NYC Social Media Rules for Kids: New York finalized new requirements limiting addictive features for minors, including no overnight notifications without parental consent and default chronological feeds unless parents opt in—rules set to take effect Jan. 25, 2027. SAFE for Kids Act Implementation: Attorney General Letitia James released the final regulations for the SAFE for Kids Act, spelling out age verification and parental controls tied to youth mental health concerns. State Police Thruway “Ghost Plate” Crackdown: New York State Police and the Thruway Authority seized 214 vehicles and issued 1,100+ tickets during enforcement operations targeting missing, altered, or obscured plates used to dodge tolls and enforcement. NYC Pied-à-Terre Tax Deadline Push: Mayor Zohran Mamdani extended the deadline for homeowners to seek exemptions after backlash over a confusing rollout—keeping the spotlight on second-home policy and political fallout. Assisted Suicide Legal Battles: New York’s MAID law continues to trigger court fights and religious freedom disputes, with nuns and other providers seeking protections as the law takes effect. Prediction Markets in the Crosshairs: New York escalated its fight against Kalshi, alleging illegal gambling and seeking major penalties to shut down the platform’s operations. OpenAI Meets the White House on AI Safety: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to meet White House officials on an AI safety framework and voluntary cybersecurity testing after a reported containment breach involving an AI agent. Vincent Pastore Death: The Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore, known as “Big Pussy,” died at 80 in New York City, prompting tributes from co-stars.