🌱 Student Arrested For Carrying Gun + Queens Compost Program Success

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

But first, today's weather:

A couple of morning showers. High: 48 Low: 36.

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Here are the top three stories in Queens today:

1. On Tuesday, a student was arrested for carrying a loaded gun at Cardozo High School in Bayside. According to NYPD, school safety agents discovered the semi-automatic firearm at about 12:30 p.m., which was in the boy's bag. The teen was placed under custody and charges are currently pending, police said. There were no injuries. (Queens Patch)
2. In just three months, the Queens compost program has lightened NYC landfills' load by over 12 million pounds. According to Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, more than 12.7 million pounds of organized waste has been diverted from the landfill since launching in October. Over the same period of time, 2.1 million pounds of organic waste was produced in seven districts in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan. (Gothamist)
3. A man who repeatedly exposed himself to teens and young women on the subway in Queens and Brooklyn has been arrested. On Wednesday morning, 35-year-old Jose Lopez was recognized by officers at the Newkirk Plaza B and Q train station in Brooklyn; the cops recognized him from a wanted poster. The suspect has a listed address in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, and his connection to New York City is unclear at this time. According to police, he has been charged with five counts of public lewdness. (New York Post)

Today in Queens:

• Free General Admission Fridays, At The New York Hall Of Science (1:00 PM)
• Free Open Mic, At QED (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Lunar New Year is almost here! Join Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at Queens Borough Hall on Jan. 19 to ring in the Year of the Rabbit with cultural performances, food, honors, and more. RSVP here. (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• Are you getting ready to prepare your small business taxes for 2022? ⁠ ⁠The Queens Economic Development Corporation invites you to a free webinar on Jan. 18, which will be led by Digna Cueto, a small business tax professional and the owner of ATAX Elmhurst NY. ⁠(Queens Economic Development Corporation via Facebook)
• Registration is open now for the Queens Botanical Garden's winter kids drop-off programs for ages 5-10 during mid-winter recess and five Saturdays in February & March. (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• High School Information Session (January 9)
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• Berkeley College Honors Program Information Session (January 18)
• 3K & 4K Pre-k For All Registration Opening Soon!!! (January 20)
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• Flawless Paints & plaster (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. 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.