Rikers Bail Bypass+Former NYC Schools Exec Charged • Daily Digest

Good morning, New York! It's Thursday, Sept. 30. There's news out of Manhattan, as District Attorney Cy Vance has issued a directive to no longer require bail waivers for certain nonviolent offenses at Rikers Island. See all the details below.

Today's weather: Fall is in the air! It'll be partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 64 Low: 54.

Here are the top stories in New York City today:

1. Manhattan DA Cy Vance has directed prosecutors not to require bail in some nonviolent criminal cases. The move comes as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC mayor Bill de Blasio join forces to ease the "humanitarian crisis" at Rikers Island. (New York City Patch)
2. A former city schools executive has been charged with illegally funneling public funds into his own pocket, court records show. (New York City Patch)
3. Making good on a plan launched last year, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio now says Columbia University will run the city's new Pandemic Response Institute. (New York City Patch)
4. We have a new top doc: NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has appointed Mary T. Bassett as the New York Commissioner of the Department of Public Health. (New York City Patch)
5. Picture this heist: Intruders duct-taped two victims and stole a clutch of pricey jewels in a NYC home invasion. (New York Post )
6. Check it out: The beat lives on at The Village Trip musical showcase. (AMNY)

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— Kevin Phinney

About me: Kevin Phinney has lived and worked as a writer and editor in Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle and New York City. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in El Paso. Phinney attended college in Austin. He has done television work as a reporter and commentator, and is a former host of a weekday drive-time radio show called "Kevin & Kevin in the Morning" on KGSR-FM (now known as Austin City Limits Radio). He is also the author of "Souled American, " a book tracking race relations in America through music. It was published by BILLBOARD Books, and is often used in college classrooms across the country.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming New York City Daily? Reach out anytime to kevin.phinney@patch.com.