News

The Yankees face off with the Phillies tonight for Game 3 of the World Series. They headed to the city of Brotherly Love by way of a train from Penn Station—while fans cheered them in NY, there were Phillies fans ready to taunt them at the 30th Street Station. One Phanatic said, "This is a blue-collar town. We don't like people like A-Rod; guys like that who are on the covers of magazines. Our players put up the same numbers without all the glamour." more ›

Now it turns out that one of the public school students given the swine flu vaccine without parental consent had to go to the emergency room after getting sick. Six-year-old Nikiyah Torres, who suffers from epilepsy (her parents had been waiting to see what their family doctor said about the swine flu vaccine) told WCBS 2, "He just gave me the needle, without asking me what is my name." more ›

In what's become an SEC tradition, the government agency decided to reveal details of its botched Bernard Madoff investigations late Friday afternoon. The SEC offered up a jailhouse interview with Madoff; the NY Times reports he "said that the young investigators who pestered him over incidentals like e-mail messages should have just checked basics like his account with Wall Street’s central clearinghouse and his dealings with the firms that were supposedly handling his trades," adding, "If you’re looking at a Ponzi scheme, it’s the first thing you do." more ›

The woman accused of fatally beating her 4-year-old son was allowed to attend his wake yesterday. Myrna Chenphang was escorted from Rikers Island to the Robeson and Brown Funeral Home in Brooklyn to see Jayden Lenescar in an open casket; she was reportedly weeping. Chenphang and her boyfriend Steven Dadaille face second-degree murder charges for little Jayden's death. more ›

Yesterday, a federal judge expressed concern over former police commissioner Bernard Kerik's condition while being held at the Westchester County Jail, after troubling reports from the jailhouse shrink. The Post reports that its sources "weren't surprised that the fallen hero of 9/11 was apparently losing it in the slammer. Kerik can't stand humiliation, the sources said, and was totally despondent after the 2004 debacle when corruption allegations derailed his nomination to head the federal Department of Homeland Security." ABC News' sources say Kerik is "depressed" and in a "funk" but is not suicidal. more ›

The Giants are at a big point in their season. After a 5-0 start, built mostly against inferior teams, they have lost two straight to good teams. Now, they have to head down to Philadelphia for a game with the Eagles, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs at home last year. A win would restore confidence that New York is a playoff-caliber team while a loss, and the upcoming schedule, would threaten to send the team into a spiral. So the stakes are high and when you add in the fact that the Philadelphia crowd will be in a New York-hating frenzy, this should be a very good game. more ›

The Daily News follows up on the Muslim woman who slashed her husband's throat, apparently over his lack of devotion to Islam and his forcing her to eat pork, wear short skirts, and drink. Rabia Sarwar's handwritten confession stated, "I did not sleep. I started thinking to kill him," and then she went to the kitchen to get a knife. more ›

There's no room for moderate views anymore: In the hotly contested and closely watched race for the 23rd Congressional District in upstate NY (because Republican John McHugh was appointed Secretary of the Army), Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has dropped out. Scozzafava was lacking money and trailing in the polls, partly due to her support of same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Hoffman has been endorsed by Sarah Palin and former governor George Pataki, while President Obama raised money for Democratic candidate Bill Owens. more ›

Things aren't looking good for political reporter Dominic Carter at NY1. Carter was put on leave when domestic assault charges were revealed, but now the station appears to be closing the door more firmly. NY1 General Manager Steve Paulus tells the Daily News, "At this point, we have no plans to bring him back. He's got a lot of personal issues to work through." more ›

A few weeks ago, the Post reported that the economy had forced the annual Village Halloween Parade to downsize from 11 floats last year to just three (there were 20-25 floats in more flush years). But then this week, the parade said there would be a dozen—and the parade's director is giving credit to the Post for helping make it a real parade. more ›

The off-duty police detective who fatally struck a pedestrian in the Bronx yesterday morning was charged with vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, and DWI. Detective Kevin Spellman had been driving a Chevrolet into the Bronx intersection of W. 232 Street and Kingsbridge Avenue, hitting 67-year-old Drana Nikac. A witness said, "He had a red light. He went through a red light and he was speeding. He was speeding." more ›

Move over, NYPD 24-hour cellphone use-while-driving ticket blitzes—tomorrow, the NY State's ban on texting while driving goes into effect. But, the AP points out, "The new law, however, is considered a secondary offense, meaning the driver must have committed a primary offense -- such as speeding, disobeying a traffic signal or other violation -- in order to receive a ticket." Fines can be up to $150; the law doesn't apply to GPS or handsfree phone use. more ›

A new Marist poll showed that incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg leads challenger City Comptroller William Thompson by 15 points among likely voters, 53% to 38%. What's more, the poll notes, "Mayor Bloomberg’s action to extend term limits from two to three terms is not a deciding factor for 45% of voters. Although a large proportion of voters — 43% — says it makes them less likely to vote for the mayor, this number has not grown through the course of the campaign." more ›

Firefighters have been fighting a 5-alarm fire at 3105 Bainbridge Avenue off East 204th Street in the Bronx. WCBS 2 reports, "Though firefighters arrived shortly after 3 a.m. to find only heavy smoke, it quickly turned into a conflagration. The fire could be seen for blocks, and smelled for miles." more ›

• Bobcats 102, Knicks 100 (2 OT): A rally from a 21-point deficit and a 14-point margin at the start of the fourth quarter didn't give the Knicks anything more than a moral victory. They didn't lead until the second overtime, but some shaky defense gave the game to the Bobcats. Chris Duhon played 55 minutes. Danilo Gallinari had 16 off the bench, and Nate Robinson had 17 before fouling out. David Lee had the line of the game with 17 points and 18 rebounds. This game won't score any style points, but it did provide late drama. The Knicks open their home campaign Saturday against Philadelphia.
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Attorney General Andrew Cuomo now has his eyes set on the city's top two hotel developers who have ties with a contractor recently accused of paying construction workers based on their race. Developers Sam Chang and John Lam— who've created thousands of hotel rooms—used contractor Michael Mahoney, who allegedly paid white carpenters $25/hr, blacks $18/hr and Latinos and Brazilians $15/hr, for a number of their projects. A District Council of Carpenters supervisor said: “Sheetrock, lumber, nails, cost pretty much the same for any contractor. But for these greedy people, labor is the difference and success comes off workers' backs." more ›

Having to cram into a crowded subway car has been one thing these past few weekends as the MTA got to work on station and track renovations decreasing service on 18 of its 20 subway lines. But this weekend should be interesting, what with Halloween and the NYC Marathon in the mix. more ›

The three major stock indices each fell over 2.5% today, erasing gains the Dow made over the month and leaving the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fall 2% and 3.6% respectively for the month. The NY Times reports, "The drops were led by stocks in banks and financial firms, which investors abandoned in light of a Commerce Department report that showed consumers were still in distress. Consumer spending in September dropped by the largest amount in nine months, the report said, a dreary data point that met Wall Street expectations but reinforced the slow, halting recovery of the United States economy." more ›

There are ominous forecasts flying around spelling trouble for New York City's special visit to Philly this weekend. Members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 in Philadelphia voted Sunday to authorize a regional transit strike as of 12:01 a.m. tonight if an agreement cannot be reached. SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority) spokesman Richard Maloney called the talks thus far '“constructive” but stopped short of saying any real progress was made," according to the Post. more ›

Former MTA chairman and current Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch declared yesterday that East River tolls will come back to haunt us for eternity! The Daily News reports that he told an NYU graduate school class that "User fees will come back and back, and they will happen." The tolls were part of his solution to solve to the MTA's financial crisis; "the so-called Ravitch plan included tolling the East and Harlem River bridges to avert sky-high fare hikes and Draconian service cuts while paying for critical projects." more ›

Who knew former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani could feel threatened by an Independent candidate scoring single digits in the polls and running in… New Jersey? Giuliani, a supporter of Republican gubernatorial candidate and admitted fat guy Chris Christie, does seem a little threatened by Independent candidate Chris Daggett, though. He told the Post that Daggett should drop the race and stop stealing votes from the Republican side. more ›

Good news for singles looking for singles in Manhattan this weekend: the intrepid reporters from the NY Post have crunched the data from the most recent census of NYC, and found that more than half of Manhattan residents are single. (For some perspective, if you include the other four boroughs, that rate drops down to 33.5%) And they sound really pumped about this "no roommate, no spouse, no family, no kids" utopia they've discovered. more ›

The list of Rikers Island guards accused of abusing inmates continues to grow longer. Correction Officer Timothy Munroe, 24, of Brooklyn was indicted on charges of assault, falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing, among others, the NY Times reports. more ›

One Brooklyn Heights resident alerted fellow neighbors about possible gang activity in the neighborhood this week, after spotting four unruly teenagers on Hicks. more ›

Okay, fine—this story makes us feel a little more guilty for complaining about the subway's seemingly slower service (seriously, what's been going on?): Before Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee dominated the Yankees during Game 1 of the World Series, he took the subway to Yankee Stadium because traffic from Manhattan to the Bronx was terrible. more ›

A man accused of murdering his son-in-law in Ramsey, NJ is claiming that he couldn't have committed the crime because he's too fat. William Ates, 65, is on trial for the 2006 shooting death of 40-year-old Paul Duncsak, who was shot six times in his NJ home, and who was in the middle of a bitter custody-dispute with Ates' daughter. more ›

There are a handful of perks that come with being a Yankee fans: Having Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sing before the World Series, the finest (er, priciest) hot chocolate money can buy and even being able to catch the series while at sea. more ›

Questionable behavior is no stranger to disgraced former top cop Bernard Kerik, who is sitting in jail in Westchester County waiting for his trial on corruption charges. But now the judge who revoked his bail is concerned with his behavior. more ›

Last year around this time we got word that the East River State Park in Williamsburg would be shutting down for the winter months to save up some money. This year shows less signs of a stalled waterfront park, as the Daily News reports that a playground is being constructed and will open in Spring. more ›

Pretty much an average day today as high pressure hovers over southern New England. More sun than clouds this morning and more clouds than sun this afternoon as the temperature heads up to near 60 degrees. Very pleasant for Winter Weather Awareness Week. more ›

It's not the Ninja burglar—it's the "Pattern 16" burglar! Police are tracking down a 27-year-old, male burglar responsible for hitting 16 homes across Staten Island in September, after recently nabbing his female partner in crime. more ›

What do you do after being dropped by Fox 5? Well, close more than $15 million worth of real estate deals with Prudential Douglas Elliman, of course. That's right, former reporter Penny Crone, is cleaning up on the Manhattan real estate front. Douglas Elliman president Steven L. James told the NY Times, "She takes no hostages. That was one of my worries, but I watched her on a complicated deal where her personality just couldn't be at the forefront, and she did it. She actually pulled it off. She took the back seat, the quiet role, which I'm sure was very unfamiliar terrain for her." more ›

When the Jane Hotel first entered the neighborhood, Community Board members say they were enthusiastic about the ballroom, having "visions of people reading from their new works in an elegant salon." While the March sisters may have found parlor readings of contemporary literature a satiating social experience, the Olsen twins represent the Jane's real clientele, and we're guessing they don't read much Murakami whilst making their late night rounds. more ›

Earlier this morning, around 7 a.m., a woman was struck by a vehicle at West 232nd Street and Kingsbridge Avenue. The woman later died at St. Barnabas Hospital and now an off-duty police officer has been taken into custody. more ›

A jury found Jamal Winter guilty of second-degree murder for the murder of Kyong-Sook Woo, a dry cleaner in Windsor Terrace. Winter, who was out on parole, was accused of strangling Woo and then using ammonia to burn off his fingerprints. He now faces up to 25 years in prison. The jury did not convict him of first-degree murder; a juror told the Daily News, "We were all over the map. But it was not a compromise." more ›

With Sad Rat and Sad Panda making us all so sad, it's nice to have Happy Manatee around. Ilya was rescued from the cold clutches of New Jersey earlier this week, and flown down to the more manatee-friendly state of Florida yesterday. The NY Post reports that he is expected to make a full recovery, and a rep at the US Fish and Wildlife Service confirms: "He is safely home in Florida, and currently in a nice pool at the Miami Seaquarium." more ›

A Staten Island woman was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a deadly weapon after slashing her husband's throat with a knife. The police say the devout Muslim woman was upset her husband did not follow Islam strictly, allegedly making her drink alcohol, dress in short skirts, and eat pork. more ›

On Wednesday, it was reported that the latest John Gotti Jr. racketeering trial was experiencing internal problems because of Juror No. 7, a woman who allegedly enjoys "being escorted for cigarette breaks" and is happy to not be at work. Today, the Post is saying that the federal prosecutors' case is now in jeopardy of its fourth hung jury because of Juror No. 7's antics. more ›

The Manhattan Bridge has been plagued with problems since it was constructed 100 years ago... and the ol' gal still isn't perfect after all this time. The NY Times reports that a $150 million project will soon be underway to replace all of the vertical suspension cables on the bridge, causing disruptions in weekend subway service (B, D, N and Q lines), closing the bikeway and even shutting down some traffic lanes... for the next four years. (The cyclists will have to share a pedestrian walkway.) more ›

A man between 30 and 40-years-old allegedly tried to abduct an 8-year-old boy in Astoria Wednesday morning and the police are on the search for him. Police said the man, who was wearing a beige baseball cap, gray hoodie, and a long gray overcoat, grabbed the boy by the wrist and pulled him along saying "Come go with me." The boy broke away from the man and ran crying for help; his mother tried to confront him but he got away. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or online. more ›

Last night, after an 11 minute takedown of Fox News, The Daily Show set its sights on our own mayoral race. Term limits turnaround? Check. President Obama's, uh, endorsement of Thompson? Check. And, yes, they did totally put Mayor Bloomberg next to a graphic of Richie Rich—and Jon Stewart did say they were the same height. more ›

Hooters has added insult to injury. If it isn’t painful enough to wear those tight, little, crotch-riding orange shorts, waitresses at the restaurant chain also have to dip into their paychecks to pay for the uniforms - which is illegal. more ›

Dominic Carter, NY1's senior political reporter and host of "Inside City Hall," appeared in Rockland Family Court, denying charges that he repeatedly assaulted his wife. And Marilyn Carter also told the judge that her husband did not beat her—actually, she says, it was a day laborer whose name she doesn't know. more ›

In the close, nasty NJ governor's race, Republican challenger Chris Christie said on Don Imus's radio show yesterday that NJ Governor Jon Cozrine should “man up and say I’m fat.” He was referring to Corzine's suggestive ads; Christie also told Imus, "I'm pretty fat," and predicted he would be a "a big fat winner" next Tuesday. The NY Times looks at the candidates today—"the two rivals made no apologies for the ugly tone of the campaign." more ›

So much for those parental consent forms! Two public school students, one in Brooklyn and one in Staten Island, were given the swine flu vaccine without signed consent forms. The NYC Health Department told the NY Times, "We are working to determine how this occurred, and to implement additional safeguards." more ›

This Sunday, a 50-cent surcharge will be added to taxi fares, as part of the state's MTA bailout which was approved earlier this year. This surcharge is in addition to the existing surcharges, such as the rush-hour surcharge (Monday-Friday) of $1 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and the night surcharge between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. more ›

• Yankees 3 Phillies 1: The Yankees gave AJ Burnett a lot of money this offseason to pitch in big games and he delivered on Thursday night. Burnett, who would have had a shutout with better defense, allowed only one run over seven innings and struck out nine. Pedro Martinez almost matched him, but he was touched up for two home runs, one by Mark Teixeira that tied the game at 1 and one by Hideki Matsui that put New York up 2-1.

As previously discussed, the City Council voted to raise the fine for idling cars from $5 to $250. The move was prompted by two horrible fatal accidents: "In Chinatown, two children were killed when an unattended idling van rolled backwards. And in Queens, a car left unattended and idling was stolen by an intoxicated person who ran down and killed two high school students." more ›

Frank DiPascali, the "chief financial officer" for Bernard Madoff Investments, was denied bail by a judge yesterday, in spite of both the defense's and prosecution's arguments that DiPascali was cooperating. U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan was skeptical of that, "The only people he could cooperate with are in a prison in Butner or in the bottom of a swimming pool someplace." Ouch! more ›

In February, NYC Transit installed video screens on the platform in the Myrtle-Wyckoff station in Brooklyn, showing the locations of every L train on the line, updated every 15 seconds. And now we know from the Twitter machine that the screens have arrived at Bedford Avenue. NYC Transit posted these photos, and we're told the screens have been installed at various points throughout the station. more ›

After last night's Game 1 loss to the Phillies, the Yankees are hoping to even up the World Series. Now, manager Joe Girardi is benching Nick Swisher. The AP, which calls him the "slumping outfielder," says Swisher will be replaced by Jerry Hairston Jr. who "is 10 for 27 in his career against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez." more ›

Do you want 14 residential units and 3 commercial units in beautiful Brooklyn for the low low price of: Free? The blogger at Hawthorne Street points to Prospect Lefferts' 205 Parkside Avenue, "an abandoned rathole" that has been vacant since 1979 and is now being advertised as free (though they doubt it's really free). There's even a Craigslist ad backing up the sign on the building. Any takers? UPDATE: The new rumor is that this is a prank. We still bet squatters could get in a few months of free rent, however. [via Curbed] more ›

Things are not looking good for State Senator Hiram Monserrate. The NY Times reports that the Queens Democratic party is "expected to dump" him, after his misdemeanor conviction for reckless assaulting his girlfriend: "It is extremely rare for a party to seek to unseat one of its own incumbents, even those dogged by scandal." more ›

A network of earth-loving organizations (Waterkeeper Alliance, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club, and Friends of the Earth) descended upon 270 Park Avenue early this morning with a bevy of costumed demonstrators. more ›

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo endorsed Comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor today, citing his "years of dedicated public service, his vision for a better future for our City, and his commitment to improving the lives of working families." Of course, reporters were more interested in knowing about Cuomo's own election plans next year, to which the AG said, "Let’s do one race at a time if we can, if that’s possible. Let’s support Bill for the mayor’s race. That’s what we’re here to talk about. Next year we’ll talk about next year.” more ›

Last month the World's Fastest Nudist was just a mysterious, fanny-pack wearing man trotting through the boroughs, scaring young children, and posting videos on YouTube. After getting coverage both online and on screen — it even made it to the desk of Anderson Cooper — the veil has been pulled off: he's just another marketing tool, and we've all been duped. more ›

According to the NY Post, NY1 senior political reporter and host of "Inside City Hall" Dominic Carter is due in Rockland County Family Court, because his wife had repeatedly accused him of "punching, choking and kicking her in their suburban home... Cops were called to the Carters' Rockland County house four times in the last two years for domestic disputes, police records show." more ›

Besides costing a lot for a record low voter turnout, here's another runoff election fun fact: Quite a few Dem lawmakers and politicians didn't vote! The Daily News reports that among the no-shows (or those who couldn't get their absentee ballot acts together) were State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr., State Senator Eric Adams and William Scarborough, and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. The Citizens Union's Dick Dadey said of Espada, "He craves respect as a Senate leader but shows disdain for democracy by not voting." more ›

Good news! Just as the Marine Mammal Stranding Center was losing hope, Ilya the manatee has been rescued! 1010Wins reports he is currently "headed back to Florida aboard a transport jet after being rescued from murky waters near a New Jersey oil refinery." more ›

While you were busy doing Sudoku at your temp job, industrious 19-year-old computer whiz Adeniyi Adeyemi was using his three month temp job to launch a $1.1 million fraud scheme, according to a 149-count indictment. During his stint in the IT department at Bank of New York Mellon in November 2001, Adeyemi allegedly stole personal identifying information from dozens of employees, using the information from more than 30 bank and brokerage accounts in their names. Over the next eight years he used the stolen identities to set up more than 30 fraudulent bank and brokerage accounts, prosecutors say. more ›

What's really behind the bar at Brooklyn watering holes? Hopefully you'll never find out, but the Brooklyn Paper reports on some of the makeshift security systems barkeeps keep hidden from their patrons. more ›

Governor Paterson has declared a state of emergency over swine flu. The AP reports, "The executive order means that far more health care professionals -- including dentists -- will be permitted to administer vaccines with only brief training. The order is needed to suspend provisions of state law.State officials say the number of vaccine doses is also being increased. The federal government is ramping up availability of the vaccine, allowing the state to order twice as many doses as a week ago, a trend that's expected to continue." President Obama declared swine flu a "national emergency" a few days ago. more ›

While game 1 of the World Series didn't end the way Yankees fans wanted it to, fans were happy to see legendary catcher Yogi Berra. During the pregame ceremony honoring the country's veterans (the MLB has been "welcoming back veterans" all season), Berra was accompanied to the mound by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden—and Yankees captain Derek Jeter gave both women a kiss on the cheek. more ›

Earlier this month, celebrated Irish tenor Ronan Tynan lost his regular gig singing "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium during the formerly forced seventh inning patriotism stretch. The Yankees cut him loose because he got caught making an anti-Semitic remark to a prospective apartment buyer in his building; when the broker told him not to worry because the buyers weren't Red Sox fans, Tynan replied, "I don’t care about that, as long as they are not Jewish." For good measure, he added that some Jewish women who'd seen the apartment were "scary." more ›

