New York News Roundup: Deadly Harbor Capsizing Brings Charges, Hochul Leads in Siena Poll and More
Here’s a roundup of recent New York news: a boat operator was arrested and federally charged after a vessel capsized in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty, killing a woman and her 5-month-old daughter; a Siena College poll showed Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman by 10 points; and Mayor Mamdani, Gov. Hochul and the MTA unveiled a plan to cool subway platforms and harness waste heat from Lower Manhattan stations. Separately, the Trump administration cut federal sex education funding for New York, and the New York City Council launched a sweeping investigation into the prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi.
Boat operator federally charged after deadly New York Harbor capsizing
A boat operator was arrested and federally charged after a vessel capsized in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty on the night of Aug. 8-9, killing a woman and her 5-month-old daughter and injuring 12 other people. The operator was unlicensed and allegedly ignored safety warnings. (NBC News, ABC News, CNN, Fox News, Aug. 10, 2026; ABC7 New York, Aug. 10, 2026)
Hochul leads Blakeman by 10 points in Siena College poll
A Siena College poll released Aug. 12 of likely New York state voters showed Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman 49% to 39%, a 10-point lead that narrowed from earlier surveys as voters weighed housing and affordability. Blakeman disputed the poll. (Siena College/Siena Poll, Politico, Spectrum News NY1, The Hill, Fox 5 NY, Aug. 12-13, 2026)
MTA announces plan to cool subway platforms and reuse waste heat
Mayor Mamdani, Gov. Hochul and the MTA announced a plan to lower subway platform temperatures and harness waste heat from Lower Manhattan subway stations to warm nearby buildings. The project was described as a first-of-its-kind U.S. transit thermal energy network. (NYC.gov, CBS News, ABC7 New York, NBC New York, Aug. 10-11, 2026)
Trump administration cuts federal sex education funding for New York
The Trump administration cut federal sex education funding for New York, terminating grants that supported sex ed and teen pregnancy prevention programs. The move carries wide impacts on nonprofits. (New York Focus, Aug. 13, 2026; The 19th, Aug. 6, 2026; The Imprint, Aug. 5, 2026)
City Council launches investigation into Polymarket and Kalshi
The New York City Council launched a sweeping investigation into prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi over their marketing claims and advertising tactics in the city. (WSJ, CBS News, CNBC, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Aug. 12, 2026)
For more on the Empire State, see the New York guide.
Sources
NBC News; ABC News; CNN; Fox News; ABC7 New York; Siena College; Politico; Spectrum News NY1; The Hill; Fox 5 NY; NYC.gov; CBS News; NBC New York; New York Focus; The 19th; The Imprint; WSJ; CNBC; The Washington Post; New York Magazine.