Here’s your Bronx news roundup for the day:

— Pedro Espada Jr., the former Bronx state senator who brought Albany to its knees with a series of political power moves back in 2009 and who pleaded guilty to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the South Bronx healthcare network he founded, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, more than $850,000 in fines and 100 hours of community service, the Daily News reports.

His on Pedro G. Espada, who also pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges, is now saying his dad roped him into the schemes in hopes of getting a lighter sentence. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on June 18.

— With a plan to house Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team, New York City FC, in Queens stalling, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has extended the team an invitation to stay right here in the Boogie Down, Capital NY reports.

The MLS thinks two boroughs vying for the new team’s services is awesome. Neil deMause, who runs the website Field of Schemes, which has been critical of public financing for stadium/arena deals (especially the Yankee Stadium shake down), says this could lead to an arms race of which borough can offer the most tax breaks, subsidies and green space. In other words, un-awesome. DeMause writes (sarcastically): “Surely the Bronx has to have another public park somewhere that it’s not using, much…”

– After years of delays, construction crews have begun building a new shopping center on Broadway West 230^th street, the Riverdale Press reports. The new mall is expected to create 250 full and part-time  jobs as well as 500 construction jobs. The new mall is expected to be open in the fall.

– Valerie Reidy, the principal of the  Bronx High School of Science, is stepping down in September amid the recent hazing scandal at the school, the Daily News reports. The scandal broke out in March when three student athletes were arrested and charged with hazing, forcible touching, and endangering a fellow student. An athletic director and two coaches were later suspended following the incident.

– On June 7, there was a press conference at the Bronx Courthouse about the recent surge of violence against the LGBTQ community. According to an article in the Mott Haven Herald, the violence has received little coverage outside of Manhattan. The speakers at the event, including Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Jose Serrano, and the president of the new LGBTQ center Tym Moss, all said that the violence is happening in the Bronx and that the issue needs to be addressed in the community and the media.

– According to a Daily News article, three men were arrested and charged after a Bronx drug bust that yielded 11 kilograms of heroin worth 8 million dollars. The three men were arrested after federal and local law enforcement agents saw them carrying a white bag from 181 W. 238th Street from Kingsbridge to a black Acura with Pennsylvania license plates. Their court date is set at June 17th.

– Mott Haven residents urged mayoral candidates at a forum at Hostos Community College on June 12 that whoever is elected should not transport anymore trash to the South Bronx for processing, reports the Mott Haven Herald. Attendees inside  and protesters outside the campus’ main building told candidates that they want the city to proceed with a plan to open a marine transfer station on East 91st Street in Manhattan’s upper east side in order to reduce the incoming trash from the island.

That’s your news roundup for the day, we’ll see you on Monday.