Early Addition: A self-defense ruling frees a Bronx man from prison

Also, what we love about NYC beaches. [View this email in a browser.]( Gothamist relies on your support to make local news available to all. Not yet a member? [Consider donating and join today.]( [Bronx man who shot neighbor in back during gunfight may have acted in self defense, court rules]( [first image]( [by Emily Nadal]( It’s Monday morning in New York City, and a Bronx man who was found guilty of fatally shooting his neighbor during a 2015 gunfight will be released early from prison after a rare appeals court decision vacated his manslaughter charge after [prosecutors argued he acted in self defense.]( There will be no newsletter tomorrow morning in honor of July 4th. We’ll be back on Wednesday with more news from Gothamist and around the city and internet. Here's what else is happening: - As a city of water, New York (and our neighbors in New Jersey) has so many great beaches to check out. Here are [Gothamist’s recommendations for 9 of them.]( - In some tragic beach news, however, police say a 14-year-old boy [drowned in the Rockaways Sunday evening.]( - A camp counselor who was leading a group of young people in a Connecticut state park was [attacked by a rabid bobcat](. The counselor and two other adults were able to fight off the cat and were treated for their injuries, while the bobcat was taken to the State Public Health laboratory. - A 5-year-old Bronx girl who was shot in the back by a stray bullet while driving with her parents Friday night near her home is [alert, talking and “doing better,”]( according to her grandmother. - Police arrested a Brooklyn man accused of [hanging his pitbull,]( Romeo, by his collar off of a fifth floor banister in his apartment building. - New Jersey will no longer require people who use public defenders to pay fees associated with their lawyers [under a new bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Friday.]( - Another proposed NJ law would give renters and homebuyers the [right to know if their prospective home has flooded recently.]( - Spotted lanternflies are [back for another season]( and some experts are predicting their presence may be particularly overwhelming this year, especially in Brooklyn. - Yusef Salaam’s victory in the Harlem City Council race was not only a win for him but also a [comeback for his mentor]( Manhattan Democratic Party leader Keith Wright. - In honor of World UFO Day, commemorated each July 2, Patch highlighted some of the [strange sightings reported by New Yorkers since 2022](. - An eight-year NYC Department of Education investigation found 18 ultra-Orthodox yeshivas [are not providing students with a secular education]( that meets state standards. - In the [wake of extensive]( flight cancellations and delays at NYC-area airports last week, United said they [may have to change or reduce their flight schedule at Newark Airport]( as it works to expand their number of gates. - All those flight cancellations and delays have forced [some people to resort to U-Hauls]( to get to their destination. - Funding for social services that help repeat offenders by [encouraging them to stay out of trouble]( and show up for court as they await trial was included in the city’s budget, which was adopted Friday. - John Adams may have predicted our love of fireworks to commemorate Independence Day, but he was also the only president not to partake in July 4th celebrations. [Here are more random facts about fireworks and the holiday.]( “What self defense? My son was shot through the back.” - Yvonne Rodriguez, whose son was killed in a 2015 gunfight, [DISCUSSING THE COURT'S DECISION TO RELEASE THE MAN WHO SHOT HER SON ON THE GROUNDS OF SELF-DEFENSE.]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [NYC's July 4th fireworks show: Where to watch and what streets are closed]( The 4th of July fireworks spectacle in NYC is a time to grab a hotdog, sing along to an anti-war Bruce Springsteen anthem, and gaze in wonder at some government sanctioned explosives with your fellow Americans. [Catcalling in NYC: How to fight back against street harassment]( A study commissioned by L'Oreal Paris and One Poll found that 46% of those who have experienced public harassment, say they've gone through more of it in the past five years than at any other time in their lives. [We Rely On Your Support]( [Get your Rockaway lobster fix and more things to do around NYC in the coming week]( Free concerts, lobster rolls, art shows, swing orchestras and more activities to do around the city this week. [Pilot program will install public package lockers on New York City sidewalks: DOT]( A new pilot program launching this summer will install public package lockers on city streets in an effort to minimize package thefts and reduce delivery truck trips, Department of Transportation officials announced on Friday. [New York Public Radio] [WNYC]( | [WQXR]( | [NJPR]( | [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( | [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 [TERMS OF USE]( You can update your [PREFERENCES]( or [UNSUBSCRIBE]( from this list.