President Donald Trump’s brother is asking a New York City judge to prevent the president’s niece from publishing a tell-all book, which is expected to be released later this month. In court papers, Robert Trump’s lawyers argue that Mary Trump and others had signed a settlement agreement in the late 1990s that included a confidentially clause explicitly saying they would not “publish any account concerning the litigation or their relationship,” unless they all agreed. The settlement agreement related to the will of Donald Trump’s father, New York real estate developer Fred Trump. “Confidentiality was at the essence of the Settlement agreement,” the court papers say.

The Macy’s July 4th fireworks will go forward, but with a twist meant to keep spectators from congregating in large numbers during the coronavirus pandemic, the mayor said Tuesday. There will be a series of “unannounced displays” around the city leading up to the Fourth, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news briefing. “With heights reaching up to 1,000 feet from some firing locations, staying close to home and following social distancing guidelines is the best way to enjoy the show,” de Blasio said. The mayor described the fireworks as “5-minute surprise displays” that will culminate in a national television broadcast featuring a final fireworks celebration and music performances.

In this exclusive interview, Rav Yeruchim Silber, New York State Director of Government Affairs for Agudth Israel of America, discusses the lawsuit brought by frum camps against Governor Cuomo. In this interview Rabbi Silber discusses: Whether Jewish camps are protected by religious freedom Why there was no public campaign to pressure Cuomo Why the lawsuit was not filed earlier The difference between day camps and sleepaway (or lack thereof) And much more Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app, including iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Podbean.

A Federal Judge in NY has just scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday regarding summer camps. As YWN has been reporting, following New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s crushing decision to disallow overnight camps this summer, the Agudath Israel of America-led Association of Jewish Camp Operators (AJCO) and several parents filed suit in federal court to overturn that decision. Two days later, the AJCO requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to ask the court to immediately open overnight camps in New York State. On Wednesday morning, a court hearing was scheduled for next Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO READ THE DECLARATION BY RABBI MEIR FRISCHMAN, FOUNDER OF AJCO CLICK HERE TO READ THE MEMO OF LAW (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The New York City Marathon scheduled for Nov. 1 was canceled Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic. New York Road Runners announced the cancellation of the world’s largest marathon after coordinating with the mayor’s office and deciding the race posed too many health and safety concerns for runners, volunteers, spectators and others. “While the marathon is an iconic and beloved event in our city, I applaud New York Road Runners for putting the health and safety of both spectators and runners first,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting the 50th running of the marathon in November of 2021.” Last year’s marathon included a world record 53,640 finishers.

New York, Connecticut and New Jersey will require visitors from states with high infection rates to quarantine for 14 days, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. “We now have to make sure the rates continue to drop,” Cuomo said. “We also have to make sure the virus doesn’t come on a plane again.” Cuomo announced what was called a “travel advisory” at a briefing jointly via video feeds with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, both fellow Democrats. The states’ health departments will provide details of how the rule will work, Murphy said. The announcement comes as summer travel to the states’ beaches, parks and other attractions — not to mention New York City — would normally swing into high gear.

Yvette Clarke, a longtime congresswoman from Brooklyn’s 9th congressional district defeated multiple Democratic primary challengers this year. She won her re-match against organizer Adem Bunkeddeko, who won 47% of the vote against her in 2018, and a challenge from Brooklyn councilman Chaim Deutsch. Clarke won 62% with Adem Bunkeddeko finishing second at 18%. Deutsch received just 9.9%, only slightly ahead of Isiah James at 9.1%. In last place was Lutchi Gayot, who got just 1%. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Long-time Pro-Israel Congressman Eliot Engel is likely to lose the seat for New York’s 16th Congressional District to his progressive challenger, Middle-school principal Jamaal Bowman, results show. Rep. Elliot Engel, who has been in Congress since 1989, was behind Bowman by a 61 percent to 34 percent margin in Engel’s Bronx-Westchester district. Bowman received high-profile endorsements from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hillary Clinton, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had also thrown their support behind Engel. Engel, 73, serves as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Dozens of former prosecutors are questioning the government’s handling of a case against two lawyers hit with charges that could put them in prison for nearly 50 years for torching an empty New York City police vehicle last month. Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman, a pair of young Brooklyn attorneys, face federal counts that would carry at least 45 years in prison if they are convicted of all counts, including conspiracy. No one was injured in the attack, which came amid an eruption of demonstrations following the death of George Floyd. A magistrate judge had freed the lawyers on bail, but they were detained again after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn appealed the decision. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday.

A primary election season like no other neared a conclusion Tuesday as New Yorkers made their picks for Congress, president and other offices following campaigns in which candidates largely had to connect with voters online amid a pandemic. With the state allowing anyone to vote by absentee ballot rather than risk getting exposed to the coronavirus at a polling location, the process of collecting and counting votes will be different this year. About 1.8 million people requested absentee ballots by mid-June and have until Tuesday to postmark them, according to elections officials.