Extra Time: Over 100 protesters arrested at Columbia University; full jury seated in Trump trial
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- In this edition of Eyewitness News Extra Time, we have the latest on arrests made at Columbia University on Thursday, and day 3 of Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial in New York City.
NYPD officers in riot gear moved Thursday afternoon to clear the tent encampment on the lawn of Columbia University, arresting over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters.
The university has been a hotbed of protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. The mass of arrests comes a day after the president of the university faced questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill over claims of antisemitism on campus.
Eyewitness News reporter Jim Dolan is in Morningside Heights with the more.
Here are the major headlines from Thursday's show:
Full jury seated in Trump's criminal trial
After day 3 of Trump's criminal trial started with two seated jurors removed, it ended with the case moving forward with all 12 jurors and one alternate now seated.
Lawyers in the trial now need to select five alternates to round out the panel that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president.
Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett has more from Lower Manhattan.
NYC's war on rats starts with birth control?
Meanwhile, the city's war on rats continues. Now there's a new weapon in the battle, and it involves preventing the rat population from reproducing.
The New York City Council is taking up new legislation that would create a "rat birth control" pilot program. Under the new legislation, the Health Department would be required to deploy contraceptive pellets that sterilize both male and female rats.
The pilot program would start in two neighborhoods. The measure also aims to reduce reliance on rat poison, which contributed to the death of "Flaco" the owl.
Joining us with more is the sponsor of the legislation, New York City Council member Shaun Abreu.
Affordable childcare in NYC
The New York City Council is also pushing the Adams administration to reverse $170 million in funding cuts for early childhood education. Lawmakers say the money is crucial for young families.
They warn that any rollbacks to the city's 3-K and pre-K programs will worsen child care in the city, and drive more middle-class New Yorkers to leave as housing and food prices surge.
Governor Kathy Hochul addressed the pressing need for affordable childcare during the White House's "Making Care Work Virtual Summit."
You can watch 'Eyewitness News Extra Time' live Monday-Friday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7NY.com or our ABC7NY app on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV and Android TV.
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