Residents used the fire escape to get out. 

Johan Valencia-Restrepo, 35, of New Milford, has been charged with assault by auto.

"It catapulted up into the air"

Surveillance video from a neighboring business captured the moment of impact. The vehicle came down the steep hill on Midland Avenue around 3 a.m. and slammed into a real estate business on Kinderkamack Road, and then caught fire. 

The vehicle's occupants escaped the flames and were taken to a hospital for treatment. 

"The car came down at a very high rate of speed and rammed right into the building. It catapulted up into the air," Loren Haber said. 

Darry Pita, a property manager for Nigito Realty, said residents in the upstairs apartments had to scramble to escape. 

"Our tenants, our four tenants upstairs, two of them went out through the fire escape in the back. The other two went out the front. So they are safe. That was my main concern. And luckily none of our employees were in the office at that time," Pita said. 

One of those residents had to be treated for smoke inhalation. 

"It's very dangerous"

Area residents and workers say it's a dangerous intersection, and that buildings there have been struck by cars multiple times. 

"People just come flying down that hill. It's very dangerous," Pita said. 

"It's a combination of careless driving and no respect for the road," Haber said. 

The building that was struck was deemed unsafe for now. 

The Red Cross is assisting residents of the upstairs apartments with temporary relocation. 

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation.

Alexander Stepnowsky was arrested Tuesday. The 23-year-old Connecticut resident, in his fourth year at NYU this year, turned himself in to police.

Stepnowsky was charged with burglary as a hate crime, criminal trespass as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment. 

Stepnowsky pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday and released without bail. He's due back in court in August. 

Police sources say Stepnowsky made statements to the police expressing frustration with NYU's involvement with Israel's political issues. 

Stepnowsky allegedly raised the flag back on May 13. He was allegedly captured on surveillance video using his NYU ID to swipe his way into the facility where he raised the flag. 

The flag itself was purple and resembled the flag of Israel, with stripes above and below a Star of David in the center. Inside the star was NYU's torch emblem, and flanking the star on both sides were large swastikas. 

"The University cooperated fully with the NYPD. We are grateful for their exhaustive work and for the efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney in identifying the person responsible for this heinous crime. The symbols that were represented are antisemitic and hateful to every person of conscience; this appalling act violated our sense of community and solidarity. In addition to criminal proceedings, we will immediately pursue our disciplinary procedures, which carry the most severe consequences," said Wiley Norvell, senior vice president for university relations and public affairs at NYU. 

The Academy Award-winning director is a courtside fixture at games -- a lifelong fan. 

As the Knicks go toe-to-toe with the Spurs in the NBA Finals, Lee stopped by CBS Mornings to talk about this moment. His next stop? San Antonio, to watch Wednesday night's Game 1 in person.

"New York City is on fire ... It's amazing"

Lee said he used to go to Knicks games with his father, and they sat so far in the back of Madison Square Garden they could touch the roof. 

"That's all we could afford," Lee said. 

That's a far cry from his current courtside presence. 

So how else have things changed for the Knicks? 

"New York City is on fire, no pun intended. It's amazing. People are smiling, talking to strangers, wearing orange and blue -- what sports can do," Lee said. "We've got a squad, we've got a coach, and basketball is New York City's game." 

For evidence of that, Lee said, just look at how many basketball courts there are in the five boroughs. 

"It's our time. I'm a believer. No disrespect," Lee said.

Knicks' bandwagon has plenty of room, Lee says

Lee said he has no problem with people hopping on the Knicks bandwagon. After all, it has been 53 years since they last won the league championship.

"Latecomers, that's all right. Just get on board," Lee said.

Lee said he'd rather have the Knicks win the title than himself win another Academy Award, or have a street in Brooklyn named after him.

"Is the pope Catholic?" he joked.

His prediction?

"Knicks in six," he said. 

The district is one of the most vulnerable for House Republicans in the 2026 midterms, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating the race a toss up. The race will help determine which party controls the House for the final two years of President Trump's second term.

Kean won the seat in 2022 after redistricting made the district more favorable to Republicans. President Trump endorsed Kean on Monday, saying he's "working tirelessly" to achieve his priorities.

But Kean's whereabouts since he last voted on March 5 are unknown. In an April 27 statement, Kean said he was addressing a "personal medical issue." Statements from his staff and family members have only added to the mystery. 

"There's no cameras where Tom is," his chief of staff told the New York Times. 