The U.S. Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy grew 3.5% during the third quarter. Bloomberg News notes this is the 'first time in more than a year" the GDP has grown, "propelled by stimulus-driven gains in consumer spending and home building," but the NY Times reports, "Even if a recovery is technically in the offing, job seekers likely will not begin to feel the benefits for months to come." more ›

Though former Fox 5 TV reporter Mike Sheehan originally said "neigh" to charges that he was drunk when he drove into a mounted police officer in March, yesterday he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired by alcohol. Sheehan drove into the horse and cop on Varick Street in Tribeca, leaving the cop with a bruised leg and the horse with cuts, bruises and scrapes; he refused to take a Breathalyzer test after the accident. In true Fox news style, Sheehan had claimed that the horse was actually to blame for colliding with him. more ›

Archbishop Timothy Dolan is on the information superhighway—the leader of the New York Archdiocese has a blog called The Gospel in the Digital Age, where he tackles things like sexual abuse in the Catholic Church (today's entry is an op-ed he submitted to the NY Times, which declined it) and baseball—"It’s been hard for this bishop to be against angels, but fortunately that crisis of conscience has passed with the Yankees 5-2 victory last night over the Los Angeles Angels, giving them their 40th American League pennant and sending the Bronx Bombers back to the World Series." more ›

What's this? Governor Paterson, who has repeatedly said he will run for governor next year, is reportedly going to "reassess" his chances of winning the race, if his approval ratings continue to suck. A Democratic source told the Daily News, "He's in it, he's planning to put the team together, but he's said if his numbers don't improve by the beginning of the year, he would have to reassess his campaign." more ›

The woman who crashed a van full of foster children into oncoming traffic in Queens on Monday confessed to police that she smoked crack cocaine around 1 or 2 a.m., did heroin around 9 a.m., and drank one alcoholic beverage around noon that same day. Sheila Bethea, 45, also admitted to speeding, and told police she did not know 5-year-olds needed to be in car seats. (None of her passengers were even wearing seat belts.) Perhaps even more devastating is the revelation that the children were supposed to taken to their foster care appointment in a cab. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill banning the sale of "most forms of flavored tobacco products" into law yesterday. City Room reports, "The new law is more extensive than the federal Food and Drug Administration’s ban on candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes, which took effect last month," as it covers "chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice flavors" and includes cigars and smokeless tobacco (the federal law bans only cigarettes). However, "tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen flavors" are still for sale! more ›

Yesterday, the city's program to give NYC school students swine flu vaccines began at 125 elementary schools. A 9-year-old at PS 157 in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn who received an injection told the Daily News, "My mom told me that the flu would hurt more than the shot...It felt a little bit sharp, and it kind of hurted." Aww. more ›

An elderly Manhattan diamond merchant with business and health problems shot and killed his 78-year-old wife in their bed yesterday, and then fatally shot himself in the chest, according to investigators. Police found the couple in their Fresh Meadows home after co-workers at Green Bros. Jewelers reported that Morris Green, 76, hadn't showed up at his Fifth Avenue office. The jeweler's business had been hit hard by the economic downturn, and he faced crushing medical bills after a recent heart surgery. But at least one person who knew Green refused to believe it was suicide. more ›

How many helicopter scenes are in this movie anyway? WCBS is reporting that there will be yet another two days of low-flying helicopters over Manhattan — both today and tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This time around the locations include midtown, Wall Street, and the George Washington, Manhattan and Verrazano bridges. See Matt Damon's stunt double dangling from a chopper over the East River? You know where to send your pics. more ›

• Philadelphia 6 Yankees 1: The Yankees looked like a team totally overwhelmed by circumstances while Cliff Lee looked like Orel Hershiser in 1988. CC Sabathia was good, allowing only two runs, both solo shots to Chase Utley, but Lee was much better. He dominated the Yankees, going the distance and he probably would have had a shutout if Jimmy Rollins hadn’t airmailed a throw in the ninth. The Yankees bullpen imploded in the 8th and 9th with Phil Hughes and Brian Bruney the chief culprits. New York will have to hope for a better result against Pedro Martinez in Game 2.

New MTA Chairman Jay Walder was given a true New York welcome at his first transit authority board meeting today, when he and fellow board members were referred to as "a bunch of doody-heads" by a frustrated union leader. more ›

The slightly less epic version of what was once dubbed the MoMA Monster, now standing at just 1,050 feet, was approved by the City Council today in a 44-3 vote. Curbed reports that "this was the last hurdle in the public land-use approval process made necessary by Tower Verre's desired zoning variances and air-rights deals." Last we checked there was word that developer Hines and architect Jean Nouvel may just leave that lot empty for a while so the NIMBYs can savor their precious view. more ›

An appeals court rejected Bernard Kerik's lawyers' attempt to free the former police commissioner. Last week, a federal judge revoked his bail, saying Kerik was "toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance" and accused him of leaking information to a lawyer not assigned to his case (the lawyer, in turn, gave the information to a newspaper which didn't publish it). The appeals court said there had to be a "clear legal error" to free Kerik. more ›

Richie Notar, the co-owner of acclaimed sushi chain Nobu, took a pill and drank a glass of wine before his Monday night red-eye flight from LA to New York. Then he was "out for the count"—at least, from his point of view. But before the flight was over, he'd be trying to bite his way through a pair of flex cuffs. One witness from the flight gave this account:

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NYC Transit's Nostalgia Train is back for tonight's game. According to its Twitter feed, "World Series: 4-car vintage 1917 IRT Nostalgia Special departs Grand Central 7:15pm to 161st St. Come join the fun. Go Bombers!!" more ›

New troubles keep trumping old troubles in the already kinda-troubled John Gotti Jr racketeering trial. One juror was already excused because of some bad trades, but today the tabloids report that an anonymous letter has singled out Juror No. 7 for "diva-like behavior and a plan to push deliberations past Christmas." more ›

Aw, rookie Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is still trying to make amends for—gasp—eating a hot dog during Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. The AP reports, "Sanchez has bought 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers, along with buns and rolls, through A&P supermarket, and donated them to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, N.J." Hey, where's the mustard? more ›

If only the trapped rat had gotten this kind of attention from passers-by. Vimeo user "timmmyk" says he was walking to the subway yesterday evening when he "noticed a large group of concerned people standing around a sick hawk on top of a FedEx van on 48th St. between 5th/Madison. I was among a number of people who called 311 for animal control to rescue this beautiful majestic creature. As the bird flew to a higher perch on a UPS truck it glanced my right ear with its wing. Is that good luck?" more ›

The insults keep flying in the pages of our beloved local rags in the build up to tonight's Game 1 showdown between the Yankees and "Frillies." The Post went out and interviewed "'Phil'istines" across Philly, only to come to the conclusion that, "If the Phillies are as soft as their fans, the Yankees could walk away with the Series in four with George Steinbrenner on the mound and Kate Hudson in the bullpen. These fans are softer than the bread their beloved cheesesteaks are served on." more ›

The owner of the Washington Heights restaurant where a bouncer was killed early yesterday told the media, "There was an argument between customers and the security guy who worked for us at the time tried to break up the argument and took the guys outside. When he took the guys outside, one of them probably had a knife and tried to stab the other guy, I don't know. But unfortunately the security guy got hurt," adding, "This never happens here. We feel sorry for the family of the worker." No arrests have been made. more ›

Maybe this is just a sign that we need to hit the gym more often, but whaaa? This was the scene earlier today at fashion designer Charlotte Ronson's gym, where bitches were hitting the treadmills hard to fit into their slutty whatever costumes. (Hope they toweled down those machines afterward.) By the way—overheard on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg last night: "Well, I need to find loud panties because I'm going as a slutty bee!" Be careful out there Saturday night, people. [Twitpic via Guest of a Guest] more ›

Good news baseball fans! The steady rain should be gone by this evening. Over 1.5 inches of rain has fallen since yesterday, but the storm bringing that precipitation is starting to head out to sea. A few showers are expected through the afternoon but they should diminish to a drizzle by game time. Temperatures will remain steady in the mid 50s through the evening. more ›

Since Justice William Erlbaum found State Senator Hiram Monserrate guilty of reckless assault when he slashed girlfriend Karla Giraldo with a broken glass, but found him not guilty of intentionally slashing her, she wants the judge to lift the order of protection that prevents her from being with Monserrate. The Post reports that her lawyer wrote to the judge saying the couple would like to resume their "intimate relationship ... without further unnecessary interruption or delay." more ›

NYU students: When they're not doing porn to pay tuition or collecting food stamps, they're occupying administration buildings and issuing manifestos. But it's almost the end of October and there hasn't been a single sit-in from the Take Back NYU rebels, who made the big time in February with a 40-hour occupation and a hilarious hit video. So where are they now? more ›

Brooklyn's Anthony (Todo) Anastasio, 80, a member of the Gambino family, was convicted yesterday on racketeering and other charges, and faces up to 20 years in prison. He shook "down a trucking company on the Staten Island waterfront, the owners of an Italian bakery in Brooklyn and order[ed] a Dunkin Donuts torched for the insurance money." There were also secret recordings of him at the Guys and Dolls hair salon in Staten Island, where he held business meetings during his haircuts. His uncle, Albert Anastasia, the head of Murder, Inc., was gunned down while getting a shave at the Park Sheraton Hotel in 1957. more ›

Hate crime task force detectives Stephon Garland and Gregory Wilson, who are black, and detective Faisal Khan, who is Pakistani, were going door-to-door in Gravesend, Brooklyn, canvassing residents to investigate a possible hate crime. They were each wearing suits, and soon enough 15 members of the Shomrim Jewish Community patrol pulled up, accusing them of impersonating police officers. Things got heated, and white uniformed cops from the 61st Precinct arrived at the scene to handle the situation. And handle it they did! more ›

The Yankees are headed to their 40th World Series, but they will have to beat the defending-champion Phillies in order to capture their 27th crown. The Phillies are battle-tested and have a lineup that can belt it out of the park. Four different hitters had more than 30 home runs and the Phillies made quick work of their first two playoff opponents, losing only two games along the way. more ›

Andrew Cuomo, the frontrunner in all the gubernatorial matchups even though he won't say whether he's running, is having a fundraiser next Tuesday. PolitickerNY has the invite, which says, "Andrew Cuomo is having extraordinary success as Attorney General, and his insights into this year’s elections (and next year's) will be very interesting," and notes that since it takes place during voting hours, it's "Not exactly a shot in the arm for Democrat Bill Thompson's effort that day." more ›

Because the Department of Transportation is changing alternate side of the street parking rules (the streets will be cleaned just once a week, versus twice), parking rules will be suspended as the signs are being changed out. Which will take 6-8 weeks. One resident said, "I heard about it a while ago, and I've been waiting on this religiously. I'm thrilled it's finally happening." The Daily News says, "Any community board can request a reduced street-cleaning schedule from the Sanitation Department." In this case, it took a year and a half to get it approved. more ›

The Queens woman who steered a van full of foster children into oncoming traffic Monday night had alcohol in her system and a crack pipe in her... possession, investigators say. The horrific crash claimed the lives of two of the five children in the van, but driver Sheila Bethea, 45, survived. Yesterday prosecutors charged her with manslaughter, assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. One witness tells the Times the crash "sounded like a truck hit a building." more ›

Remember when Caroline Kennedy was, you know, thinking about, you know, taking over Hillary Clinton's, you know, Senate seat? Governor Paterson seemed poised to appoint her but then she dropped out quickly and all these rumors about tax problems or issues with a domestic worker popped up...and it turned out the leaks were from Paterson's own staff! Well, nine months later, Paterson won't have to face heat over that, because the state's Ethics Panel doesn't think there's anything to it. more ›

Ah, remember the Chase bank "fraud broad," who was busted back in July for siphoning over $100K from a millionaire's private account, then blowing it on shopping, partying, and rent? We kind of did forget, then the photo brought us right back. Yesterday, 26-year-old Robin Katz pleaded guilty to grand larceny committed during her time as a financial adviser at JPMorgan Chase. So will they throw the book at the buxom embezzler? more ›

Newlywed Ivanka Trump emailed Daily Intel to dispute details that the Post's Cindy Adams spilled—like the flyer for Trump golf properties allegedly in the wedding invite—about her nuptials to Jared Kushner, "Cindy Adams neither attended nor was invited to my wedding, and her story was filled with various inaccuracies, including those about the weather and the 'marketing flyer' included in the invitation, which were both easily fact-checkable. My wedding was a private, perfect occasion, the memories from which I will treasure for a lifetime." Adams admits she wasn't there but adds, "Half of the guests called me afterward" and insists "A lot of people got" the marketing flyer. We bet Adams had moles at the NYC reception, which is at the Puck Building tonight. more ›

Perhaps it would have been nice to have had the mystery of the Washington Square Park tombstone prolonged until Halloween, but the case has seemingly been cracked! In just under a week the unearthed tombstone has been dusted off and, the NY Times reports, belongs to one James Jackson who died in September of 1799. more ›

Last night, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Comptroller William Thompson squared off for their second and final mayoral debate. And it was a feisty affair, with just a week till the election: The Post called it a "Yankees basebrawl", the Daily News noted how they "pulled out all the stops", and the NY Times noted how Bloomberg "pound[ed]" Thompson. Some highlighted soundbites: more ›

At a vigil, the family of Malachi Cotton begged for the community's help in finding the 16-year-old's killer. The teen was shot multiple times at a bus stop outside Metropolitan Diploma Plus High in Brownsville, Brooklyn on Monday afternoon. City Councilman Charles Barron added, "If you see something, say something. And all those who don't want to snitch, tell me. I'll snitch. If you're afraid to snitch, I'll snitch. They say snitches get stitches, bring it. You tell me and I'll do the snitching." more ›

The NYC Health department is starting its swine flu vaccine program at 128 elementary schools today. According to WCBS 2, 40,000 doses were set aside for the students: "School nurses at those sites will administer the nasal spray vaccine starting Wednesday to students whose parents have signed consent forms. Nurses expect to vaccinate 15 to 25 kids per day, per school." more ›

U.S. prosecutors say that two men, including a Queens building super, were indicted for allegedly trying to aid the Hezbollah: "Patrick Nayyar, an Indian citizen living in Queens, and Conrad Stanisclaus Mulholland, a U.K. citizen, have been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; providing material support; conspiracy to make a contribution of funds, goods, or services to and for the benefit of Hezbollah; and making a contribution of funds, goods or services." Authorities also claim Nayyar was here illegally, but his lawyer said he is here legally, though his visa may have lapsed, adding he was skeptical of the charges. more ›

"The Empire State is being drained of an invaluable resource -- people," proclaims a new study from the Empire Center For NY State Policy. It shows that many New Yorkers are leaving the state in record numbers, and the move is looking to be quite taxing on the state. Between 2000 and 2008, 1.5 million state residents left for other parts of the U.S., leaving the state with a huge loss in taxable income. Nearly 80% of those who left were New York City residents. more ›

With the World Series set for a Yankees-Phillies showdown, Mets fans really caught in between a rock and a hard place. Do they root for their bitter division rival or their hated crosstown rival? Decisions! As Jon Stewart said last night, "I hate the Yankees and the Phillies...I'm a Mets fan. So, for me, [Sunday night] was like watching your wife f--- the Yankees and the Phillies!" more ›

Yesterday we noted that as renovations continue in Washington Square Park, a tombstone was unearthed by workers. Considering there are about 20,000 dead bodies under there, this is much more mysterious than creepy. more ›

Former Mets GM and now-fired ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips is headed to rehab for sex addiction. His agent Steve Lefkowitz told the Post that the 46-year-old "really needs help, and this was the best way to do it." Phillips' relationship with a 22-year-old ESPN production assistant was revealed last week, as well as some tawdry details. more ›

In the same way that Radiohead's seminal album OK Computer perfectly articulated the industrialized world's millennial unease, one Gothamist reader's photograph of a rat stuck in an Upper West Side sidewalk has become a universal metaphor for the pitfalls of urban living. We are all rats, trapped by the, um, race—until the city swallows us up and turns our death into a ridiculous website meme. Our inbox continues to pile up with submissions from readers around the world, who are immortalizing the poor rodent's passing with Photoshop. more ›

A private investigator representing the husband of Diane Schuler, the woman who drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway, killing herself, her daughter, three nieces, and, in another car, three men, says that Daniel Schuler cannot afford additional toxicology reports. Schuler had hoped to disprove medical findings that showed his wife was drunk and high at the time of the crash. Thomas Ruskin said Schuler would need to take out a loan, noting that his investigation and legal fees were expensive. more ›

For basketball fans in New York, the upcoming NBA season is really all about next year. July 1, 2010, to be precise; the exact moment when free agents like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh hit the market. It’s a strange year because you won’t have much to root for and apart from a few core players; the Knicks and Nets will be willing to trade away players in exchange for cap space next summer. And don’t forget Knicks’ fans, former GM Isiah Thomas traded away the 2010 number one pick for Stephon Marbury, so the draft lottery isn’t a possibility. more ›

The NY Times looks at how former AIG head Maurice Greenberg is building a new company that one person called "A.I.G. Two"—especially since he's "raiding people out of 'A.I.G. One.'" Which could be nice for AIG execs who now face limited pay. The problem? The Times says, "People who work in the industry say that if he is already luring A.I.G.’s people, he may soon be siphoning off its business and, therefore, its means to repay its debt to the government." more ›

Two girls have died from a horrible van crash in St. Albans, Queens that occurred at 5 p.m. yesterday. Both were foster children: The first, a 15-year-old, died late Monday night, and the other, a 5-year-old died at 4:30 this morning. The Daily News reports that driver Shelia Bethea, 45, "crossed the double-yellow line on Dunkirk St. in Saint Albans while going between 60 and 70 miles an hour, slamming her minivan into another van." more ›

The notoriously Luddite NYPD—they still use typewriters for most paperwork—has a technological visionary in their midst. Though most people know the Internet is just a passing fad, crazy Capt. Kenneth Corey at the 76th Precinct in Brooklyn thinks it should be used to communicate with concerned citizens. So he frequently sends electronic mail, or "e-mail," to a growing subscriber list, informing them of local crime news. But is the NYPD brass going to stand for this? What do they pay spokesman Paul Browne for? more ›

Newsday reports, "A 52-year-old Lindenhurst resident annoyed his neighbors by hanging a Nazi swastika flag from the chimney of his house - until his mother made him take it down." Greggs had initially refused, but the media attention prompted Richard Greggs' 75-year-old mother to ask him to remove it. She noted he had done nothing illegal, "He's just into everything with World War II. He has no affiliation with [the Nazi Party]." more ›

Thanks, Government! Last week the state gave Brooklyn Brewery a grant for $800,000 to help their $6.5MM expansion through Williamsburg. They money will go towards converting 13,500 square feet of vacant distribution space into a fermentation facility, and upping their production from 8,000 to 50,000 barrels a year. Brooklyn Brewery Founder Steve Hindy tells the Post “Support like this is vital to growing manufacturing jobs in New York City. These funds will enable us to complete a six-fold capacity expansion, adding 15 full-time jobs with benefits, and further expanding the Brewery’s green initiatives.” more ›

1010 WINS reports, "An employee of a Manhattan restaurant was stabbed to death early Tuesday morning after ejecting three men from the 24 hour eatery, police said. The three men were taken into police custody and were being questioned." The 40-something victim worked at Casa Del Mofongo, which is open 24 hours and located on St Nicholas Ave between 182nd St & 183rd St. more ›

With the Yankees about to play in their 40th World Series tomorrow night, the city is excited. Especially the NY Post and NY Daily News, which are going to town with numerous stories... and Shane Victorino gets the "Frilly" treatment on the Post's cover. One Post story is headlined: "Their fans are second rate & so is their city." more ›

Not to be outdone by that measly $1 billion class action lawsuit filed against Greenhouse—the "eco-friendly" but allegedly black-unfriendly downtown nightclub—some other offended blacks have stepped up with their own $1.5 billion lawsuit! Greenhouse: the "big tobacco" of nightclubs. This new lawsuit is being filed today by Raqiyah Mays, a Kiss FM radio host, and three others who say that they were not let in "due to their race." Isn't it about time for Latinos, Hasidim, and Sikhs to get their piece of the Greenhouse bonanza? more ›

NYU professor Nouriel Roubini, who predicted the housing bubble would collapse and the ensuing financial crisis, believes the recession is over, according to Bloomberg News. But "The economic recovery in advanced nations will still be 'anemic,' Roubini...said via satellite to a conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The economist said he’s “more optimistic” on the outlook for growth in emerging markets." He also "said this month that stock markets have 'gone up too much, too soon, too fast.'" more ›

Following the pedicab crash off the Williamsburg Bridge earlier this year, the city decided to try to get those pedicab laws in order. With less than a month left to pass an inspection to obtain a license, there are reportedly only 25 of around 1,000 pedicab operators who have done so as of earlier this month. more ›

Tonight will be the second and final debate between mayoral candidates Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Comptroller William Thompson. The first debate saw both men in attack mode, with no clear winner. CityRoom says Thompson, "Far behind in the polls, and running out of time...must deliver the political equivalent of an Oscar-performance Tuesday night." The debate will air on WABC 7 at 7 p.m. more ›

After the media noticed that NJ Governor Corzine's anti-Chris Christie add seemed to relish in showing how his challenger was fat, Corzine's had to do some explaining. Yesterday, he admitted saying Christie "threw his weight around" might not have been the best choice of words, but pointed out, "How many people can abuse their power, abuse their office by flashing their credentials, throw their weight around, however you want to say it?" A new poll showed Corzine leading Christie by 9 points. more ›

Yesterday afternoon, a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot outside Metropolitan Diploma Plus High in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Malachi Cotton was standing at a city bus stop by when, the Daily News reports, "Three men approached him around 3:15 p.m., police said. The armed trio, who were targeting Cotton, fired several shots at him and then fled." more ›

The 24-hour crackdown on drivers using handheld electronic devices ended last Friday at midnight with 7,529 tickets issued. That total edges out the number of tickets issued in August (7,432) but still falls short of the record 9,016 tickets written during the March sting. Is the NYPD phoning it in, or are New Yorkers getting the message? more ›

Better sit down for this shocking bit from the MTA complaint file: the B61 is too slow. Sure, it's not a new grievance, but one rider wrote us detailing just how painful her commute is. She says: "For the second time in a week, I have waited upwards of a half hour for the arrival of the 61. When it came, after 9 a.m. (I got to the stop at 8:30), I asked the driver why he was late and his reply was: 'I don't know.'" more ›

Former President George W. Bush spoke at the GET MOTIVATED seminar in Fort Worth, TX, telling the crowd, "I don't see how you can be president without relying on the Almighty... I can tell you that one of the most amazing surprises of the presidency was the fact that people's prayers affected me. I can't prove it to you. But I can tell you some days were great, some days not so great. But every day was joyous." There was love in the air; one man told the Star-Telegram, "I was ready to put him back in office." The Rachel Maddow Show's Kent Jones was there and heard, "George Bush was the best speaker so far." more ›

Someone at the 32nd Police Precinct in Harlem defaced a Post-It note with a racist lettering, but the NYPD didn't do much about it, one black officer says. Last month Officer Carla Thomas found that someone wrote "KKK" on a Post-It note she kept on a straw mat in her office; she had previously written on the note that the mat was "symbolic of African tradition and history." She filed a complaint with the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, but claims the office only investigated after others complained about the incident. Since then, the investigation was closed without finding out who was responsible. more ›

An explosion rumbled through a Flushing, Queens neighborhood after a man was trying to empty out his propane tank. A neighbor said, "I felt the ground move. I thought it was a plane coming down. There was a big rumble...I was in my basement and still felt it. I ran outside and saw debris everywhere." more ›

Rangers 5 Phoenix 2: New York got back on track, thanks to two goals from Marian Gaborik, but Gaborik also had to leave the game in the third period with an obvious limp. Gaborik stressed after the game that the injury he suffered had nothing to do with previous injuries that limited him in the past few years. But, he wasn’t sure when he would return to the ice. Vinny Prospal added a goal and two assists while Enver Lisin had two points.
Montreal 3 Islanders 2 (OT): Jeff Tambellini’s second goal of the night tied the game late in the third, but the Canadiens scored in OT to send New York home with a loss, but a point.

