New York City Archives

NYC mayoral candidate Brad Lander arrested at immigration court

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander has been arrested by federal agents at an immigration court after he linked arms with a person who authorities were attempting to detain. A reporter with The Associated Press witnessed Lander’s arrest on Tuesday. The immigrant Lander escorted out of the courtroom was also arrested. Lander was released from custody after a few hours after spending the morning observing immigration court hearings. He told an AP reporter that he was there to “accompany” some immigrants out of the building. The episode occurred as federal immigration officials are conducting large-scale arrests outside immigration courtrooms across the country.… Continue Reading

Times Square ball takes final test for New Year’s Eve

NEW YORK (AP) — The crystal-covered ball that descends down a pole in Times Square to ring in the new year was taken for a test run, as New York City officials laid out their plans for the iconic New Year’s Eve event. Officials flipped a switch to light up the the dazzling geodesic sphere — weighing almost 6 tons and featuring 2,688 crystal triangles — which then successfully ran up and down a 139-foot pole atop the One Times Square skyscraper. Monday’s rehearsal was just one of many pre-ball drop promotional even… Continue Reading

Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials believe the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, the chief of detectives told CNN on Friday. The police commissioner said investigators believe he left New York City. The gunman made sure to conceal his identity with a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras. The reason for the killing remains unknown.… Continue Reading

Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had ‘Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’ written on it, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — A law enforcement official says a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference.… Continue Reading

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lights up in New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — Fifty-thousand multi-colored lights are shining on Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree, with crowds gathering to witness the annual New York City tradition. The giant Norway spruce, which this year hails from a tiny Massachusetts town, is also topped with a Swarovski star crown featuring 3 million crystals. The annual ceremony, held Wednesday night, came hours after a gunman killed the CEO of United Healthcare about five blocks away. Security was tight at the tree-lighting ceremony and on the subway. The 74-foot-high tree was cut down last month in West Stockbridge and trucked to Center Plaza last month. It was originally spotted by the Rockefeller Center’s head gardener in 2020. Now lighted, it will be on display until mid-January.… Continue Reading

Haul out the holly! Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrives in New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in New York City, signaling the start of the holiday season in the Big Apple. The 74-foot Norway spruce was driven into Manhattan’s Center Plaza and hoisted in place by a crane. It will take 5 miles of light strands with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED bulbs to wrap the tree. A Swarovski star crown sparkling with 3 million crystals will top it. The towering conifer was donated by a family in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It was cut down Thursday morning and loaded onto a flatbed truck for the 140-mile trip. The lighting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 4.… Continue Reading

NYC Mayor Eric Adams says he doesn’t plan to resign despite federal corruption case against him

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he’s “not surprised” by the federal corruption charges he faces and that he doesn’t plan to resign. He told reporters Thursday that, “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city.” Adams was indicted on charges alleging that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city.FBI agents seized Adams’ phone early Thursday, hours before the indictment was made public.… Continue Reading

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges that are still sealed. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Adams said after the indictment that he would not resign. The indictment Wednesday night marks a stunning turn for Adams, a Democrat who won election nearly three years ago to become the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city. For much of the last year, Adams has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations into top advisers producing a drumbeat of subpoenas, searches and high-level departures.… Continue Reading