Jennifer Hudson is living the dream, girl.
Over two decades after her appearance on American Idol’s third season made her a household name, the Dreamgirls actress reflected on the full circle…
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Month: April 2026
Children pick up their school lunches. (Photo by Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The Alaska Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban public schools in Alaska from serving certain food dyes in school breakfasts or lunches.
Lawmakers expressed concerns that certain petroleum-based food dyes in processed foods have unhealthy side effects on children.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, the sponsor of Senate Bill 187, said Monday, “We like to sell our petroleum to fuel our cars and generate our power plants, not to feed our kids.”
Wielechowski pointed to studies that suggested that artificial dyes are linked to increased hyperactivity, inattentiveness and allergic reactions in children.
The bill would ban red dyes Nov. 3 and No. 40, yellow dyes No. 5 and No. 6, blue dyes No. 1 and No. 2 and green dye No. 3.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a campaign in April 2025 to eliminate synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2027 and to authorize natural color alternatives. Alaska proposes banning the same food dye in schools that HHS and the FDA are working with the food industry to eliminate.
The bill received strong support from Alaska Community Action on Toxics and opposition from the International Association of Color Manufacturers, which maintains that synthetic dyes are safe for consumers.
Carlee Johnson McIntosh, Petersburg School District food service director, wrote in a letter to legislators that the bill aligns with work the school district is already doing to remove synthetic dyes from school meal programs. She said the bill would not create a significant burden for the school district.
“Schools should be environments where students are set up for success, and access to nutritious meals plays an important role in that success,” Johnson McIntosh wrote. “Establishing these standards in state law would demonstrate Alaska’s ongoing commitment to student health, regardless of potential shifts at the federal level.”
The bill passed the Senate with 19 yes votes. Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin, was excused absent.
If it passes the House and becomes law, it would go into effect in January 2028. Alaska would join states including Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia in banning artificial food dyes in schools.
By: Haley Lehman, Alaska Beacon
Multiple law enforcement agencies arrested seven people in Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley last week on charges of sex trafficking after a yearlong investigation found that multiple massage parlors were fronts for criminal enterprises.
“Human trafficking criminal enterprises operate in plain sight while victims are exploited for labor, services and commercial sex acts through force, fraud or coercion,” Matthew Schlegel, special agent in charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, said during a press conference Thursday.
Anchorage Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, the FBI Anchorage Field Office are part of a task force that investigates sex and human trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Army Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Coast Guard, Wasilla Police Department and the Anchorage Airport Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Officers searched Jasmine Spa, Zen Massage, Stream Health Spa of Wasilla, Phoenix Health Spa, Owl Health Spa, Renew Day Spa, Red House Massage of Anchorage and two Anchorage residences in connection with the investigation.
Law enforcement arrested Lee Merrill Van Ness, 72, of Anchorage, Terry Allen Volkman, 53, of Anchorage, Hui Zhang, 44, Hong Zhen Li, 51, of New York, Guoguo Zhang, 54, of Wasilla, Tuan Huynh, 34, of Anchorage, and Xiaotian Xiong, 40, of New York, on felony charges of sex trafficking.
Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes said during a press conference Thursday that they targeted these illegitimate operations because they were exploiting individual and vulnerable adults.
Hughes said that the victims were offered support and connected with resources.
“These individuals were not the focus of the investigation. They were the reason for the investigation,” he said.
Law enforcement identified massage parlors that advertised commercial sexual services online during the investigation. The investigation entailed undercover officers visiting various massage parlors and posing as customers looking for sex in exchange for money, a criminal complaint stated. Law enforcement allege that the seven people arrested harbored victims of human and sex trafficking and forced them to pose as masseuses.
The massage parlors may be linked to international organized crime organized out of Flushing, New York, and Monterey Park, California, according to charging documents. Law enforcement may file additional charges as the investigation continues.
Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case attributed the length of the investigation to the complex nature of the allegations.
Alaska Bureau of Investigation Commander Tony Wegrzyn said that investigators have “a mountain of evidence to go through.”
According to Wegrzyn, all victims were from outside of Alaska.
Kacey Musgraves made her long-awaited return to Coachella over the weekend, and she didn’t just stick to her own catalog, she also covered a classic from George Strait’s repertoire.