Pilots from the Northwest flight that overshot its Minneapolis destination overshot by over 100 miles spoke to investigators and, according to the Wall Street Journal, told them "that a bathroom break, chatting with a flight attendant in the cockpit and then taking out their laptops to discuss work schedules created distractions that led to more than an hour of radio silence with air-traffic controllers." Apparently the laptop use violated Northwest policy, though the federal rules don't ban them. Well, at least Pansing, Gooch, or Bumpus was involved. more ›

This past Friday, as construction on Washington Square Park's redesign entered Phase II, a tombstone was unearthed. Dun dun dun. An eagle-eyed reader of the WSP Blog wrote in to that website Friday after "he noticed that there was a large hole dug about 6 feet below the surface in the fenced-off construction area" where two people were seen dusting off the tombstone. Creepy! more ›

Earlier today, City Council Speaker Christine endorsed Comptroller Bill Thompson for mayor, saying, "I think one of my important points about term limits was that it was important for people to have choice and option. I believe Bill Thompson’s been a good comptroller. I think he would be a good mayor and I think it’s very important that the Democrats are united.” Quinn is, of course, close with Mayor Bloomberg and CityRoom reports that Quinn's endorsement was delayed " as payback for Ms. Quinn’s failure to support Mr. Thompson over the last year," even after he clinched the nomination. more ›

Have the NYPD raised a SkyWatch over Canal Street to curb the alleged "spike in crime" in the area, or are they cracking down on illegal vendors and counterfeiters again? more ›

A Yankees fan from New Jersey is filing a $5 million class action suit over some seats from the old Yankee stadium he bought as a souvenir. John Lefkus spent the best 23 seasons of his life rooting for the Yankees from section M11, Row A, seats one and two, and after the Team moved to a new stadium, Lefkus decided to buy his old seats for $2,000. But what he actually purchased would shock him. more ›

Some "hidden rich people" were recently profiled by the New York Post, and now we regret not considering a different career path. A limo driver, for instance, makes $250,000 a year/up to $20,000 a day driving around celebrities. A personal trainer pulls in $300 an hour and between $200,000 and $250,000 a year, and Soho dog walker Eddie Bimonte earns about $4,000 a month, $230 a day. "My job is to make sure they pee and poop," he explains. "I love it when they poop!" more ›

Last night's decisive Game 6 victory over the Angels gave way to celebration, and then anticipation for the World Series meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies. And the question on everyone's minds: will The Boss, George Steinbrenner, be in town for Game 1? (And should the eggplant calzones be fired up?) According to his son, and managing general partner (aka, The Baby Boss?), Hal Steinbrenner, it's a resounding YES! more ›

The Palm Beach medical examiner's office says that Jeffry Picower, who allegedly took in $7 billion from friend Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, died by a drowning that was caused by a massive heart attack. ABC News reports, "[Dr. Michael] Bell told ABC News that the toxicology results will take ten weeks and if there is anything found that could have contributed to Picower's death he will amend the death certificate." more ›

New troubles are bubbling up for the NYPD: Internal Affairs and Prosecutors have identified "as many as two dozen cases in the past year in which cops allegedly made false statements involving routine arrests," according to the Post. This is a sharp increase over previous years, when one or two such cases would be discovered and prosecuted. more ›

Just because you're the 22-year-old quarterback of the New York Jets and your team is dominating the (terrible) Oakland Raiders, it doesn't mean you can eat a hot dog because you're HUNGRY! Mark Sanchez found out yesterday when he was caught sitting on the sidelines eating a hot dog during the fourth quarter. Critics said he was being disrespectful to the Raiders as well as his teammates who were out on the field playing. more ›

NotifyNYC just sent a notice: "Emergency personnel are on the scene of a motor vehicle accident on the eastbound Brooklyn Queens Expressway near Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. Queens bound traffic is being diverted at Atlantic Avenue." All eastbound lanes are closed and we hear that the accident involved a school bus, taxi, and two tractor trailers. more ›

If you spend enough time in Williamsburg, sooner or later you'll be passed by a man driving a red Subaru, blasting oldies and singing along at the top of his voice. That's just how Anthony Delia, aka Subaru Dude, rolls. Filmmaker Russel Fong recently rode around with Delia for Free Williamsburg, and the guy is exactly as ebullient as we always hoped. Take a look at Hipsterville through his happy eyes: more ›

Some Brooklyn Heights residents say the cacophony from helicopters using the downtown Manhattan heliport is ruining their nice little neighborhood, with eight to ten flights landing every hour at the downtown heliport, just across the East River. Resident Neil Calet tells the Post, "We can no longer sit on our balcony because even nose-to-nose conversation is impossible." (Which means they probably can't hear the tiny violin we're playing, either.) Some fear it's about to get worse, because in April the city will shift sightseeing tours from the West 30th Street heliport to the downtown heliport. You gonna take that, Brooklyn Heights? more ›

Today would be a great day for a World Series game. Sunny with seasonable temperatures topping out in the low 60s thanks to a high pressure system. Tomorrow's temperatures will remain seasonable but it will be mostly cloudy and light rain is expected later in the day. Not great baseball weather but the Yankees and Phillies would definitely get the game in if the series started tomorrow. more ›

Daily Intel noticed how Robert Moffatt, the IBM executive arrested in the insider trading ring with Galleon Group head Raj Rajaratnam, seems like a fun guy. According to Bloomberg News, Moffatt, once in line to be future IBM CEO, Moffatt would start meetings with "This Day in History" trivia and utilized costumes to boost morale: "He once told workers in the Raleigh office that if the division turned a profit in one quarter, he would wear a kilt at a company event. When it did, he kept his promise. He once dressed up in a sumo-wrestler suit at a conference." more ›

A Brooklyn mother charged with beating her 4-year-old son to death over the course of two days told a friend she was "possessed by a spirit" during the savage attacks. Suspect Myrna Chen Phang was visited Sunday at the NYPD's 71st Precinct station house by a friend, Rosa Adrien, who tells the Daily News, "[Phang] said something came over her, almost like a spirit. She said she didn't know why she let it happen." 4-year-old Jayden Lenescar died Friday afternoon after being beaten repeatedly with fists, a clothes hanger and belt buckle. more ›

After a successful pilot program, the NYPD is adding a new siren called The Rumbler to over 150 patrol cars; this bad boy blasts a palpable sound wave that can be felt up to 200 feet away. According to The Rumbler's manufacturer [pdf], the siren has "the distinct advantage of penetrating and shaking solid materials, allowing vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to FEEL the sound waves and perhaps even see their effects through a shaking rearview mirror." The company also warns that the siren and speakers "may cause hearing damage," and those who use it are encouraged to wear ear protection. more ›

A new Quinnipiac poll shows that Mayor Bloomberg is leading the mayoral race, with 53% of likely voters picking him, while challenger Comptroller Bill Thompson gets 35% of likely voters. PolitickerNY reports, "A two-term incumbent just barely over 50 percent would normally have lots to worry about, if he were being challenged by someone who had convinced the public there was an electable alternative. Thompson, unable to crack 40 percent in public opinion polls, does not seem to have made that case effectively." Now the word "blowout" is being mentioned. more ›

This weekend there were reports of a bomb going off on South 3rd Street in Williamsburg, during the early morning hours of Sunday. Now the Daily News has more details, confirming that the block between Roebling and Havemeyer was the stage for an explosion around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. more ›

Steve Phillips, the former Mets general manager, has been fired from his role as a baseball analyst at ESPN, after his relationship with a 22-year-old production assistant was revealed last week. While ESPN's statement simply said, "Steve Phillips is no longer working for ESPN. His ability to be an effective representative for ESPN has been significantly and irreparably damaged, and it became evident it was time to part ways," a source confirmed to the Post that he was "canned." more ›

Ten years ago Demetrius Edwards pleaded guilty to raping a 13-year-old Brooklyn girl at gunpoint. According to the justice system, his debt to society has been repaid, so he was recently released from prison and moved into his parents' apartment, about 100 feet from the St. Raphael Elementary School on 37th Street in Queens. It's no surprise parents are panicking, but although Edwards is a sex offender with a record and a "Level Three" status—which means he's at "high risk to commit another sex crime"—nothing in the law prohibits him from living by the school. more ›

The Daily News reports, "An upstate Republican who's eying a run for governor has compared Shelly Silver, the Orthodox Jewish speaker of the state Assembly, with Adolf Hitler and the anti-Christ. And now Erie County Executive Chris Collins says he's really, really sorry." An attendee at Collins' fundraiser said there was no clapping or laughing, "I know I didn't. I thought it was a little harsh to be calling someone an anti-Christ." Psst—Collins, you can call Shelly a vampire or bloodsucker, because that's what Governor Paterson did last year. more ›

Ever seen a Vespa with a parking ticket on it? It seems most owners—and the NY Post is looking at you Matthew Broderick and Liev Schreiber—are going to great measures to avoid getting ticketed for illegally parking. But beware, Vespians, the paper reports that "Cops are cracking down on hipster Vespa owners who've taken to removing the vehicle-identification numbers from their rides." more ›

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius hit the airwaves this morning, trying to reassure Americans about the swine flu vaccine. Noting that many people have been frustrated by the shortage, she said supply "is coming out the door as fast as it comes off the production line. We were relying on the manufacturers to give us their numbers and as soon as we got numbers we put them out to the public. It does appear now that those numbers were overly rosy." more ›

The Post breaks some details about Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's wedding, held in NJ yesterday—plus has a photo of the newlyweds. Guests included: "Andrew Cuomo, Barbara Walters, Anna Wintour, Rudy Giuliani, Joel Klein and Sheldon Silver, as well as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and ex-New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey...Food Network chef Sandra Lee, actress Emmy Rossum and her Counting Crows, beau Adam Duritz, and country singer Jamey Johnson." There were 500 guests there, but "Wednesday, the couple will hold a second reception for twice as many guests at the Puck Building." more ›

Over the weekend, officials announced that they had identified the teenager who was found wandering in Times Square with near-total amnesia. She is 18-year-old Kacie Aleece Peterson of Hansville, Washington, who was first reported missing on October 2nd. But detectives in Washington found bank activity and other evidence that she was alive and getting by, so they did not issue an Amber Alert. Her father Henry Peterson is flying to NYC today, and he says his daughter has experienced amnesia before. more ›

With his proposed $3 billion budget and other issues to contend with, Governor Paterson has called a special session of the State Legislature next month—plus he wants a "leaders meeting" in NYC this Thursday, which seems like it would include State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. among the leaders, since he is the Senate Majority leader. more ›

The Yankees are headed to their 40th World Series. Johnny Damon had the big hit, a two-run single that put New York up 2-1 in the fourth. A-Rod forced in a run with a walk and that gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth. Andy Pettitte made that stand up, holding the Angels to one run over 6-1/3 and Joba Chamberlain closed out the seventh to keep the lead at two. Joe Girardi went for the kill, calling Mariano Rivera into the game to start the eighth, but Rivera allowed a run in that frame to put the Angels only one run behind. more ›

Opera singer Gabriela Pochinki, whose loud cellphone speakerphone conversation at an Upper West Side restaurant led to a row last week, is relieved that she can avoid jail if she stays out of trouble. So now she's telling the Post and the Daily News why she got so carried away on the phone (hint, it was because of Michael Jackson!). more ›

Jeffry Picower, the friend of Bernard Madoff who allegedly saw up to a 950% return on his investments with the Ponzi schemer and was being sued for $7 billions in clawbacks, was found dead in his Palm Beach home. The AP reports, "The Palm Beach Police Department said Picower was found at the bottom of his Palm Beach home's pool Sunday afternoon by his wife and could not be revived by Palm Beach fire rescue workers." more ›

Starting this coming Saturday, bottled water drinks will be subject to a nickel deposit—and the NY State government will be able to collect millions from the unclaimed deposits. Governor Paterson said, "The expansion of this legislation not only provides our State with much-needed revenue, but will also help us to keep our neighborhoods and parks clean." more ›

There’s one thing you don’t mess with while on the grounds of school that’s struggling financially: a parent and their homemade brownies and cookies. But it seems as though the city Department of Education doesn’t know the deal. Parents in School District 21 in Brooklyn are heated over the DOE’s new regulation that allows only one bake sale a month and desserts to be sold after 6 p.m. on weekdays. more ›

After campaign records showed that Mayor Bloomberg had spent $85 million (through Friday) on his third term mayoral bid, people were amazed—it was, according to the NY TImes, the most anyone had personally spent on any sort of U.S. public office—and disgusted. But the Mayor defended the amount, saying yesterday at an event in Queens, "It costs a lot of money to get a message out and I'm trying to show what we've done and tell people." more ›

Joe Girardi has managed the ALCS erratically from pulling relievers at odd times to leaving starters in too long. But one thing he got right was starting CC Sabathia on three-days rest for Game 4, a move that worked out perfectly and put the Yankees in control of this series. And that is why he should turn to a fully rested Sabathia tonight to try and put the Yankees back into the World Series for the first time in six years. more ›

Suffolk County police arrested a woman for pepper spraying a cab driver who had driven her from Manhattan to Melville, Long Island. According to 1010 WINS, "Amina Williams, 22-year-old woman from Redwood City, Calif. arranged for the cabbie, Alexandre Oseimensuo of New Jersey, to drive her from Manhattan to Melville, Long Island" and "agreed on a fare of $150." However, once in Melville, she only offered $80—but Oseimensuo wanted the full fare. Then Williams allegedly sprayed him with pepper spray. She was charged with assault and unlawful possession of noxious material. more ›

Last night's postponement of the Yankees' and Angels' ALCS Game 6 may have seemed appropriate, given the deluge, but fans who showed up at Yankee Stadium were fuming. A woman who drove five hours hoping to see the Yankees clinch things told the Daily News, "This is ridiculous. They can play in this weather. I wouldn't be so angry if I didn't have to work Monday morning, but if the game goes late tomorrow I still have to drive home." more ›

Police say that a beloved NJ priest was stabbed 32 times by the church's janitor. Jose Feliciano, 64, who was among the group of people who initially found Rev. Ed Hinds' body in the rectory of St. Patricks in Chatham, NJ on Friday, allegedly confessed and was charged with murder. more ›

Add this to the list of the ways drugs are smuggled into the JFK Airport: WABC 7 reports that earlier this month, "A Worcester, MA resident apparently tried to stroll past U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at JFK airport with nearly 7 pounds of cocaine in his shoes." more ›

Yesterday morning, two fire trucks collided in Brooklyn on Ashford Street between New Lots Avenue and Hegeman Street. A truck from Engine 236 and a truck from Ladder 107 were both responding to a gas emergency, but Engine 236's truck hit Ladder 107's at an intersection, causing Ladder 107's rig to overturn. A witness said, "It went up in the air. I could see the wheels. It spun, and then it slammed down on its side, and then it slid and stopped, wrapped in the tree. To think you could turn that thing over." more ›

A few days ago, city agencies asked for the public's help in identifying a teen girl found wandering in Times Square, because the girl could not remember anything about her past, save some recollections about a fantasy novel and writing some fantasy fiction. Now, a tipster has led police to believe she is a missing 18-year-old from Washington State. more ›

After the NY Times looked at Yankee Stadium's cracked pedestrian ramps—some cracks are "as much as an inch wide and several feet long"—in the new $1.5 billion structure, the Department of Buildings headed to the Bronx. DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri issued this statement, "Engineers from the Department of Buildings visited Yankee Stadium today and inspected all of the walking ramps with visual cracks. They determined that the cracks do not affect the structural stability of the ramps and do not present any safety concerns. The Yankees have told the Department that the cracks will be repaired at the end of the season." more ›

A little bit before 1 a.m. word came across the newswire that at 221 South 3rd Street, at Roebling Street in Williamsburg, there was a search in progress for "secondary devices" in regards to an explosion. There was a bomb squad on the scene and a staging area set up for EMS at South 5th Street. more ›

After deciding a 4-year-old Brooklyn boy's Friday death was suspicious, due to the bruising on his body, police have now charged his mother and her boyfriend with second-degree murder. Myrna Chen Phang, 25, and Steven Dadaille, 26, allegedly beat little Jayden Lenescar for two days, using their fists, a clothes hanger and belt. The boy's grieving father Mackenzy Lenescar said, "The only way I will feel anything is if someone could bring my son back." more ›

• New Jersey 4 Pittsburgh 1: The Devils did what only one other team has accomplished this year- they beat the Penguins. Mark Frasier got things going with a goal in the first and Martin Brodeur stopped 32-of-33 shots to make Pittsburgh 9-and-2.
• Montreal 5 Rangers 4 (OT): New York blew 3-1 and 4-2 leads as the Canadiens stormed back and earned the win in extra time. Scott Gomez had two assists in his first game as a Canadien against the Rangers and New York now has a three-game losing streak.
• Washington 3 Islanders 2 (OT): Maybe it’s a New York thing? The Islanders also blew a two-goal lead as the Capitals scored twice in the third period and then again in OT to earn the two points.

