A deranged vagrant who allegedly slashed a worker at a Brooklyn dollar store and then tried to light his victim on fire was cut loose without bail — after just three days at Rikers Island.
As the Department of Justice undergoes a seismic shift under the Trump administration, prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) find themselves at the center of controversy over the prosecution of OneTaste co-founder Nicole Daedone and former sales leader Rachel Cherwitz. The case, which invokes human trafficking laws against meditation instructors, is emerging as a key test of the DOJ’s evolving priorities and its commitment to FBI reform.
DOJ Reform on Collision Course: EDNY’s Netflix ‘Evidence’ and FBI Misconduct Under Scrutiny
Monday, February 24, 2025
As the Department of Justice undergoes a seismic shift under the Trump administration, prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) find themselves at the center of con
Why wait until St. Patrick’s Day to raise a pint when the festivities have already begun? New York City Beer Week is in full swing, running through March 2, bringing a citywide celebration of craft beer to over 40 breweries—including plenty of exciting events in Queens.
This annual showcase of local brewing talent offers beer lovers a chance to sample exclusive releases, enjoy brewery tours, and take part in unique events ranging from trivia nights to beer-pairing dinners. Queens, home to some of the city’s most beloved breweries, is a major player in the festivities, with standout spots like SingleCut Beersmiths, Fifth Hammer Brewing Company, and Alewife Brewing, pouring special selections and hosting lively gatherings.
Beyond the beer, expect games, prizes, and collaborative brews featuring Queens-based favorites. Whether you’re a casual drinker or a die-hard craft beer enthusiast, NYC Beer Week is the perfect excuse to explore the borough’s thriving brewery scene while supporting local businesses.
With just a week left to soak up the fun, now’s the time to plan your brewery visits. Here are some must-attend events happening in Queens and around the city before Beer Week wraps up—
Finback, a Long Island City-based brewery, is hosting a game night at The Local in Forest Hills, a beer bar with delicious burgers, wings, sandwiches, and more. Finback beer will be the star of the evening, but the space has a selection of over 200 cans and bottles and nine craft beers on tap. Some board games will be available, but guests are encouraged to bring their own bar-friendly board games.
A cold glass of beer from The Bier and Cheese Collective.Photo Credit: The Bier and Cheese Collective
Kings County Brewing Company (KCBC), a Brooklyn-based beer company, is partnering up with Astoria’s beloved and delicious Bier and Cheese Collective. The event will feature a beer tasting of their latest IPA, Dynamite Evolution, and a cheese tasting to complement the newest beer they launched.
KCBC is back in Queens with Glen Cove-based brewery Garvies Point for an evening of showing off their best and latest beer in Forest Hills. Stop by and try out their offerings with a friend or go solo and enjoy meeting fellow beer lovers.
One of Finback’s latest IPAs, Daily Catch.Photo Credit: Finback Brewery
Finback is celebrating the launch of its newest IPA, Daily Catch, available for customers to buy all year. Try their latest beer and enjoy an afternoon of playing bingo at this fun and laid-back weekend event.
Rockaway Brewing is a Long Island City-based brewery that’s collaborating with fellow brewery, Beer Run Harlem. The event will feature tastings of the breweries’ latest and best beer for a perfect way to spend a weekday evening with friends.
Switch up your weeknight routine and enjoy a trivia night sponsored by Finback. The night will feature three Finback draft lines, beer specials, and the chance for winning teams to win prizes.
Hawaiian Pizza, IPA from Rockaway Brewing Company.Photo Credit: Rockaway Brewing Company
Get off the Penn Station stop on your way home and visit Beer Table for a tasting of one of Rockaway Brewing’s latest IPA, Hawaiian Pizza. The hazy IPA has flavors of pineapple, reduced plums, and a scent of tomato paste. Give your happy hour a great start at this fun event, which will also feature other beers and IPAs from the LIC-based brewery.
