News

Fox says it's ready to pull its stations from Time Warner Cable lineups at midnight in its dispute with the cable operator over subscriber fees. News Corp president and COO Chase Carey wrote in a memo to staffers, "it looks like we will not reach an agreement and our channels may very well go off the air in Time Warner Cable systems at midnight [Dec. 31]," putting the 2010 fate of shows like American Idol, House and 24, not to mention sports programming like the Sugar Bowl, in jeopardy. more ›

A reader tells us that this taxi "slid and wedged itself between two parked cars at 12th and 2nd Avenue today around 8:40 a.m. Apparently he was in there so tight that he had to wait for the drivers of the other vehicles to move in order to free himself. Notice the cars in the intersection going the wrong way making u-turns to avoid the blocked street. Pure wintery chaos…" Indeed! On that note, if you find yourself behind the wheel tonight: be safe! more ›

Despite the sweet warmth of booze in the bloodstream being almost the only thing making a January football game bearable, the Meadowlands Stadium will not be serving alcohol at Sunday night's Jets game against the Bengals. Team spokesman Bruce Speight said that the decision to serve alcohol is made on a game-by-game basis, and factors for this decision include its being a night game, the last game of the season and most likely the last game ever in the old stadium. Ocho Cinco-No! more ›

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has told the state that "essential environmental protection measures" must be taken before allowing The Chesapeake Energy Corporation to drill for gas within the 2,000- square-mile Catskills watershed that provides drinking water to millions of NYC residents. The EPA's letter to the State Department of Environmental Conservation reinforces criticism of the plan to blast huge volumes of water mixed with chemicals into rock to extract gas. There is worry that the drilling, which creates large amounts of wastewater, could contaminate NYC's water supply. Katherine Nadeau at Environmental Advocates of New York described the federal agency’s letter as “nothing short of awesome.” more ›

Actress Kirsten Dunst's purse gets stolen, and now an entire drama has unfolded. Back in 2007, James Jimenez and Jarrod Beinerman were accused of swiping the starlet's purse and iPod from her SoHo Grand penthouse — the latter was sentenced to four years, and Jimenez has been out on bail awaiting retrial. more ›

This year the Department of Education banned bake sales as an effort to slim down the kiddies, then soon after they toyed with the idea of placing a similar ban on raffles — another fund-raising tool used by schools. After proposing the regulation, PTA members were furious, and now the NY Times reports that the raffle ban has been rescinded. But why was the ban even proposed? The paper reports raffles are a potential legal liability and considered a form of gambling. After some revisions, the panel will consider schools holding raffles "as long as they adhered to state law." Now hopefully all that raffle money won't go towards satiating a Snickerdoodle craving. more ›

Three hundred sixty-five days have passed and while we can't recap every single story, here are some of the notable ones that shaped our year. more ›

In October we were all introduced to Art the cat, a stray that somehow got himself into the engine of an SUV where he was taken on a two-mile drive, ending in the Bronx. He was extracted by Emergency Service Unit detectives, and was down one of his nine lives. Now Art needs a human's help again — the Daily News reports that he's doing well and is looking for a home. more ›

Surveillance video from a camera outside the restaurant where a 16-year-old girl stabbed and killed a man on Christmas Eve refutes her claim of self-defense, the Queens DA says. Cyan Brown pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree manslaughter yesterday, and her lawyer maintains that the victim, 29-year-old Thomas Winston, threatened Brown, dumped beer on her and seemed as if he was going to hit her with the beer bottle outside a chicken restaurant near the 21st Street-Queensbridge F station in Long Island City. more ›

It's a New Year's miracle! After being unable to rent vacant apartments, Tishman Speyer will be making 100 apartments available on January 4th, at rent-stabilized prices. Apartments will be made available to "current rent stabilized residents of the community, with the remaining apartments being offered to all others on the waiting list," according to Curbed. This comes with Tishman's agreement to roll back rents for six months starting in the new year. The Court of Appeals ruled in October that Tishman Speyer, the development in charge of the Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village complexes, illegally raised rents of former rent-stabilized apartments while still receiving tax breaks from the city. more ›

A Manhattan woman still dealing with the repercussions of an identity theft that began in 1992 is furious that the con artist who victimized her is getting off with just 60 days in prison. Sara Benitez, 44, became aware of the extent of the damage caused by Araceilis Cherico, 46, when she tried to get married at City Hall in 2004. At the registrar's office, the clerk told Benitez she was already married to someone else. She still hasn't been able to tie the knot, and couldn't even get a passport because Cherico got one using her name. more ›

A woman is suing her investment banker husband, alleging assault and battery, emotional distress and false imprisonment that apparently started well before they married. In court papers filed yesterday, Miryam Allam claims husband Jason Meyers, founder of Aspatuck Holdings, repeatedly hit her and forced her to perform sexual acts "she did not want to do." more ›

It was quite a year for sports in the New York City area. The Yankees won their 27th World Championship, two brand new baseball stadiums opened (a total cost of nearly $2.5 billion), and Martin Brodeur set the record for most wins in NHL history. There were some ugly moments too — Serena Williams' explosion at the US Open, the Mets (again), the Nets, the Giants, and of course that Tiger Woods thing that you can't escape no matter where you live. more ›

While the debate rages on over whether it was a moose or a caribou, another new twist has emerged in the case of the tumbling taxidermy that injured a woman at a Lower East Side restaurant in October. 32-year-old Raina Kumra made headlines yesterday when she filed a lawsuit against White Slab Palace, where a moose head crashed down on her during a party. To this day she suffers from chronic neck pain, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness and embarrassment. But now it seems the 150-pound moose head may have been tampered with before it fell! more ›

After being attacked by critics in the wake of the thankfully unsuccessful attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight last week, the White House addressed critics head on. Communications director Dan Pfeiffer posted a response—especially towards former Vice President Dick Cheney—on the White House website yesterday saying that President Obama has acknowledged the U.S. is "at war. The difference is this: President Obama doesn’t need to beat his chest to prove it, and - unlike the last Administration - we are not at war with a tactic ('terrorism'), we at war with something that is tangible: al Qaeda and its violent extremist allies. And we will prosecute that war as long as the American people are endangered." Further: more ›

After months of warnings, NY State is now broke. The NY Times reports, "New York had a negative balance of $174 million in its general fund on Wednesday, with nearly $1 billion in bills owed by day’s end." And State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said, "New York State is officially living paycheck to paycheck. The state is starting the new year by scrambling to make payments and juggle money." more ›

The Daily News ends the year on an uplifting note, putting a young Brooklyn woman who survived a rare five-organ transplant surgery on the cover this morning. 22-year-old Kristin Molini is eating real food for the first time since 2005, when her rare medical condition, intestinal dysmotility, intensified. The malady paralyzed her digestive organs, and she had to rely on an IV feed that destroyed her liver. "The first thing I ate was a piece of saltine cracker and a Cheerio, and that was like, 'Oh, my God!'" Molini tells the News. "You start out [eating] like a baby, but you're like a kid in a candy shop." more ›

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh was rushed to a hospital in Honolulu with chest pains last night, according to TV station KITV, which reports, "Paramedics responded to the call at 2:41 p.m. at the Kahala Hotel and Resort... Limbaugh was sitting in a chair in his ninth-floor hotel room at the Kahala when emergency crews arrived, sources said. He told medical crews that he was taking medication for a back problem, sources said. Paramedics treated him and took him to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition. He will not be released from the hospital on Wednesday night." Update 9 a.m.: Limbaugh is now "resting comfortably"—a statement from his show reads, "Rush appreciates your prayers and well wishes, and he will keep you updated via RushLimbaugh.com." more ›

As we mentioned yesterday, the last day of 2009 will be wet and messy. The snow looks beautiful now, but it is expected to turn into sleet and precipitation by the evening—sorry, New Year's Eve revelers. more ›

• Nets 104, Knicks 95: A late Christmas present for the Nets. Just when people think the Knicks are making strides, they lay this egg. Chris Duhon had a nice 3-point barrage and David Lee had 24 points, but the Nets took this game over from the second quarter on. Brook Lopez had 21 and Yi Jianlian had 22. The Nets shot 51.2 percent from the floor and outscored the Knicks by 14 points from the second and third quarter.
• Flyers 6, Rangers 0: Suddenly, the Flyers are hot. They handed the Rangers their worst loss of the season. Henrik Lundqivst was pulled after allowing three goals in the first period. That didn't help.
• Devils 2, Penguins 0: Niclas Bergfors scored 1:48 into the game, and the Devils didn't need any insurance thanks to Martin Brodeur. He made 32 saves in another shutout. Jamie Langenbrunner had an empty-netter.

With the their playoff hopes still alive, the Jets face off against the Cincinnati Bengals during Sunday Night Football. And things are already lively, thanks to Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco. more ›

The subprime mortgage meltdown and the wave of foreclosures that swept across the city and the nation continue to put New Yorkers at risk of losing their homes — despite a federal policy drafted to protect them. The Times reports that in the ten months since President Obama debuted his $75 billion plan to keep as many as four million Americans from being forced out of their homes due to foreclosure, only 31,000 homeowners have been able to negotiate permanent new mortgages. And in the city, where 20,000 homeowners faced foreclosure this year, lenders have offered new or trial mortgages to just 3 percent of homeowners who sought help. more ›

More bitterly sad details have emerged on that fatal SUV crash on the Bruckner expressway late Monday night. 12-year-old Kaitlin Booth was killed when the SUV she was riding in jumped a curb, tore through a chain-link fence, crashed into a tree stump, and flipped on its side. Police believe the SUV was driven by an unnamed 15-year-old boy who took his mother's vehicle for a spin, with his neighbor Kaitlin along for the ride. Investigators say he was probably going 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, and may have lied about his actions when police arrived. more ›

Theft among retail workers is up — particularly the fraudulent use of gift cards, the Times reports. According to a recent study, store workers, not shoplifters, are responsible for the majority of the estimated $36 billion per year that is heisted from retail establishments, and a growing number of thieving employees are using gift certificates to commit their crimes. more ›

It's not bribery, it's just selling information! The lawyer of the man accused of shaking down David Letterman for $2 million claims, the Post reports, that "his client simply had valuable information and wanted to get paid for it - just as many of the women involved in the Woods sex scandal have been." In other words, does that mean Robert "Joe" Halderman, the former CBS News producer, wishes he had an affair with Tiger Woods instead? more ›

State Senator Joseph E. Robach has his eye on secession; the Republican proposed legislation that would allow the state's 62 counties to hold a referendum in 2010 asking voters: “Do you support the division of New York into two separate states?” CityRoom takes out the history books, noting that our state's boundaries have been largely unchanged since the Constitution was ratified in 1787. So why now? more ›

Gov. Paterson has pardoned a solider whose earlier conviction on gun possession charges barred had barred him from fulfilling his lifelong goal of joining the New York Police Department, the Times reports. In only his second pardon since taking office, Paterson granted clemency to Osvaldo Hernandez — a former paratrooper with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division — who was arrested in 2002 when police found a semiautomatic pistol beneath his car seat. more ›

Bernard Madoff has left his North Carolina prison's hospital unit and returned to his cell. Last week, it was reported that the 71-year-old was in the prison's medical unit and there were rumors that he had been assaulted. But the Bureau of Prisons says that Madoff was actually dizzy (maybe he fell out of his bunk?) and was also being treated for hypertension. Madoff still has over 149 years left to his sentence. more ›

In an article that shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, the Daily News reports that disabled people — just like their non-disabled counterparts — love to gamble at casinos, and they use public transportation to get there. According to the tabloid, Access-A-Ride vans and cars don't just shuttle disabled people to doctors' offices, pharmacies, and supermarkets, they also bring handicapped New Yorkers to the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. more ›

The B61 is getting split it in two starting this weekend! Starting Sunday the route will be split in to two shorter routes, the B61 and the B62, which NYC Transit says will increase service reliability. more ›

Maybe she'll try for a narcolepsy defense? The Rikers Island Correctional Officer who was depicted sleeping on the job in this classic, almost cliche jail photo just can't keep her eyes open. Nadja Green has been busted for napping while guarding once before, according to the Post, which is teasing this story out like a burlesque dancer's boa. Sadly, there's no instant classic photo of Green's previou sleep violation, but this does complicate things for our snoring C.O. more ›

A 65-year-old Mafia associate is accused of arranging to meet a man who was selling an engagement ring on Craiglist — then spraying the man in the face with mace. According to the Post, mobster Gerald DeGerolamo responded to an ad for a ring posted by victim David Cushman and agreed to meet on Dec. 26 in front of 125 Christopher Street. When Cushman pulled out the ring, the suspect grabbed it and sprayed him with the irritant. An onlooker alerted cops, who nabbed the DeGerolamo. more ›

A Bronx man has filed a lawsuit against the NYPD after an accident with a cop car left him bruised. And scratched! Details are sketchy, but cyclist Michael Molina's lawyer tells the Daily News, "He's doing okay now." The lawsuit accuses officer Patrick McKenna of driving at an unreasonable speed and failing to brake properly before crashing into Molina near the Macombs Dam Bridge on April 25th. The city's law department says they have not yet received the legal papers, but we'll follow up if there's more info and hopefully please God some video of the incident. more ›

With President Obama admitting that "systemic failure" allowed a Nigerian national on a terror watch list and allegedly attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight last week, the knives are out. Former Vice President Dick Cheney told Politico, "[W]e are at war and when President Obama pretends we aren’t, it makes us less safe. Why doesn’t he want to admit we’re at war? It doesn’t fit with the view of the world he brought with him to the Oval Office. It doesn’t fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency — social transformation — the restructuring of American society.” more ›

Today is going to seem quite pleasant when compared to yesterday's brutish conditions and tomorrow's mess. The wind speed in Central Park averaged 14.3 mph yesterday --the breeziest day of the month. As the center of high pressure moves passes to the south of the city the winds have died down and we'll see a relatively calm day with morning sun giving way to afternoon clouds and a high around the freezing mark. more ›

The NYPD has shut down part of Times Square as it investigates a "suspicious vehicle." Apparently the vehicle, a 1992 white Dodge van with temporary plates and tarp over its windows, has been parked on Broadway between 41st and 42nd Streets for two days. We hear the bomb squad is on the way. Just in time for New Year's Eve festivities! more ›

What's 14 years of a man's life worth? About $1.25 million, according to a Manhattan federal judge. That's how much David Lemus will receive after being locked up for more than a decade for a crime he didn't commit. Lemus and Olmedo Hidalgo were found guilty of a 1990 shooting outside East 14th Street's Palladium nightclub (now an NYU dormitory), but their convictions were overturned in 2005 when evidence linked two other men to the death of bouncer Marcus Peterson. Lemus — who filed a $50 million lawsuit against police and prosecutors — claims that investigators knew as early as 1994 that two other men committed the crime, the Daily News reports. His attorney, Steven Schiesel, told the Post: "No amount of money can fairly compensate Mr. Lemus for spending his youth being shuffled from prison to prison." more ›

Lower East Side restaurant and bar White Slab Palace "had a duty to provide ... an environment free from falling objects," according to a lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court. But the restaurant allegedly failed in the modest task that was its charge, and now 32-year-old Raina Kumra suffers from "chronic neck pain, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness and other serious and severe personal injuries," including "embarrassment." All this pain and humiliation could have been avoided had White Slab Palace just made sure that their giant 150-pound moose head was securely fastened to the wall. more ›

The 16-year-old girl who stabbed and killed a man she claimed had groped her near the 21st Street-Queensbridge subway station was hit with first-degree manslaughter and weapons possession charges that could put her behind bars for 25 years, according to the Times. Cyan Brown turned herself in yesterday after hiding out with relatives following the Dec. 24 incident, which left 29-year-old aspiring rapper Thomas Winston dead. more ›

State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was found guilty of misdemeanor assault for "accidentally" slashing his girlfriend with a broken glass, was sentenced to probation and community service earlier this month. However, his Senate colleagues were harsh in their 55-page assessment of his actions. According to the NY Times, the panel found he "behaved recklessly and callously after his companion was hurt during an argument at his Queens home, failing to call 911, dragging her violently through a hallway and taking her to a hospital miles away." more ›

With the new year, new rules will go into effect concerning the city's carriage horses. The rules were proposed by the Health Department yesterday, and according to the NY Post would include many regulations already imposed on taxi drivers. more ›

