President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address February24, 2026 at 9 p.m.
Comer Statement on Trump’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) issued the following statement ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address:
“Our State of the Union is stronger than ever, thanks to President Trump’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling his promises to the American people. In just over one year, this administration has taken decisive action to reverse dangerous Biden-era open border policies, strengthen public safety by removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities, restore American energy dominance by ending the radical Green New Deal agenda, and bring common sense back to Washington by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government. America’s future is bright under President Trump’s leadership, and our work is far from done. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will continue to deliver on its mission by working with President Trump and his administration to ensure the federal government operates effectively, efficiently, and transparently for all Americans.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are urging families with kids turning 3 or 4 this year to apply for free 3-K or Pre-K by Friday, February 27, 2026, highlighting that applications are open to eligible families regardless of language or immigration status and are not first-come, first-served—anyone who applies by the deadline will receive an offer. Families can apply at myschools.nyc or call 718-935-2009, and the city says help is available by phone or at Family Welcome Centers, with interpretation in 200+ languages and online applications offered in 13 languages including Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Uzbek.
Mayor Mamdani, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Urge New Yorkers to Apply for 3-K & Pre-K
— TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez encouraged families with children turning three or four this year to sign up for 3-K or Pre-K by Feb. 27, 2026, in a jointly released video in Spanish. Applications are open to all eligible families, regardless of the language they speak or immigration status. Programs are free.
“Child care remains one of the largest financial burdens facing New York families. Programs like 3-K and Pre-K are free, open to any child turning three or four this year and can put an average $26,000 back in the pockets of working people,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “If you haven’t signed up yet – now is the time. No matter the language you speak, your immigration status or zip code, there is a seat waiting for your child.”
Families can apply at myschools.nyc or call 718-935-2009. Applications are not first-come, first-served. Any family that applies by the deadline will receive an offer.
Application support is available by phone or at one of the City’s 10 Family Welcome Centers across the five boroughs. Interpretation services are available in more than 200 languages. Online applications are available in 13 languages:
English
Albanian
Arabic
Bengali/Bangla
Chinese
Haitian Creole
French
Korean
Russian
Spanish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
As part of the City’s whole-of-government effort to boost enrollment, the administration has:
Launched LinkNYC kiosk and NYC Ferry advertisements in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Russian, including targeted outreach in ZIP codes with large populations of non-English speakers.
Partnered with 19 trusted community organizations to host application workshops and conduct direct outreach, particularly to families hesitant to engage with government.
Worked with faith leaders, elected officials and community-based organizations to reach families in School Districts 4, 9, 14 and 17.
Hosted a multi-lingual and community media roundtable on Pre-K and 3-K.
Conducted outbound calls and texts to eligible families who have not started an application, focusing on districts with lower engagement rates than last year.
Coordinated with shelter-based staff to conduct on-the-ground outreach, including door-knocking and application events for families in shelters.
Announced the opening of a new Pre-K and 3-K center opening this fall on the Upper East Side as part of the administration’s effort to fix the broken 3-K system.
Highlighted the role of home-based providers in delivering universal 3-K through a mayoral visit.
As applications are reviewed, the city will activate additional resources to ensure every child receives a placement and every family is able to accept that placement.
This work aligns with the City’s bold commitment to fix the 3-K system and deliver universal access across all five boroughs, supported by funding from Governor Kathy Hochul.
This fall, the City will also take its first steps toward 2-K, launching 2,000 free child care seats as part of its commitment to universal 2-K by the end of 2029.
A large snowball fight in Washington Square Park (Manhattan) after the winter storm escalated into a police incident after snowballs were thrown at NYPD officers. According to police accounts reported by local outlets, officers arrived around 4 p.m. responding to a call about people on a roof inside the park. Soon after, multiple officers were struck by snowballs and suffered facial lacerations, with several taken to the hospital for treatment.
Later that night, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch publicly condemned what was shown in circulating videos, calling the behavior “disgraceful” and “criminal,” and confirming that detectives opened an investigation to identify those involved. Police unions also pushed for arrests and charges, arguing it was not “harmless fun” once officers were targeted.
