- NYPD Says Assaults on Police Haven’t Dropped Like Other Crimes: Crime fell across the board in February according to the NYPD, but not assaults against cops. While major crimes dropped 5.6%, felony assaults rose (as did grand larcenies of autos). NYPD chief of crime control strategies Michael Lipetri said “The felony assaults were driven by assaults on police officers who were conducting enforcement.” He added that “The enforcement that we’re focused on is the calls we’re receiving from the community, mostly consumption of alcohol, disorderly groups and public urination.”
- Drug Resistant Stomach Infection Being Monitored: A rise in the profoundly drug-resistant Shigella infections has state health officials concern. Shigella can cause intense bouts of inflammatory diarrhea and the bacteria spreads very easily. The Center for Disease Control calls it a “serious public health threat” and has urged providers in New York to report cases. There hasn’t been a case of Shigella (also known as shigellosis) for a year in New York, but officials say they’re monitoring the situation. The disease has risen nationally since 2016.
- NYC Rent Drops For Fifth Consecutive Month: The Big Apple is still the most expensive US city to live in, but the price is falling. A Zumper national rent report says “one- and two-bedroom rentals decreased 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively.” $3,550 was the price tag of a one-bedroom apartment in February, $4,000 for a two-bedroom. Rent in New York became the nation’s priciest in 2021 and peaked at around $5,000 for an apartment this previous summer before dwindling down since.
- Ex-Chief Economist: NJ Not Immune From Effects of Recession: According to his analysis via Rowan University’s Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy, former NJ chief economist Charles Steindel says that the Garden State would not be immune to a national recession. Despite pointing to a strong economy in the state, he says that late mortgage payments and lagging tourism and logistics sectors are vulnerabilities. The US has a 70 percent chance of entering a recession in 2023 according to a December Bloomberg poll of 38 economists.
- Connecticut’s Rat Population On The Rise: In what is seen as an unintended effect of the pandemic, pest control experts say there has been a sharp uptick in Connecticut’s rat population. Rats left the shut-down cities for the suburbs due to a need for food, and they have since boosted their numbers by reproducing. At the Green Pest Control facility in Simsbury, rodent calls spiked least 25% during the late pandemic and the numbers are still climbing. Residents have been told to look for chewed holes and holes in the ground as signs of rats.
- NBA: Knicks Stay Hot, Beat Heat In Wild Finish: With just seconds remaining, Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle nailed a game-winning three to give New York a thrilling 122-120 win over the Heat in Miami last night. Behind that shot and his 43-point performance, the Knicks won their eighth straight contest as they continue their rise in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re currently the fifth seed, one game out of fourth.
- NBA: Nets Defeat Celtics In Season’s Largest Comeback: Being down 28 points didn’t demoralize the Brooklyn Nets, as they mounted the biggest comeback of the season to date to defeat the Celtics in Boston 115-110. Newly-acquired wing Mikal Bridges had 38 points to help the Nets snap a four-game skid. Since trading Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Brooklyn has been in a bit of a tailspin, but they remain as the sixth seed in the East and are likely to be competing for a playoff spot.
- NHL: Devils Fall To Golden Knights In SO: In a game that went to the skills competition, the Golden Knights bested the New Jersey Devils in Vegas 4-3. Shea Theodore sealed the win for the Golden Knights, while Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt and Miles Wood scored goals for New Jersey. The Devils still remain comfortably in second place in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the Rangers and Islanders.
