Northeast
Mamdani takes heat over skipping decades-long tradition of attending Catholic archbishop installation ceremony
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash after he decided to skip Friday’s investiture of the new Catholic archbishop of the city, Ronald Hicks, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
In a Friday editorial from the New York Daily News, the outlet tore into Mamdani for failing to attend the new archbishop’s installation ceremony, becoming the first city mayor to do so in several decades.
“Mayor Mamdani was wrong and frankly rude to skip Friday’s investiture of the new Catholic archbishop of New York, Ronald Hicks. As leader of the city — the whole city — it is important for the mayor — any mayor — to participate in the major milestones of our varied communities and here Mamdani failed,” the editorial board wrote.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a Bloomberg Television interview at City Hall in New York, on Jan. 29, 2026. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
As noted by the Daily News, the installation of a new archbishop is a “significant event for New York Catholics and for all New Yorkers, and even all Americans,” as the New York archbishop is widely seen as the “de facto leader of the American church.”
The outlet argued that the mayor “broke new ground with his absence from the ceremony at St. Patrick’s,” considering the long-honored tradition of New York City mayors attending the event.
“Every mayor going back as far as we can find has been present for the arrival of a new archbishop. Perhaps Mamdani could have made amends by going to the first mass celebrated by Hicks yesterday. But he didn’t do that either,” the Daily News noted.
When asked about Mamdani’s absence from the ceremony, Hicks responded that while he hadn’t spoken to the mayor yet, he looked forward to doing so.
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New York Archbishop-designate Ronald A. Hicks, who is taking over from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, holds up a letter from Pope Leo XIV declaring his new position during the Installation Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Feb. 6, 2026. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool/Reuters)
The Daily News railed that it was “outrageous” Mamdani hadn’t yet spoken with the new archbishop, arguing that he’s had more than enough time to do so.
“It was on Dec. 18 when fellow Chicagoan, Pope Leo XIV, tapped Hicks to take over in New York from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served 17 years. That was when Mamdani, as mayor-elect, should have made a congratulatory phone call to Hicks in Joliet, Ill., welcoming him to New York,” the outlet contended, adding that “Mamdani had 50 days notice” of the installation ceremony.
Despite attending the mayor’s annual prayer breakfast Friday morning at the Main Branch of the New York Public Library, less than 10 blocks from St. Patrick’s, the outlet argued that “he could have attended the investiture in the afternoon.”
“We know that someone around the mayor carefully keeps track of his days in office, with a sign counting up. Friday was “37 days of a new era.” A new era of what? Rudeness? Disrespect? Ignorance?” the Daily News questioned.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference on Jan. 27, 2026, in New York City. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
The outlet also compared Mamdani’s decision to skip the installation ceremony to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ “big mistake” of declining former New York City’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan’s invitation to attend the annual Al Smith Dinner alongside President Donald Trump.
“Mamdani should not follow her bad example. He should rent a white tie tux and be up on the dais every fall for the next four years,” the Daily News asserted. “The next dinner is Oct. 15, a Thursday, at the Waldorf. See you there, Mr. Mayor.”
The New York Post similarly criticized the mayor’s absence from the ceremony, arguing that Mamdani “committed a cardinal sin last week by dissing millions of area Catholics as the first city mayor in nearly 100 years — and possibly ever — to skip the local archbishop’s installation.”
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani reads a newspaper on the subway on his way to City Hall in New York, Jan. 2, 2026. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Photo)
The Post highlighted that “City Hall ignored several outreach attempts” by the outlet to comment on his “conspicuous absence from the ceremony, which started at 2 p.m.” — well after his prayer breakfast Friday morning.
“After publication, a City Hall spokesperson said the two would be talking on Tuesday and that Mamdani had a scheduling conflict, so instead sent one of his deputy mayors, who is Catholic,” the Post reported.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
Former Mayor Eric Adams also weighed in on Mamdani’s absence, reposting the Post’s article on X, saying, “Our religious communities are foundational to New York City, and the Catholic Church’s daily service to our city is indispensable.”
“As your former Mayor, I proudly reflect the gratitude of countless New Yorkers and extend a warm welcome to Archbishop Ronald Hicks,” he added.
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It’s only fitting that one of the most eventful offseasons in Pittsburgh Steelers history will be capped by an equally unpredictable NFL draft. Owning 12 picks, including five in the top 100 for the first time since 1999, GM Omar Khan has a chance to radically change the franchise’s trajectory in front of a home crowd in Pittsburgh.
Last time they held five picks in the top 100, the Steelers found a couple very good long-term starters like OLB Joey Porter Sr. and DE Aaron Smith. But they also struck out on WR Troy Edwards, DB Scott Shields, and OT Kris Farris.
At a pivotal, transitional phase in franchise history, the Steelers can’t afford to find just two good starters. That may be a challenge in a draft lacking top-end talent that falls off a cliff in the later rounds. If they are out of range of coveted players, they can’t be timid in the trade market.
I posed the question on this week’s episode of The Depot Dive: Over or under 2.5 trades for the Steelers? I wanted to take the over, but it’s hard to make that work without a trade down. I settled on two.
All that said, here’s my best attempt at predicting what the Steelers will do in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round One (12th Overall) – Spencer Fano/OL/Utah – 6054, 311 pounds
Trade: Steelers send Patrick Queen + Pick No. 21 + Pick No. 121 + Pick No. 224. Cowboys send Pick No. 12 + 2027 sixth-round pick.
If they want Vega Ioane or Fano, I think it will require a move up. But I don’t think the Steelers will want to sacrifice a lot of picks to accomplish that. Queen is an easy target with the Cowboys having reported interest in trading for him during free agency.
