Picture of Samantha Woodruff

Samantha Woodruff

Bio: Samantha Woodruff is a graduate from Washington State University with a Bachelors in English and Technical Writing. An avid reader since childhood, she has always had a strong connection with storytelling and writing. Her interests include art, cooking, video games, and movies. Samantha is excited to join the NYC Tastemakers team and have a chance to share her work with a wider audience through this internship.
Politics

Why do Pam Bondi and the Trump Administration want Minnesota Voter Rolls?

In a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Pam Bondi requests he “restore the order of law, support ICE officers and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota”. The letter, sent the same day Alex Pretti was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, reads more like a ...

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Latest News

NBC New York TV Personality Peter “Produce Pete” Napolitano Dies

Beloved TV personality Peter Napolitano, more popularly known by the nickname “Produce Pete”, has died.  His death was announced in a social media post on Monday, January 26, 2026, by  WNBC-TV’s Managing Editor Steven Bognar. The post read, “Sad news to share from the NBC New York Family… Produce Pete ...

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Sports

Seahawks and Patriots are Headed to Super Bowl LX

The AFC and NFC Championship football games were played over the weekend. The New England Patriots faced the Broncos in Denver, while the Los Angeles Rams headed to Seattle to play against the Seahawks. Not gonna lie, both games had me on the edge of my seat.  After losing their ...

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Latest News

NY Governor Hochul Calls for the Removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

In a statement Sunday, January 25, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced, “Donald Trump’s leader of the Department of Homeland Security has proven to be unable and unwilling to follow the law to stop these killings”. She continued, “Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead, and I’m calling on ...

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Sports

Will the New York Giants’ New Coach be a Good Fit for the Team?

The New York Giants have announced that John Harbaugh will be the team’s 21st head coach. Harbaugh was fired after a difficult season for the Ravens, who missed the playoffs with a record of 8-9. So what should New York Giants fans expect from the team’s new coach? Harbaugh has ...

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Latest News

Teens Arrested for Anti-Semitic Graffiti in Brooklyn Park

2 teenage boys were arrested after painting over 50 swastikas and other anti-semitic messages in Gravesend Park in southwest Brooklyn. The park is located in a predominantly Jewish area of the city.  Police officers arrived at the park on Monday evening after receiving a 911 call. They found more than ...

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Books

Barbie’s Bookstore Adventure

Come on, Barbie, let’s go party… at the bookstore? Mattel has announced that Barbie will be starring in her first YA (young adult) book. Set in a magical fantasy world, Barbie: Dreamscape will be written by #1 New York Times Bestselling author Alex Aster, who rose to fame with the ...

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Politics

New Legislation to Protect Bodega Cats in New York

If you live in New York City, chances are you have seen a “bodega cat”, and even if you don’t live in NYC, these furry friends are trending all over social media. But what many don’t know is that these felines are more than just pets; they are coworkers.  The ...

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Latest News

New York and New Jersey Face Serious Blood Shortages

Hospitals in New York and New Jersey are facing severe blood shortages. According to the New York Blood Center, during the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, fewer than 10,000 donations were collected. The necessary amount of donations needed to maintain a steady supply is over 12,000 units a day.  ...

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Politics

ICE Activity Pushes Minnesota Schools to Reinstate Online Learning

Schools in Minnesota have reinstated COVID-era online learning protocols due to an increase in ICE activity in the state. Many students are afraid to go to school due to the threat of parents and caregivers being detained by ICE agents during pickup and drop-off. In an attempt to keep students ...

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Politics

Spy Software Used by ICE Agents

Let’s take a look at some of the technology ICE is using to conduct its activities in the US. Tangles and WeblocTangles is a monitoring tool that scrapes sites for posts and personal information. When ICE adds individuals to a watchlist, they are alerted whenever that person posts on social ...

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Latest News

New Jersey Legislature Passes 3 Anti-ICE Bills

Last week, New Jersey lawmakers passed a trio of bills in response to ICE actions across the United States. The passing of these bills only gained urgency after the events in Minnesota with the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent. These bills include a variety of provisions aimed ...

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