Sgt. Reginald McReynolds, a 19 year veteran of the NYPD, was returning to his girlfriend's Bronx apartment with their Chinese food one night at the end of October when he was stopped by a rookie cop and his partner. Officers Kyle Bach and Joseph Azevedo, who are white, were responding to a domestic dispute call in the building. The perp was described as in his late 20s and weighing about 150 pounds; McReynolds is a 42-year-old black man weighing in at 275 pounds. Nevertheless, McReynolds says Bach "came right up in my face and said, 'What fucking apartment are you going to?'" It's no surprise that the ensuing exchange wasn't all that courteous, professional, or respectful. more ›

Last week, it was announced that the $162 million Mega Millions ticket had been sold at the Cards and Things store in Rocky Point, Long Island. Newsday (subscription req'd) reports that there are numerous rumors about who might be the lucky winner: Is it "a kindly priest who plans to give all the money to the church" or "an elderly man - possibly with a glass eye - who worked for years as a janitor at Stony Brook University Medical Center and has gone into hiding"? Or does the "big ticket [remain] unclaimed because it blew away in the wind"? It took a while for a Queens MTA worker to pick up his big Mega Millions jackpot earlier this year—he contacted a lawyer first! more ›

Yesterday, President Obama spoke again about the thankfully failed attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight last week—and this time he was more forceful in his criticism of federal agencies' "mix of human and systemic failures" to address the matter. The NY Times reports, "The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said." more ›

Back in 2002 a troupe of models sued agencies like Wilhelmina and Ford for allegedly fixing prices (details of the lawsuit can be found here) — the settlement was reached in 2005 but has been delayed until now after some disagreements arose concerning how to divvy up the money. In the end, the class-action suit got the models $21 million, with $2 million ordered to go to charities. more ›

The city's richest man keeps living up to his big spending reputation — even after his poorer-than-expected performance at the polls. Despite fears that after his narrow third term victory, Mayor Bloomberg wouldn't pay out the big bonuses that his campaign staffers have come to expect, the Times reports that he's giving out "roughly the same generous checks to his staff as he did after winning office in 2001 and 2005 — 20 percent of each worker's total wages." more ›

Before 1 a.m. this morning, a 12-inch water main at 105th Street and Central Park West broke, flooding the West 110th subway station and onto Central Park West. WABC 7 reports, "Several hundred residents of nearby buildings were temporarily without water. Meanwhile, subway service on the A & D lines has resumed with residual delays. M10 bus service was briefly suspended until Central Park West was reopened." While the cause of the break is under investigation, let us guess that it was a combination of crumbling infrastructure and last night's crazy cold temperatures. more ›

• Knicks 104, Pistons 87: David Lee, who had 30 points and 12 rebounds, said it best. "“We played pretty good defense tonight." Wilson Chandler had 23, but the Knicks held Detroit to 41 percent shooting and outrebounded Detroit 44-13.
• Islanders 2, Blue Jackets 1: Rob Schremp was an interesting choice in the shootout, but he had the only goal. That helped back up Dwayne Roloson's 41-save performance and Josh Bailey's regulation goal.
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The 16-year-old girl implicated in the fatal stabbing of a man who allegedly tried to force himself upon her is scheduled to appear before a police line-up today, according to the Post. The lawyer representing high school sophomore Cyan Brown told the tabloid the teen is "very upset" but maintains she has "a legitimate defense" in the stabbing death of 29-year-old Thomas "Black Box" Winston, who reportedly confronted the teen on Christmas Eve alongside a group of five to seven other men near the 21st Street-Queensbridge F train station. more ›

Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, demanded that suspected plane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab be tried in a military tribunal. Speaking to NBC, he said, "I think that the administration has made a mistake by treating this terrorist as a common criminal — by putting him into the criminal justice system. I wish they would have put him into a military tribunal so we could get as much intelligence and information out of him as we could." more ›

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) is accused of soliciting favors from Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez on behalf of an alleged Ponzi schemer who paid for the politician's Caribbean vacations. According to a story broken by the Miami Herald, Texas billionaire and suspected scammer Allen Stanford asked Meeks — a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — to convince Chavez to initiate a criminal investigation against a former employee in March 2006. Meeks allegedly agreed, and traveled to Venezuela a month later where he met with Chavez. Venezuelan prosecutors indicted the former employee the following year. more ›

Three of the four bus routes that bring commuters across Central Park at night would be eliminated as a part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's planned "Doomsday" service cuts, forcing late-night bus riders to wait even longer for their rides or walk crosstown "during the hours when the park is at its most foreboding," according to the Times. more ›

Just last week we were patting the city on the back for cleaning up the "Bronx Swamp" — but now we've encountered a huge buzzkill. The LTV Squad reports live from the scene and says, "what we found was that the city has done the minimal amount of work and has left the tunnel under St. Mary’s park completely fetid and flooded to boot. This tunnel was once dry enough to serve as a safe haven to migratory cave dwelling birds. Today though it’s the same old health hazard that the city promised it would eliminate." They make the assumption that the city only cleaned the parts visible to the public, leaving "a toxic soup directly under a park where children play." Yikes. more ›

In the wake of a Nigerian man's failed attempt to blow up an airplane as it landed in Detroit on Christmas, Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind is calling on authorities to instate a policy of ethnic profiling to stop would-be terrorists. According to CBS, the Borough Park Democrat — who was last spotted protesting against the inclusion of gays, gypsies, and the disabled at a Holocaust memorial — argues that politicians must "[l]et law enforcement do what it feels is necessary without tying their hands." more ›

If you've ever tried to fight a ticket handed to you by a cop in the subway system, you'll be familiar with the "hearings" held by the NYC Transit Adjudication Bureau (TAB), during which you waste half your day in Brooklyn waiting to plead your case before a bored bureaucrat in a small room with a tape recorder. These typically anticlimactic hearings are closed to the public, unless the accused consents to an observer’s presence. Naturally, the NYCLU opposes these closed doors, because they "deprive the public of information about the fairness of the hearing process and accused transit riders of an understanding of the adjudication process." more ›

On NY1's "Road to City Hall" last night, former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Rangel and former NY Secretary of State Basil Paterson (yes, the Governor's dad), appeared to remember their friend and colleague Percy Sutton, the trailblazing lawyer turned politician turned media mogul who passed away last week. The four men, who became powerful in Harlem politics, were known as the "Gang of Four," and Dinkins, Rangel and Paterson credited Sutton. Dinkins said, "We three and others have always said everybody stands on somebody's shoulders. And we say that we stand on Percy's shoulders." more ›

The horse racing organization that has threatened to cancel the Belmont Stakes due to monetary woes says it will take the state to court instead of opening its books to auditors, according to the Daily News. The New York Racing Association refused to turn over its records to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli after he subpoenaed the group yesterday, arguing that because a court has ruled that nonprofit charter schools don't need to open their books to the state, neither should the nonprofit horse-racing organization. more ›

The city's need for blood is at an all-time high, and the New York Blood Center is calling on New Yorkers to "roll up their sleeves" and "give the gift of life." NYBC says they need almost 2,000 volunteers every day to meet demand. The Lo-Down reports that tonight LoHo Realty is sponsoring their winter blood drive, and they're luring volunteers out in the cold with the promise of "iTunes or Starbucks!!!" If you're on the Lower East Side this evening, their blood drive is happening from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 477 FDR Drive (near Grand Street), in the Community Room of East River Cooperative. To donate in other parts of NYC, check out the NYBC website. more ›

An underage driver doing 51 mph in a 30 mph zone on the Bruckner expressway last night flipped his family's GMC Envoy and killed his 12-year-old front seat passenger, police sources say. The victim, a Bronx girl identified as Kaitlin Booth, was rushed Jacobi Hospital, where she died. The name of the 15-year-old driver hasn't been released, but investigators believe the accident happened after the vehicle jumped a curb, tore through a chain-link fence, crashed into a tree stump, and flipped on its side. more ›

ABC News showed photographs of the underwear worn by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab while he allegedly tried to destroy a Northwest Airlines flight landing in Detroit last week. ABC News explains, "The first photo... shows the slightly charred underpants with the bomb packet still in place... The bomb packet is a six-inch long container of the high-explosive chemical PETN, less than a half cup in volume, weighing about 80 grams. A government test with 50 grams of PETN blew a hole in the side of an airliner. That was the amount in the bomb carried by the so-called shoe bomber Richard Reid over Christmas 2001. The underpants bomb would have been one and a half times as powerful." more ›

If you're planning on staying at the bar until 8 am on New Year's Day, this might give you pause. About 69 percent of the cocaine recently seized in the United States has been diluted with a de-worming drug for livestock that when consumed by people can cause "fever, swollen glands, painful sores in the mouth and anus, and an infection that won't go away," according to Daily Intel and the SF Chronicle. The drug Levamisole can "significantly reduce the number of white blood cells in the body," causing a condition called agranulocytosis that can leave patients with serious skin conditions that can "make their skin look black." Not everyone who consumes cocaine tainted with Levamisole becomes ill, though poisoning from coke tainted with the anti-parasitic drug is reportedly more likely to affect for women, and is most common when cocaine is smoked as crack. more ›

The overall unemployment rate in NYC was 10.1 percent in the third quarter of 2009, but the jobless numbers vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, according to a distressing, if unsurprising, new study by the Fiscal Policy Institute, a liberal research group. For example, overall unemployment was 5.1% on Manhattan's Upper East and West Sides, compared to 15.7% in Central Bronx and 19.2% in East New York. FPI also broke down the data by race, finding that blacks rank #1 in the jobless category in almost every part of NYC (except areas of Staten Island and Whitestone, Queens, where info on blacks was "not applicable.") more ›

A baseball fan threatened to kill a stranger who was wearing a Los Angeles Dodger's hat in a Brooklyn diner yesterday. According to the Post, 38-year-old suspect Marcos Esteban — who was born 14 years after the Dodger's abandoned Brooklyn — menaced the Los Angeles fan with a boxcutter for wearing the wrong ballcap to the eatery, which is near the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Skillman Street. more ›

A Rockland County family filed suit against the New York Archdiocese after a Catholic preschool wouldn't accept their child because she has not been fully vaccinated, according to the Post. The couple — who filed the suit anonymously — claim they are the victims of religious discrimination and are seeking a court order so their 4-year-old can attend the St. Margaret School in Pearl River after the preschool rejected their request for a religious exemption. more ›

A correction officer at Rikers snapped this priceless photo of another guard fast asleep in her chair while a grinning inmate hovers over, mere inches from her big Barney Fife keys. The sleeping officer, Nadja Green, has been at Rikers for over four years, and one source describes her as "the Precious of Corrections," a reference to the movie about a teen from a dysfunctional family. The mother of several children, Green reportedly worked 96 hours of overtime this month. So isn't it kind of a dick move to photograph her while she catches a few hard-earned z's? Green's union thinks so! more ›

It's official. Mayor Bloomberg has signed into effect a controversial street renaming that will honor an unarmed man who was gunned down by police in a barrage of 50 bullets on the day of his wedding. more ›

Bronxville police questioned a bicyclist about the death of a 15-year-old teen whose body was found on a street last week. Mihoko Fukuzawa died of internal bleeding, but since it's unclear whether she slipped or was the victim of foul play, police sought a bicyclist seen on surveillance footage. The Journal News reports that the bicyclist, an Albanian, did see the girl's body but didn't stop because of his limited English. He also reportedly said he saw another person already asking the girl if she was okay. The police chief said, "We do not believe he had any contact with her or that she was startled by the bicyclist. Something else caused her to fall." more ›

Fire officials believe that a two-alarm fire that left a teenager dead and many others injured was caused by arson. The Post reports, "Investigators found a large red gasoline canister at 55 Harrison Place," which is on the Williamsburg-Bushwick border, and the NY Times says, "A surveillance video showed a man entering the three-story building shortly before the fire began, and the man was shown leaving as the flames began to erupt." more ›

For her flight to LA on Sunday, Dianne Duncan arrived at the airport in Toronto at 9:30 a.m., but didn't reach the screening area until nearly seven hours later. "It was extremely strict," Duncan tells the Times. "There was no toilet, no water and no food for purchase. There was one man to screen the men, and one woman to screen the women. There was a full pat-down." (Her 5-year-old daughter was not exempt from the full pat-down.) Duncan's experience is emblematic of how miserable air travel has become for some in the wake of the failed Northwest Airlines flight 253 bombing, and yet others reported a relatively "normal" experience. more ›

A reader emailed, "Just thought I'd let you know that the F/G is yet again a hot mess this morning, making the commute a nightmare." According to the NYC Transit Alert page, there's "a rail condition at the Church Avenue Station," which means "no G train service in both directions between the Bergen Street Station and the Church Avenue Station...Jamaica-bound F trains are terminating at the Church Avenue Station. Select Coney Island-bound F trains are terminating at the Bergen Street Station. Select Jamaica-bound F trains will run on the D line between the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station and the West 4th Street-Washington Square Station." more ›

It's like Brooklyn Bridge Park all over again. The plan to build a waterfront park in Long Island City funded by the construction of new housing has neighbors and open space activists up in arms, according to the Post. The city will use the revenue from 5,000 planned apartments in the Hunters Point South development to pay for an 11-acre public esplanade — sparking fears that the parkland will feel private and that the city will begin relying on housing to pay for future park projects. more ›

As we mentioned yesterday, today is going to be cold and blustery, thanks to an Arctic front. According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts of up to 47 mph will make the 26-degree weather feel like it's just 9 degrees this morning! more ›

• Devils 3 Atlanta 2: Zach Parise scored twice, his 16th and 17th goals of the season and Martin Brodeur made 24 saves to lead New Jersey to a comeback win.
• Oklahoma City 105 Nets 89: Kevin Durant couldn’t be stopped, pouring in 40 against the Nets Monday. That countered Yi’s 29-point effort and the Nets dropped to 2-29 on the season.

A lawyer for the ex-girlfriend of reality "star" Jon Gosselin claims that the ransacking of his Upper West Side apartment is just a publicity stunt! What, a reality star trying to drum up press? Shocking! The Post reports, "Police noted that reporters began arriving at the precinct house even before they had a chance to interview Gosselin about the destruction of his home." A source wondered, "How did they know so quickly? No cop could have tipped them -- it was too quick." more ›

Police arrested a 27-year-old hotel worker accused of sexually assaulting a female guest inside the Dream Hotel on West 55th Street early on Sunday. The perp — identified as Jaime Marin Lopez Mendoza — allegedly forced himself upon the 27-year-old victim while she was sleeping just before 4 am, according to NY1. more ›

While the transit police are busy cracking down on commuters who put their feet up on the seats, maybe they can also do something about people pulling down their underwear and grinding away on the subway? We don't know much about this truly vile Twitpic, and we don't want to know. (We regret that now you know too, but better you should hear it from us, in a safe place.) Below, in the interest full public disclosure, the NSFW version of the photo. more ›

Costumed characters from Sesame Street and other children's shows have become a regular fixture in Midtown, where they can make about $80 per day posing for photos with tourists, according to the Post. The tabloid spoke with the men behind the masks, and learned that there's a science to figuring out the rates. "I charge one dollar for some people, and more for others," said José Montier, 40, who dresses as Cookie Monster. "It depends on if they're a big group, if they look like they're rich." more ›

90-year-old Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau is retiring Thursday after a 35 year reign, and he's not pulling any punches in his exit interviews with the media. Morgenthau's still lashing out at federal bureaucracy—"they ought to burn it down and start all over again"—for, most recently, interfering in his case against Credit Suisse. After copping to aiding Iran and other rogue nations in violation of economic sanctions, the bank coughed up $536 million. (The feds wanted only civil penalties.) But Morgenthau, naturally, saved his nastiest criticism for his "chickenshit" nemesis Mayor Bloomberg. more ›

About 6,000 gallons of heating fuel leaked out of a tank in the basement of a New York University-owned housing complex yesterday. It's unclear exactly what caused the oil to spill out of the tank — which is a backup system for heating and hot water in NYU's Washington Square Village development at Bleecker and Mercer streets, according to the Daily News. "We are determined to figure out what caused the spill and resolve it," said university spokesman John Beckman. Residents were not evacuated from the buildings, but some complained of fumes from the fuel in hallways and stairways. "You breathe this stuff in for five minutes, you'll get headaches," said Irish studies professor John Waters, 45, who lives on the sixth floor with his wife and daughter. "This is a disaster." more ›

Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), who is a ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, has unleashed a torrent of criticism towards the Obama administration regarding its handling of the alleged attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight that landed in Detroit on Christmas Day. He told WCBS 2, "I'm disappointed it's taken the president 72 hours to even address this issue. Basically nobody, the president, the vice president, the attorney general, nobody except Secretary Napolitano has come out. And she said yesterday everything worked well." more ›

Apparently all the noise about AT&T having major problems in NYC didn't curb their sales here enough, so they're taking action (ahem, now the holiday buying frenzy is over). Consumerist reports that the company's website has stopped selling the iPhone here; a customer service rep (read: online robot named "Daphne") confirmed, saying: "the phone is not offered to you because New York is not ready for the iPhone. You don't have enough towers to handle the phone." more ›

The city is on track for the lowest number of murders since reliable record-keeping began in 1962, according to the Times. As of Dec. 27, there have been 461 murders — 35 fewer than the record set in 2007. Twelve of the city's police precincts in areas ranging from Park Slope to Upper Manhattan recorded just one murder each, while the precinct that covers Central Park didn't log a single homicide, the paper reports. more ›

After Gothamist reported yesterday on a vicious fight on an uptown 6 train that left a woman bleeding severely from the face, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is trying to track down the train crew on duty when the melee took place. "We still haven't isolated the crew yet. We are trying to isolate the crew and take it from there," said MTA Transit spokesman James Anyansi. more ›

A resident of a "luxurious small building" facing Central Park got some lip over a holiday tip, and turned to the UrbanBaby message board for advice: "So, I gave my doormen/ porters and handyman 60 dollars bonus each (times 11) and to the super, 100 dollars. One of the doormen complained about his bonus, saying, 'I love the card, not so much the contents.' I couldn't believe it. I wonder how much everyone else gave this year." And so the agonizing debate over whom to tip and how much rages on! One proposed solution for this particular contretemps? Re-tipping and apologizing to the doorman. more ›

After poring over NY State data, the NY Times suggests that "courtrooms are now seeing the delayed result of the country’s economic collapse... New York’s judges are wading into these types of cases by the tens of thousands, according to the new statistics, cases involving not only bad debts and soured deals, but also filings that are indirect but still jarring measures of economic stresses, like charges of violence in families torn apart by lost jobs and homes in jeopardy." Chief judge Jonathan Lippman said, "Society’s problems come to us. We are the emergency room for society.” And another judge, who has seen many credit cases, said of the future, "I would describe it as a train wreck and I think it’s going to get worse for the next couple of years.” more ›

Governor Paterson's security force has doubled from 100 to 200 officers since he took office in March 2008, and some critics say he's expanded the detail just to make himself look more important. "The governor wants to have an entourage—three or four cars—wherever he goes because he thinks it makes him look more gubernatorial, it helps him politically," one unidentified "senior official" tells the Post. Now the State Troopers Police Benevolent Association is calling Paterson out for draining police manpower at a time when he's cut the state police force to battle the budget monsters. more ›

Less than a month after a CD-seller was shot and killed when he opened fire on police, street musicians have returned to Times Square to sell their wares — and scam tourists, according to the Post. On Dec. 10, rapper Raymond "Ready" Martinez fired at a cop who had questioned him about conning tourists into buying his record by scribbling their names onto discs and demanding $10. Martinez was shot and killed in front of the Marriott after his stolen gun jammed because he was holding it sideways. more ›

If you like watching big stuff blow up (and who doesn't?), check out this short but sweet video of the Lake Champlain Bridge getting demolished in a controlled explosion this morning. In October, DOT divers discovered that the 80-year-old, 2,184-foot-long bridge, was rapidly deteriorating. The bridge was immediately closed, severely inconveniencing but possibly saving the lives of drivers commuting between Vermont and New York. (The state will continue to operate ferries across the lake while building a new bridge, but the nearest alternative bridge is 100 miles away.) Crews spent more than a week placing 800 pounds of explosives packed into more than 500 charges to bring down the bridge, which cut through the steel at 17,000 feet per second, according to the DOT. more ›

Forget faux snakeskin Fendi bag knock-offs — you can allegedly procure your own canned cobra right on Canal Street! Last week a Queens man was busted for attempting to smuggle a suitcase of endangered fish to New York (that could have reportedly sold for up to $8K each in Chinatown), and now the NY Post looks at some of the other crazy critters being sold in the neighborhood. more ›

The horse racing organization that threatened to cancel the Belmont Stakes due to monetary woes will be subpoenaed for refusing to open its books. The state is skeptical of the New York Racing Association's claims that it doesn't have enough money to hold the final leg of the Triple Crown, because the organization was awarded $105 million in taxpayer money and had its $200 million debt erased last year, according to the Daily News. more ›

Freddy's Bar & Backroom in Prospect Heights is one of many businesses and residences facing the wrecking ball to make room for developer Bruce Ratner's controversial Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn. Last week staffers and tipplers handcuffed themselves to the bar to protest the establishment's increasingly likely demise, and this weekend they kicked it up a notch by building a nine-foot-tall guillotine made from PBR cans and executing an effigy representing "eminent domain theft." (One yank on a Blue Point beer tap brought the blade down.) more ›

Sigh: WCBS 2 reports that a passenger who flew into LaGuardia Airport last night "was questioned by FBI agents" because he allegedly boarded the flight with a 4" long, 3/4" wide firecracker: "Officials confirmed Monday that a crew member on board Piedmont Airlines flight 4126 was cleaning the plane after it landed in New York around 7:30 p.m. when he found [the device] wedged between two seats. Port Authority officials contacted FBI agents, and the passenger from that seat location, identified as 67-year-old Thomas Ouelette, of Bonita Springs, Fla., was tracked down and taken into custody." While terrorism is not suspected (at this point!), "Ouelette already had two outstanding warrants in Florida for 'unlawful flight.'" more ›

An early morning cold front put an end to yesterday's brief warm spell. Today's high of 43 degrees happened around six this morning. For the rest of the day we can expect clear skies, a brisk westerly wind, and temperatures slowly falling into the mid 30s by evening. more ›

The law applies to all lots, but those with fewer than 100 spaces have a two year grace period before they must make room for bikes. But a reporter for the Post recently tried to park a bicycle at 26 Manhattan lots with more than 100 spaces and was turned away over half the time. The city can impose a $500 fine on any garage that turns away cyclists, but some owners seem willing to take that chance. "The city just sent us a letter a month ago—you're my first customer," attendant José Angel at Mercer Parking told the Post. "But it's not enough time to prepare. Every little corner in this garage we are using for cars." more ›

The city's flags are at half mast today, in honor of activist, politician and business Percy Sutton who died on December 26 at age 89. President Obama said in a statement, "Percy Sutton was a true hero to African Americans in New York City and around the country. We will remember him for his service to the country as a Tuskegee Airman, to New York State as a state assemblyman, to New York City as Manhattan Borough President, and to the community of Harlem in leading the effort to revitalize the world renowned Apollo Theater. His life-long dedication to the fight for civil rights and his career as an entrepreneur and public servant made the rise of countless young African Americans possible." more ›

The city will enact a new protocol allowing police officers to more quickly administer blood tests to suspected drunk drivers who have refused to take Breathalyzer tests. After several DWI suspects who declined field sobriety tests didn't have their blood drawn for hours — allowing them to sober up — the police department and the city's district attorneys forged the new agreement on Sunday to speed up the blood-testing process. more ›

Not so surprising: The Post reports that the attrition rate for city employees for the 3rd quarter of this year "dropped to 7 percent. That compares to 8.7 percent for the same period last year, and 10.4 percent during that period in 2007 and 2006." Annual attrition is at a low of 5.1%, vs. 6.5% in 2008 and 6.7% in 2007. Mayor Bloomberg said it can cause problems, "When an agency has projected to meet their reduction goals and say, 'Well, we'll downsize by attrition.' What do you do if people don't retire? And that's exactly what has happened... You know, city employment is great for a lot of people. They like working here." more ›

In the wake of Friday's foiled terrorist bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, tough new security measures are being implemented on international flights bound for the U.S. Basically, we're just a couple more failed bombings away from flying handcuffed to the armrest, naked except for hoods over our heads. But for now—in addition to much more invasive and time-consuming pre-flight screening—the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has decreed that the last hour of every flight be spent confined your seat (no bathroom privileges!) without a blanket, pillow, reading materials, personal belongings or even the precious succor of television. Those who flew over the weekend say it's a whole new world up there. more ›

Two cops patrolling a Brooklyn housing project were nearly shot at by a runaway perp whose mother allegedly encouraged him to open fire. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, the two officers patrolling the Marlboro Houses in Gravesend encountered three men drinking in a stairwell. One of the men, Angel Rivera, 25, was wearing a bulletproof vest and bolted when cops tried to question them. As he neared his apartment, he allegedly tried to fire his 9-mm. pistol at the pursuing police. But his gun jammed and its magazine fell out, much to the dismay of his mother Rosa. more ›

Firefighter Jim Ryan, who responded to the September 11 attacks, died of pancreatic cancer on Christmas Day and a wake was held for him yesterday. However, the Daily News reports his family and fellow firefighters were upset that the FDNY didn't give him a line-of-duty funeral service, so "Ryan's Engine Co. 320 organized an honor guard, bagpipes and transport vehicles on their own." His family maintains that Ryan became ill due to the toxins he was exposed to on 9/11, with his brother says, "The doctors had no doubt. The people who were there that day were victims. They didn't hesitate... That's what a real hero does." And union chief Steve Cassidy said, "The New York City Fire Department has failed to acknowledge guys like Jimmy Ryan who have died. He's not the first and he's not going to be the last." more ›

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian national charged with trying to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25, was released from the hospital and removed to a federal prison as authorities try to understand how he smuggled a deadly explosive onto the plane and why, despite his family's warnings to the U.S. Embassy, he was allowed to fly. And a day after saying that "everything happened that should have," today Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano admitted that the system failed. more ›

A two-alarm fire broke out at 55 Harrison Place in Bushwick, Brooklyn around 4:48 a.m. this morning. According to WCBS 2, one person, who was "one of two people trapped by flames on the second floor," died while "Four other people were injured; three with minor injuries and one with more serious injuries." more ›

The Jets managed to beat the Colts (partly thanks to Peyton Manning sitting out for the second half), the Giants are out of the playoffs after being humiliated by the Panthers, the Knicks lost to the Spurs and the Flyers bested the Islanders. more ›

Maybe someone just really really dislikes Jon Gosselin's Ed Hardy-Christian Audigier wardrobe—the reality star and father of eight's lawyer said Gosselin told him, "When he entered his apartment in Manhattan and was horrified, disheartened and saddened to observe the devastation of his furniture, clothing and personal belongings, which were apparently slashed with a butcher knife by a very troubled and sick perpetrator." more ›

After a six-year relationship with the Lower East Side, former New York Observer editor John Vorwald penned a letter to the Times announcing that his affair with the neighborhood has ended due to irreconcilable differences. Vorwald says he was attracted to the community because it reminded him of "a gracefully aging rocker, grizzled and sage" — but now the Lower East Side is running with a different crowd. more ›

As the holidays are a time for giving thanks, let’s look at each of the teams in the local area and think about what they have to be thankful for: The Jets have a new coach and a new quarterback to give thanks for. While the QB still needs to learn to slide, things are looking up for the Jets; The Rangers can be thankful for an incredible fanbase that continually supports them, no matter how mediocre a roster Glen Sather constructs... more ›

Relatives of the 29-year-old man fatally stabbed by a 16-year-old girl who feared he was going to rape her are urging the high school sophomore to come out of hiding. The family of Thomas Winston — who with a group of five to seven men allegedly accosted Cyan Brown near the 21st Street-Queensbridge F station on Christmas Eve — want Brown to turn herself in. more ›

With nerves running high after the December 25 incident of a Nigerian man allegedly trying to set off an explosive on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, the flight crew of today's NWA Flight 253 asked for emergency help because of a disruptive Nigerian passenger, an incident the Department of Homeland Security later characterized as "nonserious." The Detroit Free-Press reports, "A law enforcement official says the man removed from a flight to Detroit today posed no security risk to the plane. The official says the passenger was taken into custody after becoming verbally disruptive on landing. Subsequent interviews by investigators determined he was a businessman who became ill during the flight." (CNN said the passenger had locked himself in the lavatory for an hour.) more ›

Just one day after a man attempted to explode an airplane before landing, Ivana Trump blew up at passengers before take-off, launching obscenities at children aboard the flight to New York and police officers. Her outburst caused a two hour delay for other passengers headed from Palm Beach International Airport to LaGuardia. more ›

The one upside to the NJ Nets' horrendous 2-28 record? Tickets to games are really cheap! The Daily News found people at a recent home game who found great deals on eBay and Stubhub: A teacher with his stepson said, "I don't make much, so $7 per ticket is great for me"—face value for each ticket was $125—"We spent more on food than the tickets - around $18. It's fine since the tickets were so inexpensive." Another man who was treating his girlfriend's two sons to the game and also got their three tickets for $7/each said, "This is the cheapest I've ever paid for tickets. This is my Christmas present to them. They didn't know how cheap I was until just now." more ›

The tops of 500 New York City taxis are about to become an art exhibit on wheels. Throughout January, the Las Vegas-based company that owns about half of the city's taxi-top ads will install 14- by 48-inch artworks by Shirin Neshat, Alex Katz, and Yoko Ono above cabs, the Times reports. more ›

The Post reports that Andrew Madoff, the 43-year-old son of Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff, "applied for a license to keep a handgun in his swanky Upper East Side pad more than six months ago -- and his name appears on NYPD and state police lists of approved permit holders." Is he trying to keep up with those alleged Goldman Sachs employees who are packing heat these days? more ›

A straphanger recorded a brutal fistfight on the 6 train that left a woman bleeding profusely from the face. It's unclear exactly when or why the fight broke out, but the nasty spat — which goes on for about 3 minutes and spills out of the train car and into a station — was apparently uploaded and removed from YouTube on Dec 25 before being posted on the Daily Motion website on Dec. 26. (Update: It's now been removed from Daily Motion, but someone uploaded it to YouTube again, where it will probably stay for another few hours.) more ›

Percy Sutton, described by the NY Times as "one of the nation’s most prominent black political and business leaders," died yesterday at age 89. Governor Paterson's spokeswoman confirmed Sutton's death, but did not know the cause. Paterson issued a statement saying, "Percy was fiercely loyal, compassionate and a truly kind soul. He will be missed but his legacy lives on through the next generations of African-Americans he inspired to pursue and fulfill their own dreams and ambitions." more ›

Reports are coming across the police scanner of a "large oil fuel spill" in New York University's Washington Square Village. According to dispatches, about 6,000 gallons of heating oil have spilled in the basement of the graduate student housing complex at the corner of Bleecker and Mercer streets. NYU personnel are apparently attempting to pump the oil out of the basement. The spill takes place about a block away from the site of NYU's new underground cogeneration facility, which is intended to improve energy efficiency while reducing "fuel consumption and associated emissions of pollutants to the environment." more ›

Barring a miracle, this will be the last game for the Giants at Giants’ Stadium and New York desperately needs a win. While Monday’s thrashing of Washington kept their playoff hopes alive, the Giants still have a lot of work to do and need a lot of help. more ›

A man who was beaten by an underage drunk in front of a Wall Street-area bar is suing the pubs that served the young boozer and police who purportedly witnessed the brawl and didn't break it up. more ›

In an attempt to punish day laborers and those who employ them, the town of Oyster Bay had implemented a controversial law that immigrant rights activists say makes it illegal to "Wave While Latino." The new legislation imposes fines of $250 on people who solicit employment, which "includes, but is not limited to, shouting at cars, waving arms or signs, making hand signals, approaching motor vehicles or standing in public roads facing in the direction of oncoming traffic," according to the Times. more ›

The store has only been open for months, but apparently a Bronx Toys R Us entire fleet of shopping carts has been stolen. The Daily News reports, "The thefts began on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which is the official start of the Christmas shopping blitz" and this week, " One employee told a shopper who asked about a cart for her purchases, "Well, to tell you the truth, they were all stolen." Cops apparently believe that "an organized gang" may be behind the thefts, because they "could unload them at local scrap metal shops"—or the culprits are "homeless people who use them to carry their belongings." more ›

