🌱 Jamaica Man Sentenced For Sex Trafficking + COVID Rates Increase

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Daily. Let's get this Saturday started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things going on in town these days.

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Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. On Thursday, a Jamaica man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sex trafficking a child. According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, 30-year-old Darius “Gotti” Fleming, of 105th Avenue, was charged with forcing a 14-year-old female to have sex with strangers for money. His 10-year sentencing will be followed by five years of post-release supervision. (QNS)
2. Some parts of New York City are seeing COVID positivity rates near or over 30 percent. The Arverne/Broad Channel area came in at number two for COVID spread in the city, with a 29.31 percent seven-day positivity rate, according to the latest city data. The Astoria section of Queens is number three on the list with a positivity rate of 27 percent. Click the link to view NYC's top 10 neighborhoods for COVID spread. (NBC New York)
3. A Little Neck family's cat was forced to be put down after it returned home with an arrow in its chest on Monday afternoon. The owners of Cheese the cat are working with the NYPD to search for the cat’s killer and ensure no other families have to endure a loss such as this. ASPCA plans to partner with the NYPD to conduct an autopsy of the cat to collect additional evidence. (NBC New York)

Today in Queens:

• ArtAccess: Museum Explorers (Ages 8-12) At Queens Museum (11:30 AM)
• New Year Concert, At Flushing Town Hall (2:00 PM)
• Bill Popp & The Tapes At SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery Tap Room (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you know the average New York resident’s average monthly electric bill in 2022 increased by over 10 percent from the previous year? Learn more about where the Empire State stands on power consumption and costs compared to the rest of the country in this new Ownerly data study. (Ownerly)
• Roughly 100 people attended a memorial service in Long Island City Wednesday for Tony Vaccaro, a world-renowned fashion, celebrity, and wartime photographer who died on Dec. 28. (QNS Twitter)
• Join the Queens Public Library and its friends from the Lewis Latimer House Museum at South Jamaica Library on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2:30 p.m. for a kid-friendly, STEAM-themed painting activity! (Queens Public Library)
• The 104th Precinct has announced it will be working with the 83rd Precinct in Bushwick to crack down on the number of strong-armed robberies along the Ridgewood/Bushwick border. (QNS)

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Events:

• High School Information Session (January 9)
• “Game Changers” Film Screening (January 11)
• Live Music - Dueling Pianos with "The Flying Ivories" on the Rooftop at Bourbon Street (January 11)
• Berkeley College Honors Program Information Session (January 18)
• 3K & 4K Pre-k For All Registration Opening Soon!!! (January 20)
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Gigs & services:

• Flawless Paints & plaster (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door. I'll see you soon!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.