Kean's father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., told CNN that his doctors "all agree he's going to be fine." 

"It took a real illness to knock him out," Kean Sr. added. "This won't linger. It's not some kind of disease that's going to incapacitate him in the future. The consensus is that he will be 100% OK."

In a phone interview with the New Jersey Globe on May 21, the congressman offered few details about the medical issue and reiterated that he is running for a third term. 

Kean issued another statement Tuesday via his campaign that said he was focusing on his recovery and that he would be back in Washington in several weeks. 

"I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition," Kean said, giving no new details about his health. 

Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, beat three Democratic opponents to advance to the November general election. 

But that doesn't mean diehard Knicks fans can't still watch the series against the Spurs with hundreds, or even thousands, of their closest friends.

Welcome to the madness of watch parties, Big Apple-style.

• Read more: How to watch the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs

MSG, SummerStage watch parties

Parked outside of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Knicks fan Jonathan Soba, with sign in hand, was begging for NBA Finals tickets. But the price tag appeared to be prohibitive for him, as it has been for many other New Yorkers.

"I'm trying to see the game, but I value my rent a little bit more," Soba said. "Hey James Dolan, can you get me some tickets? Can you believe that Knicks tickets cost $3,000?"

But Soba did manage to get his hands on the next best thing -- tickets to the official Knicks Game 1 watch party inside Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

"I will be here at 5 o'clock just to chant a little more and go see a game," Soba said.

Tickets for the Garden watch party are sold out, but access to the Knicks' quest for their first championship in 53 years doesn't end there. SummerStage in Central Park will also hold a watch party on Wednesday. Tickets are free, but you have to pre-register.

• Read more: Knicks' run to the NBA Finals is the talk of New York City: "It's about damn time"

The mayor's office also said there will be a watch party outside the Garden. City officials said the permit that the Garden applied for to have the event was approved. 

Plans for future watch parties outside the arena will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis, according to a spokesperson from the mayor's office. 

Bars of all shapes and sizes will be showing the Finals

In addition, a handful of bars are also a part of the official watch parties, but every sports bar is getting in on the action. Slate on 21st Street in Manhattan is an immersive two-story venue with massive screens and even a slide to get between floors.

"It's quite crazy. We have never seen anything like it," owner Telly Hatzigeorgiou said. "The phones are ringing off the hook. All the tables are sold out tomorrow."

Hatzigeorgiou called Tuesday night the calm before the storm as close to 1,000 people are expected in his establishment on Wednesday night.

"The past couple of weeks with the Knicks and their performance, the energy in this room, it's gotta be more than courtside at the Garden," he said.

No matter where you watch Game 1, most everyone in these parts is in agreement, "Let's go Knicks!"  

Knicks fever takes over the city

Ticket prices are more than the average rent in San Antonio and Manhattan, making them out of reach for many fans.

But that isn't deterring fans from celebrating their team. Many were outside Madison Square Garden buying merchandise ahead of the Wednesday night game.

"Until we win, no finances. I'm trying to support for sure," one fan said.

Actor, filmmaker and super fan Spike Lee predicted the team will win the championship in six games during his appearance on CBS Mornings.

He said the team's success impacts New Yorkers in a way no other sport can.

"It's amazing. People are smiling, talking to strangers, everyone wearing orange and blue. It is like, what sports can do," Lee said.  

New York and star point guard Jalen Brunson are facing off against San Antonio and 7-foot-4-inch phenom Victor Wembanyama in a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals. 

The Knicks, in the finals for the first time since '99, are looking for their first NBA title since 1973 after sweeping Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. New York is also on an 11-game winning streak, during which they are outscoring opponents by a whopping 262 points. 

The Spurs, who last won the finals in 2014 and are back for the first time since, took down defending-champion Oklahoma City in a thrilling seven-game Western Conference finals.  

There are also a number of officially sanctioned watch parties, including at Madison Square Garden, SummerStage and a variety of bars. 

Here's how to watch every game of the series between the Knicks and Spurs.

When is Game 1 of the NBA Finals?

The Spurs host the Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX

When is Game 2 of the NBA Finals?

The Spurs host the Knicks in Game 2 on Friday, June 5. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX

When is Game 3 of the NBA Finals?

The Knicks host the Spurs in Game 3 on Monday, June 8. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

When is Game 4 of the NBA Finals?

