Midday News: New Year, New Laws, Construction Safety Warnings, and “Imminent Danger” Developments

As 2025 begins, several new laws take effect in New York. The statewide minimum wage rises to $15.50, with higher rates of $16.50 in NYC, Westchester, and Long Island. Other changes include stricter penalties for fare evasion and a requirement for employers to provide paid time off for pre-natal care visits. Meanwhile, high winds prompt construction safety warnings from the NYC Buildings Department, while the MTA bans empty tractor-trailers and tandem trucks on key bridges starting this afternoon. Finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre and Christopher Werth discuss recent developments in the story of an OBGYN whose medical license was restored in New York after a state health department investigation found he’d harmed several patients.