NewsBreak Original

Ridgewood, Queens, a trendy neighborhood north of Bushwick, has witnessed a significant decline in the number of registered rent-stabilized apartments in recent years. While the citywide decline in registered rent-stabilized units is roughly 10%, Ridgewood's decline was over 65% in just two years. According to an analysis by THE CITY, one possible explanation for this decline is a loophole in New York's rent regulations that allows landlords to remove entire buildings from regulation by using the "substantial rehabilitation" exception.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and businesses in West Virginia have not been spared. The state has seen a significant number of businesses shut their doors since the pandemic hit, with nearly 100,000 businesses permanently closing across the United States by July 2020. The restaurant industry was particularly hard hit, with the number of closures increasing by 10% since July, according to data from Yelp.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to destroy communities across the globe, new research is emerging that links the disease to an alarming rise in heart attacks among young adults.

A recent social media post circulating online claims that NBA player Magic Johnson contracted HIV from a vaccine. However, this claim is entirely false and misleading. Magic Johnson has repeatedly stated that he contracted HIV through sexual transmission since his diagnosis in 1991.

In recent years, technology companies have been hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, leading to widespread layoffs across the industry. IBM is the latest tech mammoth to announce job cuts, with plans to eliminate 3,900 positions or 1.5% of its global workforce.

Artwork showing asteroid approaching EarthCredit: Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library/Corbis; Public Domain Image. Earth continuously gets hit by asteroids and comets. However, most of the asteroids are quite tiny in size like dust particles. Any larger asteroids are a cause of concern.

Bristol Casino artist renderingBristol Casino/Bristol Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. With the temporary Bristol Casino opening this July, Hard Rock Digital announced the expansion on Monday. A press release from the company said the mobile app is now live for Hard Rock Sportsbook and a trail sports book is scheduled to open with the Bristol Casino on July 8, 2022.

The Orange Park and Fleming Island libraries’ Small Business Centers opened Wednesday for current owners, entrepreneurs and small business startups to reserve at their convenience. These centers aim to assist in economic and business development.

The latest addition to the Bluff City community is South Fork Coffee. The donation-based coffee shop supports the Impact Community Center in Bluff City and helps fund the operations. The coffee shop is at the waterfront of the South Fork of the Holston River or Boone Lake, depending upon the time of year - right across from the Little League field and caboose. South Fork Coffee is has gotten some rave reviews and regular clientele since opening earlier this month. They're open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays. I think it's worth the trip if you like coffee and happen to be in the area. I'm sure they'd like to see you at their drive-through or enjoying the calming atmosphere and wi-fi inside.

Impact Community Center - Bluff CityJohn Dabbs/Photographer. The Impact Community Center in Bluff City is making good use of the former Bluff City High School/Bluff City Middle School building after purchase from the Sullivan County Department of Education. The community center is making an impact in the community, bringing new use to the building with close ties to many in the community.