NEWS YOU CAN USE
Flood watch in QueensWith an additional one to two inches expected to fall this afternoon and evening, a flood watch is in effect for Queens.
The National Weather Service said the heavy rain could flood streams and creeks and those living in areas prone to flooding should take precaution.
The flood watch is en effect through the night.
Deck replacement work on Tappan Zee Bridge
Deck replacement work will continue on the Tappan Zee Bridge this week requiring multiple lane closures, the New York State Thruway Authority announced.
Between May 16 and May 19, there will be two southbound lanes closed from milepost 13.2 to milepost 17.9 during the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. with an additional lane being closed at 11 p.m. During this time at least one southbound land and three northbound lanes will remain open.
4th Annual Shred Fest
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shredder was a villain, but in the real world a shredder can protect you from identity theft.
The Department of Consumer Affairs has announced their fourth annual Shred Fest to encourage New Yorkers to shred documents containing personal information that can be used by identity thieves.
There will be Cintas Document Management shredding truck at 16 locations throughout the city. The first four people to arrive at these locations will also receive a personal paper shredder, donated by Staples.
In Queens you can head to:
– Flushing Meadows-Corona Park- the parking lot on 111th street between 54th and 56th avenues.
– Juniper Valley Park- on 71st Street and 62nd Drive
– Roy Wilkens Park- in the parking lot on 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard.
– Vincent Daniels Square- on 51st Street and 43rd Avenue
New York gas prices hold steady
Gas prices that have been rising towards record highs held steady over the past week.
The average gas price in New York is $4.283, according to AAA’s fuel gauge report, which is actually .001 lower than last week’s price.
The price rose over 20 cents higher over the last month and one year ago gas prices were at $3.131.
The highest recorded gas prices in the city were recorded on July 16, 2008 when the price hit $4.411. The average gas price nationally is $3.955, just 15 cents short of the record high.
Deck replacement work on Tappan Zee Bridge
Deck replacement work will continue on the Tappan Zee Bridge this week requiring multiple lane closures, the New York State Thruway Authority announced.
Between May 16 and May 19, there will be two southbound lanes closed from milepost 13.2 to milepost 17.9 during the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. with an additional lane being closed at 11 p.m. During this time at least one southbound land and three northbound lanes will remain open.
New traffic pattern on the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
A new traffic pattern began Saturday, May 7, on the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge as work is being done to replace the three southbound lanes.
One southbound lane has already been completed. The three northbound lanes were replaced in 2010.
The work will require one lane to be closed around-the-clock. Despite the lane closure, there will still be three lanes during peak rush hours. From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. there will be three lanes open to the Bronx and two to Queens. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. three lanes will be open to Queens and two to the Bronx.
This pattern should remain in effect through mid-summer.
The work is part of a four-year, nearly $200 million project to replace all 1,785 feet of original roadway on the bridge’s Bronx approach.
244,000 jobs added in April
The U.S. economy added 244,000 jobs in April, the Department of Labor reported.
Though more jobs were added, unemployment rose from 8.8 percent in March to 9 percent in April.
The number of jobs added exceeded expectations by 60,000. Most of the new jobs came from the private sector which added 268,000 jobs.
March had previously also gained over 200,000 jobs.