During her set, the GRAMMY-winning star dove into “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” reworking a few of the lines to reflect her own story while keeping the familiar chorus intact. Her rendition made it clear that she has more in common with Strait than just their shared home state.
Introducing the moment to the crowd, she earned a roar of cheers as she revealed that she’d put her own twist on the beloved track.
“You guys all know George Strait’s version of this song?” Musgraves told the crowd inside the festival’s Mojave tent. “Well, I rewrote the verses from my perspective, so here we go.”
With her cowboy hat sitting proudly on her head, the songstress prompted a sing along with the original lyrics set to the twangy instrumentals. She sang, “All my exes live in Texas/ And Texas is a place I’d dearly love to be/ But all my exes live in Texas/ And that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee.”
Once the first verse approached, fans got a bit of insight into her own experience with ex lovers in the Lone Star State.
“Okay, listen / Stephen down in Stephenville / Drank too much patron / Richard down in Richardson / Won’t pick up the phone,” she sang. “Cody in Midlothian / Now, he’s doing time / Sometimes you’ve gotta learn to love it / Or leave it all behind.”
After name dropping some past love interests tied to different Texas towns, she went on to add an even more playful, slightly unfiltered edge while recounting a handful of messy, memorable run-ins and relationships that didn’t quite work out in the long run.
“I left my shirt in Forth Worth / With some old college fling / That Houston guy had the bluest eyes / But I forgot his name,” she sang. “Some a–hole down in El Paso / He left my heart all broke,” Musgraves sang before earning an audible reaction from fans with the line, “Everything’s bigger down there / So I’m sad that I can’t go.”
Musgraves concluded her rendition of the country classic by noting that while “no one there will marry me,” she knows that Texas is the place where she will be buried some day. Until then, she can confirm she is “alive and well in Tennessee.”
Her performance on Saturday, April 18 marked the first time the “Golden Hour” singer has taken the stage at Coachella in seven years. In addition to Strait’s 1987 hit, the set also featured a few tracks from her upcoming studio album Middle of Nowhere, including “Dry Spell,” “Back on the Wagon,” “Uncertain, TX” and the title track.
The album, set to drop May 1, was written in the wake of a breakup which resulted in a collection of songs rooted in Kacey Musgraves’ reflective storytelling. She blends tradition with a modern, genre-blurring sound and even tapped several notable country music names to appear on collaborations, such as Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Billy Strings, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Kacey Musgraves’ next performance will take place at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs). The show will air live on Prime Video Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT.
The post Kacey Musgraves Brings Her Own Perspective to George Strait Cover During Coachella Return appeared first on Country Now.
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Melania Trump isn’t as picky an eater as her husband, but she does have some hardline particulars, like avoiding drinks from this well-known chain.
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Barring a trade down or a trade of a player (Brandon Ayiuk, anyone?), the San Francisco 49ers will have their fewest number of picks in a single draft since 2020 in the 2026 NFL Draft. But the 49ers have shown an ability to make the most out of their picks in the past. Of course, San Francisco took quarterback Brock Purdy as Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft. Five years earlier, it landed All-Pro tight end George Kittle in the fifth round. So, what do 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have up their sleeves this April? Well, they have some obvious areas they need to address. They grabbed defensive end Mykel Williams in the first round of last year’s draft, when they had a league-high 11 picks. However, Williams and perirenal All-Pro Nick Bosa both finished 2025 with season-ending knee injuries, so improving the pass rush remains a priority for San Francisco. Along with adding to their pass rush, finding an eventual replacement for future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams should also be high on the list. The 37-year-old Oklahoma product was recently involved in another contract stalemate with the front office before reaching a resolution on Monday. So, with that in mind, let’s map out what the 49ers should do with a seven-round mock draft. Round 1 (No. 27 overall): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington The 49ers finished 12-5 last season and believe they are still in a Super Bowl window, but San Francisco could use more reliable, young playmakers on offense. Mike Evans and Christian Kirk were signed in free agency, but those two are veteran stop gaps and do not serve as a long-term answer for the receiver room. