Morning Headlines: New COVID Variant Detected in NYC, Former NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme, Knicks Force Game 6 Against Pacers, and Judge Blocks Federal Retaliation Over Congestion Pricing

A new COVID variant, NB.1.8.1, has been detected in New York after spreading across Asia and 22 other countries. Health officials say it doesn’t appear more severe than previous strains. Meanwhile, a former NYPD traffic officer and a Queens call center owner have pleaded guilty to a scheme that profited off crash victims by selling their personal information. Also, the Knicks beat the Pacers to keep their playoff hopes alive and push the series to a Game 6. Plus, on this week’s transportation segment: a federal judge grants the MTA a preliminary injunction, blocking the federal government from retaliating over congestion pricing while the case plays out. There’s also movement on a new Port Authority Bus Terminal, updates on the Penn Station redevelopment, and updated on 5G service on the G line.