Using our Dave Bryan’s trade idea as a loose template, I like the Steelers to jump up in the first round to solidify the trenches once again. This is the best move for the current—which we know the Steelers place a heavy emphasis on—and the future as they lock in a potentially elite offensive line for the next decade.
It’s a bonus that Fano can play guard now — and potentially tackle later if Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook don’t work out. Fano is Dane Brugler’s top OL in the class. If he makes it to 12, I like the value a lot.
Others Considered: OG Vega Ioane, WR Makai Lemon, TE Kenyon Sadiq
Spencer Fano Scouting Report
Round Two (53rd Overall) – Jacob Rodriguez/ILB/Texas Tech – 6013, 231 pounds
Trading Queen creates a need that outweighs others (like wide receiver). Maybe Rodriguez doesn’t fall this far, but he should be the Steelers’ top target if he does.
As a former quarterback, Rodriguez has a unique football IQ that could be a force multiplier for the entire Steelers defense–something Patrick Queen never really turned into. I witnessed it firsthand at the Senior Bowl. He got everybody aligned correctly pre-snap in an environment where all had to learn a new defense in just a few days.
He’s also the most decorated defensive playmaker coming out of college in decades, even more than Payton Wilson’s impressive list of accolades from a couple years ago. This would be a home-run pick.
Others Considered: WR Denzel Boston, ILB CJ Allen, S Treydan Stukes
Jacob Rodriguez Scouting Report
Round Two (59th Overall) – Germie Bernard/WR/Alabama – 6012, 206 pounds
Trade: Steelers send No. 76 + No. 99. Texans send No. 59.
Another move up to make sure the Steelers get a receiver they like at the end of the second round. Bernard was a pre-draft visitor and has the size and athletic profile that Mike McCarthy likes at the position. He does everything well, and played a healthy mix of slot and outside receiver to fit in the rotation with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
Others Considered: WR Zachariah Branch, WR Chris Bell, ILB Jake Golday
Germie Bernard Scouting Report
Round Three (85th Overall) – Kamari Ramsey/S/USC – 6002, 202 pounds
Not every selection will be a pre-draft visitor, and Ramsey fits the description of the type of defensive back the Steelers have looked at. He has played a strong mix of safety and nickel and is capable of being a chess piece in Patrick Graham’s defense. Given the Steelers’ crowded secondary, he could focus on backing up Jalen Ramsey at free safety in the beginning.
Others Considered: S Jalen Kilgore, OG Keylan Rutledge, QB Drew Allar
Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report
Round Four (135th Overall) – Carson Beck/QB/Miami (FL) – 6046, 233 pounds
The Steelers have spent too much time scouting quarterbacks not to take one. And Beck has several traits they are looking for, including his track record as a winner and his size at nearly 6-5. Their view of Mike McCarthy as a QB whisperer suggests they will give him as many projects as possible until one sticks.
Others Considered: CB Tacario Davis, QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Ja’Kobi Lane
Carson Beck Scouting Report
Round Five (161st Overall) – Ephesians Prysock/CB/Washington – 6033, 196 pounds
Prysock has all the traits to turn into an impact starter, and the Steelers have gravitated toward th long, rangy athletes at cornerback. He wouldn’t need to see the field right away with a crowded stable of defensive backs, but he has plenty of long-term upside.
Others Considered: WR/KR Kendrick Law, WR Josh Cameron, S Michael Taaffe
Ephesians Prysock Scouting Report
Round Six (216th Overall) – Kaden Wetjen/WR-KR/Iowa – 5090, 193 pounds
Calvin Austin III and Kenneth Gainwell both departed in the offseason, which means the Steelers need a kick and punt returner. Wetjen is the top return specialist in the draft with six total return touchdowns in college.
Others Considered: OT Aamil Wagner, CB Thaddeus Dixon, WR Caleb Douglas
Kaden Wetjen Scouting Report
Round Seven (230th Overall) – Josh Cuevas/TE/Alabama – 6033, 245 pounds
Cuevas is versatile enough to be a rotational backup tight end, and to play H-back or fullback in certain personnel packages. He’s a committed and aggressive blocker and has enough receiving skills to be a dependable option on passing downs, either running routes or blocking.
Others Considered: DL David Gusta, RB Jaydn Ott, TE Matthew Hibner
Josh Cuevas Scouting Report
Round Seven (237th Overall) – Brett Thorson/P/Georgia – 6012, 237 pounds
The Steelers brought back Cameron Johnston, but they didn’t even keep him over Corliss Waitman after last year’s training camp competition. Johnston is 34 years old and has dealt with injuries in each of the last two seasons. Thorson has a relationship with Johnston as a fellow Aussie, so it could be a decent pairing for another training camp competition this year.
Others Considered: WR CJ Daniels, QB Sawyer Robertson, TE John Michael Gyllenborg
Brett Thorson Scouting Report
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in September 2022.
When it comes to Maine hiking, summiting Katahdin is the ultimate achievement.
Maine’s tallest mountain stands at 5,269 feet, and there are a number of different trails hikers can take to get up and down Katahdin. And while some are harder than others, none are easy.
But the views are incredible.
Whether it’s the rugged terrain of the Knife Edge or the vast landscape of the 200,000 acres that compose Baxter State Park below, here’s a look at what it’s like to climb Katahdin.
Hunt Trail
Abol Trail
Chimney Pond Trail
Cathedral Trail
Saddle Trail
Northwest Basin Trail
Knife Edge
Tablelands
South Peak
Hamlin Peak
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