Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
New York City approved the U.S.'s first congestion tollsTransit officials in New York City voted today to approve a program aimed at curbing traffic and pollution by imposing hefty new fees on drivers entering Manhattan's busiest areas. The tolling program, which still faces legal challenges, could begin as early as mid-June — making New York the first American city to adopt a comprehensive congestion pricing system. Under the program, passenger vehicles entering Manhattan's 60th Street or below (not including the highways) would be charged $15 a day from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Trucks would be charged larger fees. The city estimates that the tolls will raise $1 billion annually for public transportation improvements. But congestion pricing has been a hard sell in New York, where many people commute by car from the boroughs and the suburbs. Opponents have increasingly mobilized against it in recent months, citing the costs borne by local residents who do not live near subway stops as well as the environmental impacts from shifting traffic to other areas. The program could still be upended over the next few months by courts in New York and New Jersey, where several lawsuits have sought to block the new fees. For more: London, Stockholm and Singapore offer a glimpse of what congestion pricing looks like.
Buttigieg promised to aid Baltimore's recoveryThe Biden administration today vowed to undertake an aggressive effort to reopen the Port of Baltimore and rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed yesterday. But Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned that it would be a "long and difficult path" to full recovery. Goods worth $100 million to $200 million move through the port daily, Buttigieg said, adding that $2 million in wages were at stake each day. Federal investigators said they would give an update tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern on what they have learned about the cause of the collision between a massive container ship and the bridge. Here's the latest. Rescue divers continued to work through dangerous conditions in an effort to recover the bodies of six construction workers who had been on the bridge and are now presumed dead. Here is what we know about the victims. For more, an audio transcript revealed how officers responded to the mayday call and successfully halted traffic.
Russia's influence campaigns are harder to detectRussia has intensified its online efforts to derail military funding for Ukraine in large part by amplifying arguments for isolationism in the U.S. and Europe. Intelligence agencies and disinformation experts have warned in recent days that the new efforts are harder to trace and combat than Russia's previous misinformation campaigns. The operations, run by aides to Vladimir Putin and Russian military intelligence agencies, create look-alike websites that are fake versions of real news outlets in the U.S., Israel, Japan and elsewhere. The sites can then artificially amplify arguments against aid for Ukraine. In related news, a Kremlin-linked group helped fuel the frenzy of conspiracy theories about Princess Kate.
More young people are getting colorectal cancerRates of colon and rectal cancers, which are typically lumped into one category, are rising rapidly among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. The increase has made colorectal cancer the top cause of U.S. cancer deaths in men under 50, and the second-leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths in women under 50. Researchers say there are quite likely multiple causes driving the uptick, possibly including genetic mutations, dietary choices and environmental factors. My colleague Knvul Sheikh explained what you can do to reduce your risk. More top news
The essential Stephen KingStephen King's first novel, "Carrie," is turning 50 this year. To mark the anniversary, we spoke to George R.R. Martin, Sissy Spacek, Tom Hanks, the archbishop of Canterbury and others about the powerful impact King's work has had on their lives. If you're new to King, the editor of our Book Review has advice on where to start. King is most famous for his horror novels, like "It" and "The Shining." But for scaredy-cats, there are a few books on the list that won't have you checking under the bed before you go to sleep.
Carve out some time to laughIn her hourlong special, the comedian Jenny Slate combines her improvisational eccentricity with deft physical comedy. She likens the experience of giving birth to the discomfort of being invited to audition for the role of Pennywise the evil clown. But if her style is not for you, there's also Dan Soder's laid-back persona or Cara Connors's frenetic charm. Our comedy critic, Jason Zinoman, recommends six terrific yet distinct specials. Check out his full list.
Dinner table topics
Cook: For a simple weeknight recipe, try honey-and-soy-glazed chicken thighs. Listen: Joni Mitchell's songs are coming back to Spotify. Here's a list of favorites. Travel: Turrets, towers and tapestries greet guests at these evocative hotels. Decorate: It's time to lighten things up in your entryway with these spring makeover ideas. Plant: Is there room for one, or maybe several, Japanese maples in your garden? Scrub: Wirecutter has tips for cleaning bathroom tile and grout. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
The 'Titanic' prop that saved Rose sold for $718,750The ornate piece of door frame that helps Rose survive in icy waters at the end of "Titanic" has been the subject of a yearslong debate. Fans disagree about whether it could have kept Jack afloat as well. Now, that door, which is actually a reinforced plank of balsa wood designed to replicate a piece of real debris from the 1912 shipwreck, has a new owner. At an auction, the prop sold for $718,750, beating out Indiana Jones's whip ($525,000) and the ax from "The Shining"($125,000). Have a buoyant evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The Evening: New York’s congestion pricing plan
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