JAKE OFFENHARTZ

New York City reporter

Offenhartz is a general assignment reporter in the New York City bureau of The Associated Press.

Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio still on the hook for $475K fine over misused public funds, judge rules

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio must pay a $475,000 fine levied against him for misusing public funds during his failed White House bid, a judge ruled this week.

4 men charged in a Brooklyn synagogue tunnel scuffle are awaiting trial in April

Four members of the Hasidic Jewish community accused of damaging a historic Brooklyn synagogue during a melee over an illegal tunnel are set to stand trial later this year.

Traffic into Manhattan drops 7.5% in first week of new toll. That’s 43,000 fewer cars a day

A new toll on drivers entering the core of Manhattan brought modest but measurable traffic reductions to New York City in its first week of operation.

Brooklyn real estate magnate pleads guilty to conspiring to funnel illegal donations to NYC mayor

A Brooklyn real estate magnate has pleaded guilty to a charge alleging that he worked with a Turkish government official to funnel illegal campaign contributions to New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Trump gets no-penalty sentence in his hush money case, while calling it ‘despicable’

President-elect Donald Trump has been sentenced to no punishment in his historic hush money case, a judgment that lets him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine.

NYC to spend $650M on combating homelessness and mental illness

New York City will spend $650 million over the next five years to combat homelessness and mental illness, while increasing the number of police officers in the subway system.

New York’s toll for drivers entering center Manhattan starts today

New York’s new toll for drivers entering the center of Manhattan is starting up after it withstood years of political wrangling, a last-minute pause and a flurry of legal challenges.

FBI agents search home of top NYPD official amid allegations he demanded sex for overtime pay

Federal agents have been searching the home of a former top New York City police official who resigned last month after being accused of sexual misconduct.

NYC jail staff blocked medics from treating 23-year-old woman who died weeks later

A jail oversight board has found that New York City correction officers repeatedly blocked medical staff from administering care to a 23-year-old woman at Rikers Island weeks before her death.

Ex-NYPD chief admits a relationship with subordinate, but denies he demanded sex for overtime pay

A former top New York City police official has admitted through his lawyer that he had a “consensual, adult relationship” with a subordinate.

New York correctional officers pummeled handcuffed man before death, footage shows

Newly released body camera footage shows that a man fatally beaten in a New York prison this month was repeatedly pummeled by correctional officers while in handcuffs.

Prosecutors: Brooklyn businessman will plead guilty to conspiracy charge in case against Mayor Adams

Federal prosecutors say a Brooklyn real estate magnate working with a Turkish government official to funnel illegal campaign contributions to New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to plead guilty in the case.

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s death

The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution.

Former top aide to New York City’s mayor pleads not guilty in bribery case

The New York City mayor’s former chief adviser, her son and two real estate investors have been indicted on bribery and conspiracy charges.

Former top aide to New York City’s mayor expected in court on criminal charges, AP sources say

A former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected in court Thursday to face corruption charges in the latest blow to an administration beset by searches, resignations and the mayor’s own indictment.

Suspect in UnitedHealthcare’s CEO killing charged with murder as an act of terrorism

Prosecutors disclosed the indictment Tuesday as they worked to bring Luigi Mangione to a New York court from from a Pennsylvania jail.

Judge rejects Trump’s bid to toss hush money conviction because of Supreme Court immunity ruling

A judge has refused to dismiss President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.

Jay-Z’s lawyer says accuser’s rape claim is ‘provably, demonstrably false’

An attorney defending Jay-Z against a rape allegation says the unnamed accuser’s account is “provably, demonstrably false.”

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief adviser to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, resigns and expects to be indicted

A lawyer says a former top aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams expects to be indicted on criminal charges related to alleged improper gifts.

NYC’s mayor warms to Trump and doesn’t rule out becoming a Republican

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appears open to switching parties to become a Republican. Adams on Friday declined to rule out out a future change in political allegiances in a pair of interviews, riling critics who have grown concerned over the mayor’s increasing willingness to throw his support beh

New clues emerge as investigators hunt for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO

A masked gunman killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk on Wednesday.

Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s masked killer after ‘brazen, targeted’ attack on NYC street

UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been shot and killed in what police say is a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference.

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction

Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond.

Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after ‘alarming blood test,’ attorney says

An attorney for Harvey Weinstein says he was hospitalized following an “alarming blood test.” City records show the disgraced movie mogul was moved from Rikers Island in New York City to the Bellevue Prison Ward.

Judge finds New York City in contempt over jail conditions, moves closer to a federal takeover

A federal judge has found New York City in contempt over conditions in its city jails. Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan issued a written ruling on Wednesday, finding the city in contempt over 18 separate contempt claims.

Federal prosecutors seek records from company that deployed AI weapons scanner on NYC subway

Federal investigators in New York have requested records from the manufacturer of an AI-powered weapons scanner that was briefly deployed in New York City’s subway system.

Gold-plated rose stolen from NYC 9/11 memorial honoring influential pastor

New York City police are searching for a man accused of stealing a gold-plated rose from a Manhattan church memorial honoring the victims of 9/11.

Faulty fentanyl tests spurred NYC’s push to ban mail on Rikers Island

A push by New York City jail officials to block people detained at Rikers Island from receiving physical mail was based on faulty fentanyl test strips that overstated the influx of contraband sent through the mail.

Sister of ex-Marine charged in subway chokehold death testifies to his ‘calm’ spirit and patriotism

Defense attorneys began their defense of a former U.S. Marine charged with fatally choking a homeless man aboard a Manhattan subway by calling the defendant’s older sister to the witness stand.

New York judge rejects state efforts to shutter bitcoin mine over climate concerns

A New York judge has rejected an effort by state regulators to shutter a bitcoin mine over concerns about its greenhouse gas emissions.