The Knicks host the Spurs in Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

When is Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

If necessary, the Spurs host the Knicks in Game 5 on Saturday, June 13. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX

When is Game 6 of the 2026 NBA Finals?

If necessary, the Knicks host the Spurs in Game 6 on Tuesday, June 16. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

When is Game 7 of the NBA Finals?

If necessary, the Spurs host the Knicks in Game 7 on Friday, June 19. 

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Where: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX

Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals full series schedule

Here are the dates and times for entire series between the Knicks and Spurs:

• Game 1: Knicks at Spurs, Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 2: Knicks at Spurs, Friday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 3: Spurs at Knicks, Monday, June 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 4: Spurs at Knicks, Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 5: Knicks at Spurs, Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 6: Spurs at Knicks, Tuesday, June 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Game 7: Knicks at Spurs, Friday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

The reduction would amount to a 24% cut in the typical benefit payment, according to a new analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal policy think tank.

Social Security's trust fund helps cover the gap between the program's income and benefit obligations, which have outpaced revenue as the baby boom generation retires and the number of beneficiaries grows. Once the fund is depleted, benefits would be automatically reduced unless Congress acts to shore up the program's finances.

The impact would impact between 10% to 23% of each state's population, the analysis found. 

"No state would be spared from the potentially devastating effects of insolvency," the report says.

States facing the largest monthly benefit cuts include:

• Connecticut, with an average $556 cut
• Delaware, $549
• Maryland, $541
• Massachusetts, $527
• Michigan, $523
• Minnesota, $530
• New Hampshire, $553
• New Jersey, $554
• Utah, $523
• Washington, $531
  

Insolvency does not mean Social Security beneficiaries would stop receiving payments altogether. Even after trust fund reserves are depleted, the program would continue collecting payroll tax revenue, allowing it to pay benefits at a reduced level.

Key report coming soon

The new analysis comes ahead of this year's release of the Social Security Administration's annual Trustees Report, which will provide an updated estimate of when the agency's trust fund is projected to become insolvent. The report is expected to be released in the coming weeks. 

Last year's report projected an insolvency date of 2033 for one of the agency's two key trust funds, known as the Old-Age & Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI). At that point, the program would only be able to pay 77% of the current benefit amount, according to the Social Security Administration. 

The agency has since moved the insolvency date for OASI to the end of 2032, citing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's effect on taxation of benefits.

Social Security cuts would prove devastating for the nation's retirees, as many rely heavily on the monthly payments, experts say. According to a survey released last year by the Senior Citizens League, a nonprofit advocacy group, 73% of retirees depend on Social Security for more than half their income, while 39% depend on it for the entirety of their income.

Solving Social Security's funding issues would require action from policymakers. One such proposal would be to eliminate the income cap on the payroll tax, which exempts people who earn more than $184,500 from paying Social Security taxes on any amount above that.

"Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition," Kean said in a statement released by his campaign.

Kean ran unopposed in the Republican primary in New Jersey's competitive 7th Congressional District. The statement's release came hours before polls closed in the state on Tuesday. 

Kean will face Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in November's general election, after CBS News projected that Bennett will win the Democratic primary. 

"Once again, I appreciate all of the prayers and patience from my constituents and colleagues. I understand the need for transparency on this matter and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public," he added. 

Kean last voted on March 5 and his whereabouts since then have not been disclosed. Kean's first public statement on his absence came in late April, when the congressman said he was addressing a "personal medical issue." 

"My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon," the April 27 statement said. "I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent."

When asked by CBS News on Wednesday how it was acceptable for a member of Congress to be absent for months without giving further explanation, House Speaker Mike Johnson said "it's not a scandalous thing at all." 

"People are entitled to get sick," the Louisiana Republican said. "This happens." 

Johnson added that he spoke with Kean late last week and he was in "good spirits" and is "anxious to come back in person." 

"I do know what his health issue is but he's asked me not to disclose that and I'm going to honor that," Johnson said later. "What he's dealing with is very uncommon and not a big thing." 

"When he explains it, it will all make sense," he said. 

Under a deal made public in March, French company TotalEnergies is getting $1 billion — essentially a refund of its leases for offshore wind projects off New York and North Carolina — if it invests the money in fossil fuel projects instead.

"This administration cooked up a sham deal" 

State attorneys general from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont joined New York in challenging the cancellation of the lease off New York, the larger of the two projects and the bulk of the payout. They say it will harm their states' economies, energy grids and climate goals.