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, Boston is a big, physical receiver in the mold of Jauan Jennings who can win contested catches down the field. And with 20 receiving touchdowns over the last two seasons, Boston would help in the red zone. The 49ers have a good mentor for Boston on the roster in Evans, and the Washington product could eventually take over that role once he retires. San Francisco brought Boston in for a pre-draft visit. Round 2 (No. 58 overall): Malachi Lawrence, DE, Central Florida The 49ers finished with a league-low 20 sacks last season and need help off the edge with both Bosa and Williams recovering from knee injuries. Lawrence finished with 20 career sacks in college, so the production off the edge is there. And at 6-4 and 253 pounds with long arms and explosive traits, Lawrence provides the skill set new San Francisco defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is looking for in an athlete mover coming off the edge. He posted a 4.52-second 40 time, along with recording a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine. Lawrence was used to drop in coverage at Central Florida, so he offers versatility in a scheme where Morris will use a variety of defensive looks. The 49ers brought Lawrence in for a pre-draft visit. Round 4 (No. 127 overall): Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (Fla.) A fifth-year senior for the Hurricanes, Thomas offers physicality and playmaking skills for a San Francisco defensive secondary looking for more athletic bodies. Thomas finished with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his final season at Miami. At 6-1 and 211 pounds. Thomas has good size for the position. Thomas is a willing tackler in the running game, and while his 4.57-second 40 time will not wow scouts, he shows decent football instincts and can make plays in space. Thomas also showed the ability to develop into a good blitzer at the next level and can contribute on special teams. Round 4 (No. 133 overall): Alex Harkey, G, Oregon At 6-5 and 308 pounds, Harkey’s versatility is his strong suit. Harkey has the skill set to play all five offensive line positions and played tight end in high school, but he tracks to play guard at the next level. San Francisco offensive line coach Chris Foerster excels at getting the most out of developmental projects and will value Harkey’s unique skill set. The 49ers could use help in the interior of the offensive line, along with a contingency plan should an aging Williams deal with injuries again. Harkey could be part of that development strategy. San Francisco had a pre-draft visit with Harkey and met with him at the NFL Scouting Combine. Round 4 (No. 138 overall): Travis Burke, OT, Memphis Burke would be another developmental prospect for the 49ers to mold into a polished product that can play winning football on game days. At 6-9 and 325 pounds with long arms, Burke has the tools to grow into a consistent contributor along the offensive line for the 49ers. With San Francisco once again in contract negotiations with Williams, Burke would provide another option down the line as a player who could play in a pinch with a couple years of seasoning while working in an NFL facility. Round 4 (No. 139 overall): Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State At 6-5 and 312 pounds with long arms, Jackson has the physical profile to serve as a two-gap defensive tackle who can eat up blocks in the middle of San Francisco’s defense front. He also showed some pass-rush ability two years ago, finishing with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2024. The 49ers are thin up front defensively and could use a rotational player at defensive tackle. Jackson’s uncle is Dexter Jackson, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety and MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII. Jackson was a teammate of San Francisco GM John Lynch with the Bucs.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
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As NFL talent evaluators put the finishing touches on their scouting reports of the 2026 draft class, they’ll look at current pros with similar traits as another data point to project how the prospects might perform in the pro game. Most scouts utilize pro comparisons to paint a picture for NFL decision-makers who make the calls when on the clock. With the 2026 draft approaching, here are my pro comps for the top prospects in this year’s class. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Heisman Trophy winner is a lock to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. Mendoza has impressed scouts with his intelligence, toughness and management skills, while also flashing pinpoint accuracy and touch as a rhythm passer. The combination of skills and a winning pedigree makes it easy to envision the Indiana standout thriving as a QB1 for a team running a system that prioritizes mistake-free football and clutch playmaking. Although Mendoza lacks elite physical tools, his superpowers as a high-IQ game manager could result in better performance and production than his natural talent would suggest. Pro comparison: Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The silky-smooth pass-catcher checks all the boxes as a potential No. 1 receiver. Tate can impact the game as a three-level playmaker, displaying big-play potential as a vertical threat or catch-and-run specialist. Additionally, the Ohio State star shows elite route-running skills by twisting defenders into knots with his electric stop-start quickness and ballerina-like body control. With Tate also flashing ridiculous ball skills and body control as an acrobatic pass catcher, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is a dominant weapon on the perimeter with “take over the game” potential as a pro. Pro comparison: Rams WR Davante Adams Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State It is hard to find a safety with a high