No matter the time of day — nor the number of empty seats in the subway car — transit cops can issue tickets to straphangers who take up more than one seat. And according to two commuters who were hit with $50 summonses on nearly empty trains passing through the 96th Street station after midnight, the city is undergoing a ticketing blitz (again). more ›

Even in spite of the at-times-pouring rain, shoppers flocked to stores yesterday to take advantage of big sales—and perhaps return some Christmas gifts. With items on sale for 60-75% off, there were deals, but only if you could find the products. One woman told 1010WINS that she had been eyeing $11.99 pajamas at a JC Penney before Christmas, "Now there's nothing. Everything's been picked over." more ›

• Islanders 3, Rangers 2 (OT): The Islanders scored goals in the first and second periods to take a 2-0 lead over the Rangers, and eventually won their second game in a row in overtime. The win was the second in 11 days at The Garden. Kyle Okposo scored the game-winning goal with 47 seconds left in OT, adding to his two assists on the night. Dwayne Roloson stopped 36 shots for the Islanders in the win and Brandon Dubinsky scored twice for the Rangers in the loss.
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The U.S. government charged Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian man, with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines plane as it was landing in Detroit yesterday. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, "ad this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice." And the Justice Department's statement notes: more ›

In the months before developer Bruce Ratner closed the deal on his $4.9 billion plan to move the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn and construct high-rise buildings on the Atlantic Yards site, someone painted over a series of murals created by opponents of the project — and anti-Atlantic Yards activists claim that Ratner is at fault. more ›

A couple who found a wallet filled with $5,000 in cash at Bloomindale's returned it to its grateful owner. According to the Post, couple Sandi Castro and Bruce Migliaccio saw the wallet on a scarf display. Castro said, "I felt panicked for him and felt like I needed to get it back to him as soon as possible." They asked a store manager to put the wallet in a safe while they called American Express, which then called owner Robert Slatkin. They inititally refused his repeated offers of a reward, but they finally "relented and Slatkin gave the couple $300 and an open invitation for them to use the indoor pool in his posh Upper East Side apartment building -- a perk they won't be turning down." more ›

For the first time ever, black, Hispanic and Asian residents of New York City outnumbered their white counterparts at the polls. In what the Times describes as "a seismic political shift," voters who identified themselves as minorities constituted 51 percent of the vote in November's citywide elections, compared to white voters who made up 46 percent of the total. more ›

Earlier this week, the body of a three-year-old girl was found on a Brooklyn sidewalk. It was later determined that Kyrah Martin had somehow gotten onto her new apartment building's roof and fell four stories to her death. Now the Administration for Children's Service has taken Kyrah's three siblings away from her mother. more ›

A New York University chemistry department manager heisted $409,000 from the school since 2003 — and he would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for a meddling kid. History and film major Michael Peaden busted the frighteningly simple petty cash scam, in which chem department budget coordinator John Runowicz allegedly traded in 13,000 discarded liquor store receipts for reimbursement money, according to the Post. more ›

In an interview with the AP, Governor Paterson criticizes groups who are upset he's withholding payments to them because of the state's budget crisis: "It's almost like children who start screaming and pulling the covers over their head to make the monsters go away. Well, they can scream all they want and pull the wool over their eyes, but the public sees the monsters of the lack of cash and the monsters of unavailability of credit are here, and someone is going to have to be the adult force that comes into the room and gets rid of the monsters. And the only way to do that is to practice a new culture of governance called discipline financing." more ›

The Jets are probably not good enough to beat the Colts when Indianapolis is playing at full strength. Fortunately for Gang Green, the 14-0 Colts may be taking the foot off the gas pedal for the Week 16 matchup. With home-field advantage locked up, the Colts must make a decision on a subject they have faced many times before: resting regulars vs. staying sharp and trying to remain unbeaten. more ›

People around the world remembered the fifth anniversary of the devastatingIndian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that killed over 230,000 people in eleven countries. In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, where 150,000 died, a woman whose children and nieces were killed, told CNN, "We are only human... We'll never really forget... We still feel the trauma. And when there is another earthquake, all we can do is run and pray." more ›

The 16-year-old Queens resident who stabbed and killed a man in or outside the 21st Street-Queensbridge F station only pulled the knife after the man tried to grope her, according to her family. High school sophomore Cyan Brown stabbed aspiring rapper Thomas "Black Box" Winston at around 9 pm on Christmas Eve when the 29-year-old — backed by five to seven of friends — tried to fondle her, her relatives said. more ›

Another video game-loving thief was caught online! Police nabbed a careless electronics thief whose used a stolen Xbox for online play — allowing investigators to uncover a stockpile of pilfered goods he had allegedly stowed away in his grandmother's house. more ›

If you were wondering how recent converts to Judaism dealt with Christmas, look no further than this NY Times article. One said, "Everything just feels more tangible and in my face — I notice the angels when I walk down Fifth Avenue and feel a bit more disconnected. When I walked down Broadway, it felt like every pine tree had this strong scent, that they had just cut them. I had this moment of thinking, 'wow, this is not a part of me anymore."' But another reasoned, "I think it would be harder if I lived in Colombia, where everyone is doing Christmas. At least here, there is some kind of diversity. It is not as though everyone celebrates Christmas." more ›

Two days after being tackled by a woman inside St. Peter's Basilica before Christmas Eve mass, Pope Benedict XVI "appeared in good shape" as he spoke to followers from a window at the Vatican today. However, the Vatican is deciding whether or not to press charges against the young woman and will be reviewing its papal security. more ›

The two EMTs accused of refusing to aid a dying pregnant woman while they bought breakfast told investigators that they couldn't treat the woman because of "protocol, training and regulations," according to the Post. Medics Melissa Jackson and Jason Green — who are dating — allegedly told employees at a Downtown Brooklyn Au Bon Pain to "call 911" instead of taking a look at Eutisha Revee Rennix, who collapsed in the eatery's backroom and died with her unborn child later that day. more ›

As hardhats disassembled scaffolding on an Eighth Avenue high-rise on Thursday, a construction worker fell eight stories when a plank collapsed beneath him. Workers had just finished façade repairs on the 20-story building at the corner of 38th Street when a section of scaffolding collapsed on the 16th floor at around 2:15 pm, according to the Daily News. Jose Paulino, 29, plummeted all the way to the eighth floor, bumping off of metal support beams on the way down, which slowed his fall. more ›

Evidence of where culture is taking us— from the Post: "One homeless man stabbed another outside a Fifth Avenue church last night, but kids in the passing Christmas crowd of tourists and hardened New Yorkers were hardly traumatized, one mom said. 'Their mommy watches a lot of murder shows and 'CSI,' so they're used to it,' Dania Concos said of her children, who were with her when the argument escalated in front of St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 54th Street at 6:45 p.m." Though the victim was stabbed in the chest, arm and face, his injuries are not considered life-threatening. more ›

It doesn't seem like political pressure or security concerns will stop the trials of five suspected terrorists from taking place in New York — but the city's prejudiced residents might. The lawyers representing Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the four other suspected 9/11 plotters might ask a judge to relocate the trial, according to the Times. more ›

Playing on Christmas for the first time since 2001, the Knicks put up a decent effort but still lost to the Heat, 93-87. Dywane Wade proved too much to handle, pouring in 30 points and 19 rebounds. With the Heat in red and the Knicks in green, this game had a decided holiday feel. Too bad the Knicks couldn't join in the holiday cheer. They struggled, scoring only 31 points combined in the second and third quarters. Going 5-of-28 for the game from beyond the arc didn't help matters. New York, which has now played 45 times on Christmas Day, is now 8-4 in the month of December. more ›

Sigh: Apparently a passenger aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit tried to set off an explosive as the plane was landing. ABC News reports, "Federal officials and police are interviewing a Nigerian man, who allegedly tried to 'explode' a powdery substance...injuring himself and two other passengers." more ›

On Wednesday, it was reported that Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff was in the medical facility at a federal prison in Butner, NC—and one TV station heard that Madoff's injuries were consistent with an assault. However, the Bureau of Prisons said he was being treated for dizziness and hypertension. more ›

The body of a 15-year-old girl, who was mailing a letter, was found outside a Bronxville church on Wednesday morning. At this point, police suspect Mihoko Fukuzawa slipped and died of internal bleeding—Police Chief Christopher Satriale said, "We don't believe it was an attack"—but they are seeking a bicyclist seen in a surveillance video. more ›

Is this what potential jurors for John Gotti Jr.'s trial were worried about? Apparently the Deadlock Don—the Teflon Don's son is free on $2 million bail after a fourth mistrial—has invited the jurors for Christmas dinner! In case the offer wasn't already tempting, Gotti told the Daily News, "I'm cooking dinner here." Of course, there are some technicalities. Like how Gotti doesn't even know who the jurors are: "My door's open if they want to come. But we don't even know who they are. It was an anonymous jury." more ›

The NY Times weekend's snow storm makes this a white Christmas. Of course there is debate. more ›

The Post reports that Tishman Speyer "failed to get a $1.5 billion Christmas bailout they had hoped to collect from Uncle Sam...to cover a cash shortfall" on Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village. In October, the state's highest court ruled that Tishman improperly charged market rates on previously rent-stabilized apartments while getting tax subsidies. The Post adds, "As of last month, the owners had just $6.75 million left in reserves for StuyTown, according to credit rating agency RealPoint. That isn't enough even to cover December's costs, which include more than 6 percent interest on a $3 billion loan." The complex has 11,000 apartments. more ›

Yesterday, a New Jersey father received custody of his nine-year-old son, after a protracted custody fight with Brazilian authorities that eventually involved President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. David Goldman of Tinton Falls, NJ and son Sean arrived in Florida last night via a NBC News chartered plane; Goldman released a statement saying, "It is now time for our new beginning, the rebirth of our family at such a special time of the year." more ›

Last night, at the 21st Street Queensbridge F station in Queens, police say that a woman who was being harassed and followed by a group of men ultimately fatally stabbed one of the men before escaping on an F train. An MTA employee who saw the men told the Daily News, "Seven or eight of them were chasing the woman." more ›

It's turns out the woman who tackled Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the aisle of St. Peter's Basilica for Christmas Eve mass is the same woman who tried to approach him last year. The NY Times reports that, according to the Vatican, "Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss and Italian citizen with a history of mental problems...tried to leap at the pope after Midnight Mass last year, before security guards stopped her." This year, she was successful, leaping over barriers to the shocked gasps of others gathered: more ›

A Canadian town is under siege from Christmas-light-loving squirrels. According to the CBC, the town of Fredericton has tried to fight back by using larger bulbs, but town group general manager Bruce McCormack said, "Well, I think it's been four years now that we've tried to keep the downtown lit with LED lights, and it seems to be a losing battle... The squirrels, I think, are getting the better of us. They seem to be very, very hungry and they like plastic and they like the LED lights and that's all. We just can't fight them anymore." But he admitted, "It's fun to watch the squirrels. They'll come out … and they go up and they perch themselves in that tree and they gnaw away at the lights — but not the red ones." more ›

Early yesterday morning, a driver discovered a body wrapped in plastic under his car in the Greenwood Heights (or Sunset Park) section of Brooklyn. Ashraf Ali told the Post, "My friend looked out of the car and saw a leg sticking out. I thought he was joking." more ›

Today is Christmas, which means pretty much everything is closed (well, movie theaters are open) —the stock market, schools, and post offices (the main branch on Eighth Avenue at 32nd Street's self-service kiosks are open, but there's no mail service)—with mass transit running on Sunday or holiday schedules, no sanitation pickups, and Sunday parking rules in effect. So, try to relax! more ›

During Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI was tackled by a woman who jumped a barrier. The pope was apparently unhurt, though shaken.The NY Times reports, per a Vatican spokesman, "the pope quickly got back on his feet and celebrated Mass before thousands of people, urging them in his homily to become 'truly vigilant people.' Television images showed a woman in red leap toward Benedict as he began to walk up the central aisle, as the police and bodyguards scrambled to the aide of the 82-year-old pope." more ›

The state is considering authorizing drilling for natural gas on private land within the 2,000- square-mile Catskills watershed that provides drinking water to millions of NYC residents. Drilling could pump $1 billion into the state economy, but there's a bit of downside: It could leak toxic chemicals into drinking water, causing unknown health risks, according to a report by the city Department of Environmental Protection. That is, unless we build a $10 billion filtration plant and spend $100 million a year to run it! more ›

What do you do when you find a troupe of stray cats living outside your apartment building? There's currently a debate going on in Queens over how to handle the hundreds of feral cats that have set up shop at Ravenswood, a 31-building complex on the Astoria/LIC border. more ›

After years of legal wrangling, developer Bruce Ratner finally closed on the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards project—which involved the state, city, MTA, and other agencies—in downtown Brooklyn. Ratner said in a press release, "Six years after we announced our plan for Atlantic Yards we are very pleased to be closing on the project with our public partners. Today’s closing represents a vital step forward for New York City, one that is all the more important because of the economic challenges our City faces. The jobs we are creating today, as we set forth on the arena and one of the boldest affordable housing initiatives in our City’s history, will create a new dynamic center in this wonderful borough.” more ›

Former president Jimmy Carter sent an "open letter to the Jewish community" via the Jewish Telegraphic Agency earlier this week. In it, he apologized for his past statements criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Here's the letter, "An open letter to the Jewish community at the season of Chanukah from former President Jimmy Carter: The time of Chanukah and the Christian holidays presents an occasion for reflection on the past and for looking to the future. In that vein, I wish to share some thoughts with you about the State of Israel and the Middle East..." more ›

While the naming of three blocks in Queens after police shooting victim Sean Bell is scheduled to take place next month, apparently that's not soon enough for some community activists. The City Council approved the street naming earlier this week, but, according to the Post, Rev. Omar Wilks said, "We are here to say that as a community who loved Sean Bell, who struggled, who protested ... for Sean Bell, we're not going to wait for the mayor to sign off on his approval. The community, we are going to take charge and the community's going to put a street name up for Sean Bell." Mayor Bloomberg has said he will sign "Sean Bell Way" into effect; the Post adds that a mayoral spokesman "said it is illegal to rename a street without city approval." more ›

Earlier this year it was reported that 40-year-old Dwight Newton had siphoned $620K into his bank account, from his place of employment, the Brooklyn Museum. The Daily News has an update on the former museum manager, who admitted yesterday that he stole the money by cutting checks for faux employees. more ›

The co-owner of a big newish ping pong club on 23rd Street has been having an affair with Susan Sarandon, sources told Page Six and Gawker several weeks ago. As you may know, a publicist for Sarandon announced yesterday that Sarandon "and her partner of 23 years, actor Tim Robbins, have announced that they separated over the summer." Sarandon is a financial backer in ping pong club SPiN New York, and rumor has it that 31-year-old co-owner Jonathan Bricklin is her lover. more ›

After allegedly responding to an Au Bon Pain employee's pleas to help a dying coworker with, "We're on our break, so there's nothing we can do," an EMT placed a call to her dispatcher to report a woman with "difficulty breathing." But according to a source who's heard a recording of the call, EMT Melisa Jackson was more concerned with covering her ass than getting help for pregnant 25-year-old Eutisha Revee Rennix. "Don't put my name in it!" Jackson allegedly told the dispatcher. more ›

Ponzi scheme Bernard Madoff is now in a medical facility at the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina, where he is currently serving a 150-year prison sentence for his multi-billion dollar fraud. And a local TV station hears that his injuries were "consistent with an assault." more ›

During her first interview since taking a stray bullet to the skull in November, 16-year-old Vada Vasquez called attention to the paramedics who saved her life, telling the Daily News she was "just really happy" someone was holding her hand as she was lying on the sidewalk with blood pouring out of her head. That someone was paramedic Pierre Ramos, and the News tracked him down yesterday for an interview made even more heartwarming in light of this week's other story, of EMTs who allegedly turned their back on a dying woman. more ›

As many as 4,500 women who worked as strippers at the Rick's Cabaret on West 33rd Street have been given the green light to proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the club. The lawsuit alleges that Rick's, a publicly traded company comprised of 19 adult nightclubs, paid strippers less than minimum wages for taking off their clothes and even charged them for using the facilities. In a press release titled "XXX-Mas Comes Early for New York Strippers," attorney E. Michelle Drake slammed the club with brio: more ›