"This administration cooked up a sham deal to pay a foreign energy company hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to abandon offshore wind and invest in oil and gas instead," James said in a statement. "We are fighting back to stop this illegal agreement that threatens to erase over a thousand union jobs and cheat millions of New Yorkers out of clean, affordable energy."

"Pay-not-to-play"

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she and James will continue to aggressively fight back against President Donald Trump's "overt and never-ending hostility toward offshore wind." 

"This pay-not-to-play scheme pressuring a foreign company to forego planned offshore wind projects in America in favor of gas and oil drilling is an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars that hurts our ability to meet our energy needs, create good jobs, and help secure American energy independence while reducing emissions," Hochul said. 

Trump, who often talks about his hatred of wind power, has said his goal is to not let any "windmills" be built.

The complaint filed in District Court for the District of Columbia names administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as defendants, and argues that they canceled the lease without following proper procedures. The states are asking a federal judge to vacate the lease cancellation and settlement agreement with TotalEnergies' subsidiary, Attentive Energy.

Department of Interior pushes back 

Separately, a coalition of renewable energy groups filed a complaint in District Court in Oregon on Sunday over Pentagon officials not completing national security reviews for new onshore wind farms on private lands. They say this inaction has brought a total halt to all wind project development. The Pentagon has said its siting clearinghouse is actively evaluating land-based wind energy projects and it's a complex, time-consuming process.

In response to the New York-led lawsuit, the Interior Department said Tuesday the only thing blatantly unlawful was the process by which these offshore wind leases were negotiated and imposed under the Biden administration, funneling taxpayer dollars into unreliable, unaffordable energy projects. A spokesperson said the lease buybacks were voluntary agreements that no one was forced to sign, which were reviewed and approved by the Department of Justice.

Payment or refund?

Burgum also defended the TotalEnergies deal last month during a hearing at the House Natural Resources Committee.

U.S. Rep. Dave Min, a California Democrat, asked Burgum if it's appropriate for Interior to send $1 billion to a foreign oil company to stop producing energy, while people are dealing with sky-high utility bills.

Burgum said TotalEnergies was simply refunded their money, which they have already invested in other energy projects in the U.S.

"They essentially gave the U.S. government an interest-free loan and their money was refunded to them," he said.

Min said the cancellation of TotalEnergies' offshore wind leases is a case study on Interior's "economically illiterate and unlawful energy strategy."

Background on the deal

TotalEnergies purchased the lease off New York and New Jersey, in 2022, for $795 million. This was planned as a larger project, with the potential to generate 3 gigawatts of clean energy to power nearly one million homes. It would have brought $10 billion in savings to ratepayers across New York, with $500 million in savings for low-income households, on electricity bills, according to the complaint filed Tuesday.

TotalEnergies also purchased a lease for its Carolina Long Bay project in 2022 for about $133 million. It aimed to generate more than 1 gigawatt there, enough to power about 300,000 homes.

Burgum has said companies were sold a product that was only viable when propped up by massive taxpayer subsidies when they bid for these offshore wind leases in 2022, under former President Joe Biden.

The Trump administration is spending nearly $2 billion to get energy companies to walk away from U.S. offshore wind projects. It adopted this strategy after federal courts thwarted Trump's efforts to stop offshore wind development through executive action.

Democrats in Congress are investigating the TotalEnergies agreement, and California is investigating a deal that ended a floating offshore wind project, Golden State Wind, proposed off the state's central coast.

Bluepoint Wind also agreed to end its lease for an offshore wind project in the early stages of development off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. Tuesday's complaint does not challenge this agreement, as the lease has not been canceled yet.

___

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Kalshi, the online prediction marketplace, referred Santos to the Department of Justice after detecting suspicious trades made by the former congressman ahead of Trump's Feb. 24 speech, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Kalshi also reported the trades to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal regulatory body that has vowed to crack down on insider trading in prediction marketplaces.

The Justice Department and the CFTC didn't immediately responded to inquiries from the AP.

CBS News reached out to Santos, who said of the allegations, "It's news to me and my legal team."

• Read more: Outraged constituents of former Rep. George Santos wonder why he isn't paying restitution. Here's why.

The referral was first reported by NPR. Santos told NPR that he wasn't aware of the investigation. He declined to say whether he had a Kalshi account.

"I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no," Santos told NPR.

The convicted ex-congressman had repeatedly discussed his intention to attend the State of the Union, which came just four months after he was granted clemency by Trump in a fraud case that led to his expulsion from the U.S. House.