Game 6 will now be played tomorrow night at 8:20 p.m... up against the Giants-Cardinals football game. more ›

The Argentinian opera star who was nearly arrested after throwing a tantrum at an Upper West Side restaurant had her day in court yesterday. Soprano Gabriela Pochinki had been carrying on a noisy cell phone conversation via speakerphone at restaurant Nice Matin when a manager asked her to pipe down. When Pochinki blew her off, the manager asked her to leave—four times, and then Pochinki allegedly flew into a rage, shoved her, and refused to pay her bill. more ›

The Giants will try and right the ship after last week’s humiliation at the hands of the Saints when they face the defending NFC champs, Arizona, on Sunday night. Arizona has a dangerous passing game, with three very good wide receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolden and Steve Breaston, but there running game has been mediocre at best. That should allow the Giants to put more defenders into coverage and hopefully, get C.C. Brown the help he needs more ›

The Daily News reports that when a rookie cop realized he'd been hit while patrolling a Bed-Stuy housing project, he and his partner decided to check out an apartment with an open window: "Inside the apartment, they found 15 people, a Crosman BB gun, an unloaded .358 Magnum, ammunition and crack cocaine...Elliot Allen, 22, admitted he fired the BB gun, claiming he wasn't aiming at anyone. Police said they believe Allen wanted to get back at the officer because he had arrested one of the men in the apartment, Tyrike Dario, earlier in the evening and gave him a summons for disorderly conduct." more ›

When Gothamist reader Wayne sent us a picture of a rat stuck in a sidewalk, apparently trying to emerge, others readers decided it was depressing, hilarious, tempting, disgraceful, an opportunity for considering ethics and morals, and time to bait other commenters. Finally, we have an update from Wayne plus a number of Photoshop renderings of the Sad Rat: more ›

The affair between former Mets GM Steve Phillips and ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley may have been out-of-control, what with Hundley allegedly harassing Phillip's family in person and online, and Hundley filing a restraining order against Phillips, but the two parties were able to agree to an out of court settlement. The Post reports, "It is not known what, if any deal, Hundley cut with Phillips to settle their respective claims." more ›

Yesterday one ebullient Stuyvesant Town tenant said he expected his market-rate apartment to revert back to rent-regulated rent levels "immediately," now that the state's highest court has ruled that property owner Tishman Speyer improperly raised rents while also receiving tax breaks from the city. But tenants are almost definitely in store for more legal foot-dragging from Tishman Speyer, which could be liable for some $200 million in damages. After fighting off the tenants' lawsuit for years, Tishman Speyer isn't just going to roll over, especially since the company is at high risk of default on some $4.4 billion in loans. Every million counts! more ›

Yesterday, the beaten and bloodied body of a beloved church pastor was found in the rectory kitchen of St. Patrick's in Chatham, NJ. A friend said of Rev. Edward "Father Ed" Hinds, 61, "He was an exceptional, exceptional ma. He didn’t offend anybody. He didn’t take on issues, he didn’t use the pulpit to take on anything political. A lot of time he’d talk and he’d say, ‘Well where’s God in this?’" Morris County prosecutor Robert Bianchi said, "The fact is that this was a community leader whose arms were wide open to downtrodden. Maybe one of those individuals was involved. That kind of generosity is preyed upon." more ›

What has happened to the Jets? Three straight wins to open the season had them flying high, but now three consecutive losses, including one to the lowly Bills at home, has the Mark Sanchez Messiah Watch on hold. And make no mistake, Sanchez has been to blame for two of the three losses. His turnovers cost the Jets against the Saints -- they led to two return touchdowns -- and he had a five-interception meltdown in last week's 16-13 overtime loss to the Bills. more ›

President Obama officially declared swine flu a national emergency. He signed a proclamation which, according to a White House announcement, "enhances the ability of our nation's medical treatment facilities to handle a surge in H1N1 patients by allowing, as needed, the waiver of certain standard federal requirements on a case-by-case basis." more ›

The 18-year-old who is accused of firing a gun into the air—and killing a 92-year-old woman in her Bronx home—pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. Jamal Blair is being held without bail and his lawyer is trying to explain that his client has had a tough childhood, "In 1993 he was 2 years old and witnessed his father murder his mother. He stayed with his mother's body until his grandparents found discovered what happened almost a day later. It still stays with him." more ›

Fire trucks from Engine 236 and Ladder 107 collided this morning on Ashford Street between New Lots and Hegeman Avenues. A number of firefighters were taken to area hospitals and we hear that "heavy wreckers and fleet services" are requested to the scene. The Daily News reports, "It was not immediately clear if either rig was on a call at the time of the accident." more ›

By spending $85 million on his third mayoral campaign so far, Mayor Bloomberg entered the history books. The NY Times proclaims, "He has now spent more of his own money than any other individual in United States history in the pursuit of public office," and say the billionaire "is on pace to spend between $110 million and $140 million before the election on Nov. 3." more ›

Subway managers on the No. 4 line have enlisted college interns to pose as subway riders and grade token booth clerks on their courtesy levels. It's unclear why the study, which was called "Operation Courtesy," was restricted to the 4 line, but NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton says, "It's like a mystery shopper program," in which storeowners' send fake shoppers to review staff. It's also unclear why the MTA needs to conduct an undercover sting to verify that workers can be gruff. But to be fair, we've found many of booth clerks to be exceptionally pleasant, considering they spend their days underground in a tiny box. more ›

The New York City Health Department received an anonymous report last week about bed bugs at the UA Sheepshead Bay 14 movie theater in Brooklyn. According to the Health Department, managers have hired a pest-control company to investigate. But a spokesperson for Regal Cinemas issued a statement saying, "At Regal, the welfare of our guests and staff is of utmost importance. We have taken all reasonable measures to assure their health and safety and been advised by the environmental professionals that there exists no current health or safety risk for our guests or staff." Feel reassured? more ›

The Post reports, "The NYPD's entire fleet of Highway Patrol officers was pulled from their posts and rushed to a Bronx firing range yesterday because of a malfunction discovered with their shotguns, sources said." The malfunction, discovered a training session at the firing range, involves "problems with the firing pin that prevented the gun from discharging" and "All 75 Mossberg 590A1 shotguns had to be turned in for the older Ithaca 37s." more ›

Yesterday afternoon, emergency responders were called to a Crown Heights apartment about an unconscious 4-year-old boy. The child, Jayden Lenescar, was in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead Kings County Hospital. Now the police are investigating his death as a homicide. more ›

After Wednesday night's lost chance to clinch the ALCS, the Yankees face off against the Angels tonight. The Daily News' Mike Lupica is impatient and frustrated and tells the Bronx Bombers today: "You're the Yankees and you've won 109 games already this season, and when you're that good, when you're this loaded, you can't let it all come down to a one-game season, not after you had the Angels down three games to one...You bring the World Series back to New York tonight." more ›

Reader Wayne sent us this photograph and explains, "I was walking along and texting. Not really paying that much attention. Then something caught my eye. I thought I was about to step in dog shit, but quickly realized it was a rat stuck in the sidewalk. A big rat. It had tried to squeeze through a crack in the sidewalk and failed." more ›

Aha! The AP reports, "According to documents released today by Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden, the boy's mother, Mayumi Heene, told authorities two days after the balloon flight that she and her husband knew all along that their son Falcon was hiding in the residence and was not in the balloon." Also, she allegedly said that the balloon was made for the hoax and that they were trying to get a reality show deal. Her husband's lawyer dismissed the news, "Her English is not that great, first of all." more ›

The original anarchic comedy hero for teenagers and college students, Soupy Sales, died Thursday in a hospice in New York City after suffering from multiple health problems. He was 83. Soupy, one of the only known men to have splattered a pie in Fank Sinatra's face and take more than 20,000 cream-fille tins to his own, won over TV audiences young and old, but mostly young, in the 1950s and '60s. more ›

Pedestrian Safety Warning: Watch out for laid-back dudes struggling to keep a hold on their cans of ‘relaxing’ soft drinks while steering a segway around Manhattan’s streets. Since New York seems to be the hottest place to launch a beverage brainchild these days, the guys over at Jones Soda Co. are bringing Jones GABA, tea-juice blend containing the amino acid GABA to the city via Segways. more ›

Things are getting hairy for the NY Department of Education's pre-kindergarten program, so in their time of need they've turned to the proverbial port in the storm, Craigslist. Last year, the D.O.E. wasn't able to fill over 3,000 seats in the early education program, and forfeited $35 million in funding. Next Friday, October 31, marks the deadline for the D.O.E. to fill 5,400 seats this year, including 900 for full day programs, or lose millions in state funding again. So the D.O.E. has put up ad's on Craigslist to try to reach parents, among other last minute ideas. more ›

According to City Room, the city’s gift program that has been distributing small, personal items, including scarves, backpacks and watches, to the needy since 2002 is feeling the recession pressure. The program has been known to spend about thousands on gifts for single men and women in shelters, including $25,000 buying more than 6,500 watches. more ›

The city has made up its mind. Come December, the Brooklyn Banks will be boarded up and transformed into a construction area for the Brooklyn Bridge rehabilitation project, Scott Gastel, spokesperson for the city Dept. of Transportation told Downtown Express. more ›

Yesterday, a judge threw out a lawsuit against a Midtown restaurant over a 2006 "Shake It Like Shakira" contest. Back then, Megan Zacher, competing at Calico Jack's Cantina, was dancing on the bar but fell and, according to court documents, "shredded ligaments" in her knee. Ouch! more ›

Following the Junior's mousecake incident, PETA has sent an urgent open letter to owner Alan Rosen, asking that he only use humane, non-lethal rodent control (like this cute house). Yet there's no word of a letter to Delta after the airline was infiltrated by a furry friend earlier this week! more ›

CityRoom reports, "The federal corruption trial of Bernard B. Kerik, New York’s former police commissioner, which was supposed to begin Monday, has been indefinitely postponed, according to a court document. There was no reason given in the document, which was filed Friday in the United States District Court in White Plains. No new date has been set." Our guess: The judge wants Kerik to have more time to think while in jail. more ›

The daughter of a 44-year-old construction-safety inspector who was killed in a suspicious Flushing apartment fire earlier this week is vowing to continue her mother’s fight in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed months before her death. more ›

While it lacks the visceral intensity of the San Francisco bus fight video masterpiece, in some ways this audio recording of a nasty argument on the D train is even more enthralling, because it leaves something to the imagination. (We're picturing Edith Bunker vs. Rachel Dratch.) Commuter Joellen Nicholson, who published the video on YouTube, calls it "just another night on the D train comin' home from work. Kudos to the subway Samaritan, who I've named 'Father Subway,' for taking control of the situation." more ›

Sparks Steak House in midtown has settled a class-action lawsuit filed by waiters who accused owners of skimming money from the tip pool and using it to pay other workers, including bartenders, the pastry chef, the wine-cellar master and banquet manager. The waiters sought $5 million, but settled for $3.15 million, and more than 40 waiters should receive over $20,000 each from Sparks, the fifth-highest-grossing restaurant in the city. "What're you going to do," Sparks' owner Michael Cetta asks the Post. more ›

This video is the greatest demonstration of someone "flipping it" on an adversary that we've seen in some time. Long Island convenience store and gas-station clerk Mustapha Yakupoglu was closing up at midnight Wednesday night when two masked men burst in and pointed a shotgun at his neck, demanding money. But Yakupoglu, who's been robbed twice before, wasn't having it. Check out this deft maneuver, caught by a surveillance camera: more ›

More details on the Steve Phillips/"Tubby Temptress" ESPN scandal have been revealed, and if you thought it would get any less ridiculous, well, you're sadly mistaken. According to TMZ, Brooke Hundley filed a restraining order against Phillips on Aug. 20, a day after she crashed her car outside the Phillips' home while leaving a way-too-detailed letter describing the affair for Phillips wife. In the restraining order, she alleged that Phillips cornered her in a hotel suite in July, and wouldn't stop harassing her with text messages and phone calls. more ›

An East Village resident sent us these photos of the aftermath of a horrific automobile crash that happened early this morning, at First Avenue and Fourth Street. An NYPD spokesman tells us that according to a "preliminary report," a 55-year-old black female was killed after a delivery van and minivan collided. Apparently, the minivan was so totaled that EMS had to cut the top off to get inside. The spokesman said there were no other injuries (which seems hard to believe) and no one was charged (which seems typical). Streetsblog hears an "unconfirmed" report that "this was a T-bone collision in which the minivan ran the light." more ›

What better to follow up a meeting with a handful of NBA owners than a $19,000 lunch? That’s right, nothing, which is why Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who is looking to purchase the floundering New Jersey Nets and bring then into Brooklyn, stopped into Nello on the Upper East Side Wednesday with a few friends, the Post reported. more ›

Yesterday the state's highest court ruled that it was illegal for Tishman Speyer to raise rents at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village beyond certain set levels while also receiving tax breaks from the city for major renovations. Now landlords are afraid the ruling will impact their ability to flip rent-regulated apartments into luxury units. Ed Kalikow, whose family owns 2,000 apartments in town, tells the Times, "It's terrible for the industry. A lot of people bought property with the thought that they would get the rents up. People made decisions on that. Banks made loans. This decision is another nail in the coffin." There is not a violin on Earth tiny enough to play at that funeral! more ›

The NY Times' article on mayoral challenger Comptroller Bill Thompon's campaign suggests that it's not the shipshape operation that the Bloomberg campaign runs. (Of course, Bloomberg is throwing tens of millions into his effort.) Amid the different examples, it's noted Thompson's political director Tweeted, "Mommy, can I stay home from school today?" and the policy director Facebooked, "Why is it that I continue to do this work?" (the policy director later quit; he tells the Times, "to suggest that such a generic gripe speaks to some deeper issue is simply silly"). more ›

Short forecast: cool today, warm and wet tomorrow, sunny Sunday. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Rumors are swirling about a stabbing at the downtown nightclub Greenhouse, and according to one employee, the club was shut down last night. The closure comes as Greenhouse owners fend off allegations that the club denied entry to approximately 100 people because they are black. Two people have filed a $1 billion class action lawsuit against the ostensibly "eco-friendly" nightclub, accusing the bouncer of barring them from author Teri Woods's book party in August. When Woods arrived at the club she found her invited guests waiting outside. Here's cell phone video of her reaction: more ›

Although Jamal Blair, the 18-year-old arrested for killing a 92-year-old Bronx woman, allegedly confessed to police, he told reporters last night, "I didn't do it. I was framed by the police. The police did it, they framed me, man. No justice." more ›

A sexy South American opera singer who behaved like a real diva in an Upper West Side restaurant is due in court today to face charges of trespassing, theft of service, and disorderly conduct. It all started when diners at restaurant Nice Matin complained that soprano Gabriela Pochinki was carrying on a noisy cell phone conversation via speakerphone. And when a manager had the nerve to tell Pochinki—a Fulbright scholar who was the toast of Vienna for her portrayal of Maria in West Side Story—to pipe down, she got quite an earful! more ›

After complaining about their limited food options, the jurors in John Gotti Jr.'s racketeering trial are feeling better. The Post reports that jurors enjoyed the fare at Spaghetti Western so much, "One juror even gave Manhattan federal Judge Kevin Castel a thumbs-up." While the Yelpers are meh about the Reade Street venue, Midtown Lunch likes the burger, a "1/2-pound-puck-of-chuck perfectly covered with cheese for $11." more ›

The New York State Department of Health is getting a taste of its own ultimatum medicine. With only 23% of the swine flu doses originally expected to arrive by the end of October reaching New York, the State Health Department has to choose: Uphold a regulation that all healthcare workers receive the shot (which was temporarily blocked by a State Supreme Court judge last week) or make sure those most at risk receive the shot. more ›

Earlier this week, Paterson announced he would put the bill in front of the Senate during next week's special session. He had proposed the bill back in April, and the Assembly passed it in in May, but the bill was placed on the back burner after the Senate coup. However, the Senate is notoriously split on the issue and Paterson doesn't have much juice to twist Senators' arms. more ›

A meat wrapper at a Western Beef supermarket in Staten Island is suing the company for shrugging off complaints about her manager's sexual harassment. Jessica McCarthy, 23, says she endured constant sexual advances and innuendo from boss Jose Delgado. According to the lawsuit, Delgado is so fond of ribald double entendres that he even had a sign reading "Bone me, I'm the meat manager" laminated and displayed in his department. Oh Staten Island, you give so much and ask so little in return. more ›

Adding more fuel to the fire about where the Nets may play in the future, the Record says that the Izod Center (at the Meadowlands) and Prudential Center (in Newark) have stopped squabbling and may sign a deal, which "could have the Nets moving to Newark next fall for two seasons (or more) and the Izod Center becoming the long-term concert and family show mecca for North Jersey." The Nets, waiting to hear about what will happen with the Atlantic Yards, have been impressed with the crowds they've gotten at the Prudential Center. more ›

A teenage girl has been taken in by the Administration for Children's Services after she was found wandering Times Square with near-total amnesia around midnight on October 9th. The girl, who is probably between 14 and 17, is 5-foot-6, medium build, light complexion, short, with straight blonde hair and blue eyes. She has pretty much zero recollection of her past, and has said, "I just want to know who I am. I want to know who I am, and what happened to me." But there are only a couple obscure clues to her identity. more ›

The city's health department announced there is a mumps outbreak in Brooklyn, with at least 57 "confirmed or probable cases." How? Well, the Daily News reports, "The outbreak was traced to a child who went to Britain - where the illness is more common because of lower levels of vaccination - and then attended a summer camp upstate, apparently infecting dozens of kids." more ›

• Angels 7 Yankees 6: The Yankees overcame a miserable start by A.J. Burnett only to have their bullpen give the game away. New York put the first two runners on in the first, but failed to score while the Angels jumped all over A.J. Burnett for four runs in their half of the inning. And that’s exactly where things remained until the seventh. With two outs, Mark Teixeira delivered a bases-loaded double to clear the bases and put the Yankees on the board. A-Rod was intentionally walked and Hideki Matsui followed with a single to tie the game. Robinson Cano followed with a triple to put New York up 6-4.

PolitickerNY reports that the NYC Board of Elections has been so worried about funding that it sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg—and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, city budget director Mark Page, City Council Christine Quinn and others—stating it wouldn't have "the necessary funding to enable it to meet its financial obligations to vendors and poll workers for the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009." Uh... more ›

The police announced that an 18-year-old was arrested in connection to the death of a 92-year-old woman in her Bronx home. Sadie Mitchell was apparently struck by a stray bullet on Tuesday evening, when a shot was fired during a fight between two groups of youths. Witnesses told cops that Jamal Blair, 18, was the shooter and he allegedly confessed. A source tells the Daily News, "He told cops he thought he was shooting up in the air. The lady was 15 feet [above ground] in her home when the bullet hit." more ›

Even though it's been warm these past few days, swarms of ladybugs have been spotted in NJ and Staten Island, apparently in search of warmth! The Advance reports that SI extermintator Richard Pascone "received at least 30 from anxious customers this week, including one at midnight from a homeowner willing to pay any price 'if you come right now.'" Pascone explained, "They’re trying to get in for the winter. They’re trying to hit the warmest side of the house, finding the first crack or crevice to survive for next year. They’re outside bugs trying to survive like everybody else." Things to know: Ladybugs are predators (and eat pests) and don't damage structures. more ›

More than 85% of people stopped and frisked by the NYPD are released without an arrest or summons. But just because the police let you go, doesn't mean they forget all about you! The NYPD maintains a database of more than 500,000 people stopped, questioned, frisked, and released each year. And Councilman Peter Vallone wants the department to hit delete. more ›

While losses are all too familiar to the Mets, it turns out that the organization made a bit from two accounts invested with Bernard Madoff. The NY Times reports, based on court filings, "Mets LP, one of the team’s financial arms, withdrew $570.5 million from two accounts it held with Madoff’s company, $47.8 million more than it put in." more ›

It's not surprising that MyFox News has a four part series (so far) dedicated to broken subway escalators (though perhaps they should also shame the MTA for lack of elevators for the disabled). This time around they report from two locations, including 53rd Street, which sports a lovely escalator behind a glass wall that's been "under repairs" for months. To make matters worse, they even closed off the stairs. Watch to find out how straphangers work that puzzle out: more ›

Since 12:01 a.m., the NYPD has been doing this crazy thing whereby they enforce the law, issuing tickets to drivers using portable electronic devices in one of their regular 24-hour sting operations. And one driver we know has already gotten nailed. The scofflaw, who asked to remain anonymous, was shocked to find that he was being ticketed for what the cop perceived as sending a text message. But he wasn't texting, ociffer! more ›

You may recall the sad, stupid saga of (former) maintenance man Robert Lopez, who was arrested in 2007 while sitting on the stoop of his apartment building with some fake sticks of dynamite he found in the trash. Lopez had brought the cartoonish-looking "bomb" home from work with the intention of making a piggy bank out of it, but when a concerned transit worker called the cops, his ridiculous legal nightmare began. more ›

The latest Marist poll reveals that Mayor Bloomberg has opened up his lead against challenger City Comptroller Bill Thompson to 16 points amongst likely voters, with the incumbent receiving 52% to Thompson's 36%. Marist notes, "Last month, Bloomberg led Thompson among this group of voters by 9 percentage points — 52% to 43%, respectively. Although Bloomberg’s support is unchanged, Thompson has lost ground." more ›

A high-profile midwife who was featured in a New York cover story and the documentary The Business of Being Born is being sued by a Manhattan couple who blame her for their baby's death. The midwife, Carla Muhlhahn, is one of the most well-known midwives, and it's not the first time she's been sued; in 2003, she settled a $950,000 lawsuit after a baby was partially paralyzed. In the current lawsuit, Catherine and Ricardo McKenzie accuse Muhlhahn of gross negligence and recklessness during the delivery, which lasted three days in their West 113th Street apartment. more ›

The State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a transgender person seeking a name change does not have to provide proof of any medical procedure justifying the change, striking down an earlier ruling. The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, a nonprofit advocacy organization, had brought the case to New York Civil Court in February on behalf of Olin Yuri Winn-Ritzenberg, a transgender man who wanted to change his first name from Leah. more ›

In reporting its parent company's $35.6 million third quarter loss, the NY Times notes that it "collect[ed] more from readers than from advertisers, in an industry where advertising traditionally outweighed circulation in revenue by at least three to one. At the company’s New York Times Media Group, which includes The Times and The International Herald Tribune, circulation revenue reached $175.2 million in the third quarter, while ad revenue dropped to $164.5 million." Earlier this week, the Times announced 100 newsroom positions would be slashed. more ›

