New York News
New York state prisons will release certain inmates early due to a corrections officer shortage following the firing of over 2,000 guards for striking over poor working conditions.
In a Monday memo, Commissioner Daniel Martuscello directed officials to identify inmates convicted of minor offenses, set for release within 15 to 110 days, for early discharge. Those convicted of serious crimes like murder, terrorism, or sex offenses are ineligible. The decision follows a 22-day illegal strike that disrupted the prison system, prompting National Guard deployment. Governor Kathy Hochul, who barred rehiring the fired guards, supports the plan to safely address staffing gaps. Up to 700 inmates may qualify, with releases supervised by parole.
Under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, violent crime in NYC has dropped sharply in early 2025. Murders fell 35%, from 96 in Q1 2024 to 63 this year, while shootings declined 23%, from 193 incidents to 149. Robberies decreased 18%, from 4,171 to 3,421, and felony assaults dipped 3%. The NYPD credits Tisch’s strategies, including overnight subway patrols and targeting repeat offenders. Grand larceny rose 2%, driven by shoplifting. If sustained, these trends could mark the lowest crime levels since 2016, per a report last week, despite a recent transit crime uptick addressed by 1,000 new officers.
A federal judge dismissed the corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, granting the Trump administration’s Justice Department request. The charges—bribery and fraud tied to over $100,000 in alleged illegal benefits from Turkish nationals—were dropped with prejudice, clearing Adams of jail threats as he campaigns for a second term. Indicted in September 2024, Adams faced claims that hindered his governance, but the DOJ pushed for dismissal to align with federal priorities. He announced plans to run as an independent in November 2025, skipping the June Democratic primary, leveraging his cleared record to retain leadership.
A section of Manetto Hill Road in Plainview, NY, was renamed “Captain Omer Neutra Way” to honor Omer Neutra, a local Israeli-American soldier killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The stretch, between Washington Avenue and Old Country Road near the Mid-Island Y JCC, reflects Neutra’s service as an IDF tank commander, posthumously promoted to captain. His parents, Ronen and Orna, thanked the community for the tribute. Nassau County legislators voted 17-0 for the honor. Neutra, initially thought kidnapped, was confirmed dead in December 2024, with his body still held in Gaza. Over 1,000 attended the renaming ceremony.
Nearly 7,000 Jewish voters in NYC have enrolled as Democrats ahead of the June mayoral primary, driven by rising antisemitism concerns. The Jewish Voters Action Network (JVAN) registered 6,695 new Democratic voters since January—4,130 switched from independent or Republican status, and 2,564 were first-time registrants. JVAN’s campaign aims to influence the Democratic primary in the heavily blue city, countering candidates seen as weak on antisemitism. The surge spans Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform communities, with numbers expected to grow, signaling a unified push for political influence.
The MTA unveiled a redesigned subway map, its first major update since 1979, prioritizing simplicity with bold colors and a focus on subway lines. Designed by Unimark International, it refreshes the 1972 Massimo Vignelli layout, adding modern expansions like the Second Avenue Subway and 7-line extension. The map minimizes street grid details for clarity, highlighting 472 stations across 665 miles of track. It will roll out systemwide over the coming months in stations, trains, and online, with physical copies available by late spring and digital versions accessible now, aiming to ease navigation for 4 million daily riders.
Hundreds gathered in Crown Heights as President Street was co-named “Lubavitcher Rebbe Way” to honor Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The Sunday ceremony, near his longtime home at 1304 President Street, drew Mayor Eric Adams, Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Zellnor Myrie, D.A. Eric Gonzalez, Councilwoman Crystal Hudson, and community leaders like Chief Richie Taylor and Yaakov Behrman. The renaming, proposed decades ago, recognizes Schneerson’s global impact through Chabad-Lubavitch, based at nearby “770.” Street signs now mark the tribute from Kingston to Albany Avenues, celebrating his legacy in Jewish education and outreach.
U.S. NEWS
President Donald Trump introduced a broad tariff policy, setting a 10% baseline on imports from most countries, with higher rates like 54% on China, 24% on Japan, and 20% on the EU. The S&P 500 fell 4.8% to $521.83, its worst drop since June 2020, erasing $5 trillion in value over two days. Global markets followed, with Japan’s Nikkei down 2.7% and Europe’s STOXX 600 off 2.6%. China retaliated with 34% tariffs on U.S. goods, while Canada and Mexico secured a temporary pause after border security pledges. Gold hit a record $2,994 per ounce amid trade war and recession fears, as the policy aims to boost U.S. manufacturing despite economic uncertainty.
Oil prices plummeted, with Brent crude at $65.58 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $61.99, the lowest since 2021. The 10% weekly drop followed OPEC+’s decision to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in May, tripling prior plans, alongside Trump’s new tariffs—10% baseline and 54% on China—escalating trade tensions. U.S. shale production also jumped by 700,000 barrels daily, adding to oversupply. Goldman Sachs and other banks cut 2025 oil price forecasts amid demand concerns, driving a sharp sell-off.
In Florida, Republicans won two special congressional elections, bolstering their slim U.S. House majority. Jimmy Patronis took the 1st District with 57% against Gay Valimont’s 42%, replacing Matt Gaetz, while Randy Fine won the 6th District with 54% over Josh Weil’s 46%, succeeding Michael Waltz. Turnout fell below 200,000 per district from November’s totals, with Democratic margins narrowing Trump’s 2024 wins of 68% and 65% by 10-15 points.
