Morning Headlines: NYC Subways See Lower Violent Crime Rates Than Other Major Cities, NJ Hospitals Face Major Medicaid Cuts

Janae Pierre: Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Friday, August 1st. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill.

Michael Hill: New York City subways have a lower rate of major violent crimes than several other big cities. As WNYC's Samantha Max reports, that's according to a new report from the policy journal Vital City.

Samantha Max: The report found there's an average of about one major violent crime per million rides on the subway in New York City. In D.C., there are about two. In Chicago, almost four, and in San Francisco, more than six. Vital City researchers say major crime on the subway system has dropped below pre-pandemic levels. Felony assaults are up just like they are above ground. The report found there's an average of about six major crimes per day in the system. That's a small fraction of the approximately 317 major crimes per day citywide.

Michael Hill: New Jersey Congressmember Jeff Van Drew says he worked to save a unique Medicaid program that helps fund hospitals from President Trump's tax and spending bill. WNYC's Mike Hayes reports how New Jersey hospitals still, though, will lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mike Hayes: It's called the county option tax. New Jersey hospitals in counties serving a lot of low-income people can pay a fee and get federal Medicaid reimbursements boosted. It raises over 2 billion annually for New Jersey hospitals serving vulnerable populations. Congressman Jeff Van Drew touted he worked with Trump to preserve this program. Analysis by the New Jersey Department of Human Services shows that an agreed-to cap starting in 2028 will still lead to 800 million in lost funding through the program. Van Drew's office did not respond to questions about this loss of funding for New Jersey hospitals over time.

Michael Hill: We are at 66 with clouds right now in Soho. We have shower chances this morning and rain chances all the way to midday, mostly cloudy and 74 for a high with the winds gusting at 22 miles an hour. Then tomorrow, sunny and 80. Sunday sunny and 83, so a dry weekend with sunshine. 66 and clouds now.

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Janae Pierre: Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WNYC. Check us out for updates every weekday three times a day for the latest news headlines and occasional deep dives. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back this evening.

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