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A federal judge in Manhattan is rejecting nearly all the legal arguments against the MTA’s congestion pricing program and upholding the federal Highway Administration's approval of the tolls. Of course, the ruling doesn’t affect Governor Kathy Hochul's indefinite pause on the plan. In other news, Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg is asking a judge to extend major parts of a gag order against Donald Trump citing dozens of death threats against him and other officials from the mid-April trial that led to Trump's 34 convictions for falsifying business records. Also, New York City has released a new plan to repair a decrepit section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. WNYC's Stephen Nessen reports. Plus, the WNYC newsroom shares some of their favorite summer activities.

New York City data show heat-related emergency room visits have risen over the last several days. Meanwhile, New York State Attorney General Letitia James says UnitedHealthcare must pay for failing to cover birth control. Plus, there’s a proposal in Queens to to transform a large city-owned building in Long Island City into a permanently affordable, shared commercial space for artists, nonprofits and vendors. WNYC's Sean Carlson speaks with reporter Arun Venugopal about the proposed “Queensboro People’s Space” and the significance of the intended site.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Manhattan families will soon have priority for competitive seats at a few of the borough’s top high schools. In other news, a plurality of New York State voters support Governor Hochul's pause on Manhattan congestion pricing tolls. But WNYC's Jon Campbell reports, they don't support her overall. Meanwhile, with New York City's next budget due in just over a week, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams says negotiations focus on restoring Mayor Adams' November cuts. Finally, on this week’s segment of On The Way, WNYC reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse discuss the impact of Governor Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing, including a stop-work order on the Second Avenue subway station, insights from a recent Siena poll, and a listener question on why trains sometimes slow down.

A new Siena College poll of registered voters finds that President Joe Biden’s lead in New York state is shrinking. Plus, New York City pools are set to open next week, but a lifeguard shortage could limit swimming access. And finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre visits Pristine Jewelers, the go-to spot for hip hop stars like Fat Joe, Cardi B and DJ Khaled. Some of their works are on display at the American Museum of Natural History’s new exhibit, “Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip Hop Jewelry.”

A handful of New Jersey schools are rescheduling high school graduations due to the heat wave. In other news, Jenny Dubnau of the Western Queens Community Land Trust says her organization hopes to turn a city-owned building in Long Island City, once slated for Amazon's headquarters, into a community space. Meanwhile, residents and politicians in Summit, New Jersey, have been debating what to do with downtown land occupied by a soon-to-be relocated firehouse. But officials now plan to sell the property to the highest bidder for upscale apartments. WNYC’s Mike Hayes reports not everyone is happy about the plan. Plus, summer is the season for block parties, barbecues, and music blasting on some New York City streets. WNYC’s Michael Hill speaks with reporter Samantha Max to discuss ways to navigate the noise.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: A criminal indictment this week against New Jersey political boss George Norcross includes charges against his personal lawyer, William Tambussi. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports on why Tambussi is a special case. Meanwhile, as registered Democrats and Republicans cast their primary ballots after a lengthy redistricting process, experts at a New York law school conference are evaluating how to improve it next time.