Vacation Zone is a pale ale from Rockaway Brewing Company.Photo Credit: Rockaway Brewing Company
This beer tasting will feature IPAs such as Vacation Zone Pale Ale and more of Rockaway Brewing’s tasty offerings. It is a perfect pre-weekend occasion for beer tasting, meeting new people, and enjoying the company of fellow beer lovers.
About 1,000 union nurses at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn are prepared to go on strike on March 1 unless a deal can be struck before their contract expires at midnight on Feb. 28.
The Federation of Nurses/UFT, which represents the nurses, issued a ten-day strike notice last week in the midst of contentious contract negotiations. The union is demanding an end to “chronic understaffing” and higher wages, and said the hospital has so far been unwilling to meet those demands.
“It is the nurses who are advocating for what patients need — the correct number of nurses, properly trained, with the right equipment,” said Anne Goldman, head of the Federation of Nurses/UFT, in a statement. “That is what we are demanding in our contract. It is time for NYU Langone to put patients before profits.”
NYU Langone-Brooklyn has violated union staffing requirements set by the union contract and by state law thousands of times in the past three years, the group said.
The nurses’ contract ends at midnight on Feb. 28. File photo courtesy of NYU Langone
In December 2023, an independent arbitrator confirmed that the hospital had repeatedly violated nurse-to-patient ratios in its medical-surgical unit, and at least two other short-staffing complaints were being arbitrated at the time.
Yusif Rahman, an RN who has worked in NYU Langone-Brooklyn’s surgical intensive care unit for four years, said the hospital – like the union – knew the contract was set to expire this month, and should have been ready for negotiations.
“There’s no reason why they can’t be prepared to provide competitive salaries and the correct support for our nurses,” he told Brooklyn Paper.
Typically, the 14-bed surgical ICU has seven nurses — a ratio of two patients per nurse, Rahman said.
In the unit, nurses are responsible for helping patients move around, bringing patients to the bathroom, turning them frequently to prevent bed sores, and administering medications, Rahman said.
When the unit is understaffed, they can’t respond to patient calls as quickly, which might mean patients are waiting to be brought to the bathroom or for their pain medications.
NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn is the only hospital in the borough to have received a Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. That makes the alleged mistreatment of nurses even worse, said Rebecca Morogiello, an RN and case manager at the hospital, in a statement.
“That is a huge accomplishment. That is not an accomplishment of NYU, that is an accomplishment of the Federation of Nurses/UFT who work inside that hospital,” Morogiello said. “The support that we offer them is the reason why that magnet designation is there.”
While nurses’ exact salaries are private, Rahman said there is a significant gap between pay offered at NYU Langone-Brooklyn and other hospitals in the area. He lives in Brooklyn, and said paying his living expenses can be challenging on his current salary.
“With many health costs, even something as simple as eggs, everything is inflated, rent has gone up, utilities have gone up, it is absolutely difficult to live with the salary we are provided with,” he said.
Anne Goldman, head of the Federation of Nurses/UFT, spoke to nurses at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Fickies/UFT
Michael Mulgrew, UFT president, said in a statement that NYU-Langone “doesn’t care” about day-to-day operations at the hospital.
“If they did, they wouldn’t be putting patients at risk and burning out nurses with chronic understaffing,” he said. “Peel back NYU’s pretty purple veneer, and the reality is not so pretty. That’s why we are standing with the Federation of Nurses/UFT.”
The strike could be avoided if a contract is agreed upon before midnight on Friday. Since 2023, strikes have been narrowly avoided at several local hospitals, including Maimonides Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
“NYU Langone remains committed to bargaining in good faith and is optimistic that we will reach an agreement that supports our nurses and NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn’s mission to provide exceptional outcomes to all of our patients,” said NYU spokesperson James Iorio, in an email.
Rahman said the prospective strike is stressful, but necessary.
“It is overwhelming, however, we are fighting tremendously hard to get a fair contract for our nurses,” he said. “We do not want to strike, but the option is there and we will use it if we don’t get a fair contract with safe staffing and adequate pay.”
