• [Coronavirus monologue — 7 northeast states form a joint committee to evaluate ending social distancing]

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  116 years ago on April 8, 1904 — Longacre Square is renamed 'Times Square'

  
  


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  107 years ago on April 9, 1913 — The first game is played at Ebbets Field

  
  


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  154 years ago on April 10, 1866 — The ASPCA is founded in New York City, becoming the oldest animal welfare organization in the United States

  
  


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  59 years ago on April 11, 1961 — Bob Dylan plays in Greenwich Village for the first time

  
  


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  115 years ago on April 12, 1905 — The Hippodrome Theatre opens

  
  


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  103 years ago on April 12, 1917 — The Bijou Theatre opens on 45th Street at Broadway

  
  


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  38 years ago on April 12, 1982 — Three CBS employees are killed after encountering a gunman abducting a woman on the top of the Pier 92 parking garage

  
  


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  17 years ago on April 13, 2003 — Subway tokens are phased out and replaced by the MetroCard

  
  


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  2 years ago on April 14, 2018 — David Buckel, a prominent gay rights lawyer and environmental advocate, sets himself on fire in Prospect Park

  
  


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  9 years ago on April 16, 2011 — Area code 929 enters service

  
  


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  1 year ago on April 17, 2019 — A man was taken into custody after attempting to enter St. Patrick's Cathedral with cans of gasoline

  
  


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  14 years ago on April 18, 2006 — Roosevelt Island Tram suffers mechanical problems, trapping 69 people in two tram cars in the air for seven hours

  
  

A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more.

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Park of the day

• Ionia Avenue Forest — A very densely-forested triangle at the southern end of Staten Island

New York Fact

Here's something you may not have known about New York:

• NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority, oversees 325 housing developments citywide comprised of 2,418 buildings that house 400,000 New Yorkers

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:

Record High: 92°F on April 16, 2002

Record Low: 22°F on April 12, 1874

• AGBC Weather


• Weather.gov forecast

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Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com