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Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that an additional 250 members of the New York National Guard will join the hundreds of soldiers and police already patrolling the city’s subway system. The announcement came as Hochul highlighted a 10% drop in subway crime since March. The state initially deployed 750 members of the National Guard in March following a string of high-profile subway crimes. Alongside state and MTA police officers, the National Guard has been monitoring subway stations and performing random bag checks on commuters. This marks the largest military presence in the city’s subway system since the aftermath of 9/11. Head to our link in bio to read more from reporter Giulia Heyward Photo credit: Eduardo MunozAlvarez/VIEWpress via Getty Images

National retailers are still struggling to keep their brick-and-mortar locations afloat in New York City as residents continue to shop online rather than splurge in person, according to a new report. The number of chain stores across the five boroughs decreased over the past year — the fifth time there’s been a net decrease in the past seven years — the report from the Center for an Urban Future found. The findings continue a yearslong trend, according to the organization, which has been tracking retail data in its annual State of Chains report since 2008. Many national retailers still have fewer locations in the city than they did before the pandemic. Head to our link in bio for more from reporter Giulia Heyward Photo credit: Christina Horsten/picture alliance via Getty Images

In our latest On The Way newsletter, Scott from Brooklyn wants to know why the Manhattan Bridge — one of the city's most photogenic landmarks — doesn't have a uniform color. "What’s up with the two-toned Manhattan Bridge?" Scott asks. "The top half of the bridge is a pale blue; The bottom half is a darker blue. It appears as though they got half finished painting it and just said 'screw it,' which is what I thought was the case, but it’s been like that for a very long time. Why?" Scott has a good eye — but the bridge's two toned color scheme isn't by choice. Head to our link in bio for the answer to his question, then submit your own inquiry about NYC's transit system. Photo credit: Antonel / Getty Images

New York City’s libraries have released their most popular books of the year. It's the first time that the separate systems — New York Public Library (which has 92 locations in the Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan), Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library — have combined their data and jointly announced their top checkouts as a single list. @NYPL Chief Librarian Brian Bannon says he noticed a number of differences in genre preference by borough while scanning the lists. Another notable trend: The citywide list's lack of self-help and memoir titles, despite the genres being generally “among the top sold books nationally,” Bannon said, adding “New York City has its own unique taste.” Head to our link in bio for the full lists, both citywide and by borough. Reporting by Hannah Frishberg Photo credit: Getty Images

A Manhattan grand jury has indicted Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of shooting and killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown hotel earlier this month, on terrorism charges, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said on Tuesday. Mangione faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Some of the murder charges accuse Mangione of killing Thompson in furtherance of an act of terrorism, according to the indictment. Head to our link in bio for updates on this developing story. Photo credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

As Mayor Eric Adams faced announcements Monday that his campaign hadn’t qualified for matching funds and his close friend and adviser would likely be indicted, President-elect Donald Trump offered him more promising news: He would consider pardoning Adams, advancing the possibility that the Republican incoming president would help a Democratic mayor who he sees as similarly politically targeted. “I think that he was treated pretty unfairly,” Trump said at his first post-election press conference. Trump said he did not know all the facts of the case, but said about the pardon, “I would certainly look at it.” A possible alliance between Trump and Adams has become a hot topic in New York City political circles as Adams has expressed a growing political simpatico with Trump on issues of public safety, immigration and their hostility toward the press. Head to our link in bio for more from reporter Elizabeth Kim Photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

61-year-old Rex Heuermann, the Long Island man accused of killing multiple women near Gilgo Beach, has been charged in the murder of a seventh victim, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed on Tuesday in Suffolk County. The remains of Valerie Mack, who prosecutors say was 24 when she died, were identified in 2020 through DNA evidence, the indictment states. Her remains were found in two separate locations in Suffolk County in 2000 and 2011, respectively. Heuermann has already faced murder charges in the deaths of six other women whose remains were found within miles of each other. After decades without a break in the case, police and prosecutors finally had enough evidence to charge Heuermann in a bombshell indictment issued the summer of 2023. Head to our link in bio for more details and updates on this developing story. Photo credit: James Carbone-Pool / Getty Images

The Real Estate Board of New York, the powerful lobbying group representing New York City’s real estate industry, is suing to block a new law intended to free tenants from paying large upfront broker fees to agents they never hired to represent them. The court challenge includes a provision that would halt implementation of the law and preserve a status quo that, advocates of the law say, saddles many tenants with upfront costs to agents, usually based on percentages of their annual rents. In New York City, unlike nearly every part of the country, tenants are typically compelled to pay fees to a brokers who list apartments on behalf of landlords. A bill approved by the City Council with a veto-proof majority overhauls that dynamic by requiring whoever hires a broker — usually the property owner or manager — to pay the fee. The bill automatically became law after Mayor Eric Adams declined to sign or veto it by Friday. Head to our link in bio for more from reporter David Brand. Photo credit: Getty Images

Daniel Penny, who last week was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely last year, says he wants to resume a normal life now that the closely watched criminal trial has concluded. Through his lawyer and in a television appearance after the verdict, he said he plans to go back to school, become an architect and even resume riding the New York City subway. But like many defendants who are acquitted after high-profile and divisive cases, a sense of normalcy may be hard-won for the 26-year-old former Marine. Gothamist spoke to high-profile defendants, their lawyers and media experts who agreed that Penny’s case is likely to follow him for years, and his public reputation may long overshadow his private life. Read more from reporter Charles Lane at our link in bio. Photo credits: John Lamparski/Getty Images and Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

While reports of drone sightings in New York City are up, the actual number of drones flying above the city has remained steady, according to the NYPD. Since mid-November, a spate of mystery drone sighting reports — largely in New Jersey, but now in several other states as well — has fueled online conspiracy theories and speculation. Some lawmakers have been pushing the federal government to explain the sightings — some of which officials have confirmed were near military facilities and near Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. The FBI, the federal Homeland Security Department and local agencies are reportedly investigating. But Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said Monday that news stories and social media posts may have led New Yorkers to be more vigilant than usual, causing a spike in reporting in the city. Many of the sightings have turned out not to be drones at all, she said. Read more from reporter Catalina Gonella at our link in bio.

The MTA plans to order dozens more “open gangway” subway cars and redeploy some of the airy cars the agency already owns to the G line, transit officials announced Monday. The modern cars do not have doors between them, offering riders roomier commutes as they can walk freely throughout their trains. The MTA last year received its initial purchase of 20 of the cars — enough for two 10-car trains — and rolled them out on the C line. On Wednesday, the agency’s board is set to approve the purchase of 80 more of the open gangway models as part of a larger $1.3 billion order of 435 new train cars that are scheduled to be delivered by 2028, officials said. Read more from reporter Stephen Nessen at our link in bio. Photo credits: Marc A. Hermann / MTA

Stroll into Bryant Park and you’ll see sparkling lights, figure skaters and cups of chocolate strawberries going for nearly $30 a pop. “They said the wait’s 45 minutes,” one passerby said while gazing longingly at Strawberro, a food stand promising the “perfect cup” of strawberries doused with Belgian chocolate. To some tourists, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, as it is officially known, is a winter wonderland beloved by locals and tourists alike for its twinkling lights, charming decorations and creative food stands. But some New Yorkers say they’re iced out by crowds and prices. In fact, a flurry of them are going viral for their hot takes. Read more about the debate from reporter Kenneal Patterson at our link in bio. Photo credits: Jon Hicks / Getty Images and Kenneal Patterson