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Gov. Kathy Hochul endorses Mamdani for mayor of New York

(NYT) — Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City on Sunday night in a New York Times editorial, providing critical support before the November election.

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Hochul’s endorsement, after months of deliberation, is the latest sign that Democratic leaders who have been skeptical of Mamdani’s leftist views are beginning to coalesce around him.

Hochul and Mamdani represent divergent sectors of their party. She is a moderate who recently declared herself a lover of capitalism, vowed not to raise taxes and supports Israel. He is a democratic socialist who wants higher taxes on the richest New Yorkers and is highly critical of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

The two leaders also have vastly different life stories: Hochul, 67, is from Buffalo and patiently rose through her party’s ranks; Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda and grew up in Manhattan and surprised the political world with his victory in the Democratic primary in June.

Hochul said in an interview with Fox News last month that she still had “many differences” with Mamdani.

“But there are also areas of alignment, including affordability,” she said. “His election touched a nerve and people said, ‘You know what? We’re just not getting ahead.’”

Hochul and Mamdani are both focused on addressing the affordability crisis in the state and the city and could each benefit from their new alliance. Hochul is up for reelection next year, possibly running against Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican and a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, and could be eager to tap into Mamdani’s base of young voters.

Hochul’s endorsement could help prove that establishment Democrats view Mamdani as someone they can work with. If Mamdani wins, he will need Hochul to enact his ambitious agenda. Mamdani has pledged to implement free buses and universal child care, among other programs, and will need help from state lawmakers to pay for them.

Nebraska confirms first case of bird flu in dairy cattle herd

CHICAGO (Reuters) — Nebraska confirmed its first case of bird flu in a dairy cattle herd, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday, showing the virus continues to spread in livestock after an outbreak began last year.

Dairy cattle in 17 states have been confirmed to be infected since the start of the outbreak in March 2024, though reports of cases generally have slowed since last year, according to the USDA. California, Michigan, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona and Texas also reported cases in herds this year.

Infected cows often produce less milk, consume less feed and suffer other symptoms.

Bird flu viruses circulating in dairy cows and birds pose a low risk to the general public, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Farm workers who come in contact with infected animals are more at risk.

Since 2024, the virus has infected 70 people, mostly workers on dairy farms, according to the CDC.

Pasteurized milk sold to consumers is safe because pasteurization has been shown to inactivate the virus, the USDA said in a statement.

The herd in Nebraska is located in the central part of the state and has been quarantined, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.