In a sharp flip from the totalitarian COVID era, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering banning face masks in the New York City subway system. The Democrat governor cites people shielding their identities while committing antisemitic acts. Gov. Hochul considering banning people from wearing masks on NYC subways https://t.co/5HiSnb3OnE — Gothamist (@Gothamist) June 13, 2024 According to the New York Post, Hochul is working with legislators to reinstate an anti-masking law repealed during COVID-19. Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams consider cracking down on masks on NYC subways https://t.co/POUPOFLXmv — New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) June 14, 2024 From the New York Post: Hochul said any masked policy would include reasonable carve-outs for health concerns, cultural events, religious reasons and Halloween. She drew a distinction between wearing an N95 mask for health reasons and donning a full-face covering to hide one’s identity. Banning masks at protests entirely carried freedom of speech complications, but she said protesters’ criminal and threatening behavior is a “different ballgame.” “You certainly have to say there are major exemptions,” she said. The governor didn’t lay out a timeline or say she would ask lawmakers to come back to Albany – a necessary step to reversing the ban on masks at protests, given that the legislative session ended last week and won’t reopen till next year. “My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes,” Hochul said, according to Insider Paper. JUST IN – Gov. Hochul considering banning people from wearing masks on NYC subways: "My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.” pic.twitter.com/bR1aHBE3O9 — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 13, 2024 Per the Associated Press: New York passed a law banning face masks in public in the 1800s as a response to protests over rent. It was suspended in 2020 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo as part of a pandemic public health campaign, and masks were also made mandatory for subway riders until September 2022. The mask ban previously had drawn criticism from civil rights groups that argued it was selectively enforced to break up protests where people wanted to hide their identities to avoid legal or professional repercussions. “The Governor’s concerns about masks disguising criminal activity won’t be quelled by banning anonymous peaceful protest. Mask bans were originally developed to squash political protests and, like other laws that criminalize people, they will be selectively enforced — used to arrest, doxx, surveil, and silence people of color and protestors the police disagree with,” Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. “A mask ban would be easily violated by bad actors and, if someone’s engages in unlawful actions, the judgement should be made based on the criminal behavior, not their attire,” she said.

Emergency officials responded after a ‘chemical reaction’ and explosion reportedly occurred at an Eastlake, Ohio, home Thursday evening. The incident reportedly hospitalized at least five people. “At this time, numerous law enforcement and emergency personnel are on the scene in Eastlake, Ohio, following a chlorine explosion that took place near or in a home. Emergency officials report that at least five to eight people have been exposed to the hazardous substance,” Rawsalerts wrote. “Multiple ambulances along with a hazmat teams have been dispatched as Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and are working to secure the area,” the post added. “A follower of mine and a witness who lives very close to the house says they do indeed have a pool. He was mixing some chemicals in their garage, and it exploded, releasing the chlorine gas. He says the smell of chlorine is heavy in the air,” an update said. #UPDATE: A follower of mine and a witness who lives very close to the house says they do indeed have a pool. He was mixing some chemicals in their garage, and it exploded, releasing the chlorine gas. He says the smell of chlorine is heavy in the air. — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 14, 2024 FOX 8 reports: Five people were taken to the hospital after a chemical reaction went wrong at an Eastlake home Thursday evening. Just after 6 p.m., first responders were called to the home on the 600 block of Saint Lawrence Boulevard. According to Eastlake Fire Chief Ted Whittington, the family was mixing pool chemicals in the kitchen and accidentally caused a bad reaction. When firefighters arrived, the family was already outside rinsing everyone off with a garden hose. Three people were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center and two others were taken to local hospitals for burning eyes and trouble breathing. The fire chief said he believes everyone is in stable condition at this point. There were 11 people in the house at the time of the reaction. The remaining family members weren’t experiencing symptoms, the fire chief said. BREAKING: CHLORINE EXPLOSION IN OHIO, MULTIPLE EXPOSURES Emergency officials are on the scene in Eastlake, Ohio, after a chlorine explosion near or in a home. At least 5-8 people have been exposed to the hazardous substance. Multiple ambulances and hazmat teams are on… pic.twitter.com/52q1lRGwb4 — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 14, 2024 From News 5 Cleveland: Thursday evening, the homeowner was prepping chlorine inside of the home for their backyard pool when what Eastlake Fire describes as a chemical reaction occurred. Three adults and two children were all transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, Eastlake Fire said. This incident is still under investigation, and this story will be updated once more is learned.