IQ, positional flexibility, ball skills and a “hit stick” mentality that enables him to play as a center fielder or hybrid linebacker in a multi-faceted scheme. Downs not only excels as a jack-of-all-trades, but he has mastered the art of playmaking in a “see ball, get ball” defensive scheme. While skeptics dismiss his impact potential due to his modest physical traits, the evaluators who love “ball players” easily identify the game-changing skills the Ohio State star brings to the table. Considering how championship-level defenses thrive with a game changer in the middle of the field, Downs’ versatility and adaptability give him a chance to emerge as a star as a designated playmaker in a creative defensive scheme. Pro comparison: Cardinals S Budda Baker David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech The energetic speed rusher took college football by storm during his lone season with the Red Raiders. Bailey terrorized opponents with his speed, quickness and burst, as he showcased a “dip-and-rip” maneuver and slick spin move to harass quarterbacks in the backfield. The persistent pressure and constant chaos created by his relentless approach force offensive coordinators to alter their pass-protection plans when facing the dynamic pass rusher. As Bailey acclimates to the pro game and elite pass protectors, the shifty sack artist could produce double-digit sacks annually as a speed-rushing specialist. Pro comparison: Giants OLB Brian Burns [How One Key Question Changed David Bailey’s NFL Future] Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama The pinpoint, quick-rhythm passer operates like a coach on the field, with his instincts, awareness and anticipation enabling him to pick apart coverages with surgical precision. Simpson’s flawless pocket mechanics and footwork make him a quarterback coach’s dream at first glance. With his strongest supporters citing the 2025 Crimson Tide’s sizzling start and his ridiculous numbers as proof of his franchise quarterback potential, the polarizing quarterback must overcome his inexperience, lack of size and arm talent deficiencies to defy the odds as a lightweight quarterback prospect. While teams have gambled on “newbies” in previous drafts (Mark Sanchez, 2009; Cam Newton, 2011; Kyler Murray, 2019; Trey Lance, 2021; Mac Jones, 2021; and Anthony Richardson, 2023), the disappointing hit rate will require Simpson to play above and beyond expectations to justify his draft day status. In a league in which scheme and play calls matter as much as the supporting cast, Simpson must find his way to a team that features a system that makes the game easier for the quarterback. Pro comparison: 49ers QB Brock Purdy Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State After successfully transitioning from safety to linebacker at Ohio State, Styles could flourish as a designated playmaker dominating the game between the hashes. As a fast-flow linebacker who can stuff running backs in the hole or run with tight ends and slot receivers down the middle, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder exhibits rare traits as an off-ball linebacker in a passing league. With his size, length and athleticism, which shrink passing lanes down the middle of the field, Styles is a potential difference-maker for a defense employing a “vision-and-break” scheme designed to create more turnovers. Pro comparison: 49ers LB Fred Warner [Will Ohio State Have Four Top-10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?] Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami The disruptive edge defender is a violent butt-kicker with heavy hands and a nasty temperament. Bain outworks and outlasts blockers, showcasing an alpha-dawg mentality reflected in his relentless approach and competitive stamina. With a rugged game that complements his explosive first step and all-out effort, the Miami standout is the junkyard dog no one wants to face on a critical down. In a league where sack production can lead to blind spots for some evaluators, Bain’s energy, effort and physicality make him an essential piece of any defensive puzzle. Pro comparison: Eagles DE Brandon Graham Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson The transformation of the NFL into a pass-centric league has forced coaches and scouts to view the “Nickel” cornerback as the 12th starter. As a high-IQ defender with outstanding ball skills and a devastating knockout punch (forced fumbles), Terrell is the prototypical slot defender every defensive coordinator covets in the starting lineup. While some scouts question his top-end speed and burst, old-school coaches prefer instincts and awareness over athleticism. Terrell’s knack for making plays on the ball and smothering routes as a zone-based cover corner should result in rave reviews from teams seeking a plug-and-play option on the perimeter. Pro comparison: Ravens CB Marlon HumphreyLatest Sports News from FOX Sports
DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 20
BACK AT CITY HALL: Hassan Naveed, who was fired as New York City’s hate crimes prevention chief in 2024, is back in the municipal ranks — even as he continues to sue the city and the former mayor over allegations that his termination stemmed from religious-based discrimination.
As of this morning, Naveed is the new chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. That makes him the first high-profile addition to Francois’ team since Mayor Zohran Mamdani tapped her in March for the newly-created post, which comes with oversight of Mamdani’s signature Office of Community Safety.