On the eve of Trump's speech, Kalshi put the odds of Santos attending at close to 75%.

Then, minutes into the speech, Santos posted on X that he had been waylaid at the airport. Immediately, several social media users accused him of running another scheme.

"Santos talking to his accountant and telling him to open his Kalshi account and bet all his money on No," one user wrote, alongside a meme of Al Pacino counting money in the movie Scarface.

• Read more: Former N.Y. Rep. George Santos discusses potential restitution payments in first interview since release from prison

In March, Santos addressed the complaints on his podcast.

"I guess people lost money," he said. "Some people made unexpected money. That's to show you how fragile these markets are."

Santos, who won office as a Republican after inventing a bogus persona as a Wall Street dealmaker, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft in 2024.

After serving just 84 days, he was ordered released by Trump, who called Santos a "rogue" but said he didn't deserve a harsh sentence and should get credit for voting Republican.

Prediction markets, including Kalshi and its chief rival Polymarket, have drawn scrutiny as their businesses have expanded - with some lawmakers urging the platforms to do more to guard against insider trading.

Both companies have said they are reporting suspicious trades to federal regulators. Some investigations have led to criminal charges. In April a soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was charged with using classified information to win more than $400,000 predicting the date of his capture on Polymarket.

In April, the Senate approved a bipartisan resolution to prevent its own members from using prediction markets.

The statistics released Wednesday morning show murders were down more than 20% since 2025. That beats the previous record of 113 set in 2014 and 2017. 

Shootings dropped more than 5%, surpassing the previous record of 262 from 2025. Shooting victims declined by just over 7% since last year, beating the previous low of 209 set in 2019.

Police said there were no shooting incidents or victims in the subway system in May. Major crime in the transit system was down 6.5% in May and 1.1% since 2025.

The NYPD also recorded its safest start to the year in public housing with the fewest murders, shootings, shooting victims and robberies. 

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement that the department is "focused and strategic."

"These accomplishments are the result of a precision policing approach that follows the data, goes after guns, takes down gangs, and puts our officers where and when they are needed most," she said in a statement. 

Major crime decreases citywide

Major crime was down across the city by 6.2% since last year. It also declined by 10.6% for the month of May.

Burglaries declined by 19% in May, the second-lowest in recorded history. Robbery declined by 18.1% in May and was down 11% since 2025. Auto theft declined 13% in May and 9.6% since 2025. Grand larceny declined 12.4% in May and 4.6% since 2025. 

Did any types of crime increase? 

Confirmed hate crimes are up by 74.4% compared to the previous May. More than half of all confirmed hate crimes for the month were anti-Jewish, despite Jewish New Yorkers only making up 10% of the city's population, according to NYPD data.

Hate crimes have also increased by 8.6% since 2025.

Felony assault increased by 0.4% in May. Police said there has been an increase in this type of crime over the past several years.

Officers point to domestic incidents, assaults on police and assaults on other government workers as the main drivers of the increase. 

Rapes have increased since 2025. Officers noted 20% of the cases resulted from a law change that expanded the legal definition of rape, and 32% happened before 2026. However, May saw a decrease in reported rape incidents compared to the same month last year.

Bronx sees greatest reductions

The Bronx is leading the city with the largest year-to-date decrease in major crime.

This comes as the NYPD continues focusing on the borough. The Bronx was recently split into two separate patrol boroughs called Bronx North and Bronx South. 

The goal is to improve accountability and response times across the borough, which has historically been one of the city's most challenging areas for law enforcement. 

Bryson died Tuesday, surrounded by family, after suffering a stroke Sunday and being under medical care. 

"We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world," his family said in a statement. "While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come."

Bryson, a Greenville, South Carolina, native with deep ties to Georgia and Atlanta's music scene, is widely recognized for his decades-long career in R&B, soul and adult contemporary music. 

He released his debut LP, "Peabo," in 1976, composing most of its songs himself, and signed with Capitol Records in 1977. His first major crossover hit was his 1983 duet with Roberta Flack, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." 

Bryson's biggest hits came in the 1990s when he earned two Grammys for two Disney duets, "Beauty and the Beast" with Celine Dion, and "A Whole New World" with Regina Belle from Disney's "Aladdin."

Nominated for eight Grammys during his illustrious career, his other hits included "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," and "Can You Stop the Rain."