New York City in brief

Iran has shuttered the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for America’s blockade, with the Revolutionary Guard navy even firing at ships that dared approach; as almost a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the 34-mile-wide choke point, global markets are holding their breath—even if Tehran insists the standoff will end the moment Uncle Sam folds his blockade and sails home for dinner.

New York’s average annual car insurance has surpassed $4,000—$1,500 above the U.S. norm—thanks in no small part to an 80% surge in organized fraud schemes, where fake accident claims and inventive diagnoses keep lawyers and criminals alike in pocket. Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed clean-up faces political gridlock, while drivers in boroughs like Brooklyn may need to insure their wallets before their cars.

Announcing the closure of 645 locations, 7-Eleven joined Macy’s in a brisk round of store downsizing this week—two more casualties of America’s evolving shopping habits. As e-commerce lures customers from physical shops and operating costs climb, companies are slashing their brick-and-mortar footprints, with plans to prune up to 150 Macy’s stores by 2028. Fewer shops may well mean higher prices—but at least our online carts never run out of parking.

Iran’s army claimed it had restored “strict control” over the Strait of Hormuz after the US maintained its blockade of Iranian ports, prompting threats to disrupt the waterway that carries a fifth of global oil. Tensions flared further as the Revolutionary Guard reportedly fired at a tanker, while Donald Trump thanked Tehran for “reopening” the strait—a gesture quickly overshadowed by gunboat diplomacy and some rather slippery definitions of normal.

New York City’s Department of Education fielded nearly 900 sexual misconduct complaints against staff in 2025, yet its Special Commissioner of Investigation pursued just 157 cases and substantiated 62 abuses—a rate it defends as robust compared to other city agencies. Many complaints are promptly sent elsewhere, with officials recommending a social media ban for employees. For some, transparency seems as elusive as disciplinary action.