Naveed, who also served on Mamdani’s transition team, declined to comment on his new gig.
But Naveed’s lawyer, Luna Droubi, confirmed to Playbook today that her client is continuing to pursue his lawsuit against former Mayor Eric Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and two employees in that unit over allegations that Naveed was terminated as the city’s executive director of hate crimes prevention in April 2024 because of his Muslim faith.
So far, the city Law Department has represented Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and the two employees against Naveed’s suit. At least one of the two named employees remains in city government, records show.
Naveed’s return to City Hall creates a potentially messy dynamic, in which he’s now working for the same government — and alongside at least one of the same government officials — he’s continuing to sue. The awkward situation is arguably heightened by the fact that Mamdani’s Law Department is continuing to provide Adams and the other defendants with taxpayer-funded legal representation as they continue to contest Naveed’s claims.
A spokesperson for Mamdani confirmed this afternoon that Naveed is back in city government, but said Naveed will need to recuse himself from any matters related to issues raised in his lawsuit. The spokesperson also said the Law Department is in the process of reviewing whether Naveed’s case can be resolved and if Adams and the other defendants are entitled to taxpayer-funded representation.
“Hassan Naveed brings deep experience across the core issues at the heart of the Office of Community Safety’s work,” the spokesperson, Sam Raskin, said. “That experience will be essential as we build a more coordinated, whole-of-government approach to public safety and mental health that ensures our systems respond to New Yorkers’ needs with urgency and dignity.”
Since Mamdani took office, the Law Department has already moved to strip Adams of taxpayer-funded legal representation against a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a transit police colleague in 1993. Adams has denied wrongdoing in the assault case as well as in Naveed’s lawsuit.
There does not appear to be any city laws barring Naveed from continuing his suit against Adams while in city service.
While declining to comment on Naveed’s specific case due to confidentiality protocols, Carolyn Miller, executive director of the city Conflicts of Interest Board, said public servants are generally only prohibited from acting as “an attorney or counsel against the interests of the city in any litigation to which the city is a party.”
“As a general matter, a public servant is not prohibited from seeking redress against the city for wrongs allegedly caused by the city,” said Miller. “For example, if I believe that I have been the victim of a wrongful arrest by an NYPD officer or medical malpractice by a Health + Hospitals physician, the conflicts of interest law does not prohibit me from pursuing those claims.”
Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams, said the former mayor “does not comment on pending litigation.”
“That said, throughout his tenure, Mayor Adams maintained a strong and consistent record of standing up for religious freedom and protecting all communities from hate and discrimination,” Shapiro said. “His administration made historic investments in hate crime prevention and worked closely with diverse faith-based communities across New York City to ensure every New Yorker felt safe and respected.”
Naveed’s religious-based discrimination suit, which was filed in October 2025 and asks for monetary damages, alleges he was “singled out” for discrimination by Adams and members of his staff after Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people and took hundreds more hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack in Israel.
For instance, the suit charges that Naveed confronted Adams in mid-October 2023 about social media posts from some of the then-mayor’s staffers that Naveed considered “anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian.” According to the suit, Adams dismissed Naveed’s concerns and told him that Muslims in New York City were experiencing hate because they had failed to adequately condemn Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, which prompted Israel to launch a war in Gaza that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians.
Adams also told Naveed that pro-Palestinian demonstrations playing out in the city at the time were akin to “Klu [sic] Klux Klan protests,” according to the suit.
Naveed’s suit says he was ultimately fired as a result of the alleged anti-Muslim sentiment inside Adams’ administration. Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak denied that last year and said Naveed was terminated for “poor job performance.”
A former Adams administration official, granted anonymity for fear of legal retaliation, said Mamdani is making a poor hire because Naveed “was bad at his last job.”
“He completely ignored segments of the city and he never reached out to anyone,” the former official said. — Chris Sommerfeldt
From the Capitol
GOP BACKS BLAKEMAN BUCKS: Republicans in the state Legislature have introduced a bill that would force New York to let GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman access $3.5 million in public campaign matching funds.
Blakeman was booted from the program after a partisan vote by the Public Campaign Finance Board last month for failing to fill out a nonexistent form identifying his running mate. The new measure from Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, announced Monday, would give their fellow Republican additional time to rectify any paperwork infirmities.
