Karine Jean-Pierre, next White House press secretary, grew up in NY

Karine Jean-Pierre will be the next White House press secretary. She grew up in Queens and Long Island, and graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale.

Yonkers firefighter is trailblazer for Black women

As a young girl, Fatima Taylor knew she wanted to be one of the city's bravest and follow in the footsteps of her father and her brothers to become a Yonkers firefighter.

Man who damaged LGBTQ streetscape must write essay on Pulse

A man convicted of burning tire marks across a gay-pride streetscape in South Florida while participating in a rally for former President Donald Trump last summer must write a 25-page essay on the deadly 2016 shooting at a gay nightclub in the state.

Kansas lawmaker said she didn't want to share restroom with transgender colleague

LGBTQ-rights advocates are calling for a Kansas state lawmaker to be formally censured after she said she didn't want to share the women’s restrooms at the Statehouse with a transgender colleague.

Harvard atones for university's ties to slavery, pledges $100M to research

Harvard, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college, is the latest among a growing number of U.S. schools attempting to confront their involvement with slavery and also make amends for it.

NY cops detain crying boy accused of stealing chips

Syracuse police officers detained a young boy who was accused of stealing chips. Video of the incident shows a cop walking the crying child into the back of a patrol car.

For Riverside Church, social justice is part of the gospel | The Black Church

The Riverside Church — a towering presence in Upper Manhattan — welcomes people of all faiths to do the work of the gospel. A big part of that has always been promoting social justice.

Mother AME Zion Church reopens after 2 years | The Black Church

Founded In 1796, Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is recognized as the oldest Black church in the city. Two after closing its doors due to the pandemic, the historic church has reopened for in-person services.

San Francisco Giants' Alyssa Nakken becomes 1st MLB female coach on field

Alyssa Nakken made major league history as the first female to coach on the field in a regular-season game when she took her spot for the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night against San Diego.

Fearless Girl statue stays put opposite NYSE for now

The 4-foot bronze Fearless Girl statue that was deposited in front of New York City's Charging Bull in 2017 will remain in its current spot opposite the New York Stock Exchange.

Juneteenth is now a paid holiday for NYC workers

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was working remotely due to a COVID diagnosis, officially designated Juneteenth a paid city holiday. Monday's announcement marked a first in city history.

Coaches Ray Horton and Steve Wilks sue NFL for racial discrimination

Coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton have joined Brian Flores in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers. Wilks says the Arizona Cardinals discriminated against him in 2018 and Horton claims the Tennessee Titans discriminated against him in 2016.

Coast Guard admiral nominated to be first woman to lead a U.S. military branch

If confirmed by the Senate, Adm. Linda Fagan will become the commandant of the Coast Guard. She would be the woman to serve as the Coast Guard's top officer as well as the first woman to lead any of the U.S. armed forces.

Jazz musician with autism releases debut album

Pianist Sam Baum loves filling the room with his own jazz creations. Sam, who has autism, is most comfortable when he is composing and playing with his band, whose members are from three underrepresented groups in jazz: the elderly, the disabled, and women.

Book bans: The 10 most challenged titles in school libraries

The American Library Association says book-ban attempts are spiking, and the most targeted titles were by or about Black or LGBTQ individuals.

NYC posting billboards in Florida denouncing 'Don't Say Gay' law, inviting LGBTQ+ to city

New York City is launching a campaign denouncing Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law with five billboards across the Sunshine State inviting Floridians to move to New York City.