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, there were worries that New York City would no longer be attractive as a place to live, but now a study from the city's Independent Budget Office finds that there was "no exodus." The Daily News reports, "After a brief spike in New Yorkers fleeing town in 2001, the pace of departures slowed... And more taxpaying newcomers have arrived from outside the city in each year since the terrorist attacks than in the years leading up to them." The IBO's deputy director George Sweeting said, "There hasn't been a long-lasting negative effect." more ›

Now Bronx straphangers know how much longer to boogie down on subway platforms at five stations along the Pelham 6 Line. The MTA has been tweaking the countdown clocks at stations along the L line for about two years now, and the authority plans to roll out the boards at 152 stations on the numbered lines by early 2011. The stations blessed with the slick new "Public Address Customer Information Screens" [PA/CIS] are Brook Ave, Cypress Ave, E.143rd St-St. Mary’s St, E.149th St and Longwood Ave. more ›

After a three-year-old girl was found dead, face down in a snow bank, outside a Weeksville apartment building, the superintendent told WCBS 2 "that a video camera captured pictures of the little girl alone on the apartment complex's rooftop, without shoes, wandering toward the edge." The police believe Kyrah Martin's death was accidental, but the Daily News reports the Department of Homeless Services is investigating. more ›

A day after the City Council approved to rezone a mostly industrial stretch of land on the border of Williamsburg, Bushwick and Bedford Stuyvessant, a State Supreme Court judge ordered an injunction. According to CityRoom, "It came in response to a lawsuit the lawyers filed on Tuesday, claiming, among other things, that the process that led to the rezoning excluded and discriminated against minority groups around the Broadway Triangle site, including blacks and Latinos, violating the Constitution and federal and state civil rights laws." Now any work on the site will have to wait until a hearing in March. more ›

After vowing to use every procedural roadblock at their disposal to delay a final vote on the health care overhaul bill, Senate Republicans finally gave up and headed home for Christmas, hopefully in time to beat the blizzard spanking middle America. With Vice President Joe Biden presiding over the Senate, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (read it here) passed with a 60-39 vote along party lines this morning. Beginning at 7:05 a.m., Senators began casting their aye or nay votes, and when Biden came to ailing Robert Byrd, the 92-year-old Democrat from West Virginia, he said, "Mr. President, this is for my friend Ted Kennedy. Aye!" more ›

Yesterday, low voltage readings on train tracks in NJ forced Amtrak and NJ Transit to suspend service for three hours during the morning rush hour on a pre-Christmas Eve travel day. According to the NY Times, "The partial shutdown began about 8:30 a.m., disrupting an estimated 100 trains — about 20 from Amtrak and about 80 from New Jersey Transit." Though service was back up by noon, there were delays of 60-90 minutes in the late afternoon. more ›

Kids can be so cruel. And savage and bloodthirsty! Six teens and one tween were recently arrested in Englewood, New Jersey, where a 13-year-old was beaten so brutally that he needs reconstructive surgery to his face to correct several broken bones, and may lose his sight. The horrible assault happened on Friday as eighth grade honor student David Muneton was walking home from school. His attackers (the youngest one age 12) allegedly jumped him as revenge for an earlier incident, in which Muneton accidentally hit a girl with a basketball. more ›

• Rangers 4, Panthers 1: Marian Gaborik scores? What else is new? He now has 26, still tops in the NHL. Vinny Prospal's two goals, now those were a surprise. He hadn't scored in 14 games. Chris Drury added the Rangers' first goal as the Blueshirts rolled to their fourth straight win. What's gotten into them? This is the best streak the Rangers have been on since they won seven straight after losing their first game. They play the Islanders for the third time in 11 days on Saturday.
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The father of two young girls whose mother was gunned down in an execution-style killing in front of them is demanding custody of the kids. Since an unknown gunman murdered 30-year-old Lakisha Scriven earlier this month, her daughters Alanna, 8, and Aleila, 5, have been staying with their grandmother. But their 37-year-old father Clarence White — who had moved out of Scriven's house before the killing after disputes and threats — wants his kids back. His attorney claims Scriven's mother illegally "absconded" with the children. "His rights as a father have been completely trampled on," the attorney told the Post. "We want the kids back where they belong; with their father for Christmas." more ›

Yesterday, former NYC mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani announced he won't run for Senate (or Governor) because his businesses—security consulting firm Giuliani and Partners and law practice Bracewell and Giuliani—are at "critical points". Specifically, he noted his consulting gig for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, reasoning at a press conference, "It would be hard running from Brazil... We have some very significant commitments for next year that would make it impossible for me to really run full-time... So that's the main reason." Yeah, forget that his (former?) BFF Bernie Kerik is headed to jail. more ›

A Crown Heights gas station manager fended off a crook on Tuesday and locked him inside his Utica Avenue convenience store until police showed up. At around 2 pm, Nick Ali was inside his Gulf station's glass-enclosed cashier's booth when he spotted a customer tossing cell phone chargers into a Burberry bag, according to the Daily News. "I came out of the booth. Usually that's a bad idea," said Ali, who purportedly told the perp: "I'm busting my a-- here 18 hours a day so you can rob me?" more ›

Recently unemployed New Yorkers took to the streets with shovels this week in hopes of turning the snowfall into a financial windfall. After a storm dumped more than 11 inches on New York, the city rallied emergency snow laborers who are paid $12 per hour "unbury fire hydrants, scrape crosswalks and create a curbside space where people can wait for the bus," according to the Times. more ›

Investigators claim that an administrator for New York University's chemistry department heisted $409,000 from the school through a phony invoice scam. John Runowicz, 47, is accused of "scavenging" through the trash outside of Warehouse Wines on Broadway — just one block from his office — and fishing out liquor receipts that he would use to request petty cash reimbursements from NYU for chemistry department expenditures. more ›

Sure, there was populist anger over the $165 million in bonuses that bailed-out firm AIG said it had to pay out to executives. And some of it was returned. But now it turns out that less than half of the $45 million AIG executives promised to give back has actually been returend. more ›

This is certainly not helping us get any happier. A Queens blogger reports that on December 18th a dog was removed from a private home in the borough and brought to a vet. He was living in a crawl space under a porch, and clearly has mange — in the video, he had been bathed twice already. Thank goodness this poor pup (nicknamed Justice) was saved, right? However, "a neighbor lady told the owner where the dog was and was threatened with jail by the owner of dog. She got scared and now the vet's hands are tied." more ›

Administrators at a Long Island school suspended a 10-year-old girl for bringing peppermint oil to class. A teacher's assistant at John Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack spotted fifth grader Sara Greiner offering friends a few drops of the cooking extract. "I told them it was just peppermint. You could put it in your water," she told ABC. "No one ever told me that peppermint oil was illegal." Greiner was sent to the principal's office and issued a one-day suspension. The school declined to explain why she was punished, but in a letter to Greinier's mother, Corrine Morton-Greiner, the principal wrote "[s]uch inappropriate and unacceptable behavior cannot and will not be tolerated." Greiner's mother is now fighting to remove the suspension from her daughter's permanent record. "If a child offers a quarter of their peanut and jelly sandwich to another student is that student going to be suspended? Where do we draw the line?" the mother asked. more ›

It's no shocker that the vast majority of marijuana arrests in NYC ensnare blacks and Latinos. But what's really incredible is how, um, high the number of pot arrests have risen during Mayor Bloomberg's first two terms. The lowest-level marijuana arrests rose 50 percent since Giuliani time, according to a recent study [pdf] by Harry Levine, a sociology professor at Queens College. Last year, the NYPD made more low-level pot arrests "than in the 12 years of Mayor Koch, plus the four years of Mayor Dinkins, plus the first two years of Mayor Giuliani" combined. And all this happened under the Mayor who famously told New York, "You bet I did [smoke pot], and I enjoyed it." more ›

Recently Governor Paterson did an interview with Eccorazzi... in which he came out in support of a ban on horse-drawn carriages! He told the site: “These animals are kept in stables that are too small, often they’re cold, they work long hours and they don’t have time off. That might sound like we’re talking about human beings, but like you and me, animals need time to rest. These horses are abused and really shouldn’t be trotting around in congested areas.” more ›

After countless delays and setbacks, all New Yorkers can agree that today marks a major accomplishment at Ground Zero. Earlier today, construction workers installed a Subway sandwich shop atop a crane that will rise alongside the Freedom Tower during construction. Builders hope the high-rise hoagie store will help hardhats work more efficiently by allowing them to purchase $5 footlongs without descending from the skyscraper. The Subway will be elevated higher and higher until it reaches the 105th floor — about equivalent to the height of the World Trade Center's Windows on the World restaurant. more ›

Police in South Brunswick, NJ say they have arrested three members of the "Grinch gang," a group suspected of over a dozen break-ins that "targeted computer gaming systems such as Play Stations and Wiis." According to 1010WINS, "Police say they got a break when a burglary victim's friend noticed his screen name still being used in an online game. Detectives obtained a communication data warrant and were able to trace the electronic footprint to a home in Burlington Township. A raid recovered the gaming system, and investigators were led to the teen suspects, who remain in custody." A fourth member of the gang is still at large. more ›

It's been just over a week since 33-year-old Brit-born Brooklynite, Solange Raulston, was killed on her bicycle after a truck, going in the same direction, sideswiped her. Her ghost bike (pictured) is now up in her memory, as activists fight to change what is the most dangerous intersection in North Brooklyn — McGuinness Blvd. at Nassau Ave. in Greenpoint. more ›

A state judge has again ordered Mayor Bloomberg to follow the city's land use review procedure and hold public hearing about his controversial plan to construct new sports fields on Randalls Island and rent them to 20 private schools. Under the Mayor's plan, private schools like Buckley, Chapin and Dalton would pay $45 million for exclusive access to a part of the new athletic facilities during peak after-school hours — a move that critics contend would turn public land into private land. more ›

A group of pugilists roughed up five off duty cops outside a Queens nightclub on Dec. 16. The officers allegedly got into a brawl in front of the Tropix Bar and Lounge at around 4 am after an officer flashed his badge to a bouncer in an attempt to get into the Queens Boulevard venue, which was closing for the night. A group of men outside the club began shouting at the cops — who had just left a housing police holiday party — and a fight broke out, according to the Daily News. more ›

After buying the old NY Times Building on West 43rd Street for $525 million in 2007, developer Lev Leviev hoped to renovate it and market it as a "first-class office building." But "Then the market collapsed. Layoffs prevailed." Now, the NY Times reports, "Now Mr. Leviev is back with a partner and a new plan to turn the 15-story building, where printing presses once churned out newspapers, into a glamorous three-decker sandwich, with a vertical mall that includes luxury shops on the lower floors, along with exhibition space and a stylish bowling alley and nightclub surrounded by seven restaurants. A high-end hotel with as many as 379 rooms would sit in the middle, and 26 penthouse condominiums on top." more ›

If you thought we had a lot of snow last weekend check out Atlanta. Seven billion billion billion inches! There should be quite a spectacle in the sky tonight when that column of snow smacks into the moon. more ›

A Queens man could face almost three years in jail after he was caught trying to smuggle a suitcase full of endangered fish from Malaysia to JFK. And Chee Thye Chaw, 47, probably would have gotten away with it too, if the airline hadn't lost his luggage. Chaw allegedly packed 16 live Bonytongues in plastic water bags inside a styrofoam-lined suitcase. The fish are highly sought-after and sell for $5,000 to $8,000 in Chinatown; some say the metallic-looking Bonytongues bring instant wealth and good luck. Like when you luck out and the airline loses your luggage! more ›

Richard Heene, the Colorado father whose quest for reality TV fame involved falsely claiming his son was adrift in a homemade balloon, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years probation. Thirty days of the 90 day sentence will be fulltime in jail, while the remaining 60 will be on work-release. A judge said Heene must start serving on January 11, "I will delay this until after the holiday in fairness mostly to his children." Heene apologized, "I'm very, very sorry. I apologize to all the rescue workers out there, the people who got involved," and wife Mayumi Heene will be sentenced later. They owe $42,000 related to authorities' expenses involved in tracking down the balloon. more ›

The EMTs accused of abandoning a dying pregnant woman in a Downtown Brooklyn cafe might face charges that could send them to prison. According to the Post, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office is considering charging Jason Green and Melissa Jackson with reckless-endangerment for telling employees to "call 911," instead of putting down their breakfast and providing aid to Eutisha Revee Rennix, 25, who was having trouble breathing in a back room on Dec. 9. Rennix and her baby both died at the hospital. more ›

Amtrak and NJ Transit service is suspended in and out of Penn Station, due to Amtrak electrical issues. PATH is cross honoring NJ Transit at West 33rd, Hoboken and Newark, but that's probably little comfort for holiday travelers. more ›

There haven't yet been any reports of police dispatched to JFK for crowd control today, so perhaps things are back to their normal level of infuriation. The Sunday snowstorm really created a nightmare for holiday travelers, some of whom are still stuck at the airport! Melissa Ferber, a 29-year-old schoolteacher from Buffalo, has been at JFK since Saturday, when her connecting flight to Fort Myers, Florida was canceled. She's been sleeping on the airport floor ever since, and the stalemate seems to have driven her so completely mad that she's just finally given up and accepted her lot in life. more ›

Watch out for those ATM skimmers! The Post reports, "Cops are looking for two high-tech thieves who hacked into at least four people's bank accounts after installing a 'skimmer' at an East Village ATM. The bandits on Dec. 9 placed the device -- which grabs electronic info off bank cards -- over the card-reader slot at a Bank of America cash machine on Lafayette Street, police said. The thieves used the info to clone bank cards and withdraw customers' cash. It wasn't clear how much money was looted." more ›

The body of a three-year-old girl was found in the snow outside her family's home in the Weeksville section of Brooklyn early this morning. According to WABC 7, "Kyrah Martin was found in a snow drift" on Park Place around 1:15 a.m, "face down in the snow in the 20 degree temperatures" and with injuries that looked like she fell. The child was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital. Cops went door-to-door in the building and found her parents, who apparently didn't realize their daughter wasn't at home. WCBS 2 reports that investigators are determining whether the toddler did fall. more ›

Thieves with screwdrivers broke into a Midwood home, locked two children and a housekeeper in the bathroom, and stole the family's 2010 Ferrari, according to police. The perps broke into the house — which is near East Seventh Street and Quentin Road — through a side door yesterday at around 7 pm and encountered a 12-year-old girl doing homework in the basement. "My sister thought they were firemen, and she led them to me," 17-year-old victim Isaac Douek told the Daily News. more ›

Senator Chuck Schumer may feel more at home riding his bike around Prospect Park and chilling with Jay-Z at the Pool Parties, but when it comes to the people's business, he's ready to grab a gun and kill some pheasants. This photo was taken during a recent hunting trip with Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who ended up as the Senate's last holdout on the health care bill. Of course, both men swear they didn't talk business during their male bonding weekend, but that's exactly what Dick Cheney and Antonin Scalia claimed about their little hunting trip in 2004, weeks after the Supreme Court decided to hear the Sierra Club's lawsuit against Cheney. more ›

Last night, an Amber Alert was issued for 20-month-old Giavonna Vizard, who was last seen in her family's Bronx home with her 13-year-old aunt. But a few hours later, the alert was cancelled, because the baby was found in Queens, as was aunt Lisa Keitt, who was taken into custody. Relatives suspect that the teen took the baby to get back at them for calling the cops. The baby's father Cyrus Smith said, "She ran away from a [group] program yesterday. She came to our door. We called the cops. She showed up again today with three friends." more ›

Spoiler alert! He loses. So, back to the beginning... a few years ago there was an epic Christie's auction that catered to the world's most crazed fans: Trekkies. Items on the block went for much more than estimated, and the History Channel even streamed the auction action live. more ›

The Bronx teen who was caught her in the crossfire of a gang shooting is on the mend and home for Christmas, after spending over a month in the hospital. 16-year-old Vada Vasquez was waiting for a bus with a friend on November 16th when she got caught in the line of fire between a baby-faced shooter and his intended target. The bullet entered her brain and she was kept in medically-induced coma for weeks. But now Vasquez is on the mend, and yesterday she spoke for the first time about the shooting: more ›

Break up the Knicks! They've won seven of nine after taking down the Bulls, 88-81, at the Garden on Tuesday. How important was David Lee? The Knicks had 49 rebounds, and Lee had 21 of them. He also had 18 points. Al Harrington led New York with 20 off the bench. None of that would have mattered had the Knicks succeeded in blowing a 22-point lead, which they almost did. Chicago cut it to one with less than two minutes to go. With the Knicks' record at 11-17, things are looking bad for Utah, which has New York's first-round draft pick in 2010. The Knicks, 8-3 in December, have two days off before a Christmas matinee against the Heat. more ›

