New York news · 31 October 2026
Bronx E-Bike Battery Fire Death Toll Rises to Four
A lithium-ion battery fire in a Mott Haven apartment building has now killed four people, including an 11-year-old boy and two teenagers. The blaze, ignited by an e-scooter stored near the front door, trapped the family on the 11th floor.
Woman Critically Stabbed in Neck While Jogging in Brooklyn
A 28-year-old woman was found with a critical stab wound to her neck after a late-night jog in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, on Halloween. Her family discovered her unresponsive in the grass after she failed to meet them.
Hochul Makes Final Campaign Push Ahead of Tuesday's Governor's Race
Governor Kathy Hochul spent Friday morning canvassing voters at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal, making her closing case on affordability as she campaigns for a second full term ahead of Tuesday's election.
53rd Village Halloween Parade Returns to NYC Saturday
Thousands are expected to line the streets of downtown Manhattan on Saturday night for the 53rd annual Village Halloween Parade, themed "Body and Soul" and featuring the beloved "Thriller" zombie dance.
NYPD Releases New Photos in Central Park Knifepoint Rape Investigation
Police released new images Monday night of the suspect wanted in the knifepoint rape of a 39-year-old woman in Central Park, as the NYPD noted the park has recorded five rapes so far in 2026 — up from three in the same period last year.
Bronx Community Mourns 15-Year-Old Javits Frimpong, Shot Walking to School
Friends, neighbours, and classmates gathered to mourn Javits Frimpong, 15, fatally shot near East 171st Street in the Bronx while walking to school on Thursday. His father believes school bullying may have motivated the attack; three teenage suspects remain at large.
Body Found Inside Trash Bag in Canarsie, Brooklyn
A scrap metal collector made the grim discovery of a man's body sealed inside a black garbage bag on a street in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on Thursday morning. Surveillance footage captured two men removing the bag from a car trunk hours earlier.
Family Demands Accountability After Sanitation Truck Kills Pedestrian on Bay Parkway
The family of Siobhan Lynch, 30, killed by a DSNY sanitation truck while crossing Bay Parkway in Bath Beach last Wednesday, visited the crash site Friday demanding driver accountability, as safety advocates noted at least 30 people have been killed or seriously hurt on that stretch since 2021.
NYC Marathon Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Its Five-Borough Course
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, taking place Sunday November 1, marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic five-borough route, with more than 60,000 runners registered including an 80-year-old Bronx first-timer and two ABC7 anchors.
Upper West Side Outrage as Construction Destroys Rare Barn Owl Nest
Workers demolishing a water tower at a building on West 75th Street disturbed a rare barn owl family that had nested there since May, sparking public outrage and prompting state environmental officials to order a halt to the work.
2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Selected: A 76-Foot Norway Spruce
A 76-foot, 11-ton Norway spruce from West Edmeston, New York, has been chosen as this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, with its lighting ceremony set for December 2.
At 80, Mildred Baker Is Running Her First NYC Marathon
Mildred Baker, 80, is lining up on November 1 for her first TCS New York City Marathon — just three years after she began running through the NYRR Striders programme for older adults.
NYC Has 335 Underenrolled Schools — Will Mayor Mamdani Tackle the Crisis?
A Chalkbeat analysis finds the number of New York City schools with fewer than 250 students has grown eightfold in 25 years, to 335, with the city spending a cumulative total of almost $2 billion on budget protections for shrinking schools. Mayor Mamdani and Chancellor Samuels are piloting community-driven consolidation in five districts but have set no citywide timeline.
Sunny and Dry All Weekend: Perfect Weather for Halloween and the NYC Marathon
New York City's 14-day rain-free streak extends through Halloween and Marathon Sunday, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50s Saturday and low 60s Sunday — ideal conditions for trick-or-treaters and marathon runners alike.
NYC Reveals Special 'I Voted' Sticker Designs for Halloween Election Weekend
New York City is offering voters a set of thematic stickers this election weekend, including a pigeon in a witch's hat for Halloween and a marathon-themed design — a playful tradition that has drawn renewed buzz ahead of the high-turnout 2026 midterms.