“My [Democratic] colleagues say they are for free and fair elections. They can take the bill; they can take it from me. I’d remove my name from it, and I’d be happy to vote for it,” Ortt said. “If they don’t do it, when they talk about free and fair elections, they are full of shit.”
Read more from Bill Mahoney in POLITICO Pro.
BUDGET CRAWL: The state’s tax-and-spend plan is yet to be resolved as New York lawmakers Monday approved their fifth stopgap measure since the budget was due nearly three weeks ago.
Gov. Kathy Hochul in Buffalo earlier in the day reiterated to reporters she is seeking changes to car insurance laws that have become a key sticking point in the talks. And the governor restated her desire to reach a deal on a package of protections for undocumented immigrants, which may be included in a final budget deal.
Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Nick Reisman.
FROM CITY HALL
BAILOUT FROM ALBANY?: Mamdani’s tenant protection czar Cea Weaver urged attendees at a housing panel today to turn their attention to the now weeks-late state budget.
“I would really encourage everybody — anyone who has Kathy Hochul’s phone number — feel free to call her and ask her to give us some more money. That would be great,” Weaver, formerly a prominent tenant activist, said to some chuckles. “Or the president, for that matter”
Weaver, head of the mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and housing commissioner Dina Levy joined the non-profit Urban Homesteading Assistance Board for a conference exploring “social housing,” a broad term for efforts to insulate housing from private market forces by keeping units permanently affordable and community-controlled. UHAB organized the conference with the Parsons School of Design.
Weaver laid out the city’s fiscal strain in frank terms, as Mamdani has sought to do in recent months.
“We’re not making it up when we say there’s no money for X, Y, Z thing,” Weaver said. “The budget problems that our city is facing are extraordinarily real … That is scary, and it means that we’re going to have less flexibility to do the things that we all really want to do. But the state budget is not over yet.”
She continued, “So anything that we can do to join together in a fight for more resources from Albany is going to be really important to being able to achieve the things that we want to achieve.” — Janaki Chadha
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE: The Democratic field to take on Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis appears to have narrowed to one, after union electrician Allison Ziogas filed a certificate of declination with the city Board of Elections on Monday morning.
Ziogas’ apparent decision to drop out leaves Mike DeCillis, a former NYPD officer, as the only Democratic challenger for what’s certain to be an uphill battle in a district that President Donald Trump won by 24 points in 2024.
The New York Times reported that Ziogas, who appeared to be the early frontrunner in the primary, was ending her bid because of unspecified health issues. DeCillis wrote on social media that he is “sorry to hear about her health issues and we wish her the best.”
Democrats unsuccessfully tried to redraw the seat, which covers all of Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, to make it more competitive, but that effort was blocked by the Supreme Court. However, some still saw opportunity there, given recent Democratic overperformances across the country and Trump’s unpopular policies. Republicans are adamant that the seat is not in play — and Ziogas dropping out is likely to put a damper on Democrats’ optimism.
Ziogas, who entered the race in March with the help of Morris Katz, a key Mamdani strategist, quickly received an endorsement from the Staten Island Democratic Party. After she declared her candidacy, the first Democrat to enter the race, educator Troy McGhie, dropped his bid and endorsed her. Ziogas outraised DeCillis $85,000 to $32,000 in the first quarter — both paltry hauls compared to Malliotakis’ $580,000 raised.
Ziogas’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Read more from Madison Fernandez and Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO Pro.
IN OTHER NEWS
— SUDDENLY SOCIALIST: An ex-cop Assembly candidate who for years led a group that bashed socialists and boosted the GOP now praises Mamdani and lauds the DSA. (New York Post)
— UNDER DOG?: Internal polls from democratic primary candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier show incumbent Democrat Rep. Adriano Espaillat is leading by 42% in New York’s 13th congressional district with the DSA challenger trailing by 28%. (THE CITY)
— RETURN POLICY: Hochul wants the Trump administration to refund an estimated $13.5 billion in tariff payments to New Yorkers, as Monday marks the first day for importers to claim refunds following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the import tax. (NY 1)
— CUOMO CLEARED: The U.S. Supreme court declined to take up a lawsuit from relatives of nursing home patients who died of Covid-19. (Times Union)
Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
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Copycat Taco Bell Meximelt Recipe
With cheesy beef, pico de gallo, and even more cheese, our copycat Taco Bell’s Meximelt is quick to make and might be better than the discontinued original.
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