🌱 Queens Officials React + Bookkeeper Accused Of Stealing Millions

Hello, people of Queens! Miranda Fraraccio here with a brand-new copy of the Queens Daily.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy, a couple of showers. High: 67 Low: 55.

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Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. Queens advocates, officials, and lawmakers reacted to the leaked Roe v Wade draft ruling, mainly saying the decision would deny women their fundamental right to choose. The ruling would put abortion rights on the docket of state legislatures rather than federal courts. Currently, the right to have an abortion is protected by New York state law; however, Queens leaders see the draft decision as a "step backward" for the entirety of the United States. (LIC Post)
2. A bookkeeper has been accused of stealing over $3 million from NYC jewelry company Julie Vos. Francisco Lopez, 36, of Bayside faces grand larceny charges and criminal stolen property charges. According to court documents, from 2014 to 2021, Lopez racked up millions of dollars in money transfers from Julie Vos's business accounts to his own personal bank account and credit cards. Lopez has pleaded not guilty and his bail has been set at $500,000 cash. (Patch)
3. A Queens senior citizen died Monday from her injuries after being hit by a driver on Northern Boulevard a couple of weeks ago. According to the NYPD, on Apr. 23, 89-year-old Yuitmay Szeto crossed 48th Street just south of Northern Boulevard at around 2:40 p.m. when the driver of a 2018 Dodge Durango, who was exiting a parking lot, hit her. The driver of the vehicle who hit Szeto has not been charged, police said. (Streetsblog)

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Today in Queens:

• Free Admission Wednesday - Queens County Farm Museum (All Day)
• Thumbs Up Comedy - Q.E.D (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Yum Actually, the nutritious, better-for-you ice cream, is now available in more New York Metro locations. Click to find a D'Agostino, Food Bazar, or Gristedes Supermarket near you. (PR Newswire)
• Be alert, Queens residents: a woman was recently robbed after a fake car-sale ad on Facebook Marketplace lured her to a Queens home where a suspect pulled a gun and demanded her money. The woman was unhurt. (PIX11 New York News)
• A new exhibition is opening at The Local in LIC on May 5. Click here for details! (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. 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, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.