Cardinals have convened in Vatican City to elect the 267th pope, with a record 133 participants, including 10 from the U.S., spanning diverse ideologies. The conclave's secretive voting process will signal its outcome with white smoke.

Columbia University is laying off about 180 employees after losing $400 million in federal grants due to claims of inadequate response to antisemitism.

Starting May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID, Enhanced ID, or passport for U.S. flights, enforcing the 2005 REAL ID Act to improve security standards for identification.

Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself in papal attire, drawing criticism from Catholic leaders during the conclave period for choosing the next pope.

A memorial baseball game in West Babylon honored two teens killed in a car crash. Surviving teen, Anthony Pagliuca, who made an impressive recovery, threw the first pitch, celebrating the lives lost and the supportive community.

New York's tree-planting initiative, Trees for NYCHA, launches a $750,000 program to plant approximately 400 trees across NYCHA properties, funded by legal settlements and focusing on community engagement and environmental benefits.

A Vermont judge ordered the release of Columbia student and activist Mohsen Mahdawi from federal detention, where he was held after a naturalization interview turned into an ICE arrest.

NY Attorney General Letitia James co-leads a coalition opposing the Trump administration's move to end TPS for Haitian immigrants, emphasizing their contribution to local communities and economy.

Brooklyn Catholic students witnessed what became Pope Francis' final blessing during a school trip in Vatican City, leaving a lasting impression on them.

Ashes of Willy Ley, a space exploration pioneer, were found in a New York basement. Ley died before seeing his space travel predictions come true. His legacy includes influencing American space narrative and having a lunar crater named after him.

NYC's 988 mental health hotline and 911 dispatchers are facing potential layoffs and extreme workloads, risking service disruptions and caller assistance delays.

Argentinian-Americans in NYC mourn the death of Pope Francis at 88, recalling his impact and feeling a personal connection to the Buenos Aires-born pontiff.

New York and New England public figures mourn the death of Pope Francis at 88, highlighting his legacy and commitment to peace, the less fortunate, and inclusivity.