It’s been years in the making, but the long-awaited Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Madison is set to begin Wednesday on a limited basis, according to the MTA.

Friday should bring a mild end to the workweek and set the stage for a pleasant weekend in New York and New Jersey. Folks should look for mostly sunny skies with a high around 46 degrees on Friday, with clouds moving in and temperatures dropping during the evening hours.

Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul are set to announce more steps to boost safety in the New York City transit system Friday, as NYPD stats show previous efforts may be helping tamp down crime.

New York City Housing Authority Chair Greg Russ is leaving the agency. Russ has headed up NYCHA since 2019, first as CEO and chair, and then just as chair when the roles were split late in 2022.

The Harlem Festival of Culture is returning after more than 50 years, and it’s being reimagined to celebrate the Harlem we know today.

U.S. Rep. George Santos is facing new questions about his campaign funds after it appeared Santos listed a person as his campaign treasurer without their permission.

The South Huntington School District is joining the ranks of districts with armed security guards outside all school buildings.

The Bronx family of a soldier killed at an Army base in Alabama is demanding answers about his death.

Flames broke out around 5 p.m. The fire quickly spread to the area between the ceiling of the top floor and the roof, consuming the cockloft. The Citizen App video shows fiery red flames engulfing the top of the building.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has until Monday, Jan. 30, to sign the Grieving Families Act that passed the state Assembly and Senate.

The measure would expand the definition of family under the law to allow more people to file wrongful death claims. It would also allow people to seek damages for pain and suffering, not just monetary losses.

Sayfullo Saipov was found guilty on all counts Thursday in the 2017 Manhattan bike path killings of eight people.

The drug under the brand name Ozempic, designed to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, is in short supply because non-diabetic people have found it to be an effective medication for weight loss. The surge in sales among those seeking to shed pounds has created a shortage for the people who really need it.

Vincent Dransfield lives life on his own terms, and that’s not something many 108-year-olds can say.