Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018 

Happy Wednesday! What a difference a day can make. Today will be much brighter and dry with highs reaching the upper 70s. As always, get the latest forecast at nbcnewyork.com/weather.

1. Man Knocks Out NYC Mom With Son, Climbs CVS Roof in Escape

A man who allegedly knocked a woman walking with her 4-year-old son unconscious, climbed onto the roof of a nearby business and ran off has been arrested, police said.

The 35-year-old woman was in Queens Monday around 2 p.m. when Derrick Chirse, 57, of Brooklyn, allegedly ran up to her and demanded she hand over her property, according to the NYPD. He then got violent and allegedly punched the mother in her face, head, chest and back, knocking her out and fleeing down 84th Street in Woodhaven with her purse.

Good Samaritans leaped into action and started chasing him into the back of a CVS.

Read more here.

2. A 'Nutty' Census Aims to Count Squirrel Population in Central Park

NYC needs your help, but the reason why might sound a little nutty at first. 

Mayor de Blasio's office is calling on volunteers to help count squirrels in Central Park. 

It is part of the squirrel census, a massive project focusing on the Eastern Gray Squirrel. It's the third time the group has done it in NYC, but the first in Central Park. 

Read more here.

3. Emergency Alert Test Going Out to Mobile Phones Nationwide

About 225 million mobile devices across the U.S. will receive a test emergency alert Wednesday.

It's the first nationwide test for a wireless phone emergency alert. It will be sent at 2:18 p.m. EDT.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it'll sound like an Amber Alert or flood warning. The subject will read: "Presidential Alert." The text will say: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

Read more here.

For the latest entertainment news and things to do, tune in to New York Live, Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. on NBC 4 New York.