About a year ago rapper Lil Wayne was in Manhattan court claiming his tour bus was totally pot free after he performed at the Beacon Theater... a venue where surely the Allman Brothers have smoked a little grass on occasion. Anyway, the rapper allegedly tossed a Louis Vuitton bag with a gun inside when the NYPD approached the bus, which got him charged with "attempted weapon possession." more ›

Yesterday, the Queens DA's office and NYPD announced that 30 people were arrested in a half-billion gambling ring with mob ties. NY1 reports, "The alleged gambling ring made about $23 million a month on websites...While the ring was run in the city, the websites' computer servers were based in Panama." Kelly said, "The principal in this case, Gambino associate Joseph J. Fafone, personally delivered $553,000 in winnings to one of the gamblers. Most proceeds were seized soon thereafter [in Long Island] when the [gambler] was stopped by the police for driving while using a cell phone." more ›

The 22-year-old ESPN production assistant whose affair with ESPN analyst and former Mets GM Steve Phillips was revealed yesterday, was apparently very resourceful in trying to harass Phillips' wife. Brooke Hundley (dubbed a "tubby temptress" by the Post, which also offers "video geek to superfreak") placed an ad on Craigslist to hire someone to call Marni Phillips and break the news of the affair. Hundley's script for the caller: " As you can probably tell Steve hasn't been himself lately [pause and act like this is really hard for you to tell her]... It's because he's cheating on you with a young woman at our work." more ›

The animals scored another point against the humans at JFK this past Sunday. Reportedly a mouse (eek!) was running rampant around a Delta aircraft waiting to depart for London. Upon being spotted, the captain refused to operate the flight, "fearing the rodent might gnaw through some critical wiring and put the entire aircraft at risk high over the Atlantic." And now we have a new reason to fear flying. more ›

In a decision that could have major repercussions for landlords of rent-controlled buildings citywide, the state’s highest court has ruled this morning that owners of the sprawling Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village complexes in Manhattan improperly charged market-rate rents on thousands of apartments. In what is probably the final deathblow for Tishman Speyer's ownership of Stuy Town, the Court of Appeals ruled that the owners should not have raised rents beyond certain set levels while also receiving tax breaks from the city for major renovations. more ›

Former Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, who resigned after being indicted on fraud charges for basically selling his influence for $1 million, actually racked in $2 million in bribes! Seminerio's trial is taking place, and audio of his bragging to informants was played. For instance, he'd steer state money to the Long Island Rail Road in exchange for jobs for friends: "Anytime that I would, ah, give them a $250,000 contribution or $500,000 for repair of the railroad, I need two jobs. Even if I didn't have anybody, then I find two people and get them jobs. more ›

Family and friends of the 92-year-old who was fatally killed by a stray bullet in her Bronx home on Tuesday are still reeling from the tragedy. Sadie Mitchell's daughter Sharon van Rooij said, "When someone is in their 90s, it's inevitable that they're going to die, but not like this... Not at the hands of some punk. I hope [the killer] will fry. I don't care how old you are -- 18, 19, 30 or 12. I hope you fry." more ›

Two preseason games at the Prudential Center in Newark have been so highly attended that the Nets are considering moving there from the Meadowlands while they wait for a new home in Brooklyn. An October 13th preseason game against the Celtics drew 12,790 fans to the Prudential Center, three times the the size of a typical preseason crowd at the Meadowlands' Izod Center. Then, a game against the Knicks drew 15,721. Those are nice numbers, but getting out of their lease could cost Nets owner and Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner millions. more ›

The Obama administration is set to ask that executive compensation be dramatically lowered at seven companies which received the most government help. While the plan hasn't been made public yet, it's expected that pay will fall an average of 50% for the top 25 paid executives at Citigroup, Bank of America, American International Group, General Motors, Chrysler, GMAC and Chrysler Financial. more ›

The cat who was found in a SUV's engine area is recovering just fine. According to the Daily News, the cat, now named Art, is at a Manhattan animal shelter. Animal Care and Control's David Ziegler said that Art had "fleas and badly-matted fur," adding, "He seems pretty calm, like he's not in any pain. But he's mean. He has been growling." The AC&C is holding him for another day to see if an owner turns up; if not, "they will try to place the cat in a home via a rescue program." more ›

The new MTA chief is pushing a plan to offer discounts for bus and subway riders on weekends and late nights. MTA CEO Jay Walder has been making a big splash since taking over the job earlier this month, talking to the media about a number of big ideas, such as installing cameras on buses to bust bus lane blockers and introducing a no-swipe MetroCard that would double as a debit card. In an exclusive interview with the Times yesterday, he revealed his latest crazy scheme. more ›

Yesterday, a 55-year-old NJ man who works as a security guard at Newark Liberty International Airport was arrested for allegedly making threats to President Obama. The Star-Ledger reports that two airport workers notified the authorities after John Brek, employed by a private company, apparently "made about Obama on Tuesday afternoon" which then led to a "predawn raid yesterday" at Brek's Linden home. more ›

They needed until their seventh game, but the Islanders finally won a game, 4-3 over Carolina, albeit in a shootout. They also blew a two-goal lead in the third period before recovering to win the shootout. Matt Moulson, Andy Sutton and Tim Jackman each had a regulation goal. When the shootout rolled around, it was rookie John Tavares sealed it. Dwayne Roloson earned the win in net. The Islanders, now 1-3-3, travel to Montreal for Thursday's game. more ›

Since Steve Phillips' shenanigans came out via a NY Post"exclusive", there's been neverending coverage on the suspended ESPN analyst and his 22-year-old "tubby temptress." But Deadspin claims they heard about it over a month ago, and were given the cold shoulder by ESPN PR. So now it's on: "And since the tenuous connection between rumor and fact for accuracy's sake has been a little eroded here, well, it's probably about time to just unload the inbox of all the sordid rumors we've received over the years about various ESPN employees." Deadspin has already posted about two such "horndogs," with the promise of more to come. more ›

Now that we solved that whole tax credit deficit problem, there's a new worry for the filmmakers who want to point their lens at New York City. Crain's reports that "the latest shock to the industry is a plan by the city to charge the largest fees in the nation for filming in its buildings [$3,200/day]. The Mayor's film office is also drawing up plans to charge for its famous free permits. Even more troubling, the city's tax incentive program is out of money and in the process of being scaled back, and the state is in negotiations over whether to renew its tax incentives." Well, that's an exhausting list. more ›

The panel to investigate whether State Senator Hiram Monserrate should face disciplinary action, in the wake of his misdemeanor for assaulting his girlfriend, has been set. Senate majority conference leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) said, "Violence against women is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated. It has no place in the world. It has no place in the Senate. As a father with daughters I am not only angry, but I'm pissed off. But as a leader I cannot let my personal feelings supercede the individual rights of each member. While there may be many calls for our colleague to resign, that is his choice and his choice alone." more ›

If you make it through the this 8 bazillion word profile in the New York Observer on a crack-smoking hipster, please let us know how it ends. What we learned from a quick scan of the first page is that it doubles as a tip sheet for amateur crackophiles, and also bodegas sell crack kits! The code word at Crack Hipster's bodgea is: "Casaban." And if you say it, "you’re handed a brown paper bag containing the glass tube with a tiny bunched-up ball of steel wool at one end, and a little lighter. It costs $2.50." more ›

A Manhattan teenager with no criminal record is suing the city for $1 million because cops arrested and taunted him as "Plaxico Burress" after he got shot in a robbery. Christian Dudley doesn't even own a gun, but that didn't matter to the officers who collared him after the Harlem mugging earlier this year. He was arrested in a Washington Heights hospital where he was waiting to get the bullet removed from the back of his knee—instead of surgery, he got dragged to the precinct on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. And that's where the fun really started. more ›

Former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik spent the night in jail, after a judge in his federal corruption trial revoked his bail. Federal District Judge Stephen C. Robinson was unsparing in his criticism of Kerik's behavior, calling him a "toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance... And I fear that combination leads him to believe his ends justify his means. He sees the court’s rulings as an inconvenience, something to be ignored, and an obstacle to be circumvented." more ›

Uber-popular Gov. Paterson is not only pushing ahead with his fat tax, he's also bringing the same-sex marriage bill back to the Legislature in next week's special session, which will deal with unresolved bills and other matters that were tabled in the midst of the summer coup. According to aides, the Gov. wants to force the Senate to deal with Senator Tom Duane's marriage-equality bill one way or the other—even though he can't force them to vote on it. Some think, considering his dismal ratings, this is a go-for-broke move that aides hope can help his ailing political fortunes. more ›

First off, there is an Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists. Last week this group had a trade group gathering in Nashville, and CityRoom reports that "while much of the talk at the seventh annual Pooper Scooper Convention, as usual, centered on business, it also featured the yearly tribute" to the death of the pooper scooper. That's right, the instrument in which the law is named after is nearly extinct. more ›

As if signing Mo Vaughn wasn't terrible enough, the Post is reporting today that ESPN baseball analyst and former NY Mets General Manager Steve Phillips was ensnared in a messy affair with a 22-year-old production assistant at ESPN, that ended with some not-too-pleasant hijinks. For instance, the assistant crashed her car into a stone column outside the Phillips's Wilton, Conn. home, after leaving a letter there describing intimacies of the affair (including squirmy details about birth marks in nether-regions). more ›

Even though he's claiming he's innocent of insider trading charges, billionaire Raj Rajaratnam is liquidating his Galleon Group hedge fund and preparing to shut it down. In a letter sent to investors, Rajaratnam wrote, "I want to reassure investors of the liquidity of our funds and assure Galleon employees that we are seeking the best way to keep together what I believe is the best long/short equity team in the business. I want to reiterate that I am innocent of all the charges." more ›

As suspected terrorist Najibullah Zazi sits in federal custody, the feds announced another terrorism-related arrest: The Boston Globe reports that 27-year-old Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury, MA and co-conspirators "allegedly plotted terrorist assaults on shopping malls in which he and his fellow conspirators would use automatic weapons to mow down civilians, federal authorities said today as they announced his arrest...The conspirators were inspired to prepare for the shopping mall attacks by the Washington, D.C., sniper shootings of 2002 and viewed civilians as fair game because they were taxpayers and nonbelievers, [acting US Attorney Michael] Loucks said. The plot never materialized because the conspirators could not obtain automatic weapons." more ›

Yesterday we broke the gag-inducing news that Junior's in Downtown Brooklyn was now adorning their famous cheesecakes with some real life mice, after photos of the vermin brushing up against their desserts appeared on the Brooklynian message board over the weekend. more ›

A sushi chef who tried to "hold" a parking space for his manager by standing in the street ended up with a broken foot and other injuries after an irate driver tried to claim the space. Ke Hai Du says it all started around 5 p.m. on October 9th, when he noticed the space become available in front of the Peck Slip restaurant Suteishi. He dashed outside to save the space while his manager got her car, but before she arrived driver Paul Todd pulled up with plans of his own. more ›

NYC Transit has been running the Nostalgia Train to Yankees post-season games lately—maybe the throwback fever has been spreading! A reader spotted that the old skip-stop 9 line, last in service back in 2005, appears on the MTA's website when you click on the subway map's Times Square stop. more ›

A gunman for the Gambino family has taken the unusual and dangerous step of outing himself as homosexual, as a gambit to obtain a lower sentence for killing a Queens bagel store owner in 2003. Robert Mormando had already confessed to the murder, and his decision to out himself in court was intended to show the judge that his cooperation was riskier than most, because, as we know from The Sopranos, the mob kills gay members. In fact, the NY Times even gets the actor who played a homosexual gangster on the series to weigh in! more ›

Acclaimed novelist Sir Salman Rushdie faced a fatwah, so of course he was going to strike back at Page Six. Yesterday, the Post's gossip section quoted his ex Pia Glenn, who claimed Rushdie was still hung up on ex-wife Padma Lakshmi (well, who wouldn't be) and that he stole a year from Glenn's life. Today, Page Six offers Rushdie's version, which begins: "The reason I broke up with Pia Glenn is that I came to feel that she's an unstable person who carries around a large, radioactive bucket of stress wherever she goes. It was just exhausting to deal with." more ›

A quick look at the local National Weather Service website shows no watches, warnings, or advisories anywhere in the forecast zone. The lack of weather action is courtesy of a high pressure over the Tennessee Valley that is slowly moving eastward. That will bring mostly sunny skies and a high near 70 today in the Big Apple. Tomorrow promises to be even warmer as the high pulls warm air up from the Gulf of Mexico. Look for highs in the mid 70s. more ›

In an apparent first, six women posed as victims of domestic violence in order to jump to the top of the wait-list for government subsidized apartments, officials say. Over 127,000 families are on the New York City Housing Authority’s waiting list for Section 8 vouchers, which can be worth thousands of dollars a year. Qualifying tenants who get the vouchers pay 30 percent of their adjusted gross income toward the rent, and the government picks up the rest. And these women, who were all arrested over a period of four months, almost got away with it! more ›

With the Bronx Bombers leading the Angels three games to one in the ALCS, the Yankees are offering World Series tickets—because the American League won the MLB All Star game (Mariano made the save!), the Yankees would have games 1 and 2 (and 6 and 7 if necessary) at Yankee Stadium if they do clinch the pennant. more ›

Seeing as how it takes the Parks Dept. 3 to 5 years to deal with tree problems, it's unlikely that Bay Ridge resident Richard Mahany will get the gingko tree that's stinking up his neighborhood removed any time soon. The Brooklyn Paper reports that the man is angry that the tree "dumps its foul-smelling fruit on the sidewalk in front of his 78th Street home." more ›

First, he was making friends with the gay inmates. Next, he's got into a fight with another old inmate. Now, in the latest installment from the unofficial Post series "The Prison Life and Times of Bernard Madoff," we learn that the Ponzi king "now shares a cell with a 21-year-old inmate convicted of drug crimes...sleeps in the lower bunk and he eats pizza cooked by an inmate convicted of child molestation" and his "recreation consists of walking around the prison track at night." more ›

This Chinatown surveillance video depicts a heated altercation between an NYPD traffic agent and a car owner on Lafayette Street around 3:15 p.m. on October 8th. The video appears to show irate traffic agent Twana Chapman striking driver Qiang Nian Zhu after he tried to cover his registration sticker, so Chapman could not scan it. A crowd gathers, and Chapman is seen getting in one bystander's face, as another traffic agent pulls her away. But because there is no audio, it's not possible to verify an allegation that Chapman also made racist remarks. more ›

Updated: Now WCBS 2 reports says it was a Newark Liberty International worker (not a former NJ state trooper) who was arrested last night for making threats against President Obama. "The nature of the threat is unknown. According to sources, the employee was arrested in his New Jersey home after a co-worker alerted authorities that the suspect made threatening remarks about President Obama. At some point after learning of the threat, law enforcement officials searched the home and found several weapons." It's unclear whether the threats were related to Obama's visit to NYC yesterday and NJ today. more ›

Neighbors are outraged after a 92-year-old was fatally shot by an apparently stray bullet that entered her home on East 224th Street in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx. According to the NY Times, "It was unclear whether Ms. Mitchell was the intended target, but the police said it appeared some youths had gotten into a fight on the street" before the 5:30 p.m. incident. more ›

President Barack Obama did in fact mention Democratic candidate for mayor, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, during last night's Democratic fundraiser: "Our great city comptroller, our candidate for mayor, my friend Billy Thompson is in the house." And that was it. Even Thompson himself, when asked if he thought it was an endorsement, said, "No. Do you consider that an endorsement?" (See for yourself—video is below.) more ›

A PATH train entering the Herald Square station apparently hit a wall (or bumper). We are hearing that 10 people were injured—8 passengers and 2 PATH employees. Initially, it was reported that there were no delays but now 1010WINS says, " Commuters should expect PATH service delays." Update 8:57 a.m.: NotifyNYC says, "West 33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue is closed to traffic because of emergency vehicle activity." Update 9:56 a.m.: Now MyFoxNY is reporting there were 13 injures, all minor and got amateur video of the response—see it after the jump. more ›

It's time for the city to come back to the well and conduct another cell phone ticket blitz. Why, it seems like only yesterday that the NYPD last cracked down on drivers using cell phones, but it was actually mid-August. New York State just wrapped a lucrative four-day cell phone crackdown on the Thruway, issuing 903 tickets to drivers in a mission called, no joke, "Operation Hang Up II.'' Not to be outdone, the city's sting will start at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and last 24 hours. more ›

Yankees 10 Angels 1: For the first time in five years, the Yankees are one win away from the World Series. Everyone knows what happened in 2004, so the team should not be guilty of counting its chickens before they hatch. CC Sabathia pitched eight innings of one-run ball -- on three days' rest -- and Alex Rodriguez continued his monster postsesaon by going 3-for-4 with a homer. He also scored the game's first run. Melky Cabrera also went 3-for-4 and had a critical two-run single. more ›

It's no "Keep fucking that chicken" but we'll take it: On tonight's 6 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast, anchor Bill Ritter was discussing how former police commissioner Bernard Kerik was headed to jail. Unfortunately, the words "top cop" came out "top cock." Really—watch for yourself: more ›

A 15-year-old teen in Monroe, NY (in Orange County, about 60 miles away) was arrested for "allegedly plotting to carry out a Columbine-style attack at Monroe Woodbury High School" on the anniversary of Columbine next year. MyFoxNY reports the teen said he was bullied and had "a lot of hatred" for his classmates. Also: "Officers searched the teen's home Monday night and found four 16-ounce bottles of gasoline, items that could be used as fuses, a torch, a machete, a black trench coat, three propane tanks, two computers and several other electronic devices, authorities said." The teen was committed to a psychiatric facility. more ›

Pope Benedict makes his move for British domination: The NY Times reports, " In an extraordinary bid to lure traditionalist Anglicans en masse, the Vatican on Tuesday announced that it would make it easier for Anglicans who are uncomfortable with their church’s acceptance of women priests and openly gay bishops to join the Roman Catholic Church... If entire parishes or even dioceses leave the Church of England for the Catholic church, it will probably set off battles over ownership of church buildings and land." Anglicans could maintain a distinct identity under an "Apostolic Constitution." more ›

If you hate waiting for a cab at the airport, then imagine how the cab drivers feel, waiting hours at a time in a holding pen before being allowed to pick up passengers at a terminal. Surely there is some way to match up the waiting passenger with the waiting taxi. No? Anyway, the Daily News reports that some drivers were paying their way to the front of the line. All whilst passengers just stood there like suckers, not bribing a soul in their own line. more ›

The momentary controversy over whether Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera spit on a ball is over...at least, in the eyes of the MLB. The Commissioner's office spokesman said, "From the available video and still pictures that we have, there's no evidence that Rivera spit on the ball." more ›

You may have noticed that electric bikes, or "e-bikes," are increasingly popular in New York. But before you get swept up in the fad, be aware they're technically banned from state roads and city streets, which makes sense, because these things are annoying as they are dangerous—especially when driven by reckless delivery men who tear around like maniacs. The problem is that some e-bikers act like cyclists, using bike lanes and crowding bridge paths, when in fact they have the speed and force of a motor vehicle. And yet a proposal in Albany could flood NYC with these abominations! more ›

A dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do—and if that means breaking out of a veterinary clinic after undergoing surgery, so be it! Pharaoh, a 9-year-old German Shepherd, managed to get out of his cage at a Hauppauge, Long Island clinic, and then, Newsday reports, "opened the back door"—which had a deadbolt—"unlatched a gate and fled." Here's video of Pharaoh, wearing his surgical cone, working the door: more ›

A new Siena poll reveals that voters are still unhappy with Governor Paterson: His job performance is 19% positive, 79% negative and only 15% of respondents want to re-elect him (72% say there should be someone else). Here's something to think about: Rudy Giuliani is gaining on Andrew Cuomo in a hypothetical 2010 gubernatorial matchup: last month, Cuomo got 52% and Giuilani 39% while this month, it's Cuomo 50% and Giuliani 43%. Giuliani beats Paterson 56% to 33%. more ›

To no one's surprise, traders at the Galleon Group have been working on their resumes and calling their lawyers, after the hedge fund's founder Raj Rajaratnam was arrested on insider trading charges last week. However, he was in the office yesterday (out on $100 million bail) and also offered a letter to employees, friends and clients: "As I am sure you understand, I am not able to respond in detail to the charges recently brought against me. But let me be clear: they are, without exception, entirely baseless. I am innocent and will vigorously defend myself and our firm." more ›

You may get to Carnegie Hall through practice, but you get to walk away from Carnegie Hall with a half million a year by being a stagehand at the legendary venue. Bloomberg News blows the lid off the shocking salaries that Carnegie doles out annually, saying that while "a star pianist can receive $20,000 a night... he or she would have to perform at least 27 times to match the income of Dennis O’Connell, who oversees props at the hall." more ›

A 17-year-old Staten Island resident is being held on $250,000 after allegedly stabbing her 14-year-old brother. The Advance describes, "According to a law enforcement source, the two fought nearly every day, and Sunday morning was no different -- Rodney had overslept, and Miss Tyler went to wake him up. That sparked an argument, the source said, which escalated into violence. Miss Tyler grabbed a butcher knife and a steak knife." Although their mother tried to intervene and Tyler dropped the butcher knife, she "held onto the steak knife, raised it over her head, and reached over her mother's shoulder," allegedly plunging it her brother's chest and then pulling it out. more ›

