NYC News Roundup: School Smartphone Ban, Fatal Astoria Crash, Trump's Federal Control, and Trooper Leave

New York State's School Smartphone Ban

• 📱 Governor Kathy Hochul is highlighting plans for a new statewide smartphone ban in schools, requiring students to store devices from the first bell to the last.
• 💡 Exceptions will be made for medical translation or caregiving needs.
• 💰 The state has allocated nearly $14 million to assist schools in purchasing storage solutions before the fall.

Fatal Car Crash in Astoria

• 💔 Three people, including the driver and two pedestrians, were killed in a car crash in Astoria, Queens.
• 🚗 The incident occurred when a driver struck two pedestrians and then a second vehicle.
• 📍 The crash happened around 8:30 AM near 19th Avenue and 42nd Street.

President Trump and Federal Control in New York

• 🏛️ President Trump has hinted at the possibility of a federal takeover of the NYPD, similar to actions taken in Washington D.C.
• ⚖️ Legal experts suggest that the level of federal control exerted in Washington is not legally feasible in New York due to differing relationships with the federal government.
• 🌐 Trump's options in New York may include deploying federal agents to guard federal land or calling in the National Guard under specific circumstances.

Proposed Leave for New York State Troopers

• 🚨 A proposed bill could establish critical incident leave for New York State Troopers, making the state the first in the nation to do so.
• 🤕 This leave would provide troopers with paid time off after stressful events like shootouts or incidents involving death or serious injury.
• 📝 The bill, which passed almost unanimously, aims to ensure troopers have adequate time to decompress and recover mentally before returning to duty.
• 🤝 The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association believes this initiative can make New York a model for prioritizing first responder mental health.