Washington
‘Village Interagency Task Force’ aims to tackle drug use, homelessness at Washington Square Park and nearby blocks | amNewYork
Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.launched the new “Village Interagency Task Force” , a group of city and community agencies who will tackle quality of life issues near Washington Square Park.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell.
Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg unveiled the newly formed “Village Interagency Task Force,” a bold initiative to tackle rampant drug use, homelessness and other societal woes in the Greenwich Village and West Village neighborhoods, including Washington Square Park.
The force will harness the collective power of more than ten city agencies and community partners to address chronic challenges ranging from drug use and homelessness to crime and public disorder. The Village Interagency Task Force is part of a larger “Community Link” initiative launched by the Adams administration, which aims to foster collaboration among various city departments to address pressing quality-of-life concerns across the five boroughs.
“This initiative marks a pivotal moment for our community,” Mayor Adams said during the unveiling in Washington Square Park. “New Yorkers have a right to public order, safer streets, and cleaner parks, and this administration has fought for that right since day one. With the Village Interagency Task Force, we’re implementing a stronger, more effective approach to safety and quality of life issues that have long burdened our vibrant community. We will work tirelessly to ensure this neighborhood remains a dynamic and welcoming destination.”
Bragg acknowledged the significance of this collective effort.
“Public safety and community wellbeing take all of us working hand-in-hand—law enforcement, city agencies, and community leaders,” Bragg said. “That is the vision of our interdisciplinary hubs, and I am proud to bring this vision into reality here in the Village. We are committed to bringing meaningful change to the lives of New Yorkers we serve.”
Several local leaders are leading this endeavor, including Scott Hobbs, co-chair of the Village Interagency Task Force and Executive Director of the Village Alliance, who emphasized the necessity of a united front in addressing pressing concerns.
“Our small business community is also being heavily impacted by lawlessness, with rampant theft and harassment becoming far too common. This task force is a crucial step toward restoring public safety and vibrancy to our community. We’ve already noticed substantial changes and look forward to continued progress,” Hobbs said.
The task force, which includes representatives from local organizations, New York University, and a range of city agencies including the NYPD, Fire Department, and the Departments of Homeless Services and Health, will address issues such as the use and sale of controlled substances, retail theft, and mental health challenges.
“It takes a village,” Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker said. “Everyone is coming together with a shared commitment to making the village safer and stronger. We are at one table, taking concrete steps together to address the concerns of our community strategically and effectively.”
The initiative follows a series of public outreach efforts that began in May 2024, which involved collaborative operations by the NYPD and the Department of Homeless Services to address issues related to drug use and homelessness in Washington Square Park.
Since the implementation of these measures, there has been a reported 23% decrease in overall major crimes in the 6th Precinct.
LONGVIEW, Wash. (KPTV/Gray News) – Officials say they have found the remains and identified all of the missing workers following a chemical vat implosion at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill on Tuesday.
The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office released the names of those killed, bringing the death toll to 11:
- 52-year-old Gilbert Bernal of Kelso, Oregon.
- 29-year-old Tyler Covington of Castle Rock, Oregon.
- 27-year-old Brad Covington of Castle Rock, Oregon.
- 48-year-old Robert Wilson of Clatskanie, Oregon.
- 54-year-old Dale Miller of Portland, Oregon.
- 35-year-old Jared Ammons of Longview, Washington.
- 38-year-old Braydon Finkas of Cathlamet, Washington.
- 26-year-old Clinton Doran of Kelso, Oregon.
- 51-year-old John Forsberg of Longview, Washington.
- 58-year-old Norman Barlow of Vancouver, Washington.
- Dillon Miller, taken to a Portland hospital; coroner has no other information.
Officials say a 900,000-gallon tank containing a highly destructive chemical called white liquor imploded at the facility just after 7:15 a.m.
Roughly 600,000 gallons of the substance rushed through work areas at the plant on Tuesday when the tank ruptured.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called it “the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.”
Multiple people, including a firefighter, were injured and taken to area hospitals for treatment following the implosion. Some of those injured were also brought to the Oregon Burn Center.
Investigators were looking into what caused the tank to implode in the first place and whether there’s a risk of it happening again.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said it would begin an investigation into the implosion after the recovery efforts are concluded.
Officials said some of the chemical had made its way into the Columbia River and they have received reports of dead fish near the site’s spillways.
The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were monitoring air and water quality and working to assess any other environmental impacts.
Copyright 2026 KPTV via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Washington Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 29, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 29 drawing
19-24-47-59-65, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 29 drawing
10
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 29 drawing
5-3-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Match 4 numbers from May 29 drawing
01-20-21-24
Check Match 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Hit 5 numbers from May 29 drawing
09-27-28-29-30
Check Hit 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Keno numbers from May 29 drawing
01-04-08-10-13-18-21-28-30-37-39-41-42-45-50-54-55-75-76-78
Check Keno payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Washington Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Washington Lottery’s regional offices.
To claim by mail, complete a winner claim form and the information on the back of the ticket, making sure you have signed it, and mail it to:
Washington Lottery Headquarters
PO Box 43050
Olympia, WA 98504-3050
For in-person claims, visit a Washington Lottery regional office and bring a winning ticket, photo ID, Social Security card and a voided check (optional).
Olympia Headquarters
Everett Regional Office
Federal Way Office
Spokane Department of Imagination
Vancouver Office
Tri-Cities Regional Office
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Washington Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Washington Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 8 p.m. PT Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash Pop: 8 p.m. PT daily.
- Pick 3: 8 p.m. PT daily.
- Match 4: 8 p.m. PT daily.
- Hit 5: 8 p.m. PT daily.
- Daily Keno: 8 p.m. PT daily.
- Lotto: 8 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:30 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Washington editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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