There's a growing chorus of lawmakers saying that State Senator Hiram Monserrate should step down, now that he's been convicted of a misdemeanor for slashing his girlfriend in the face with a broken glass, but one of Monserrate's Senate colleagues is standing by him. In fact, State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. said that these demands are "racist." more ›

A tipster wrote us just in time for lunch saying to "Check out the specials now in Downtown Brooklyn." Don't mind if we do! However, this was quickly followed by these photos and mention of Junior's new "mouse flavor." While the source specifies the Dekalb location, the poster of the original photo doesn't say which Junior's this little guy was spotted at. However, this recent thread on the Brooklynian message board points to Brooklyn. We called the cheesecake purveyor and were told "this is the first time we're hearing about a rodent problem." more ›

While the NY Times' story on a Harlem charter school's kindergarten visit to the Queens County Farm Museum might just seem like a human interest story, there's actually a serious reason behind it: The state's English and math tests seem biased towards kids with knowledge of farms. There are "several questions each year about livestock, crops and the other staples of the rural experience that some educators say flummox city children, whose knowledge of nature might begin and end at Central Park. On the state English test this year, for instance, third graders were asked questions relating to chickens and eggs. In math, they had to count sheep and horses." Oh no!!! more ›

Former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who faces federal corruption charges, is headed to the slammer, after a judge revoked his bail! From WCBS 880: "Judge Steven Robinson finds Kerik arrogant and self-minded and needs to get a clue. Robinson says Kerik's been violating court...hiring sham lawyers to pollute the jury pool and tamper with witnesses. The judge says he has no confidence that Kerik will stop this conduct, that he's lied to him in the past." more ›

The recently decapitated MoMA monster, which would have measured in at 1,250 feet (the height of the Empire State Building), has been surrounded with controversy from day one. Midtown NIMBYs didn't want a skyscraper going up in Manhattan, and they eventually got 200 feet taken off the tower so that it wouldn't impact the skyline. Sigh. more ›

New Yorkers fed up with the city's overcrowded, snail's-pace buses can perhaps indulge in some guarded optimism now that new MTA "czar" Jay Walder is promising to improve the system. Walder was formerly the transit guru in London, where, he says, "You carry nearly twice as many people in the bus system as you do on the Underground." In New York, the opposite is true, and Walder wants to change that while simultaneously reducing bus overcrowding. Is this guy crazy? more ›

A 28-year old man was charged with public lewdness on October 9th after masturbating on the G train at 10:30 a.m. The Brooklyn Paper reports that cops responded to calls from horrified mid-morning commuters at the Smith-Ninth Street station, after spotting him “naked with an erect penis out on public view." more ›

The Post reports that a 28-year-old Upper East Side resident was arrested after a "looting spree, scaling fire escapes and slinking into windows to rip off TVs, cameras, iPods and other electronics from a string of buildings -- including her own." However it's unclear if she was wearing sneakers for sneaking. more ›

As the first section of the High Line park was poised to open last April, the mayor's office began painting over the graffiti next to the elevated tracks. And workers are still busy trying to make sure every last vestige of urban character and uniqueness is removed from sight! Last year the city identified about 20 buildings along the entire High Line as candidates for graffiti removal, and 18 owners are permitting the city to scrub them clean. Last year, Gothamist's resident graffiti expert Jake Dobkin vowed war if the city buffed the Revs/Cost mural at 23rd Street (seen here). So is Dobkin headed to the barricades with other street art aficionados? more ›

Prosecutors say the man accused of killing a Windsor Terrace dry cleaning owner last year poured ammonia on his victim's neck after he strangled her to burn off fingerprints and DNA. But he left the bottle of ammonia behind in the store, providing investigators with a crucial fingerprint. Yesterday Supreme Court jurors began hearing evidence against Jamal Winter, who's charged with murdering beloved shop owner Kyong-Sook Woo, a 62-year-old grandmother, on May 15, 2008. Winter was in violation of parole at the time of the murder, but was on the streets because of a justice system failure. more ›

Recently we got a glimpse of the glass roof sheltering the new Apple Store, courtesy of a remote control helicopter. Now we learn that this latest store will officially open in November. The company recently went on record saying during yesterday's investor call, "We plan to open our first two stores in France, including one at the Louvre as well as our fourth high profile store in Manhattan on the Upper West Side." Let the hype begin! more ›

Even though the Yankees were playing Game 3 of the ALCS in Anaheim, Yankees fans were able to watch—via Jumbotron—the matchup at Yankee Stadium yesterday. And there were some boo birds there! One fan told NY1, "Joe Girardi blew the game. He went over in the dugout and looked at the book and he took Robertson out because of something the book says. You can't manage the playoffs by the book. This loss is on Girardi's head." more ›

After accusations that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani was race-baiting while touting Mayor Bloomberg for re-election , the incumbent candidate tried to address the issue. Bloomberg said, "I am phenomenally proud of our record of bringing people together from all neighborhoods and every community. And I think we’ve successfully resisted attempts to divide the city... For the past eight years, I’ve worked well with virtually everyone. I don’t point fingers. I try to lower the volume, the temperature, and not raise it. I’m not going to try to raise it now." more ›

It's so hard to keep up with Gang Initiation Day! Is it on Easter, or around Halloween, or both... or neither. Cops are on alert again as the annual Halloween rumor settles upon us, which typically alerts the city of a Bloods-induced bloodbath that has potential new members slashing hundreds of innocent people. Of course, the NYPD notes that this is somewhat of an urban legend, and actual gang bloodshed hasn't gone down since 1995. more ›

The NY Times looks at how Lehman Brothers head Dick Fuld tried to save the firm, with the help of government officials, based on reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin's book, Too Big To Fail. A choice quote: Then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson telling Fuld he won't call Bank of America's CEO, "I think it’s a hard sell, but I think the only way you’re going to do it is go to him directly. I’m not going to call Ken Lewis and tell him to buy Lehman Brothers." Of course, Paulson did pressure BoA to buy Merrill Lynch—and now Lewis is on his way out. more ›

Finally deciding a lawsuit first filed in 2003, a federal jury has found Exxon Mobil liable for $104.7 million in compensatory damages for contaminating groundwater in NYC. The city had originally sought $250 million to cover construction of a treatment plant to purify the water in five wells in southeastern Queens. (The well water is used when the upstate reservoirs system is out of service during repairs, droughts and other emergencies.) The jury found Exxon Mobil guilty of failing to warn government agencies when it decided to add M.T.B.E. to gasoline. So what is M.T.B.E.? more ›

Cats do the darndest things—like hang out in SUV engines and wait for cops to rescue 'em. Seriously, an orange and white cat had be to extracted by Emergency Service Unit detectives when a SUV driver discovered the feline in the vehicle's front hood. more ›

President Obama is in town today to meet with the FBI agents credited with stopping a terrorist plot to bomb NYC subways. But that pat on the back at FBI headquarters near City Hall is just the morning's agenda; in the evening it's all about the Benjamins. (Or, rather, the Grover Clevelands.) Tonight the President will speak at a $30,400-per-couple dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at Columbus Circle; the event is expected to raise $2 million to $3 million for the DNC. Want to see Barry but dating a deadbeat who can't float the 30 grand for the Mandarin? All is not lost. more ›

Another juror in John Gotti Jr.'s racketeering trial was released—because his subordinate lost him money! The Post reports that the "hedge-fund manager...complained that he had lost a 'significant' bundle of dough when a subordinate 'misconstrued' his trading instructions last week." The judge allowed him to leave, adding, "I'm sorry you experienced the loss. I feel some responsibility for that myself." And there's more juror unrest: They are unhappy with the limited food options AND a cold breeze blowing on the juror box. more ›

The Department of Education sent public school children home with letters asking parents for consent to give the students the H1N1 vaccine. While the CDC confirmed that 11 children died of swine flu last week, it remains to be seen whether parents will opt for the vaccine. One told WCBS 2, "I've decided not to give my kids the vaccine because it's just too new I just feel it's not a lot of research, so I don't know what the side effects are." more ›

In an exclusive interview with NY1, Governor Paterson discussed his 2010 prospects and revealed that he wouldn't mind appearing on Saturday Night Live, which has skewered him repeatedly. In fact, Paterson also dissed the show, "I've offered to come on 'Saturday Night Live' because I thought I would help them get the ratings. Because clearly that humor that they had when they first had Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi... has gone [with] this [current] cast of characters. I thought I would show some benevolence as governor and help them out a little bit." more ›

• Angels 5 Yankees 4 (11 innings): Joe Girardi made some strange moves in this game, but his last move, removing David Robertson and putting Alfredo Aceves in is what ultimately lost the Yankees the game as they fell to the Angels. Aceves came in with two outs in the 11th and gave up two-straight hits, the second the game-winner, as the Angels clawed back into this series.

Oh dear: The AP says that some folks received this email from StubHub: "Be there alongside your New York Mets as they chase baseball immortality. Go to StubHub, where you'll find a fantastic selection of tickets to every playoff game -- so you experience the championship chase live and in person." The ticketing company said, "This was due to an e-mail glitch. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused." more ›

Today, the NY Times launched announced its new editorial series on the incompetence of the NY State government, called "Failed State." A year away from state elections, a fired-up Times rails against the "inbred system [which] allows so many lawmakers to abuse the public trust," summarizing some of the more egregious abuses of the past couple years and some of the major grievances which they plan to address in the series. Warning—if you don't already want to head up to Albany with a pitchfork, you will now: more ›

The New York Times announced today that it will cut 100 newsroom jobs—about 8 percent of the total—by year's end. In a memo to the news room, executive editor Bill Keller said, "Like you, I yearn for the day when we can do our jobs without looking over our shoulders for economic thunderstorms." Employees already took a 5 percent pay cut for most of this year, which was intended to avoid layoffs. more ›

After State Senator Hiram Monserrate was found guilty of a misdemeanor related to assaulting his girlfriend (he was acquitted on two felonies; he and his girlfriend have also insisted it was an accident), some of his State Senate colleagues demanded he step down. Now, others are joining in the call for Monserrate to step down—including Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. more ›

Today the City Planning Commission approved a controversial plan to turn the Kingsbridge Armory, a massive red-brick castle in the Bronx, into a mall that will include a large department store, shops and a movie theater. Outspoken opponents of the $310 million project include Bronx borough president Rubén Díaz Jr., who insists the developer should not get the green light unless future mall employees are guaranteed a living wage: "These jobs are not going to allow Bronx families to get themselves out of poverty." It's now up to the City Council to vote on the project. more ›

Fresh meat will be denied to a nation eager to see justice meted out upon the Colorado parents behind the "Balloon Boy" saga—if the family's lawyer has his way. Richard and Mayumi Heene could face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 if it's proven that they falsely reported that six-year-old son Falcon had been carried away in a homemade balloon on Thursday. Denver lawyer David Lane says his clients are willing to surrender, in part so they aren't arrested in front of their children. more ›

Unbelievable: An anonymous donor is spending $25,000 to plaster the subway system with ads promoting atheism. Which seems like a waste of money, because didn't God give up on the subway system long ago? Starting next Monday, the monthlong advertising campaign will saturate a dozen Manhattan subway stations with the slogan "A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?" Besides advertising Godlessness, the campaign is also promoting a new book called Good Without God, by Greg Epstein. more ›

The milkman cometh! The nostalgic middle-of-the-night milk delivery service, complete with glass bottles, has returned to New York. The Daily News tagged along with the two milkmen, Matt Marone and Frank Acosta, who started their business a couple of years ago, and now deliver to around 50 households in Manhattan. They're also expanding to Brownstone Brooklyn next month—where surely the two good looking gents will quickly become a hot topic amongst Park Slope mom gossip circles. more ›

Brooklyn ob-gyn Dr. Jacqueline Perlman tells the Post, "I've decided to retire from obstetrics. It breaks my heart. Malpractice costs are a big part of it. It's a very sad story." Obstetricians are considered high-risk and her insurance was canceled—and even though she never had a malpractice suit or settlement, a new insurer wanted $160,000/year. Plus, she said "her income has dropped by 20 percent" as the malpractice costs have gone up. more ›

Folks using the 1, 2 or 3 trains, start praying that NYC Transit is able to fix issues at Park Place by the evening rush. A reader had mentioned that a train derailed at Park Place earlier today and now the MTA's NYCT Service Alert page says:

"Due to a train with ongoing mechanical problems at the Park Place Station, 2 train service is running on the 5 line between the 149th Street-Grand Concourse Station and the Nevins Street Station in both directions. more ›

The upside of being a billionaire when you're accused of insider trading? You can post the $100 million bail! Hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, who was arrested on Friday after feds said he and five others shared inside information and tips to make $20 million, posted the bail on Saturday. The NY Times says that he's expected to be at his hedge fund's offices today to address his employees. more ›

It was nice to end a dull gray weekend with a brilliant red sunset last night. This time the red sky at night means the city is in for a week of delight. A high pressure system will be large and in charge for the next several days. The anticyclone will bring clear skies and a high in the breezy mid 50s today. More sun is expected tomorrow through Thursday with temperatures topping out in the mid 60s. more ›

Meet Yousef al-Khattab, a Jewish-born, Jersey-raised convert to Islam who operates a pedicab in Manhattan. The Post describes him as "attention-loving" in a profile that's already up on al-Khattab's website, Revolution Muslim. The site is full of videos showing al-Khattab, who changed his name from Joseph Leonard Cohen, confronting the heathens about their sinful ways. Watch him tear this "Flesh God-worshiping pagan" a new one: more ›

Aww: A passerby heard a kitten mewling from a storm drain in Oceanside, NY, so firefighters worked to rescue the tiny thing from the cold, freezing weather. According to the AP, "The firefighters tried to coax the kitten out of the grate but it was too scared to move. Then they scared it with a fire extinguisher and it jumped out." The kitten was taken Hilton Animal Hospital and "put in a warming cage"—it will be up for adoption when it's deemed healthy. more ›

Today's mid-day links: A teen stabs her brother, senior citizens sing, another Atlantic Yards lawsuit, pedestrian killed by an alleged DWI driver (who was allegedly driving a drunk friend), an investment manager defends high pay, Sarah Palin on LinkedIn, and pregnant Padma Lakshmi is pretty stunning. more ›

Forget about swine flu, the kids at Dalton are suffering from shortness. The fancy pants Upper East Side school is filled with boys battling the problem. The cause: being a child. The cure: parents armed with growth hormones. The NY Post reports on a few of the kids — one, Jeffrey, went on the Humatrope hormone at age 10. In just five years he shot up from 4'1" to 5'7" ... and still has hopes of growing more. One expert told the paper the designer drug is like "Miracle-Gro for kids." more ›

The NY Times endorsed incumbent NJ governor Jon Corzine for re-election, but not before going through his flaws: "Most New Jersey voters find him astonishingly inarticulate, and his credentials as a former co-chairman of Goldman Sachs do not seem as impressive as they did before the financial meltdown in 2008. He has poured lots of his personal wealth into this race, far too much of it for biting — and sometimes juvenile — attacks on Mr. Christie. In his second term, we would like to see him back away from the state’s unions." more ›

The author whose book release party at Varick Street nightclub Greenhouse was allegedly ruined by a racist door policy may file a lawsuit of her own. The "eco-friendly" club was recently hit with a $1 billion class action lawsuit, accusing the bouncer and owner of denying entry to approximately 100 people because of their ethnicity. Now author Teri Woods has come forward corroborate the allegations, and she says it wasn't just blacks who were kept out of her party. more ›

In Borough Park yesterday, it was Giuliani Time! Former mayor Rudy Giuliani campaigned on behalf of Mayor Bloomberg and struck an ominous note at the Jewish Community Council breakfast, "I worry daily that the city might be turned back to the way it was, to the way it was before 1993. And you know exactly what I’m talking about." more ›

A Staten Island man died early Sunday morning while trying to back his SUV out of a tight parking space in a pub parking lot. Oleg Kantarovich had gone outside to pull the car around for his wife, who was celebrating her 30th birthday, so that she wouldn't get caught in the rain. Police say he was leaning out of the front door of his 2007 Audi SUV as he backed up because it may have been difficult to see through the tinted side window. more ›

The Post reports, "President Obama will visit FBI headquarters in the Big Apple tomorrow to personally thank agents involved in the arrest of a Denver man who allegedly planned to bomb the city's subways." He's also going to make a stop at the Time Warner Center—that's according to the sign we read at the Columbus Circle Whole Foods, which warned about possible delays. more ›

Yesterday, a Sheepshead Bay fisherman was reunited with the family he saved from a sinking car. On October 10, after hearing the screams of two teen girls, Gorman jumped into the bay's cold waters to rescue their mother Alla Yelizarov, who couldn't get out of her seat belt. At the meeting, Yelizarov managed to joke, "I was just trying to park." more ›

A 44-year-old mother of two died and three others were critically injured by a fire that tore through a Flushing apartment early Sunday morning. The deceased, Bianca Wisniewski, was due in federal court today for a hearing in her $20 million sexual-harassment lawsuit against Total Safety Consulting and JPMorgan Chase. Four of the 110 firefighters at the scene suffered minor injuries, and the fire was ultimately contained to the single apartment, because the cement and steel walls stopped it from spreading. more ›

After his $3 billion in budget cuts weren't warmly received by some lawmakers, Governor Paterson continues to be on the offensive. The Post reports that yesterday, Paterson called lawmakers who opposed his $1 billion in cuts to education and Medicaid "selfish" and "obtuse." And he had this to say to special interest groups: "We are in a recession. You can't say, 'I understand we're in a recession,' and not have any idea of what that actually means in terms of sacrifices we all have to make." more ›

Over the weekend, a Manhattan man survived falling into the PATH train tracks—and having a train roll over him! According to the Star-Ledger, the man, 32, "appeared intoxicated" when he "fell off the platform" at the Pavonia station and "rolled into the center of the tracks at around 9 p.m." more ›

The Giants were shellacked by the New Orleans Saints, with the Saints winning 48-27, while the Jets were terrible, losing to a bad Buffalo team in overtime, final score 16-13. more ›

State Senator Hiram Monserrate's girlfriend spoke to the Daily News about her love for Monserrate: "I love him. We love each other and we want to be together again." See, Karla Giraldo hasn't been able to see Monserrate ever since a judge placed an order of protection preventing him from contacting her—since he slashed her last December with a broken glass—"I never asked for an order of protection. Now that the case is over, what is the reason for keeping us separated? I feel that the justice system has been unjust to me." more ›

Hey, whaddaya know—shooting 5,000 volts of electricity at somebody's chest could adversely affect the heart! Manufacturer Taser International Inc. has issued a warning about Taser chest-shots, suggesting that law enforcement officers aim their Tasers at perpetrators' backs, arms, or abdomens. In response to the warning, the NYPD brass has formally ordered officers not to shoot Tasers at suspects' chests. more ›

The Rangers have jumped out to a 7-1 start which is evoking comparisons to last year’s squad which won it’s first five games, but then faltered through the rest of the season before blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs. And while it is too early to predict that the 2009-10 Rangers will avoid walking the path that the 2008-09 Rangers did, some important differences have emerged. more ›

The NY Times spent the day with Nasim Akhtar, the school nurse at PS 70 in Long Island City. Not only is she dealing with fallout from schoolyard fights, monitoring health issues (obesity, swine flu), she also needs to work with different cultures, "With Christians, I am Christian. With Jews, I am Jewish. With Muslims, I am Muslim. With Arabic, I am Arabic. I have to serve all." more ›

The Post is outraged over what it costs for school playgrounds to be open and closed: "The city plans to spend up to $14.5 million a year to have school custodians simply lock and unlock schoolyard gates." more ›

From NotifyNYC: "There is a military exercise occurring this afternoon over the Hudson River. Expect low flying helicopters." more ›

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters that the "Balloon" Boy incident of October 15, 2009 that riveted the world was a just a big ploy for attention (mission accomplished!), "It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt and we believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that this was a publicity stunt in hopes to better market themselves for a reality show." He also said Richard and Mayumi Heene "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it." more ›

After performing poorly on offense against New Orleans and being run over by Miami, the Jets will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they face the Bills at the Meadowlands this afternoon. How bad is Buffalo? The Bills lost, 6-3, to the woeful Browns and Eric Mangini last week. Wide diva receiver Terrell Owens has not provided the boost they expected when they acquired him this offseason. more ›

Irving Picard, the trustee in charge of liquidating Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff's assets, now says many other people—not just Madoff's CFO Frank DiPascali—were involved with perpetrating the scheme. The NY Times reports, "According to a court document filed late on Friday, other longtime Madoff employees were in charge of managing 245 accounts for Madoff friends and family, and for them at least a few of the reported trades actually occurred." more ›

On Friday, the website for Columbia's student newspaper, the Columbia Daily Spectator, went down amid "some serious internal - and possibly legal - drama going down." Now it seems like its online editor went rogue, to protest the editor-in-chief and managing editor, and "decided to take the website down until the demands put forward by the managing board members were met." Kids today! more ›

