Top story this week has to be the blackout that hit west Manhattan. Coming 42 years to the day after the 1977 blackout from last week's show, this year's power outage was much less dramatic and lasted only a few hours. ConEd CEO John McAvoy described the failure of both the primary and backup protection systems at a power substation at 64th Street and West End Avenue, leading to power outages once the system was interrupted by a subsequent substation at 49th Street. Although the blackout wasn't caused by a spike in electricity usage, the heat is still on in the city, with daily high temps in the 90s. In response, cooling centers have been opened across the city in senior centers, public housing, and public libraries. On July 18th, Mayor de Blasio signed a local state of emergency that calls on city government buildings and all office buildings over 100 feet tall to conserve energy and set their thermostats no lower than 78°. Temperatures are set to rise and humidity will increase, leading to heat indexes over 100° before rain arrives on July 22nd. You can do your part by turning off your air conditioner when leaving your home and using public transportation instead of driving, which will keep the air quality clear during the heat wave. If you'll be opening your windows to get some ventilation, you can install safety devices called vent locks for sash windows or metal clips for sliding windows that make sure windows can't be forced all the way open from the outside. 5 years ago on July 17, 2014 — Eric Garner dies after being put in a chokehold by NYPD officers 12 years ago on July 18, 2007 — A steam pipe explodes near Grand Central, sending debris flying and disrupting Midtown during evening rush hour 1 year ago on July 19, 2018 — A steam pipe explodes near the Flatiron Building, causing a large crater outside 141 Fifth Avenue Be aware of your surroundings during this time of year, as two of city's steam explosions have happened during just this week in history. If you see any bulging pavement or steam escaping through cracks in the ground, stand clear and call 911 to report a dangerous condition. Citi Bike announced they will be expanding their coverage area over the next five years that will eventually triple the number of bikes to 40,000 and double the coverage to include the Bronx for the first time and further expand into Brooklyn and Queens. 5 years ago on July 22, 2014 — Two Berlin artists replace the American flags on the Brooklyn Bridge with all-white replicas 97 years ago on July 27, 1922 — The Hess family installs a mosaic at Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street marking what is probably the smallest plot of land in NYC 7 years ago — Photos of the Derecho Storm Hitting New York City 2 years ago — Top Five Subway Stations Ready for New Sponsored Names 8 years ago on July 28th, Mars Bar's Demolition Begins A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your p