🌱 Groper On The M Train + LGA New Terminal B + Marshalls Theft

Happy Friday, people of Queens! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy with a little snow. High: 34 Low: 20.

Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. A shoplifter was arrested on Wednesday after he was caught on video putting up a fight with NYPD officers in a Rego Park store. The suspect, 45-year-old Franklin Nunez, was charged with assault on a police officer and possession of burglar tools after a caught-on-video scuffle with cops at a Rego Park Marshalls store. Nunez has 15 prior arrests on charges of burglary, drug possession, and grand larceny, and had an outstanding arrest for grand larceny. (New York Post)
2. The new Terminal B at the LaGuardia Airport was unveiled on Thursday by Governor Kathy Hochul. The new terminal features 35 gates, a new 3,000 car parking garage, a sky bridge, and 50 new retail spaces. According to Hochul, the "$4 billion project will help provide a brand new passenger experience for everyone traveling through Terminal B, easing connections, and creating lasting impressions." (WABC-TV)
3. A man groped a 14-year-old female on the M train in Astoria. On Wednesday morning, an alleged groper — who was sitting beside the victim — touched her thigh and buttocks over her clothing at around 8 a.m. while she was headed toward Forest Hills on the train. The girl got off at the Steinway Street station, where she was followed by the man, and fled to safety while the suspect got away on foot. (Astoria Post)

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Today in Queens:

• Remembering Betty White, At Rego Park Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• Craig Greenberg Live Concert, At Culture Lab LIC (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Queens Chamber of Commerce wants to thank the new SBS Commissioner Kevin Kim, District 23 council member Linda Lee, and District 27 council member Nantasha Williams for joining them on a business walk in Jamaica! (Facebook)
• Get to know Evie Hantzopoulos, the Queens Botanical Garden's new executive director. A lifelong educator, a parent, and a community organizer, Hantzopoulos is deeply committed to building a just and equitable world. (Facebook)
• Due to inclement weather, the performance of “On Violence” by Julian Louis Phillips previously scheduled for Jan. 29th at the Queens Museum has been postponed. This event will now take place on Feb. 12th from 4-5 pm. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.