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that 11 children died from the swine flu over the past week. This comes as manufacturing delays have resulted in less than 30 million swine flu vaccines being distributed by the end of this month—it was hoped that 40 million would be available. Now, the Post reports that the city is considering a way to make house calls for possible swine flu cases. more ›

"Balloon" Boy FOREVER! After yesterday's not-quite press conference where "Balloon" dad Richard Heene simply claimed again that Thursday's Fort Collins, Colorado runaway balloon was not hoax and offered a cardboard box for reporters' questions, the Larimer County Sheriff's office announced they were preparing charges against the Heene family. According to the Denver Post, "The sheriff did not give specifics, but he said the charges would probably be a Class 3 misdemeanor. False reporting is a Class 3 misdemeanor." more ›

Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered in College Point, Queens to protest the brutal attack that left a 49-year-old gay man clinging to life. Jack Price had been walking home on October 8 when he was savagely beaten—broken jaw, broken ribs, collapsed lung— by two men who called him gay slurs. Price's brother told the Daily News, "Nobody should have to worry about looking behind their backs. Parents have to teach their kids. They learn hatred and all that stuff at home." more ›

The NY Post reports that a baby decided to make things dramatic for her mother and playwright father: While in the backseat of a taxi, "Addison Proctor, 36, and his wife, Sally Schuiling, 35, were rushing from their Upper West Side apartment to NYU Medical Center when the baby's head popped out. With one more push, Alice Adeline Proctor entered the world." Aww—here's a picture of the happy family; Schulling said, "I scooped her up and put her on my chest, and she was breathing right away." more ›

A few days after a cop was indicted for vehicular manslaughter and DWI for the death of Vionique Valnord, her family appeared with the Reverend Al Sharpton yesterday. NY1 reports that Sharpton told his supporters to monitor Police Officer Andrew Kelly's trial, "It is important this this officer faces justice, so that people understand that the law is the law no matter who breaks the law. You don't get a break. There's no excuse for a policeman to be driving drunk." more ›

This game took over five hours, but it leaves the Yankees in the catbird seat in the best-of-seven ALCS. Alex Rodriguez hit a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 11th. Is it safe to retire the "he's not clutch" storyline? In the 13th, the Yankees took advantage of Maicer Izturis' throwing error, as Jerry Hairston, who led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice, scored. Starters A.J. Burnett and Joe Saunders dueled to a draw, each allowing two runs. Alfredo Aceves served up the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th, but Rodriguez saved his and his teammates' bacon. Derek Jeter had a solo homer and an error that proved meaningless. Robinson Cano had an RBI triple and two errors that proved meaningless. Was this a classic, or just long? more ›

The ongoing feud between Conan O'Brien and Newark Mayor Cory Booker ended last night with Booker appearing on the show and Conan donating $100K to Booker's charity (video 1, 2). Conan also set up a "Newark Joke Jar" and promised to add $500 any time he made a joke at the city's expense, the Star-Ledger liveblogged (really). The feud began when Conan made a joke about health-care in Newark—"The health-care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark"—and resulted in his being banned from Newark Airport. And thus ends the scandal that never really was because Letterman had to go and ruin everything. more ›

The New York Times posted an article today for anyone who's ever had to endure subway transfers to get to their beloved. They track the story of one couple, Peter Horan and Afton Vermeer, who must trek nearly an hour and a half to see each other in the same city (Horan lives in western Harlem, Vermeer in Sunset Park.) While this is not news to many couples in the city, the Times reports that it seems to be happening more and more, with a variety of repercussions. more ›

Sure, State Senator Hiram Monserrate wants to marry his girlfriend Karla Giraldo (at least according to his lawyer)—but there is a snag: That pesky order of protection that prevents Monserrate from contacting Giraldo, since he slashed her face with a broken glass last December! Monserrate and Giraldo both said it was an accident—and Monserrate was acquitted of two felony charges related to the incident but found guilty of a misdemeanor—but the judge still needs to remove the order. more ›

Three prison officials called it quits yesterday, months after they allowed several prisoners to hold religious parties and even let rapper Foxy Brown conduct an interview and photo shoot while still locked up. Chief of Department Carolyn Thomas, Assistant Chief of Special Operations Frank Squillante and warden of the Manhattan detention complex (aka the Tombs) George Okada all turned in their resignations yesterday. The President of the Correction Captains' Association, Patrick Ferraiuolo, expressed his enthusiasm for the resignations, "He allowed his deputy wardens to run his jails." more ›

An update about the fallout from Irish tenor Ronan Tynan's anti-Semitic "joke"—his hope that a potential buyer in his apartment building wasn't Jewish. Well, the potential buyer, NYU Medical Center pediatirian Dr. Gabrielle Gold-von Simson, apparently emailed the Yankees about his remarks, and a Yankees spokeswoman told the Post, "[Tynan] admitted that the contents of the e-mail were true. He said it was a bad joke. So we told him that was absolutely intolerable behavior and he needed to apologize." In spite of Tynan's apology (which Gold-von Simson accepted), the Yankees decided to nix his 7th inning stretch singing of "God Bless, America" for the rest of the playoffs. more ›

After yesterday's announcement that the TLC will be cracking down on cellphone using cabbies, people on both sides of the plastic partition are not happy. Many drivers insist they use their cellphones responsibly and should not be punished. "My wife is home with cancer," one driver tells the New York Times, "If my cellphone rings, I’m going to pick it up." The new rules would forbid drivers from using any device capable of non-emergency phone calls, even if they were to pull over. One driver tells the Daily News "I understand that we can't talk on the phone while we're driving, but to say we can't pull over to take an emergency call...It's like a form of slavery." more ›

The Giants have spent the last three weeks feasting on the dregs of the NFL. Sunday things will get much harder as they head to New Orleans for a battle with the undefeated Saints. The game marks a homecoming for Eli Manning, who grew up in the area, but has never played in the Superdome. It will also be the first meeting between the Giants and their former star, Jeremy Shockey. Shockey has always been an emotional player and you can expect him to be really amped up on Sunday. more ›

After telling the media that he had a "big announcement" to make at 10 a.m. (CST), Richard Heene, father of "Balloon" boy Falcon, just told reporters to put their questions in a cardboard box—and that he'd answer them at an evening press conference. Oh, the poor media camped out in Fort Collins—a reporter should have puked into it! TMZ was not impressed—the gossip site, familiar with the antics of Jon Gosselin and Michael Lohan, deemed it "the dumbest press conference of all-time." more ›

The Queens gay man who was nearly beaten to death spoke out about the brutal attack for the first time yesterday. Jack Price, 49, who is still in the hospital recovering from multiple injuries, told the Daily News, "I thought I died. I was bleeding all over the place." more ›

Earlier this week, Mayor Bloomberg and Comptroller Thompson met in the first mayoral debate. The NY Times notes that "moderators asked questions about manicures, pedicures, Roman Polanski and Big Macs. They did not, however, ask about the economy," despite unemployment, foreclosure and budget issues plaguing the city. Why was that? Apparently they ran out of time! NY1's political director explained, "Had we not asked about the ‘nanny state’ or N.Y.P.D. tactics or education or homelessness, someone would be asking us about that omission." more ›

Somehow we don't think a broom handle to the ceiling is going to fix this one. One of Madonna's Upper West Side neighbors filed a lawsuit yesterday, charging her of subjecting the building to "pounding noise and vibration" when she uses her apartment as a dance studio. more ›

A hedge fund founder and five other people were arrested in what the federal authorities say is the "biggest insider trading scheme ever involving a hedge fund" (NY Times) and the "biggest insider-trading ring in a generation" (Wall Street Journal). Those involved allegedly made $20 million on inside information about stocks like Hilton, IBM, Google and Advanced Micro Devices. more ›

Broadway stage manager for the acclaimed, Tony award-winning production of South Pacific was arraigned last night in Manhattan Supreme Court on a charge of unlawful surveillance. Michael Brunner, 54, turned himself in for questioning after one of the actresses in the show found an iPhone in her dressing room filming her while she changed. The victim also saw Brunner in her dressing room before she walked in. Naturally, the Post has a fantastically awful headline: "A 'South Peep-cific' voyeur rap." more ›

A man convicted of killing his girlfriend apparently decided that the best thing to wear at his sentencing was "a T-shirt with his victim's picture and the words 'R.I.P. Love You Forever.'" Naturally, Gregory Morency's move didn't go over well with victim Claribel Hernandez's family—her brother yelled, "How dare you come in here wearing my sister on your chest! You are a punk, you took my sister....Not even hell would be good enough for you." Morency's lawyer told the Daily News, "Well, what can I say, he still loves her." Morency was sentenced to 18 years in prison. more ›

First reports of a pregnant woman being removed from an L train and taken to the hospital yesterday morning—now news that a man had a heart attack on an A train at Columbus Circle last night! And he was saved—thanks to the efforts of cops, other passengers, and a heart defibrillator. more ›

While Bernie is busy making new friends in federal prison, the U.S. Marshals have announced that the deal on Madoff's Montauk home is officially closed. And the final selling price is $650,000 over the asking price! The $9.4 million deal was made back in September, but the Government was not allowed to reveal the final selling price until after the deal closed. Pamela Liebman, Corcoran CEO, told ABC News "Buyers were extremely enthusiastic about the location of the house and its potential and not at all put off by the fact that it was Bernie Madoff's house." Because really, look at that view! more ›

After unveiling his $3 billion in budget cuts for this year (not to mention another $2 billion next) on Thursday, Governor Paterson is on the offensive, appearing on numerous radio and TV stations. Why the media blitz? Because some state lawmakers have complained about the cuts, leaving Paterson to fire back, "They can find all kinds of ways to spend money but never seem to be able to meet obligations." more ›

It might not be last weekend's subway hell, where almost all 20 subway lines were diverted due to much-needed service work, but there are still many diversions planned for this weekend. For instance, NYC Transit says for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and L lines, "Due to necessary maintenance work customers may experience 5 to 7 minute delays from the times listed in the published timetable" (hee, published timetable!) and "D Trains run local in both directions between 34 St-Herald Sq and West 4 St" (which is admittedly better than not running at all). Here are service advisories for today and tomorrow. more ›

Yankees 4, Angels 1: If the Angels have to face the CC Sabathia they faced tonight three times in this series, they might as well give the Yankees three wins right now. Sabathia dominated the Angels in Game 1 of the ALCS, pitching eight strong innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out seven. more ›

The Downtown Express reports that an area under the Brooklyn Bridge that's a popular skatepark called Brooklyn Banks (video) will probably be closing: "The city plans to use the internationally known Brooklyn Banks skate park as a staging area during the Brooklyn Bridge reconstruction, which is starting later this year and will last until 2014," according to the Parks Department. And the Department of Transportation "said the city would definitely need the space" at some point. more ›

In case you need more cause besides Balloon Boy to vomit, then revel in details of Goldman Sachs' success. The NY Times reports, "Only months after paying back billions of taxpayer dollars, Goldman Sachs is on pace to pay annual bonuses that will rival the record payouts that it made in 2007, at the height of the bubble. In the last nine months, the bank set aside about $16.7 billion for compensation — on track to pay each of its 31,700 employees close to $700,000 this year. Top producers are expecting multimillion-dollar paydays." The Times adds, "This much is indisputable: Goldman Sachs is minting money." more ›

While New Jersey may be home to the members of the Court of Lazarus, they meet at NYC nightspots at least once a month. You know what this means? Bridge & Tunnel Vampires! While they admit they cannot turn into bats, they do feed on human blood. It's all consensual, of course. more ›

After splitting up last year, Mike Francesa and Chris Russo were back on the air together—at least for today. Newsday's Neil Best writes, "Their mini-reunion at Yankee Stadium began with the old 'Mike and the Mad Dog' theme music, and Russo's familiar, 'Aaaand, good afternoon everybody!'" (Here's video.) Russo said, "This will put the kibosh on the idea you and I hate each other," and "I miss talking sports with you." Aww. Apparently the pair will sit together during tonight's game. more ›

A State Supreme Court judge has, at least temporarily, blocked the mandatory flu shots the state was requiring for health care workers. A nurse had sued, saying the State Health Department's requirement for swine and seasonal flu shots was "arbitrary and capricious." more ›

Ronan Tynan is a celebrated Irish tenor who sings "God Bless America," at Yankee Stadium during the formerly forced seventh inning patriotism stretch. He was supposed to perform at tonight's American League championship opening game between the Yankees and the Angels, but the Yankees have thrown him under the bus following some awkward, anti-Semitic comments Tynan made in his East Side apartment building. more ›

Yes, the mayor of Moscow has called war against snow—hey, it's expensive to shovel— and "will marshal the Russian air force and air defense systems to intercept advancing storm fronts and hit them with dry ice and silver iodine particles." The Daily News has an editorial denouncing the idea—and prefaces it with, "Mayor Bloomberg, stop reading this editorial. Right now. Thank you," lest our mayor get any ideas. (Well, a Russian lawmaker did say, "If it works out, Chicago or Montreal may want to copy us.") more ›

The Yankees broke a five-year streak of playoff futility by sweeping the Twins on Sunday and now they will try and break an even longer streak of futility against the Angels. New York has not won their regular season series with the Angels since 2003 and they have lost both playoff series they have played against them. But these Yankees have some differences from their recent counterparts. They have better pitching, especially with C.C. Sabathia leading the rotation and the bullpen is much deeper than at any point since 1996. more ›

The Anne Frank Center USA in Lower Manhattan has chosen the eleven sites that will receive saplings from the horse chestnut tree that Anne Frank used to gaze upon while in hiding at 263 Prinsengracht. They announced their idea earlier this year, and now say that "the saplings are currently in a nursery outside Amsterdam and will be shipped to the United States before year’s end. They will be quarantined for two years to make sure they do not carry certain plant diseases." In New York, the sapling will go to the World Trade Center site. more ›

After offering the special four-car train during the ALDS, NYC Transit has brought back the Nostalgia Train (circa 1917 Lo-V cars) for the American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Angels. You board the Nostalgia Train at Grand Central at 7:15 p.m.—NYC Transit says it will arrive "at 161st Street-Yankee Stadium about 30 minutes later." more ›

You know the NY Post was just waiting for a jaywalker to be struck by a vehicle so they could be all "told you so," after printing numerous anti-jaywalking editorials this week. more ›

The Larimer County Sheriff's Department will investigate the family suspected of falsely claiming that a 6-year-old boy was trapped inside a runaway helium balloon yesterday. Sources tell TMZ that officials have not decided if it's a criminal investigation, but detectives will interview each family member starting tomorrow. (The family's presumably all booked up with interviews today.) The investigation will try to determine whether the parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, filed a false report, perhaps motivated by an insatiable lust for fame—TLC confirms the family did pitch a reality TV show earlier this year. more ›

On Wednesday, Lazard Freres chief Bruce Wasserstein died, leaving questions about the fate of New York magazine. Wasserstein bought the magazine in 2003 for $55 million and an expert suspects he "invested much more money along the way. [If his heirs were to sell, they] would probably want a minimum of $75 million to $100 million." Even though "money-losing media vanity ownership is usually the exclusive preserve of the mature rich, not their progeny," Gawker wonders if his family will be less inclined to sell since they'll get an automatic $188 million payout from Lazard. more ›

Chelsea's Bungalow 8, home to late night celebrity sightings, is shutting down operations. CityFile reports that the Amy Sacco-owned lounge has long been rumored to be closing, but now it's really happening. They shut down for "renovations" weeks ago, but allegedly have no plans to reopen... and their phone line has been disconnected. more ›

Yesterday found State Senator Hiram Monserrate not guilty of felony assault charges but guilty of a misdemeanor—"recklessly causing physical injury" to his girlfriend Karla Giraldo during a December incident where Monserrate slashed her in the face with a broken glass. Today, Monserrate's lawyer Joseph Tacopina said on Good Day New York, "She loves him, as she testified in court. As he said yesterday, he loves her...And they're looking to get back together and resume their marriage...uh, relationship." To which GDNY anchor Rosanna Scotto said, "Will they get married?" and Tacopina replied, "Maybe I said marriage, maybe I let the cat out of the bag, but that's where it's heading." more ›

Initial reports about the brutal beating of an openly gay Queens man Friday night (video) mentioned that one of the alleged assailants told the victim, "My father is a C.O. [correction officer]. You will never do anything to us." That stupid boast had been unsubstantiated, until now. Last night the father of Daniel Rodriguez, the second man arrested in the alleged hate crime against Jack Price, came forward to speak to reporters. more ›

It's already illegal for cab drivers to use cell phones while driving—even hands-free—but that law's even more scoffed at than the city's futile jaywalking prohibition! So now the Taxi and Limousine Commission is taking on the seemingly impossible task of separating hacks from their phones, by proposing heavy new punishments for gabby cabbies. more ›

A menacing text message saying, "Oct. 21st starts gang initiation week they are rumored to try to kill 140 Woman.PLZ FORWARD This can save our women!" frightened some northern NJ students, but police say the so-called "Red October" gang initiation rites are an "urban legend." Newark police director Gerry McCarthy said, "Every Halloween, people were talking about gang initiation, but there is not a shred of evidence to prove that it's true." In NYC, gang initiation day is allegedly April 12. more ›

You'll need more than a bonnet to fend off at three, possibly four, storms that will pass our way in rapid succession. The low responsible for the rain and snow so far is moving further out to sea. Rain should diminish this afternoon and evening as a result. Oh, it will still be cold and windy at Yankee stadium this evening and rain showers may return as the game progresses. Game time temperature will be in the lower 40s, but the wind will make it feel more like the mid 30s. more ›

Yesterday, the city's largest Spanish newspaper, El Diario, endorsed City Comptroller Bill Thompson for Mayor. In its front page editorial, it says, "After a decade misspent lionizing the rich and their excesses, too many New Yorkers are paying the price for the decisions made in Washington, on Wall Street and in City Hall. What New York City needs is an executive with a balanced perspective towards development and growth, where families most in need are a high priority. This leader is Bill Thompson." more ›

The West Soho nightclub Greenhouse has a notoriously tough door policy, and is renowned for excluding throngs of hopefuls from the club's bi-level douchetivities inside. So it's no shocker that two black women interpreted their rejection by the club's door bitch as racist. Kashan Robinson and Maria Sicard are suing Greenhouse; they say they were two of about 100 people who were denied entry to a Teri Woods book party because of their race. more ›

Mark Madoff may have been sued for taking an estimated $66+ million, thanks to his dad Bernie's massive Ponzi scheme—but he's still got enough cash to pay for a night at the SoHo Grand. According to the Post, Madoff spent the night there after getting into a "bitter" fight with his wife, who eventually called the police because she was worried about his disappearance! more ›

The NY Times looks at how House Republicans want Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn)-House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chair—to subpoena details about Countrywide Mortgage's VIP program, which gives breaks prominent people, including (allegedly) Towns. Towns' spokeswoman calls it a smear campaign, "He went to his local mortgage guy and got a normal mortgage. The guy’s from Brooklyn and doesn’t have much money and wasn’t prominent enough to be considered a V.I.P. Whether it was later transferred through the V.I.P. program, I don’t know. But he didn’t receive any favors." more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] For crying out loud, some lady had to go into labor on the subway during rush hour this morning, tying up service on the L line. This better be one cute baby. We've gotten multiple reports that the L is held up because of the delivery. One tipster tells us the woman actually delivered at the First Avenue L station, and a Twitter user reports that she gave birth between Brooklyn and Manhattan. more ›

Uh oh, what did Diddy do now. The rapper accidentally tossed one of his diamond rings into a crowd while performing for BET's 106 & Park show (filmed on 57th Street), and ended the performance with a frisking of audience members! The Post reports that attendees were treated "like common criminals" once the cameras cut — and they took their grievances to Twitter to kill time, one saying: "Ok diddy lost his ring... and now there frisking all the kids like this is Rikers lite." more ›

As he suggested—and as everyone expected—Governor Paterson's deficit reduction plan was indeed grim: He proposed cutting a total of $5 billion from the budget over two years, $3 billion for this fiscal year and $2 billion from next. Paterson pleaded for the State Legislature to work with him, "During a time of uncommon difficulty, we need to work together for the common good and enact a consensus plan that helps us avoid the severe consequences faced by other states that failed to swiftly address their budget problems. This will mean hard and painful choices, but that is exactly the type of leadership New Yorkers deserve from their public officials." more ›

Is the media frenzy over the balloon boy stunt making you sick? You're not the only one! Parents Richard and Mayumi Heene are very busy pimping themselves out to the networks, and they're not about to let their li'l star's stomach virus stand in the way of their precious 15 minutes. This morning Falcon—the six-year-old boy who was hiding in the attic while America was voyeuristically titillated worried sick that he was in a runaway helium balloon—vomited twice on two different talk shows this morning, just like a pussified wus. Here's the Today Show spew, at 5:50 in: more ›

Bank of America, which had posted a $3.2 billion profit last quarter, announced a $2.2 billion loss—$1 billion due to consumer defaults (CNN Money: "more and more Americans found themselves out of work and unable to keep up with their loan obligations") and paying the government and another $1.2 billion due to shareholder dividends. Departing CEO Ken Lewis said, "Obviously, credit costs remain high, and that is our major financial challenge going forward." more ›