The weekend's big storm hit Long Island hard, giving the region an official blizzard while some towns record snowfall (Upton had 26 inches). While some people couldn't navigate some roads because of "tired" snow plow drivers, the saga of 150 Long Island Rail Road passengers takes the cake. more ›

Today, the Wall Street Journal reported, "The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing a computer-security breach targeting Citigroup Inc. that resulted in a theft of tens of millions of dollars by computer hackers who appear linked to a Russian cyber gang, according to government officials." And the attack allegedly focused on Citibank. more ›

The plan to turn a 26-acre rail yard in the West 30s into a residential and commercial neighborhood won a major victory yesterday when City Council approved a rezoning for a significant portion of the property, according to the Times. The Council voted in favor of the plan after coming to a consensus with developers Related Companies and Goldman Sachs — who hope to construct more than 5,000 apartments in eight high-rises between 11th and 12th avenues and 30th and 33rd streets — about the amount of new and maintained affordable housing in and around the Hudson Yards development. more ›

It's not just unhinged Andrea Peyser at the NY Post who hates the Broadway pedestrian plazas; Steve Cuozzo at the NY Post hates 'em, too! As the Bloomberg administration gets ready to decide whether or not to keep these blocks of Broadway car-free, the tabloid is going all out to turn the masses against the plazas. Thus Sprach Cuozzo: more ›

Sad news from Sesame Street: actress Alaina Reed-Amini, known for her long-running role on the series as Olivia Robinson, has died after losing her battle with breast cancer. She was 63 years old and in Santa Monica at the time of her death. Reed-Amini joined the Sesame Street gang in 1976 (later you knew her as Rose Lee Holloway on 227) and stayed through 1988; on the show she played the kid sister of Gordon, and sung plenty of tunes... more ›

City Council approved a residential rezoning plan for the so-called Broadway Triangle — a largely industrial swath of land on the border of Williamsburg, Bushwick and Bedford Stuyvessant where developmental interests have pitted neighborhoods, religious groups, and ethnic groups against each other. The Council voted 36 to 10 with four abstentions in favor of the rezoning, which will allow the construction of low-rise buildings containing 1,851 units of housing, more than 800 for people with low and moderate incomes. Courier Life reporter Aaron Short captures some of the drama from inside City Hall on his blog. more ›

During planning for the Ground Zero redevelopment, the Signature Theatre, which devotes an entire season of productions to one playwright, was to have been one of the anchor arts organizations at the WTC site. That idea was nixed in 2007, and now the company, whose lease at 555 West 42nd Street expires in 2001, has finally settled on a new home. Today the Bloomberg administration announced a $25 million contribution to the project, part of an $800 million, 59-story, residential building and hotel on 42nd Street and 10th Avenue being built by Related Companies. more ›

Like Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, Inwood Hill Park has long been known as a popular spot for Santeria animal sacrifices. Joggers have reported seeing mutilated chickens tied to trees, and one assistant Parks Department gardener recently came forward to share her fun story about picking up animal remains in the park. These include decapitated turtles and roosters, plus a cow’s heart with magnets and a picture of a boy and a girl tied around it. Awww. Here's a slideshow of some of what she's found; it's really not as gross as it sounds, but probably not the best lunch accompaniment: more ›

Following the death of 32-year-old actress Brittany Murphy, the LAPD is now investigating if drugs had anything to do with her cardiac arrest, saying the investigation is open until toxicology reports are available. Other noteworthy tidbits from the rags: in her final interview she admitted to being "too skinny;" she had a will leaving her estate to her mother; husband Simon Monjack is totally sketchy (the Post says "he's the dubious, debt-riddled dude widely known as 'Conjack'"!). Foul play isn't suspected, but TMZ has a frighteningly long list of prescription meds found on her nightstand, and a forensic pathologist told the Post, "I bet you that this young lady tragically died in the same way that Michael Jackson did, and Anna Nicole Smith, and her son, Daniel Smith, and Heath Ledger — a combination of drugs." more ›

While former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani will make an official announcement that he's not running for office next year during an appearance with NY State gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio, he did speak with WABC 7's Lisa Colagrassi about why he wasn't running. more ›

A New Hampshire jury found Ivonne Hernandez guilty of second-degree murder for running over a man who had mocked her for rooting for the Yankees last May. After a fight erupted in a bar in Nashua, NH — which is reportedly "Red Sox country" — a group of Sox fans followed the 45-year-old woman outside and started insulting the Yankees decal on her car and chanting "Yankees suck!" Hernandez then got into her 1997 Dodge Intrepid and drove it into the crowd, killing 29-year-old Matthew Beaudoin. more ›

Devon Hurd — the sexting, stalking creeper who has been harassing both singer Ashanti and her mother (and other family members) — is, surprise, crazy! At least, according to an alternate juror on the case, who told the NY Post, "He clearly seemed delusional. I have no idea what that jury is going to do, but I hope they don't convict." To convict 31-year-old, they'll need to prove he had intent to harrass... but it's possible he's "too kooky to convict," as the paper says. more ›

Opponents of the proposal to rename a three-block stretch of Liverpool Street after Sean Bell — a 23-year-old who was killed by police in a barrage of bullets on his wedding day — continued to lash out against the plan even after City Council voted overwhelmingly to approve it yesterday. "A City Council that places a man who nearly ran over police officers in the same category as heroes who risk their lives for us all every day needs to no longer have the authority to do street renamings," said Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-Staten Island), who according to the Post voted early in the meeting and left in protest. more ›

The Bronx Swamp has finally been drained! The abandoned below-grade rail line that Nate Kensinger photographed earlier this year in all its glowing green goodness, was causing a stink in the neighborhood — and after the landowners were unable to be found, the city took on the task of cleaning it up. more ›

Yesterday, Justice A. Kirke Bartley sentenced Anthony Marshall to one to three years in prison, for crimes related to stealing the fortune of his mother, the late philanthropist Brooke Astor. Bartley said, "It is a paradox to me that such abundance has led to such incredible sadness. What would [Brooke Artor] say if she were here? Would she blanch at the spectacle?" more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] There's probably some sort of holiday travel nightmare situation unfolding everywhere today, but we're hearing that the Delta terminal at JFK airport is particularly hellish. A report over the newswire bleats: "LARGE UNRULY CROWD DELTA TERMINAL WEST GATE #12. PAPD UNITS ON SCENE REQUESTING ADD'L UNITS." Who'll be tased for Christmas? Twitter user Joel Clare says, "Whoa, JFK is a NUT HOUSE! If you are flying Delta out of JFK today expect 1.5+hours for the security line." more ›

Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg both criticized the Senate health care reform bill yesterday, because they say the bill gives goodies and funding to states that currently offer weak assistance to poor sick people, while penalizing New York. "We are in a sense being punished for our own charity," Paterson told reporters. The Governor is reportedly upset that states like Massachusetts and Vermont got last-minute deals that erase their extra costs, and other states whose senators were holdouts got cash incentives. Nebraska, for instance, will have 100% of its Medicaid costs covered by the Senate bill, while New York will continue to cover half on its own. more ›

From the Daily News: "Nigel Tetteh of the Bronx bought clothes at the flagship Macy's store for his dad. He was headed for nearby Victoria's Secret and JCPenney to hunt for gifts for his girlfriend - even though she had accidentally locked him out of his apartment. 'I'm upset at her, but I won't let Christmas go by without getting her something,' said Tetteh, 24." more ›

Students across the city left school early yesterday in a walk-out to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan to stop giving students free Metrocards. The youngsters left school at 2 pm and gathered in front of the MTA's headquarters to demand that the agency find a way to fill its $400 million budget shortfall that won't force students to pay to commute to city schools. more ›

Some 2 million pets and other animals travel by commercial airline each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. And considering how much airlines charge for the service, it all amounts to big business for the industry. But how much should it cost to take your pet with you on a flight? One area woman is up in arms after realizing that her cat's ticket to fly from New York to Virginia actually cost more than her own ticket! more ›

We are just furious about being dubbed the unhappiest people in the nation. Not sad... just really really angry. Because we're totally effing happy, but you guys added up the scores wrong or something. Right? Today the NY Times takes on the unwanted title, and even gets an apology out of one of the professors who published the study in Science magazine. more ›

Darth Vader finds investors' lack of faith disturbing. So today the Sith Lord made a personal appearance at the New York Stock Exchange to boost morale. Flanked by Storm Troopers, Lord Vader rang the opening bell while gazing ominously out upon the cowering traders. Great, just what Wall Street needs: more exposure to the dark power of the force. The market better be bullish today, or these guys can expect to find breathing a little difficult at closing bell. more ›

Crime scenes: They're the place to be! But just like Bungalow 8 and The Beatrice Inn, once too many hangers-on start mobbing the place, it's so over. One NYPD supervisor tells the Daily News that too many uninvited cops are ruining the, um, scene: "Too many guys want to show up just to be seen." So the NYPD has introduced flashy new crime scene tape to try and keep out the rabble. Fine. This place is dead, anyway. more ›

The two paramedics accused of refusing to help a pregnant woman who was having a fatal seizure have been suspended without pay. Jason Green, 32, and Melissa Jackson, 23, were suspended for allegedly telling employees in a Downtown Brooklyn café to "call 911" instead of aiding 25-year-old Eutisha Revee Rennix, who was six months pregnant when she collapsed on Dec. 9. more ›

While electric shocks reaching through the sidewalk pavement can happen during any season — a Post reporter's dog died in June 2007, another shocked in August — most incidents take place during the winter months. This is because wet and salt-covered sidewalks can conduct stray electricity from underground utilities. more ›

Yesterday a five-alarm blaze that damaged a strip of stores in the Norwood section of the Bronx has residents and business owners—not to mention fire department officials— suspicious. The fire, on East 204th Street near Bainbridge Avenue, is the second in two months for the neighborhood—a five-alarm fire on Bainbridge near East 204th Street also destroyed businesses. One resident told WABC 7, "The first time it was the bakery and now again, it doesn't make sense." more ›

NY1 reports that State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found "New York State has lost nearly $100 million in billing errors and waste in Medicaid. Among the mistakes auditors discovered was nearly $3 million in overpayments, including payments for services such as tooth cleaning for toothless patients. Another audit found the state Department of Health spent $28 million on Medicaid payments for residents of other states." And we wonder why we're in a budget crisis! more ›

After months of speculation, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani won't be running for office next year. He's expected to announce that he won't run for Senate against junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand when he endorses former Senate candidate Rick Lazio's bid for Governor! more ›

City Council voted to override Mayor Bloomberg's veto of a bill that will give drivers a five-minute grace period at certain metered parking spots. Last month, Council voted 47-2 to pass the bill, which will prevent ticketing agents from issuing violations until five minutes after alternate side parking regulations take effect and five minutes after MuniMeters run out. Supporters have said the proposal will help eliminate "gotcha" ticketing, while opponents including the Mayor say it will lead to "chaos and enormous increases in the number of contested tickets." more ›

• Giants 45, Redskins 12: This game ended when the Giants took the kickoff and went on a 16-play scoring drive that took nine minutes and 13 seconds. They needed a win, and they got one by playing like they did at the beginning of the season, which, coincidentally, is when they played the easy part of their schedule. Eli Manning threw for three scores, and Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for two more -- the first two of the game. The Giants still trail the Cowboys and Packers for the wild-card playoff berths in the NFC, but they have a decent shot at catching them. New York finishes against Carolina at home and then at Minnesota. It needs two wins and help, but it could get all three.
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The battle for Worst Post Office in the Five Boroughs continues... and the NY Times hints that it may just be the Kensington branch in Brooklyn. They report that even during the busy holiday season, no holiday cheer can be found; one customer saying, “The people who work here are awful to people.” Their solution, head to the massive James A. Farley Post Office, where allegedly the average wait time is around two minutes, and there's even a "well-meaning supervisor striding around to see how he could help." The paper found customers there from Brooklyn and Queens who travel just to get efficient service... but has anyone checked for rats? more ›

Air travelers, here's something to rejoice: The federal Department of Transportation is telling airlines that domestic passengers can only be stranded on tarmacs for three hours. According to the AP, "Under the new regulations, airlines operating domestic flights will be able only to keep passengers on board for three hours before they must be allowed to disembark a delayed flight..." more ›

City Council overwhelmingly approved a plan to rename the street where police shot and killed Sean Bell, voting 41-7 (with two abstentions) in favor of the proposal, according to a Council insider. The decision clears the way for converting a three-block-long Queens strip into "Sean Bell Way" to honor the 23-year-old who died in a salvo of police bullets on the day of his wedding. more ›

Following the NYPD shooting of Sean Bell in November 2006, the NYCLU filed a Freedom of Information request with the NYPD, asking for the NYPD’s annual statistical reports on police shootings from 1996 through 2006, as well as data about the race of civilians shot at by police. In response, the NYPD released some annual statistical reports, but it denied the NYCLU’s request for full racial data. A lawsuit ensued, and now a judge has ruled that the NYPD can't withhold the data, which will show the racial breakdown of people shot at but not struck by cops. more ›

Carlos Pellecier has been a doorman for three decades, and his confessional to the Daily News makes it seems like a pretty sweet gig, especially this time of year. Besides the cash and sweaters and leather jackets he's received, this one time a guy asked him to move his car, and when Pellecier came back with the keys, the guy gave him the car. But things have changed a bit since he started at age 21. "I would talk to some tenants about what club was hot and where we would be hanging out later," says Pellecier. "But now that I'm almost 50 years old, it's all about the best deal at CVS and trading coupons for Bengay." more ›

In February, the city released literally awesome photos of a massive cutter head for a 1000-ton tunnel boring machine, as it was lowered into a "launch chamber" hole near the intersection of 25th Street and 11th Avenue. The tunnel boring machine, or TBM, has been working its way east since then, as part of a $2.1 billion project to extend the 7 subway line from Times Square to the Hudson Yards. Now the mayor's office has dropped this fresh video of the TBM cutter head breaking through the 34th Street Station Cavern Wall. The fun starts at the 30 second mark, and climaxes when [SPOILER!] triumphant workers crawl through the cutter head from the other side: more ›

The city's new Fire Department commissioner is also the agency's highest-ranking uniformed officer. Mayor Bloomberg selected FDNY Chief Salvatore Cassano — who has 40 years of departmental experience and numerous citations for bravery — to replace retiring Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. more ›

Police have linked a bloody handgun found inside a trashcan with last week's Upper West Side triple homicide — but they haven't been able to conclude how it got there. Investigators revealed yesterday that they found a .380-caliber Beretta between garbage bags about 20-feet from the place where Hector Quinones fell to his death after shooting Carlos Rodriguez Sr., Carlos Rodriguez Jr. and stabbing 87-year-old Fernando Gonzales in a dispute over drugs. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg has implemented a controversial report card system for the city's teachers and schools and he's pushing restaurants to display their cleanliness grades on their windows — but he has no interest in grading the president. As a guest on CNN's "State of the Union" yesterday, the Mayor declined to issue a letter grade to President Obama. "I'd give him a pretty high grade," he said, adding that "[f]or a new president, he's in a very tough time" with issues including the war in Afghanistan, a "partisan," and the economy. more ›

It's a bad week for New York horse racing fans. First, cops nabbed an 18-year-old suspected of having sex with race horses at a Goshen track, now comes news that the Belmont Stakes might be called off because of the state's monetary woes. According to the Daily News, Governor Paterson and state legislators haven't been able to come to a consensus on a revitalization plan for the racetrack, which will run out of money "in the May-June timeframe," according Charles Hayward, president of the New York Racing Association. The race is scheduled for June 5. more ›

There are many different strategies for ridding your apartment of bed bugs. Experts recommend dry cleaning your clothes and keeping them in sealed plastic bags, and hiring an exterminator. But there's one radical method for battling the parasites that has the FDNY rather alarmed: Some bed bug victims are pouring gasoline or kerosene on their mattresses. The FDNY says that's not only ineffective, but also dangerous, because mattresses really shouldn't be flammable. Yet it appears that Astoria residents are not only gassing up their beds, but their bodies, too. more ›

