🌱 West Nile Virus Spreads In NYC + NYC Scraps In-School COVID Tests

Good morning New York City! Here's what's going on:

• 🦠 The West Nile virus has been detected in a record number of mosquitoes in NYC this season.
• 📚 Public schools have updated their guidelines and won't be regularly testing students for COVID this fall.
• 🐴 Advocates and a Queens politician are pushing for an end to horse-drawn carriages in Central Park after a horse collapsed last week.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with a stray shower. High: 80 Low: 65.

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Here are the top five stories in New York City today:

1. As if there weren't enough diseases to worry about already, West Nile virus has reached its highest levels ever in NYC's mosquitoes, with two people already infected this year. The virus, which causes headache, fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue, typically peaks in August and September, and is expected to become more prevalent due to climate change. (New York City Patch)
2. New York City public school students will no longer be regularly tested for COVID-19 or submitted to daily health screenings, per the most recent COVID guidelines released by the Department of Education. Staff, employees, and visitors are still required to be vaccinated. (New York City Patch)
3. Animal rights advocates and a Queens lawmaker are demanding that criminal charges be brought against a horse carriage driver for animal abuse after his horse, Ryder, collapsed on a city street in a viral video last week. Councilman Robert Holden is also pushing for a City Council bill that would ban outright horse-drawn carriages from Central Park. (QNS)
4. Nearly one year after thousands of New Yorkers experienced devastating flooding in Hurricane Ida last September, the Comptroller's office rejected every single financial damage claim brought against New York City, sighting a ruling from over 100 years ago that states the city isn't liable for damage caused by "extraordinary and excessive rainfalls." (THE CITY)
5. Speaking of extreme weather events, the City Council held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss solutions to new infrastructure needs that are becoming more common – notably sinkholes, like the massive one that formed in Morris Park last month. (Gothamist)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• Essen Health Care Bronx Block Party for Health (noon)
• Brooklyn Shakespeare Festival: Romeo + Juliet (6 p.m.)
• South Street Seaport dance night (7 p.m.)
• How to Be Authentic Panel with Skye C. Cleary at The Strand (7 p.m.)
• MoMA Presents Outdoor Screening of Films from the Flaherty (8 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• Federal prosecutors have unveiled a massive mob takedown that includes nine Genovese and Bonanno crime family members and associates, who allegedly ran a network of illegal gambling parlors across Queens and Long Island–with the help of a corrupt cop. (New York City Patch)
• A man was killed in Bed-Stuy on Saturday night after a tree branch fell on his head from 40 feet above, according to the NY Daily News. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• A new law signed by NY Governor Kathy Hochul requires toy guns and gun replicas not to be "black, blue, silver or aluminum-colored," in an effort to distinguish them from the 'real thing.' (New York Post)
• The reign of cronuts in the NYC baked goods TikTok world may be nearing a close. The next fad: the Suprême, a "unique circular croissant filled with pastry crème and topped with ganache and crushed up cookies." (New York Post)
• Here's where you can find the latest data on the spread of monkeypox in New York. The health department is identifying around 60-70 new ones each day. (Gothamist)
• Today's the last day to visit the 9/11 Tribute Museum in Lower Manhattan, which is closing its doors for good, with most of its collection moving to the New York State Museum in Albany. (NBC New York)
• The New York Comedy Festival is back on November 7, with a star-studded lineup including John Mulaney, Tracy Morgan, Conan O'Brien and more. (New York City Patch)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Dashiell Allen

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming New York City Daily? Contact me at patchnyc@patch.com