A Mexican day laborer is hospitalized with brain damage after being attacked somewhere in Williamsburg or Bushwick by three black men shouting "wetback." Mario Vera was riding his bike back home to Bushwick with groceries from a lower Manhattan food pantry when the young men hit him in the back of his head "with something hard" while yelling anti-immigrant slurs. The assault happened on September 23rd, but wasn't reported until last Friday, because Vera is an undocumented immigrant afraid to go to the police. (NYPD policy prohibits officers from sharing law-abiding immigrants' status with the Feds, but it has been known to happen.) more ›

Last night was the annual Alfred E. Smith dinner, which attracts the powerful (last year, both Obama and McCain were there), and Archbishop Timothy Dolan made his first appearance poking fun at his mother, who was not in NYC but at home, "The real reason my mom is not here is she stayed at the Waldorf Astoria for the installation six months ago. This is a little embarrassing. The hotel won't let her back until she returns all the towels." more ›

The Daily News is so pumped about the first game of the ALCS that it put CC Sabathia on the front page—however, there's an unfortunately placed PC Richards sticker on the front page as well. more ›

Earlier today, a 6-year-old boy was believed to have been in a homemade helium balloon that floated away over northeastern Colorado, sending the media into a frenzy. When the balloon finally landed, the boy was nowhere to be found. After a search, he was found in his family's attic. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg and former mayor Rudy Giuliani are becoming buddies on the campaign trail, but they're rivals when it comes to baseball. The Mayor and his predecessor are squabbling over coveted seats in the box beside the Yankees dugout at the American League Championship Series, according to Page Six, which reports that the competition for "front-row supremacy" on Friday will be almost "almost as exciting as the contest on the field." We're not so sure about that, but it's certainly interesting in light of the fact that Bloomberg declared that Giuliani would make a good governor at this week's mayoral debate. more ›

After threatening to lay off some 400 employees during the lucrative holiday season, Tavern on the Green has been granted a reprieve. The city had ordered owners to vacate the premises on January 1st and turn over the lease, but owners insisted that deadline would have required them to close down in December, in order to conduct an onsite auction of their assets, which were valued by an appraiser at $8.171 million. Though Tavern's owners had wanted three months for the changeover, a US Bankruptcy Court judge in Manhattan said "two weeks to a month" in January would be "a reasonable transition period." But will the new occupant play along? more ›

We all know that pedestrians are crazy about jaywalking, and bikers are outspoken about every single thing they can possibly be outspoken about, but what about drivers? Well, they're just rude. You knew that, but now Streetfilms has a scaremongering video, complete with subtle eerie soundtrack music, that assures the viewer they probably encountered death multiple times today. more ›

Even though Obama whupped Hillary in the primaries last year, a Gallup Poll conducted from Oct. 1-4 shows that our Secretary of State is currently more popular than our peace-loving President, with a 62% approval rating over his 56%. Though Hillary's numbers have not changed much since January, Obama's popularity has been on a steady decline. And now we wait for Tracy Morgan's opinion. more ›

When they're not shooting themselves in the groin, threatening to kill the president, or trying to blow up Starbucks, the city's rebellious youngsters continue to commit the less sensational crime of burglary. Cops arrested two teenagers suspected of ransacking dozens of lower Manhattan apartments in separate burglary sprees. more ›

The son of a Harlem landlord is accused scamming potential buyers by trying to sell a building he did not own. The commercial property, located on a triangular lot just north of Central Park at 21-41 Lenox Avenue, was entirely owned by another man. But alleged grifter Henry Vargas told buyers the man, Manuel Duran Jr., was just an elderly farmer from the Dominican Republic whose share was only 10 percent. more ›

State Sen. Hiram Monserrate was found guilty of misdemeanor assault, but he was acquitted of more serious felony assault charges after slashing his girlfriend's face during a Dec. 9 dispute. In a bench trial, Monserrate was found guilty of "recklessly causing physical injury to his companion, Karla Giraldo, by dragging her though his lobby after she was cut," the New York Times reports. If he had been found guilty of the felony charges — which each carried up to seven years in prison — he would have been forced to step down from his Senate seat. more ›

Hey, speaking of decreasing affordable housing stock: Rent-stabilized tenants in the recently re-branded Flatbush Gardens complex — a massive 59-building development in East Flatbush once known as the Vanderveer Estates — claim the owner of the property has intentionally shirked on repairs in an effort to push out long-time residents and replace them with market-rate renters. "You call, but they never come to fix anything," one tenant told the Daily News. "But when someone moves out, they renovate everything." more ›

Back in 2003 Mayor Bloomberg declared: "Our administration has zero tolerance for rats. And I've got one message today, `City to rats: Drop Dead.'" But there are still rats running rampant, even in this city's pizza trucks... even at Peter Luger. So maybe the focus should be on dead rats — they're just easier to capture — especially if someone were to create a dead rat map. more ›

Six New York construction companies illegally paid white workers more than minorities who had the same jobs, a state lawsuit alleges. White workers earned an average of $25 per hour, while blacks netted $18 per hour and Latinos took home only $15 per hour, according to the suit filed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Since 2002, pay discrepancies at at least ten different construction sites scammed minorities out of $4 million in wages and overtime. more ›

The Post really had us going here for a second, because this headline could be misunderestimated to mean that George H. W. Bush, our 41st president, was being indicted for mortgage fraud. For an all-too-brief moment, we thought, well, it's not Dubya, but it's a start! Unfortunately, the 41st president remains untouchable, and the 41 in question here is a crowd of attorneys, loan brokers, accountants charged with mortgage fraud involving tens of millions of dollars across New York state. Screw them, too, but don't tease us Post. more ›

Earlier this year, a Connecticut woman was severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound pet chimp Travis. Charla Nash "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack," and her family sued chimp owner Sondra Herold for $50 million in damages. Now, Herold is seeking to call the suit a worker's compensation claim—because Nash worked for her and Travis the chimp was a part of the business. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg's $7.5 billion plan to build or preserve city-financed residences for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families has constructed and protected 94,000 units over the past seven years — but over the same period the city's richest man has been unable to prevent rents from skyrocketing on some 200,000 other "affordable" units. more ›

The woman who allegedly drove drunk and crashed a vehicle full of young girls on the West Side Highway—killing her daughter's 11-year-old friend—is reportedly so upset that she's on suicide watch. A sourced tells the Daily News, "The first thing she says to anyone who walks into her room is that she deserves to die. That she is going to kill herself. She's not doing well right now." more ›

The Pepto pink palatial palace on Garfield Place is now off the market! That's not because it sold, either — the Brooklyn Paper reports that 92-year-old owner Bernie Henry's grandson is now "under investigation for forging key documents that have put a cloud over who has legal ownership of the building." Yikes! Some neighbors may be pleased to see the house stay pink for longer — one told the paper, “At first, you hate it because it’s new. But then you come to love it. And then you don’t want it to ever change.” more ›

We've seen cyclists combat bicycle theft with aggression, but now they're going after the crooks with passive aggression. A biker apparently spotted his stolen Panasonic road bike — which was heisted from its Nolita spot back in April — chained to another rack earlier this month, so he taped two threatening notes to the seat. more ›

Interesting: Amazon is offering same-day delivery for certain items—and for an additional fee (Amazon Prime members would pay $6; non-Prime members would pay $15)—in NYC and six other cities. The Bits blog reminds us of the olden days of Kozmo.com and Urbanfetch: "Of course, those earlier players did not have sustainable business models: Urbanfetch and Kozmo were saddled with huge delivery costs (paying a fleet of bike messengers) that they tried to offset with higher-margin products (DVD players and video-game consoles), but it didn’t work—most people just ordered a pint of Cherry Garcia and a pack of Marlboros." more ›

The NYPD may have time to ticket folks drinking a non-life-threatening lager on their stoop, but they are way too busy to ticket jaywalkers. At least, that's what Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday, suggesting New Yorkers practice common sense when crossing the street illegally. more ›

To promote his memoir I Am the New Black, Tracy Morgan has been answering questions from readers at Time magazine. One wanted to know what he thought about Barack Obama’s recent Nobel Peace Prize win. Morgan replied, "I think he deserves it. I think he’s really trying to stop nuclear war. I love Obama. You see how cool he is? You see the way he gets off of Air Force One? He kicks that leg just like Richard Roundtree. Ain’t no other countries gonna mess with us. And as far as health care is concerned, tell them to put cocoa butter on it. Those old remedies still work!" more ›

All of the trees in Queens are leading to a ton of problems lately. First the decision to chop down a 600-year-old tree nearly tore a community apart, then trees were falling on top of houses during the great wind storm of early October, and now MyFoxNY reports that a group of angry homeowners in the borough are up in arms about a tree stump. more ›

According to the LI Press, Islanders owner Charles Wang has "abandoned" his billion-dollar plans for a new hockey arena in Hempstead called the Lighthouse. Last week, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said the hockey team would be welcome in Brooklyn, but the Atlantic Yards' Barclays Center isn't big enough to house a hockey rink... Now, word—via ESPN Radio— has it that the Isles have reached out to Queens to see if something can happen in Flushing! more ›

After brutally cracking down on Superman and Batman, Gotham cops have been inexplicably looking the other way on a rival superhero's antics. For the past month and a half, Spider-Man has been running around downtown and in Times Square with a rickshaw. But check out this crazy video: Spidey isn't just pulling a rickshaw, he's using it to propel himself through the air, off the sides of buildings, and parked cars! more ›

Will the oversharing ever stop? A Staten Island Criminal Court judge is being transferred from his Stapleton courthouse to Manhattan as punishment for broadcasting "specific details about his personal life" on Facebook — at times while sitting on the bench. more ›

Passengers and LIRR employees are painting a much different picture of Sunday night's arrest of an off-duty NYPD officer who pointed his gun at rowdy Rangers fans. You'll recall that Officer David Hendrick, a 16-year veteran, gave a television interview Monday night insisting that he pulled his weapon in self-defense after the hockey fans reacted violently to his attempts to shush them. But court papers obtained by Newsday tell a different story. more ›

According to CBS News, data from a British team of explorers suggests "the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within 20 years, and that much of the decrease will happen within 10 years." The Catlin Arctic Survey was working with the World Wildlife Fund, and the WWF warns, "Such a loss of Arctic sea ice cover has recently been assessed to set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself...This could lead to flooding affecting one-quarter of the world's population, substantial increases in greenhouse gas emissions from massive carbon pools and extreme global weather changes." more ›

People are hungry for answers after word came out that size 4 model Filippa Hamilton was fired from Ralph Lauren for being too "fat," and then that company Photoshopping her to look like a bobblehead doll for an ad in Japan. more ›

During the feds' fourth trial against John Gotti Jr., they played tapes of Junior and his dad, the late Teflon Don John Gotti. They discussed how, once Gotti's son-in-law Carmine Agnello had immunity in a 1989 trial, Agnello admitted he bribed a juror. Junior said, "All the lawyers involved [thought it was a] very ingenious move" but Gotti thought differently, "I woulda never in a million years suggested him to say that. I woulda tell them to go f--- themselves. If there was a church robbed and I had the steeple stickin' out of my ass, I wouldn't tell them I did it." That apparently moved Junior's sister Angel to tears. more ›

After rumors that the Transit Workers Union would "slow it down"—it being subway and bus service—yesterday during its "Day of Outrage," the jury is out on whether or not service was truly affected. One reader described, "The worst B/Q train service I can remember. Waited 20 minutes this morning, and the train was too packed to fit on. When another one finally arrived, it went half speed the entire way into Manhattan," yet another who must have slipped into a Bizarro dimension said, "My service this morning was actually noticably better than it usually is (on the F)"? more ›

When we reported Tuesday that a fourth sick, emaciated goat had been found wandering in the area of Pelham Bay Park near the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx, one commenter provided a possible explanation for the mystery: "These goats aren't 'escaping' from anywhere. they're the victims of Santeria sacrifice that regularly takes place in Pelham Bay Park." Indeed, locals have long reported seeing candles, fruits and animal bones and skulls in the area. more ›

The second man accused of beating an openly gay man in Queens Friday morning was been returned to NYC last night, after being arrested in Norfolk, Virginia, late Tuesday. But the sister of suspect Daniel Rodriguez, 21, insists her brother did not commit a hate crime—because he has gay relatives and even once had a homosexual roommate. Christina Rodriguez tells the Daily News, "This wasn't a hate crime. If he's guilty of anything, he'll man up to it." Rodriguez's brother Eddie also vouched for him. more ›

Later this afternoon, Justice William Erlbaum is expected to give his verdict for State Senator Hiram Monserrate's assault trial. The freshman Senator (and former NYPD and City Councilman) is accused of slashing his girlfriend last year, sending her to the hospital for 40 stitches. He and his girlfriend claim it was an accident. One expert believes, based on the 6 hours of closing arguments, that both sides know they don't have an open-and-shut case. more ›

After looking for bids since July, the NY Times Co. has decided not to sell the Boston Globe. The NY Times reports, "The Globe did not draw high bids, and the company chairman, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., said last month that the paper’s finances had improved enough that the company no longer believed it had to sell if the offers were not attractive enough." more ›

Today, Governor David Paterson will present his plan for about $2.5 billion in budget cuts. When asked about it, Paterson previously only said, "Pain," but he also told the Daily News, "It's going to be pretty grim. It's going to be fair. It's going to be across the board. It's going to be hard to endure, but the consequences [of doing nothing] are harder." more ›

Yesterday a grand jury voted to indict NYPD Officer Andrew Kelly on charges of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated in an accident last month that killed a woman who was trying to hail a cab. If convicted, Kelly faces up to seven years in prison. Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes says that Kelly, 30, will also face trial on other charges, including speeding. more ›

As we mentioned yesterday, the NYC region will see the first Nor'easter of the season starting today and going into the weekend. The rain will start in the afternoon and continue into the evening—1010 WINS reports, "As the storm intensifies, northeast winds howling onto the mid-Atlantic and New England coastline will increase. Wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service." And, yes, the Yankees, Angels, and those at Yankee Stadium should bundle up and expect a "cold rain." more ›

• Rangers 4 Los Angeles 2: The biggest difference between this year’s hot start and last year’s is scoring. In 2008, the Rangers got out to a 6-1 start, but only scored 17 goals. This year they have 28 and Marian Gaborik is a big part of that. Gaborik scored his sixth goal of the season on a beautiful play in the third period and Vinny Propsal added two goals of his own. Henrik Lundqvist did the rest, making 34 saves.

The innovative New York City arts scene is now $2.7 million closer to staying afloat. The Rockefeller Foundation announced today that after sorting through 500 grant proposals from the metro area, 18 organizations will be receiving anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 over a two-year period. more ›

As you probably already know from the ranting of Lou Reed and Mad Men's John Slattery, the Sanitation Department is planning a big 'ol garbage facility on West Street between Canal and Spring Streets. The A-list locals are not happy, and have proposed an alternate plan, all whilst insisting this has nothing to do with them being rich and/or famous. Curbed reports that the bold-faced names will be gathering tomorrow night at a fancy rally; "Their aim is to gain support for Hudson Rise, an alternative proposal with a smaller and cheaper garage topped by a cute little patch of green." Stay tuned to find out if the garbage tower will be moving to your neighborhood... more ›

Edward Norton may run 15 miles twice a day, but does that mean he'll be able to keep up with the three Maasai warriors who will be running alongside him next month at the New York Marathon? more ›

Some ledes can't be improved upon, so we have to hand it to the Post for this one: "In a grab for even more 'power,' Mayor Bloomberg is about to harness the sun, the wind and East River tide." But unlike his mayoral rival Montgomery Burns, Bloomberg intends to use the power of the sun for good...or so his Parks Department henchman says. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has revealed that the city is moving forward with plans to create an alternative-energy "theme park" on Wards Island, which would include 800 square feet of solar panels, a 140-foot-high wind turbine, and four 100-kilowatt tidal turbines to generate enough electricity to power 100 homes. more ›

This might be music to the Reverend Al Sharpton's ears: ESPN reports, "Rush Limbaugh is expected to be dropped from a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams, according to three NFL sources." more ›

The NYC economy added 130,000 jobs during the Bloomberg administration— but most of them are in low-paid, un-fun professions like "retail, food service, and home health care." Good luck paying off your student loans on $20K per year! more ›

When we last checked in on the state of the sprawling Manhattan apartment complex known as Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town, it was at high risk of default on some $4.4 billion in loans. That was the beginning of September, and the prognosis is still negative. At the end of the month, it had $33.7 million left of the $400 million in interest reserves set up to service its debt, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. This means that at its current burn rate of about $16 million per month, the reserve could be depleted before the end of the year. more ›

Since Mayor Bloomberg was busy preparing for a mayoral debate and a standing agreement with the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board separates his private and political dealings, he wasn't involved when Bloomberg LP purchased BusinessWeek yesterday. But he thought it was a solid move on his media company's part, "I think it’s a great magazine." more ›

Yesterday there was a pink house for sale in Brooklyn that made headlines, and today there's a haunted house for sale in the West Village! Just in time for trick or treating, the Daily News reports on "the historic Gay St. property, on the corner of Waverly Place... rumored to be inhabited by a restless spirit who walks the creaking floorboards at night." Some believe the ghost to be that of former Mayor Jimmy Walker, who once owned the home. more ›

Since Best Buy is constantly looking to build on its existing culture of innovation and tailor its stores to the needs of local customers, the electronic retail powerhouse figures, "Heck, why not open a 24-hour spot down there in New York City's Union Square?" That's right, Best Buy's CEO Brian Dunn announced today that a 24-hour, 48,000 square-foot location (the old Circuit City) will open its doors at the corner of 14th Street and 4th Avenue, the heart of historic "please don't run into me with your skateboard" Union Square, on Nov. 13. more ›

Are you a chronic jaywalker? Allegedly some cops don't even know how to write a jaywalking ticket — the practice is so widespread in New York that people rarely get punished for it until, as the NY Post points out, they are pinned beneath a double-decker tour bus. One former cop explains, "Jaywalking is an urban cultural issue. There are certain cities where jaywalking has been accepted for 50 years or more, so to stop it is like trying to stop the tide from coming in. You can't address the whole culture through policing." more ›

NYPD Officer Alex Kelly has been indicted on vehicular manslaughter and DWI charges in connection with the late September accident that killed pedestrian Vionique Valnord as she tried to hail a cab. Of course, Kellly managed to postpone taking a blood alcohol test for over seven hours, so he scored a perfect zero on the test, which is going to make it hard for prosecutors to make the DWI rap stick. more ›

The NY Times reports, "Bruce Wasserstein, a Wall Street investment banker who helped pioneer the hostile takeover in the 1980’s and turned the mergers and acquisitions business into a high art, died Wednesday." The 61-year-old, who was #147 on the latest Forbes Richest Americans list, had been in the hospital for an irregular heartbeat. He was the chief executive of Lazard Freres and also owned New York magazine. more ›

The Rent is Too Damn High Party just cannot catch a break. Besides being shockingly omitted from last night's debate, Mayoral candidate Jimmy McMillan has had to stand by and watch the Board of Elections cut the d-word from his party's name, stripping it of all its cachet. And now an internal rift in the party has forced McMillan to turn his back on the Rent Is Too Damn High nominee for comptroller—and instead endorse his Democratic rival. more ›

Now that the World Trade Center's wreckage warship has set sail, it looks like the next 10 days of the USS New York's maiden voyage from the Big Easy to the Big Apple are going to be busy. more ›

In case you haven't heard, everyone's beating up on Pepsi for releasing an iPhone application called "Amp Up Before You Score," which promotes their Amp energy drink while offering advice on how to "score" with 24 types of women. That's a lot of types, bro! Are you douchey enough to "score" with each one? This video shows you how: more ›

Michael Pigott, the NYPD lieutenant who gave the order to fire a Taser that resulted in the death of an emotionally disturbed man, took responsibility for his actions - to the very end. more ›

Arthur Cashin, director of floor operations for UBS Financial Services, is basically part of financial history, if only because of his Dow 10,000 baseball cap. Cashin got the hat on March 29, 1999, when it first broke the 10K barrier. more ›

Hmm, is this a threat or a promise? The local Community Board in Long Island City is trying to block a liquor license sought by Gus Drakopoulos, who operates the Sin City strip club in the Bronx. Drakopoulos wants to open another topless club near the Queensboro Bridge, and he's willing to go nude nuclear if the SLA denies his license. According to state law, dancers in a strip club serving booze can only reveal their breasts. But sober gentlemen above the age of 18 are entitled to the Full Monty, and that's what Drakopoulus is vowing to give them. more ›

While hypochondriacs are worried about shortages of the H1N1 flu vaccine, Poughkeepsie nurse Suzanne Field is turning her nose up at a chance to score the injection. Not only is she opting out of a free vaccination for health care workers—mandated in September by the New York state health commissioner—she's also intent in making sure no other healthcare worker is subject to the needle. Her lawsuit to overturn the regulation is being heard today at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan. more ›

Clear skies, a cool north breeze, today's weather looks so innocent. Ha! While it may be a sunny 55 this afternoon, tomorrow looks to be a meteorological crapfest. The upper level winds are changing from a west-to-east pattern, which has brings a succession of uneventful high and low pressure systems, to a more wavy north-south pattern. The changing pattern will bring about the first nor'easter of the season a bit ahead of schedule. more ›