Anthony Marshall, who was found guilty of grand larceny related to stealing from his late mother Brooke Astor's fortune, was sentenced to one to three years in prison today. The 85-year-old World War II veteran and former U.S. ambassador had been fighting a sentence that would require prison time, with his lawyers pointing out that his illnesses could mean he would die in prison. more ›

The wheelchair-bound man suspected in a gruesome slaying in an East Village shelter stabbed his disabled victim more than 20 times, according to the Daily News. After being teased about the size of his manhood, investigators believe that 51-year-old Felipe Rivera-Cruz stabbed 24-year-old Ronal Garcia four times in the chest, knocking the victim out of his wheelchair. Once on the ground, Cruz is accused of cutting the defenseless victim in the back and side in "excess of a dozen" more times with a folding knife, according to the criminal complaint. more ›

Terrible—WABC 7 reports that a pedestrian on a sidewalk at Park Avenue and East 50th Street was killed when a box truck jumped a curb. "A box truck that apparently made an illegal left from Park Avenue to East 50th Street collided with a pickup truck, which was northbound on Park Avenue. The force of the collision pushed the box truck onto the sidewalk, mowing down the victim. Neither driver was injured. Both were tested and came up negative for alcohol consumption. However, the box truck driver will likely be charged with driving with a suspended license." more ›

As the snow melts away, here are some photographs from around the city of how the white stuff stacked up. And thank you to the readers who contributed their lovely pictures! more ›

In a snafu with near-fatal consequences, Harlem Hospital erroneously informed a 54-year-old married woman that she had terminal HIV, hepatitis and herpes. Maria Osorio, 54, of Passaic, was at the hospital to take advantage of a $15 mammogram screening on Valentine's Day last February when a nurse offered a free instant cheek swab and blood test. The results came back positive for HIV, sending Osorio into a suicidal tailspin and nearly destroying her marriage of 37 years. "I wanted to throw myself on the subway tracks," she tells the Post. And her husband, Gabriel Lezcano, 60, who works as a janitor in New Jersey, was really in the dog house: more ›

Last month New York's top court ruled that the state can use eminent domain to force homeowners and businesses to sell their properties to make way for developer Bruce Ratner's embattled Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn. One victim of this ruling is Freddy's Bar & Backroom on Dean Street; the place is known for its monthly diorama competitions and was named one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine in 2006. In a noble attempt to save Freddy's from the wrecking ball, on Sunday afternoon patrons drank beer while handcuffed to the bar for about an hour. Your move, Ratner. more ›

For the past two weekends, bicycling advocates have planned high-profile demonstrations to protest the city's surprise removal of a 14-block stretch of bike lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg. But both rides have been severely undermined by inclement weather, much to the dismay of cyclists, media, and even the NYPD. Saturday night's snow foiled what was supposed to be a topless bike ride through the predominantly Hasidic community, some of whom are said to object to the presence of immodestly dressed women. Others, of course, are all for immodesty: "I want to see some boobs!" shouted one disappointed cop. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg called out two EMTs accused of refusing to aid a dying pregnant woman because they were on break. According to onlookers, the medics told employees at a Downtown Brooklyn Au Bon Pain to call 911 when cafe worker Eutisha Revee Rennix, 25, collapsed and began having a seizure on Dec. 9. "It was unconscionable, [an] outrage, pick some adjectives and stick it in," said the Mayor. "The Fire Department, including EMS, is responsible for life-saving, and their first responsibility is to do that … [b]ut even if they weren't part of the Fire Department sworn to protect all of us, just normal human beings, drop your coffee and go help somebody if they're dying. C'mon." more ›

At 1 a.m. this morning, with D.C. still digging out from an historic blizzard, the Senate voted 60-40 along party lines to cut off debate on an expansive health care legislation. After securing the vote of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, on Saturday, the Senate appears on track to pass the bill by Christmas Eve. At this point, Senate Republicans are fighting the bill with parliamentary tactics, demanding the full 30 hours of debate allowed under the rules after each filibuster is broken by a vote of 60 senators. Because the storm had severly delayed Amtrak, a government plane was sent to retrieve New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez. more ›

Citadel Broadcasting, which syndicates Don Imus's radio show, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. The NY Times reports it did so "after agreeing to turn over control of the company to its creditors in exchange for reducing its debt. The filing by the company, which owns 224 stations across the country... was not unexpected but does reflect the troubles plaguing the radio industry amid steep declines in advertising revenue and big debt loads." The AP adds that Citadel also owns KABC-AM in Los Angeles, WLS-AM in Chicago, WABC-AM and WPLJ-FM in New York and KGO-AM in San Francisco and that "Citadel's WABC is home to several syndicated hosts, including Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh, Joe Scarborough and Mark Levin." more ›

After Saturday-Sunday's big snow storm that hit the East Coast, folks are getting back to their routines as best they can. While the city's roads are relatively cleared up (and schools are open), hundreds of flights have been delayed or cancelled, causing some holiday travelers to panic, thanks to snow dumped at airports—14 inches at JFK, 11 inches at Newark and 9 inches at Laguardia. more ›

So what was the scene like inside of Macy's Herald Square yesterday, as their flagship store went up in flames? Okay, it was just a small fire, but it evacuated the store as thick, black smoke traveled throughout floors. One tourist said, "I don’t know why they didn’t immediately evacuate the [entire] building. I was very scared." more ›

Yesterday morning 32-year-old actress Brittany Murphy died after collapsing in the bathroom and suffering cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. The coroner official now says it "appears to be natural," and TMZ reports an autopsy will take place either today or tomorrow, despite her British screenwriter husband, Simon Monjack, objecting to one. more ›

Around 4:30 a.m., huge fire started in a store at East 204th Street near Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx—and it spread to neighboring stores. According to WABC 7, "Heavy flames shot through the roof of several of the businesses. The Foodtown supermarket, American Diner, and Bainbridge Dental Associates were all damaged by the flames." And WCBS 2 reports that there were no injuries but "The early morning wind may have complicated rescue efforts against the blaze." In October, a five-alarm fire damaged businesses on Bainbridge Avenue near East 204th Street for the 2nd time this year. more ›

• Atlanta 10 Jets 7: It was a brutal loss and responsibility for it goes to the field goal team. Three separate times, New York had the chance to kick an easily makeable field goal and three separate times they failed to convert. Amazingly, there were three different reasons for those failures. more ›

Photos via Rich_Rare and ShallowSeas Twitters more ›

For the third-consecutive week the Giants face a NFC East opponent in a huge game. With Dallas’ victory over New Orleans Saturday Night, the Giants will probably have to win their last three games to have any shot at the playoffs. more ›

As state legislators prepare to face the worsening financial situation in Albany, Mayor Bloomberg warned that budget cuts from could make life particularly miserable for New York City residents. "We're just going to have to suffer," he said on his WOR radio show. Following his warning yesterday that the state might cut even funding for the MTA as it attempts to plug a budget deficit of about $10 billion before the April 1 deadline, the Mayor warned that that cuts could be widespread, according to the Post. He also shared these less-than-encouraging words: "If they start taking it out on us, and disproportionately on us versus the rest of the state ... then we're in big trouble." more ›

A day after investigators revealed they hadn't found the gun used in the grisly killings that rocked the Upper West Side last week, police recovered a bloody handgun near the Amsterdam Avenue crime scene. But the .380-caliber Beretta that police discovered was wedged between two trash bags in a garbage can about half a block from the place where the suspected gunman fell to his death from a fire escape, raising questions about how the firearm turned out in the garbage can and who put it there. more ›

The city's first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station has opened in Red Hook, Inhabitat reports. It's the work of Beautiful Earth Group, a sustainable energy company, and located on an industrial lot by their offices. This baby's completely off the grid, built out of recycled steel shipping containers, and powered solely by 235 watt photovoltaic panels. The Beautiful Earth Group's currently using it to charge their 100% electric BMW MINI E, which is now one of the few cars in the world to run exclusively on solar power. more ›

According to TMZ, "Brittany Murphy died early this morning after she went into full cardiac arrest and could not be revived... A 911 call was made at 8:00 AM from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack, the Los Angeles City Fire Department tells TMZ. We're told Murphy was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival." Murphy, who was 32, appeared in films such as Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, and Don't Say a Word and was the voice of Luanne on King of the Hill. She allegedly had drug problems, though she denied them. more ›

An Orthodox rabbi is accused of telling a woman he would help her convert to Judaism if she had sex with him and his friends. According to the blog Failed Messiah, Rabbi Leib Tropper of Rockland County told Shannon Orand, a 32-year-old gentile who was interested in becoming a Jew: "If you fulfill my needs, I'll fulfill yours — and you need a conversion." more ›

The Yankees said good-bye this week to two integral pieces of their World Series squad. Hideki Matsui signed a one-year deal with the Angels while the signing of Nick Johnson basically shuts the door on a return by Johnny Damon. more ›

With the City Council set to decide whether or not a Queens street should be renamed after Sean Bell, the Reverend Al Sharpton spoke out in favor of the renaming. In 2006, Bell was killed and two of his friends were injured when undercover police fired upon their car, thinking they were armed (they weren't). Yesterday, Sharpton, who was joined by City Councilman and City Comptroller-elect John Liu, said, "This has something to do with our community embracing and using as example a young man that was on his way to doing what was right and his community rallied around him. That's what streets are named for." more ›

City medics refused to help a pregnant woman who was having a fatal seizure inside a Downtown Brooklyn café, according to witnesses. The Post reports that two FDNY medics were inside the Au Bon Pain in Metrotech Center when café employee Eutisha Revee Rennix, 25, began complaining of shortness of breath and intense stomach pains. more ›

Police divers rescued a woman who jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge wearing just pajamas yesterday morning. The 22-year-old Manhattan resident, whose name has not been released, leapt from the span near its midpoint into the East River just after 7 am. more ›

According to the NY Post's sources, "Mayor Bloomberg is planning to convene a Charter Revision Commission in the coming year... Reimposing term limits for city politicians is one issue definitely on the table, sources said. And the mayor might also press to eliminate the Public Advocate's Office -- a position he's publicly said is no longer needed. He may also seek to clip the wings of the city's five borough presidents -- who earn $160,000 a year for government jobs that have largely become advisory since 1989." He's supposed to decide whether he'll convene the commission next month—maybe by then we'll stop laughing about the idea of him reimposing term limits by then. more ›

Yesterday, Senate Democrats announced they had 60 votes to pass their health care reform bill. One of the central issues that was revised in order to get the support of Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) was over abortion. And the compromise didn't make those supporting and against abortion rights happy. more ›

The winter storm roared into the city a little later than expected but still left its mark: 11 inches fell in Central Park, while 13 inches were measured in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. In New Jersey, accumulation ranged from five to 24 inches while in Long Island, the storm was classified as a blizzard and some areas were hit with nearly 25 inches of snow. more ›

Two wheelchair-bound residents of an East Village shelter got into a deadly argument early yesterday morning. Witnesses say that 24-year-old Ronal Garcia was killed after being stabbed repeatedly by 51-year-old suspect Felipe Rivera-Cruz after the pair exchanged insults. more ›

NYC Transit has cancelled today's Nostalgia Train, because it's trying to deal with making sure the subways and buses work on this snowy day. According to the NYCT Service Alerts, "Due to snow removal efforts, please expect delays on all New York City bus and subway service at this time." And LIRR service is described as "extremely limited" (the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management urges people to stay at home) —150 people were stranded for hours on a Ronkonkoma-bound LIRR train from Penn Station, because of "drifting snow, frozen switches and equipment failure." more ›

• Rangers 2 Philadelphia 1: It’s taken almost a month, but the Rangers have finally won back-to-back games again. Henrik Lundqvist carried New York to victory, stopping 36 shots, 16 of which occurred in a frantic third period. Artem Anisimiov had the game-winner in the second period, his 7th goal of the year.

"I want to see some boobs," shouted a lone NYPD officer (seen here) who pulled up to our photographer at Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg, ironically blocking the former bike lane in the process. "I've been trying to find out online when this is happening and nobody had the start time! Did I miss it?" Minutes later, a group of 15-20 fully clothed cyclists pedaled by, trailed by almost twice as many photographers, TV news crews, and assorted media. The "topless" protest over the controversially removed bike lane was not the NC-17 provocation the media and others had hoped for. At one point, two men in a parked car near Division Street shouted at the cyclists, "We've been waiting for two hours! Where's the skin?" more ›

Police arrested a 48-year-old man suspected of taking over a city-owned parking lot in Lower Manhattan when it was closed and charging drivers to park their cars. Brooklynite Steven Pappas is accused of breaking into the South Street parking facility on at least two weekend days in September, putting a sign outside, and asking motorists for $10 per day for a parking spot, according to the Post. more ›

Night has fallen, and so have snow flurries—but it's not at the six-to-nine-inch or foot predictions yet. And New Yorkers are impatient to see some snow insanity (especially the ones that braved going to packed grocery stores to stock up!). more ›

A retired cop who started playing online poker to kill time and distract himself from injuries he suffered on 9/11 just won $1 million when he defeated a professional card-player on a poker game show. After retiring from the NYPD in 2004 with back and leg ailments he incurred during the terrorist attacks, former detective Mike Kosowski, 53, began playing the card game so he wouldn’t be "lethargic." more ›

Looks like the NYPD should send out that memo again regarding photographers rights. The War on Photography website recently posted this video, which shows an NYPD officer calling in the secret service to detain this man who taking photos on a public sidewalk near the UN. The officer asks if he's ever heard of the Patriot Act, and tells him the sidewalk is federal property. more ›

The gun used to kill two of three murder victims on the Upper West Side on Thursday is apparently missing. According to the NY Post, "Cops originally believed a semi-automatic pistol recovered at the Amsterdam Avenue slay scene was used by the gunman, Hector Quinones, but ballistics tests showed otherwise, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said last night." more ›

Last spring, Queens Community Board 12 voted to re-name a street after Sean Bell, the 23-year-old groom who was killed in a hail of bullets three years ago by police, and yesterday it was approved by a City Council committee as part of 70 new street names. The City Council is set to vote on the proposal on Monday and it's sparking some controversy among representatives and officials who oppose the implications of the naming. more ›

Artist Hulbert Waldroup was arrested Friday for installing a sculpture outside a Harlem gallery, purportedly without permission from the gallery's owner. The Jersey City artist put his work "The Gates" — which consists of two 10-foot tall antique iron gates decorated with hand-painted offensive street signs reading, "No blacks, No Jews, No Gay!" among other messages — in front of the Heath Gallery on Tuesday and was arrested when he tried to retrieve it. more ›

After surviving last week in Tampa without Mark Sanchez, the Jets return home to face another NFC South opponent when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Sanchez, the mistake-prone -- and apparently injury-prone -- quarterback, is back from his sprained knee ligament. He's secondary. The Jets' defense and the ground game will be called upon heavily in this one. more ›

A Brooklyn teen died in a hospital after his friends dumped him in the emergency room. Darrell Gresham was shot in the chest when a gunman opened fire on the car where the 18-year-old was sitting with two of his friends, just steps from his Crown Heights home, according to the Daily News. A police source said the teen was not the intended target, and it remains unclear if his friends — who have not been identified — were also shot. The friends drove Gresham to Interfaith Hospital and brought him to the emergency room, but fled without speaking to doctors or being questioned by police. Gresham died before doctors could treat him. "I can't believe they just dumped my baby at the hospital," said Darrell Gresham Sr., who spoke to his son on the phone just moments before the shooting. "Darrell was everything to me. He was a hard worker and a quiet boy who didn't get into trouble." more ›

Demonstrators have promised to ride bikes down Bedford Avenue naked this evening to protest the recent removal of a bicycle lane amidst mounting pressure from South Williamsburg's Hasidic community. But will the so-called "Freedom Ride" actually happen? more ›

The NY Times reports, "Senate Democrats said on Saturday that they had clinched an agreement on a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health care system, and that they were on track to approve the legislation by Christmas over fierce Republican opposition." more ›

After spending a record-shattering $100 million to win his third term in office, Mayor Bloomberg has decided against throwing a lavish inauguration party like he did after his first two City Hall victories. The wealthiest man in New York spent $2.5 million of his own fortune for a gala in the former Tweed Courthouse after his first election, and $1.7 million after his reelection for an event in a Downtown Bank with a performance by Liza Minnelli. But after he's sworn into office this time, he'll spend the day volunteering. more ›

