Record Nor'easter Snow Slams East Coast and NYC School Reopening

[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. [06:19] Cole Mercer: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [06:23] Cole Mercer: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com. [06:27] Daniel Brooks: Neural Newscast uses artificial intelligence in content creation [06:31] Daniel Brooks: with human editorial review prior to publication. [06:34] Daniel Brooks: While we strive for factual, unbiased reporting, [06:37] Daniel Brooks: AI-assisted content may occasionally contain errors. [06:41] Daniel Brooks: Verify critical information with trusted sources. [06:44] Daniel Brooks: Learn more at neuralnewscast.com.