Neural Newscast

[00:00] Cole Mercer: From Neural Newscast, I'm Cole Mercer.
[00:03] Cole Mercer: And I'm Daniel Brooks.
[00:05] Cole Mercer: Today is Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
[00:10] Cole Mercer: A record-breaking Northeaster leaves the east coast digging out from three feet of snow.
[00:17] Cole Mercer: Thousands of flights remain grounded.
[00:20] Cole Mercer: We also examine the mounting tension in New York City as schools reopened despite major safety concerns.
[00:28] Cole Mercer: In addition to the weather crisis, we look at a significant development in London.
[00:34] Cole Mercer: British lawmakers have backed the release of government files.
[00:39] Cole Mercer: These documents concern the hiring of a former prince as a trade envoy.
[00:44] Cole Mercer: A major storm system moved across the East Coast yesterday.
[00:49] Cole Mercer: It delivered what meteorologists are calling historic levels of snowfall.
[00:53] Cole Mercer: Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts saw nearly 37 inches.
[00:58] Cole Mercer: Central Park recorded over 19 inches.
[01:02] Cole Mercer: The sheer volume of snow has brought urban infrastructure to a halt.
[01:06] Cole Mercer: Over 600,000 properties lost power during the peak of the storm.
[01:12] Cole Mercer: Even the Boston Globe was unable to print its Tuesday edition.
[01:17] Cole Mercer: This marks the first time in over 150 years that the paper missed its print run.
[01:23] Cole Mercer: Transportation networks have been hit particularly hard.
[01:27] Cole Mercer: More than 5,000 flights were canceled across the United States.
[01:31] Cole Mercer: Nearly every flight out of LaGuardia and JFK airports was grounded yesterday.
[01:37] Cole Mercer: Pilots reported that visibility frequently dropped to zero.
[01:41] Cole Mercer: In many cities, travel bans were only lifted at noon yesterday.
[01:46] Cole Mercer: Transit authorities are struggling to clear primary arteries even now.
[01:51] Cole Mercer: Some Boston residents have reported feeling like prisoners in their own homes.
[01:56] Cole Mercer: The scale of the snow drifts has physically blocked many exits.
[02:01] Cole Mercer: Security is also a concern in New York City.
[02:04] Cole Mercer: The police department is currently investigating reports of officers being pelted with snowballs in Washington Square Park.
[02:12] Cole Mercer: Commissioner Jessica Tish has described the behavior as disgraceful and criminal.
[02:17] Cole Mercer: The storm has now moved into eastern Canada.
[02:21] Cole Mercer: However, the National Weather Service warns that strong winds will continue to cause drifting snow throughout the day.
[02:29] Cole Mercer: This makes the recovery efforts for utility crews exceptionally difficult in rural areas.
[02:36] Cole Mercer: Emergency services in Connecticut and New Jersey remain on high alert.
[02:41] Cole Mercer: They're watching for falling trees and branches that could cause further power outages.
[02:46] Cole Mercer: While the snow has stopped, the danger from weighed-down infrastructure persists.
[02:52] Cole Mercer: Turning now to the situation in New York City, Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced that all public schools will be back in session as normal today.
[03:03] Cole Mercer: The decision has sparked a heated debate between City Hall and local representatives.
[03:09] Cole Mercer: The mayor defended the reopening this morning.
[03:12] Cole Mercer: He stated that schools are a lifeline for nearly 900,000 young New Yorkers.
[03:18] Cole Mercer: He pointed out that schools provide essential meals and childcare for working families who cannot stay home from their jobs.
[03:27] Cole Mercer: The geography of the city is making this a very complicated rollout.
[03:32] Cole Mercer: This is especially true in boroughs like Staten Island.
[03:35] Cole Mercer: Councilmember Frank Marano noted that narrow residential streets are still blocked by at least two feet of snow.
[03:44] Cole Mercer: Staten Island officials argue that the borough is car-dependent.
[03:48] Cole Mercer: Its hilly terrain makes it impossible for school buses to maneuver safely this morning.
[03:54] Cole Mercer: They are joined by thousands of parents who have signed a petition calling for remote learning.
[04:01] Cole Mercer: The United Federation of Teachers has also weighed in.
[04:04] Cole Mercer: They are advising their members to put their safety first.
[04:08] Cole Mercer: The union warned that the morning commute would pose a significant challenge.
[04:12] Cole Mercer: They stated that no one should jeopardize their well-being to reach a classroom.
[04:18] Cole Mercer: There is also a legal component to this decision.
[04:21] Cole Mercer: The city is required by state law to provide 180 days of instruction,
[04:28] Cole Mercer: With no wiggle room left in the calendar, the mayor is trying to avoid being in violation of that mandate.
[04:36] Cole Mercer: The Department of Sanitation sent 65 additional pieces of specialized equipment to Staten Island overnight.
[04:44] Cole Mercer: They hoped to address the backlog of unplowed streets.
[04:48] Cole Mercer: However, Borough President Vito Ficela says many residents are still forced to walk in the middle of the street.
[04:56] Cole Mercer: In-person learning remains the priority for the administration.
[05:00] Cole Mercer: This is a contrast to Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens,
[05:05] Cole Mercer: which have opted for remote classes today.
[05:08] Cole Mercer: It is a stark difference in how educational systems are managing the recovery.
[05:14] Cole Mercer: While the city struggles with the elements, the geopolitical scene is seeing a push for more transparency.
[05:21] Cole Mercer: In international news, British lawmakers have supported a motion to release government files about a former prince.
[05:29] Cole Mercer: The files concern the hiring of the former prince as a trade envoy for the United Kingdom.
[05:36] Cole Mercer: This follows years of questions regarding the vetting process.
[05:40] Cole Mercer: There are also questions about these specific responsibilities assigned to him during his tenure.
[05:47] Cole Mercer: The vote in Parliament marks a significant shift.
[05:50] Cole Mercer: The government has previously resisted the release of these documents.
[05:54] Cole Mercer: Critics have long argued that the public has a right to know how these high-level appointments are funded and managed.
[06:01] Cole Mercer: The release of these files is expected to provide a detailed look at the communications between government officials and the palace.
[06:09] Cole Mercer: Many see this as a major win for those calling for greater accountability in public appointments.
[06:15] Cole Mercer: I'm Cole Mercer.
[06:16] Cole Mercer: And I'm Daniel Brooks. Thank you for listening.
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