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Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. In response to the alarming rise in crime in NYPD’s 109th Precinct in Flushing, elected officials in Queens are calling on NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell to create a new police precinct to oversee the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone and Bay Terrace. Currently, these communities fall within the 109th Precinct’s jurisdiction, but because the area is so large, and its population is growing, residents have described the region as neglected and underserved by the department. In the past year, crime has increased by an alarming 81 percent within the 109th Precinct.

2. A student at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside blasted a substance believed to be pepper spray in the school’s cafeteria on Friday, forcing an evacuation and requiring over a dozen students to receive medical attention. “After a pepper spray-style device was discharged in the cafeteria today, the space was evacuated and the school was placed on a hold which has now been lifted,” said Jenna Lyle, a spokesperson for the city Department of Education. “We are working closely with the NYPD and FDNY on their investigation and will provide the necessary support and follow-up actions.” This incident comes hot on the heels of a similar situation in a Manhattan subway station on Friday morning wherein someone shot off pepper spray, prompting an evacuation and at least one person being hospitalized.

3. Outgoing U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney is facing an ethics investigation by House Ethics Committee for unspecified reasons, according to a press release published Friday. The investigation into Maloney had been referred in June from the separate Office of Congressional Ethics and does not mean that “any violation has occurred.” The committee said it will announce its final course of action by Nov. 21.

4. Homeowners who live near Kissena Park in Queens aired their concerns during a packed town hall on Thursday night to discuss flooding during storms that not only fills the streets but also inundates their homes. One homeowner said the flooding is costing her family tens of thousands of dollars, and that she is reluctant to file a claim with her insurance company for fear of her policy being dropped. "We expect home to be a place of comfort, where you can relax and not worry too much," New York State Sen. John Liu said. "Too many families in this area have to worry every time it rains. I mean, what kind of life is it when you have to worry about it when it rains?"

5. The NYPD’s free haunted house “Terror on Totten” opened for spooky season on Thursday at Fort Totten in Bayside. The scary spectacle is open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in October from 4 to 11 p.m. NYPD TARU Inspector Frank DiGiacomo is the mastermind behind the eerie attraction, which takes him and his team of 15 NYPD officers a year to design and build. The haunted house itself is located in an old parks department building that was abandoned for 45 years. “Obviously, we have a full-time job. So, when we can, we build on our downtime,” DiGiacomo said. "A lot of my guys are very talented. I have electricians, I have plumbers, I have carpenters, so we’re able to build this great place for the community.” Thirty NYPD officers are contributing their frightening acting talents to the attraction, which includes zombies, ghosts, killer clowns, and demon spawns, and comes alive with the sounds of chainsaws, screams, and thunderstorms. Last year, “Terror on Totten” welcomed 14,000 visitors. DiGiacomo hopes they can beat that number this year.

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