NEW YORK NEWS

 The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has proposed new regulations that could force pizza establishments using wood- and coal-fired ovens to reduce emissions by up to 75%. This would require costly filtration systems to be installed, potentially impacting older pizzerias like Lombardi’s and Grimaldi’s. If a shop cannot afford the system or accommodate its installation, they would have to seek leniency from the DEP. Critics argue that the filtration systems could alter the taste of the pizza. Many people believe the environmental impact of these rules would be negligible, while the potential harm to New York’s food culture would be significant. Furthermore, some find it ironic that the DEP justifies the rule on public health grounds, considering other policies like congestion-pricing and free drug accessory vending machines. 

NEW YORK NEWS

 Daniel Penny, the man who put Jordan Neely in a fatal headlock on a New York City subway train, has been indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan. The exact charges are unclear and will be revealed when Penny is arraigned at a later date. Penny, a Marine veteran in his mid-20s, previously surrendered to law enforcement on second-degree manslaughter charges and was released on bail. The incident, captured on bystander video, showed Penny restraining Neely in a headlock on the subway train. Neely later died, and the medical examiner ruled it a homicide due to compression of the neck. Penny’s lawyers claim he was trying to restrain Neely to protect himself and other passengers and denied that race played a role in the incident.

“Hope and optimism, the ability to adapt and transform ourselves, and the commitment to sustain our dreams, are the real keys to survival . . . but throughout it all, we must also have a Jewish homeland to keep us safe.” These are the values, penned by daughter Danna, that buoyed David Azrieli during the Holocaust and became a focal point of his legendary career in which he became one of the wealthiest and most philanthropic people in the world.

Bucking all national trends, Yeshiva University closed its academic year with record success including a great rise in undergraduate enrollment by 20 percent from fall 2021 to fall 2022. This upward trend is expected to continue in fall 2023, given that applications are up over 10 percent from last year. The competitiveness for entry has increased as well. Current applicants present strong academic achievements — with high GPAs, test scores and honors classes.