In Wisconsin, liberal Judge Susan Crawford beat conservative Brad Schimel 55%-45% for a Supreme Court seat, preserving the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. The $90 million race saw Elon Musk back Schimel with $25 million. Voters also approved a ballot measure 62%-37%, mandating photo ID for voting in the state constitution, despite Democratic and civil rights opposition. Jill Underly was reelected State Superintendent unopposed.
The Senate passed a 51-48 resolution to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada, a rare bipartisan rebuke hours after his trade announcement. Four Republicans—Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul—joined Democrats to support the measure, ending Trump’s fentanyl trafficking emergency declaration used to justify the tariffs. Though symbolic, as it’s unlikely to pass the Republican-led House, it signals GOP unease with his trade strategy, led by Sen. Tim Kaine.
Trump extended ByteDance’s deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations by 75 days to mid-June, signing an executive order to keep the app running while approvals are secured. This second extension follows a January delay of a 2024 law mandating divestiture or a ban over security concerns. Trump’s new 34% tariff on China disrupted talks, with China withholding sale approval. U.S. firms like Amazon and Oracle have bid, but ByteDance’s intent remains unclear.
Dr. Sharona Nazarian was sworn in as Beverly Hills’ mayor on April 1, the city’s first Iranian Jewish mayor. A neuropsychologist elected to the City Council in 2022, she reflects the Persian Jewish community’s rise, many fleeing Iran after the 1979 Revolution. Born in Tehran and raised in Los Angeles since age 10, Nazarian won the ceremonial role via council vote, succeeding Julian Gold. She aims to boost public safety and tackle housing costs in her one-year term, highlighting the community’s civic integration.
The Trump administration plans to cut over $510 million in federal contracts and grants to Brown University over its handling of campus antisemitism, making it the fifth Ivy League school targeted after Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Penn. The move follows a crackdown on universities accused of tolerating antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests since October 2023. Brown Provost Frank Doyle acknowledged “troubling rumors” but noted no substantiation. The university, reliant on federal research funding, faces operational risks if the halt proceeds.
Jewish musician Mikey Pauker sued Harbin Hot Springs Retreat Center in Middletown, CA, for canceling his 2024 Hanukkah concert after online backlash over his Zionist views. Critics labeled his music as supporting “genocide,” leading to the retreat’s decision, which Pauker claims caused emotional distress and financial losses—$1,500 in merchandise and $50,000 in bookings. Backed by the National Jewish Advocacy Center, the suit alleges civil rights violations under Title II, citing discrimination based on his Jewish identity. The retreat has hosted Israel critics without issue, raising double-standard accusations.
Israel NEWS
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed a strike on Hamas operatives in a UNRWA facility in Jabalia, northern Gaza, used as a command center by the Jabalia Battalion to plan attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. The operation killed four, including a participant in the October 7, 2023, attack. The strike hit a former clinic, with Palestinian reports citing at least eight deaths. The IDF used intelligence and aerial surveillance to minimize civilian risk in the precision strike.
The IDF launched at least 11 airstrikes on Syria’s Hama military airport, heavily damaging runways, hangars, and arms depots, while also hitting the Scientific Research Building in Damascus and the T4 airbase in Homs. Syrian media reported the Hama base’s near-total destruction, aimed at eliminating military capabilities. No immediate casualty figures emerged, but the strikes underscore Israel’s efforts to neutralize threats in Syria.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Oirechman, a 33-year-old Chabad emissary, died Tuesday night in a car crash on Route 2 near Atlit, Israel. Driving a Mazda minivan, he lost control and hit a palm tree, dying at the scene despite rescue efforts. He ran a Chabad house in Kiryat Shmuel near Haifa, leaving his wife, four children—including a 2-month-old son—his father, and siblings. Hundreds attended his funeral Wednesday at Mount Herzl, as police investigate the crash.
Former PM Naftali Bennett registered “Bennett 2026,” signaling a political comeback after three years. Lacking a platform or candidates, the move has sparked speculation of a challenge to PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Polls suggest a Bennett-led party could win up to 27 seats, rivaling Likud. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz welcomed the development, hinting at a potential shift ahead of the 2026 election.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu sued Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats, for defamation, seeking 320,000 shekels ($86,500) over claims Netanyahu profited from security lapses in the Qatargate scandal. The suit demands Golan cease such statements, accusing him of slander for financial gain via fundraising. Golan embraced the case, eager to question Netanyahu in court, intensifying Israel’s political tensions.
WORLD NEWS
Hungary announced its withdrawal from the ICC as PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest, welcomed by PM Viktor Orban. The move, hours after Netanyahu’s arrival, follows an ICC warrant against him for alleged Gaza war crimes. Orban, calling the ICC a “political tool,” began the year-long exit process, aligning with Hungary’s refusal to enforce the warrant. Germany’s Foreign Minister criticized the decision as a setback for justice.
China imposed a 34% tariff on U.S. goods effective April 10, raising the total rate to 50%, retaliating against Trump’s 54% tariff on Chinese imports. The Finance Ministry also restricted rare earth exports and listed 16 U.S. firms for export controls, targeting $148 billion in U.S. exports like soybeans. U.S. stock futures fell sharply amid escalating trade war fears.
Canada will impose a 25% tariff on U.S. vehicles not meeting USMCA origin rules starting April 15, countering Trump’s 10% tariff on Canadian goods. Announced by PM Mark Carney, the move targets vehicles lacking 75% North American content, affecting brands like Tesla and Ford. Canada exports $62 billion in vehicles to the U.S. annually, and non-compliance could disrupt $2.5 trillion in regional trade.
