mall, talks cost of living and public safety
Dec. 20, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Governor Kathy Hochul visited Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst on Thursday, engaging with local residents amid their holiday shopping to discuss the rising cost of living in New York and to promote her proposal to deliver Inflation Reduction checks aimed at easing financial burdens for New Yorkers. Hochul,…
Amazon faces largest U.S. strike as Maspeth teamsters join nationwide picket lines Thursday
Dec. 19, 2024 By Bill Parry Hundreds of warehouse workers and drivers walked off the job and joined the picket line outside the massive DBK4 Amazon fulfillment center in Maspeth on Thursday morning as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) launched the largest strike ever against the $2 trillion corporation in New York City,…
Queens bus riders to benefit from increased service as part of MTA upgrades
Dec. 19, 2024 By Barbara Russo Lennon and QNS News Team Queens commuters frustrated with inadequate bus service can look forward to improvements as the MTA plans to enhance service on several key routes next year. Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the upgrades, which will impact 24 bus lines across New York City,…
Evictions spike at NYCHA properties under private partnership program, Comptroller’s audit finds
Dec. 19, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Eviction rates at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties have surged under the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, raising concerns about tenant protections, according to a new audit by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. The PACT program, designed to address decades of underfunding and disrepair in public…
Goodbye MetroCards: MTA Reduced-Fare riders adopt OMNY technology
Dec. 19, 2024 By Athena Dawson Tap-to-pay is here to stay, and the iconic yellow MetroCards will soon be a New York City relic. The MTA announced on Friday, Dec. 13, that tap-and-go fare technology is now available for nearly all of the MTA’s millions of transit riders. OMNY, the MTA’s contactless fare payment…
Legal battle escalates: Forest Hills homeowners group files injunction to stop stadium’s 2025 concert season
Dec. 18, 2024 By Shane O’Brien A Forest Hills homeowners group has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the operators of Forest Hills Stadium due to the “harms caused” by the yearly concert series at the stadium. Forest Hills Garden Corp (FHGC), a homeowners association whose members live by the venue, has…