A crook shot a 50-year-old employee at a Bensonhurst butcher shop in the chest during a brazen stick-up on Friday. The perp entered Romeo Brothers Meats and Foods at the corner of 15th Avenue and 78th Street at around 4:30 pm and "shot her without a word," before grabbing money and fleeing, the Post reports. The woman was found by her husband, who owns the store, which according to NY1 is "a friendly, family-owned Italian landmark." She was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center where she is in stable condition. No arrests have been made. more ›

A 32-year-old woman arrested for marijuana charges hung herself inside a Brooklyn holding cell, according to the Post. The woman "used her pants to form a crude noose, which she slung around a horizontal cell bar" inside the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville yesterday at around 6:47 pm. She was found dead about 40 minutes after she was locked in the room. more ›

If you thought the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's financial situation was miserable now — just wait until next year. As the MTA moves closer to implementing "doomsday" service cuts that would eliminate train and bus lines, lessen service, and force city students to pay to get to school, the agency could get hit with more cuts in state funding and declining revenues next year, according to a new report. more ›

Cops caught an 18-year-old suspected of getting it on with horses at the Goshen Historic Track in Orange County. After a six-month sting, investigators used surveillance footage to nab Erick Rivera, who was hit with multiple charges for sexual misconduct with an animal and burglary at the Hudson Valley harness track. The teen allegedly left his rented room near the track and crept into the unlocked stables after midnight at least a dozen times. Officials became suspicious in July when "they found the fillies bridled and immobilized in their stalls during morning checks," according to the Daily News. Goshen Village Police Chief James Watt had this to say about the suspect, who is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail: "This guy makes Michael Vick look like a charter member of PETA."
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So Final Winter Storm of 2009 Watch is in full effect: After earlier predictions of six to nine inches for the city, now it's six to a full foot! And on Long Island, 12-18 inches may be headed there, while NJ may expect 12-20 inches. more ›

On Thursday night, a dentist was killed in a hit-and-run while crossing 4th Avenue near 79th Street in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. Harry Lewner, 58, lived in Cedarhurst, Long Island an had a practice in Brooklyn since 1978. Office manager JoAnna Leask told the Daily News, "We walked out of the office together, and right after I said goodbye and turned the corner, I heard this loud boom. I ran over ... and saw him just lying in the street." Karissa McFaline, 21, who allegedly struck Lewner with her Kia and fled northbound, turned herself into police for leaving the scene of an accident. A second driver who hit Lewner while traveling southbound stayed at the scene and was not charged. Newsday (subscription req'd) reports that a dentist friend of Lewner's will see his patients today; Leask said, "That's what Harry would have wanted." more ›

• Knicks 95 Clippers 91: The losing streak is over. Then again, if you can’t beat the Clippers at home, you probably don’t deserve to win another game. Sadly, it took a huge comeback for the Knicks to overcome a 20-point deficit. David Lee led the way with 25 points and a huge tip-in for the go-ahead basket. Jonathan Bender made his Knicks debut with nine points off the bench.

Oh, the winter weather is on: Notify NYC sent the message, "The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for NYC, effective at 12 PM Saturday until 11 AM Sunday," and NY1 says, "About six to nine inches of snow are expected to fall in the city between Saturday morning and Sunday morning, with the worst downfall taking place 4 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday." more ›

Deborah Yannicelli of Long Island and Maurice Keshner of Brooklyn, will walk away with $1.6 million and over $250,000 respectively after blowing the whistle on three city-based home health-care companies who were fraudulently collecting government money for uncertified home health aides. The reward money is part of the $24 million recovered from the companies after the two finked. Yannicelli's lawyer, Timothy McInnis said: "She's delighted. She's been waiting for a long time for this." more ›

In addition to the Bicycle Access to Buildings Law, which requires commercial building owners to allow tenants to bring bicycles to their offices, another bike law went into effect recently: The Bicycle Access to Garages Law. It requires some commercial garages and parking lots to provide spaces for bikes at a specific ratio relative to their number of car spaces. But prices for the new bike parking have been left up to the market, and Streetsblog notices that at least one garage is taking cyclists for the proverbial ride. more ›

Lou Reed, Roger Sterling and other celebs fighting to keep their neighborhood from becoming Garbage City have an update from the frontlines. Curbed notes that they are asking other neighborhoods to take some trash so they aren't stuck with the Department of Sanitation's proposed facility at Spring and Washington Streets. They say, "We have now been asked to reach out to our neighbors uptown to take their fair share of sanitation facilities... We have made some early progress involving Community Boards 4, 5 and 7 in these conversations." Surely there are some A-listers in Hell's Kitchen, the Upper West Side and this huge chunk of Manhattan that will make a stink about this. more ›

It's another heart-tugging story that seems perfect during the holiday season: Today, the Daily News devotes its front page to Cassy Rivera, who had eye surgery allowing her to see her nearly two-year-old daughter for the first time. Rivera had been losing her sight in 2005 and then she "lost her last bit of sight while delivering daughter Aniahya, now almost 2 years old." more ›

Williamsburg got a brand new shiny Duane Reade just a few months ago, currently up and running on Kent Avenue and North 5th. And now like Gremlins doused in water, the store is multiplying — Curbed notes that the neighborhood is getting another one on Bedford Avenue and North 3rd! This is dangerously close to Kings Pharmacy, which has been the area's go-to drugstore and still has a prescription filling time one hour faster than the chain... but can they survive the Duane Reade-ification of the neighborhood? more ›

As mentioned yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President and stoop drinking enthusiast Marty Markowitz bought his first home in Windsor Terrace for $1.45 million, which it turns out, was partially funded for by the Albany Econo Lodge. more ›

Joseph Petcka, a 205-pound former minor league baseball player who killed a former girlfriend's 7-pound cat in 2007, avoided jail time and probation after completing 500 hours of community service. During a trial last year, Petcka had claimed Norman the orange cat attacked him while he was in a drunken mood, provoking him into beating the feline to death. more ›

Yesterday Senator Al Franken denied Joe Lieberman's routine request for an "additional moment" to drone on about an amendment to the health care bill on the Senate floor. If you're someone who's felt any degree of frustration with Lieberman's recent role in killing the public option, it's a trivial but deeply fulfilling video: more ›

According to Dealbreaker, outgoing Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack told employees he's not taking a bonus this year "citing market conditions and the extraordinary assistance the government lent to the banking industry... Mr. Mack has now foregone a bonuses for three years in a row, and last year, he received no raise, bonus or stock options. Since becoming chief executive in 2005, he has taken all of his bonuses in Morgan Stanley stock, not in cash." The Deal Journal says don't feel bad for Mack, suggesting that he's probably cashed in the tens of millions he's earned in stock since 2005. more ›

Get the hot chocolate ready—and this should make Saturday's naked bike lane protest interesting: NYC is expected to get 3-6 inches snow, according to AccuWeather—and WCBS 2's Megan Giaros says, "All five boroughs, back to parts of northern New Jersey and the Lower Hudson Valley, could get as much as 5-10 inches." more ›

Last week AT&T Mobility President and CEO Ralph de la Vega stated at a conference in New York that the company was studying ways to encourage high-bandwidth users to modify their usage. Like, uh, usage-based pricing maybe? Though he didn't say as much, he hinted at it as a future solution if the industry can't find a fix. At the same conference he finally admitted that New York's service is not up to par, and today AT&T's PR firm sent out a release stating that "AT&T has suffered in New York and San Francisco from better than average iPhone penetration. In these two cities, AT&T has been too successful in selling the iPhone, to the point where the network has been severely strained." more ›

If you wondered how much the DOT has spent so far to add and subtract a controversial 14-block stretch of bike lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg, here's your answer: $11,000 to install and $15,000 to sandblast it away. As NBCNewYork.com observes, "That's $26,000 of taxpayer money that isn't making bicyclists any safer." But at least now that the bike lane's gone, the Hasidic rabbis in the neighborhood can protect their flock from immodestly dressed outsiders—that is, unless bicyclists do something crazy like ride without a bike lane. This weekend, some are planning to do just that. And without clothes. more ›

With the federal corruption conviction of former powerful State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Pericak tells the Daily News, "I think it's clear that any way you stack the sentencing guidelines (it) will call for a sentence of imprisonment and the Justice Department typically recommends that the court follows the guidelines." Bruno, age 80, was found guilty on two counts—and each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He has said he will fight the convictions. more ›

The amusing Fake MTA Twittered this picture and added: "Jared likes transit 10% more than the NYC's public school system. Transit 2, education 0!" Plus, MTA employees don't even have to show ID! more ›

The Center for Disease Control, of all people, says that New Yorkers are the unhappiest people in the entire country... with New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan and Indiana rounding out the Top 5. On the other side of the spectrum, Hawaii, Louisiana, Colorado, Florida and Tennessee are filled with the happiest folks. All in all 1.3 million people were surveyed over the course of four years, and the least miserable were those residing in states that do well in quality-of-life studies. more ›

President Obama arrived in Copenhagen this morning to address the UN conference on climate change. In a stern speech delivered hours after his arrival, Obama told world leaders and their delegates that "the time for talk is over... All of you would not be here unless you — like me — were convinced that this danger is real. This is not fiction, it is science." The President's arrival came as any agreement on climate change remained out of reach, and China, the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gas pollutants, was accused of holding back progress in the climate talks by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. During his address (text here, video below), Obama expressed frustration and urgency: more ›

Suspected Ponzi schemer Philip Barry was in court yesterday, to pleading not guilty to several counts of fraud. The "investor" had promised clients in his Bay Ridge neighborhood 12-21% returns, but, the feds charge, only used the money to pay his own bills, speculate on real estate in Sullivan County... and start a mail-order porn business. His clients/victims were upset he's been out free on bail; one told the Post, "It’s like I’m a rape victim and I have to see my rapist. He shouldn’t be out on the street." more ›

Well, hello there! It looks like disgraced former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik has been prepping for prison by eating plenty of tossed salad. Recent Facebook photos show the convicted felon looking fit and fetching—a lot less Sergeant Schultz and a little more Kevin Spacey. more ›

Following a lot of noisemaking by artist/activist Robert Lederman after his two recent arrests on the High Line, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has personally assured him there will be no more trouble. Quite the change of tune considering it had been reported that Benepe personally ordered his arrest earlier this month! more ›

So what if Governor Paterson is trailing in the polls by dozens of points in a hypothetical matchup against Attorney General Cuomo—the governor was at Cuomo's birthday fund-raiser (for something) last night. Paterson told the Post, "I'm just here to wish Andrew a merry Christmas and a happy birthday... [He] thanked me for being here... I hope he raised as much money as he wants to...There's no reason we shouldn't be wishing him well." But an onlooker said, "Andrew looked shocked. The governor bum-rushed him. They greeted each other. It was stiff and cordial. It was like seeing your old girlfriend at the prom." more ›

Yesterday, a usually quiet Upper West Side street was rocked by violence when a man allegedly shot and killed three members of a family—a father, his son and a grandfather— and injured another before falling to his death from an Amsterdam Avenue apartment between 82nd and 83rd Streets. And it's believed that shooting suspect Herbert Quinones knew the father from their times in state prison. more ›

The James Madison High School teachers are back in the rags today! First off, the Daily News reports that just a week after two female teachers were caught with their tops off and pants down (Cindy Mauro and Alini Brito), and another was caught in an affair with a student (Allison Musacchio)... a fourth educator is under investigation! Assistant Principal Michael Edelman has now been accused of sexual harassment at the Brooklyn school. An investigation of the 62-year-old is now underway. more ›

It's actually against the rules for cab drivers to use cell phones while driving—even hands-free. But the restriction is routinely shrugged off, so yesterday the Taxi and Limousine Commission Thursday unanimously approved more severe penalties for scofflaws. Hacks who yak will now face fines, a 30-day suspension for two violations and loss of license for three violations in 15 months. The previous rule, passed in 1999, only banned talking on cellphones, but the new restrictions also ban the use of any technology capable of making non-emergency phone calls or texting. more ›

A 21-year-old woman was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after allegedly striking a man and driving off. According to NY1, "Police say 58-year-old Harry Lewner of Cedarhurst was crossing 4th Avenue near 79th Street in Bay Ridge around 9:15 last night when he was hit by [Karisa McFaline]'s car and then hit by another car." The second driver stayed at the scene, where Lewner was pronounced dead. McFaline "turned herself in at the 7th Precinct on Manhattan's Lower East Side about an hour and a half after the accident." more ›

A New Jersey man on trial for growing 17 marijuana plants on his property was found not guilty yesterday of the most serious charge against him, that of operating a drug production facility, which carries a potential 20-year sentence. But multiple sclerosis-sufferer John Wilson, 37, still faces the possibility of five to 10 years in prison, because the jury found him guilty of second-degree manufacturing and third-degree drug possession. It's possible that Wilson avoided conviction on the most serious charge because he cast doubt on the credibility of state troopers who arrested him in August 2008—with a little help from the National Guard. more ›

Yesterday, the New York City Housing Authority revoked over 3,000 Section 8 vouchers, citing "Congress, a lower-than-usual attrition rate in the program and unprecedented demand." This means that thousands of families may try to enter the city's already overflowing shelters. more ›

Near 2:30 a.m., a pipe of a 25,000 gallon water tank on a Bronx apartment building rooftop cracked—forcing all 14 floors' residents to be evacuated. The incident occurred on Holland Avenue, in the Olinville section. more ›

• Bulls 98, Knicks 89: A 17-point lead wasn't enough for the Knicks. The Bulls used a 17-2 fourth-quarter run to rally past the Knicks. The Knicks shot an NBA-record 29 3-pointers in the first half and 47 overall. That's two shy of the league record and eight more than the two-pointers the Knicks attended. Al Harrington had 18 points, but 14 of those came in the first quarter. Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari also had 18 points each.

With the MTA's approval of service cuts for subway, bus, commuter railroad, and paratransit in order to make up for a $400+ million budget shortfull, everyone is angry. But who should be blamed? more ›

Today singer Ashanti's mother, who has been the victim of obsessive sexting from her daughter's stalker, recalled some of the disturbing behavior her family has witnessed from Devar Hurd. At the Manhattan Supreme Court she recalled him saying he's "going to marry her. She's going to have my babies." more ›

We're guessing that somewhere in the Squatter's Handbook it says something about keeping quiet, not complaining, laying low... that sort of thing. The NY Post reports on one man who found himself a nice $2,500/month Williamsburg apartment... for free, because he didn't, like, tell anyone he was moving in. They report, the "squatter felt so at home that he called the city to complain about the heat," or lack thereof. When the NYPD showed up Tuesday, he started punching and kicking them! And as a grand finale to his squatting stint, while being taken away, he told the landlord that he was going to fucking kill him. more ›

Our former cheating mayor had koan for cheating golfer Tiger Woods; "Hang in there." That's what Rudy Giuliani told US Magazine on Tuesday night. Wow, we can just picture a tiger cub on a tree branch. more ›

After being a renter his whole life, Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz bought his first home in Windsor Terrace for $1.45MM. The two-story, three-bedroom brick house boasts a driveway, fireplace, a covered porch, and is just one block from Prospect Park. And no, the money didn't come from taxpayers. more ›

Earlier this month, Mayor Bloomberg tried to halfheartedly quell an old man fight between himself and undead Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau, telling reporters, "As long as he's in compliance with the law, that's fine with me." But it's exactly those kinds of passive aggressive insinuations—that the DA might not be following the law—that drives Morgenthau to call Bloomberg names like "chickenshit." And now it's emerged that their war without end has cost tens of millions of dollars that would have gone to the city if Bloomberg had just kept his mouth shut and not tried to lean on Morgenthau for more. more ›

The NY State Department of Labor released November unemployment information, and the numbers were a little better over October's: The state rate is now 8.6%, down from 9% in October, while the NYC rate is 10%, down from 10.2% in October. (In 2008, the November state unemployment rate was 6.3% while the NYC rate was 6.7%.) The one sector with job growth was education and health services. more ›

Bicyclists love griping about motorists parking in bike lanes with impunity, and we've made a cottage industry out of publishing photos of the best bike lane blocks. So, in the interest of fair and balanced reportage, here is a photo showing one Utopian block of Maple Street in Brooklyn, where drivers double park outside the bike lane during alternate side parking. Is our incessant hectoring making a dent? Are Maple Street residents exceptionally considerate? Or is this just some devious Photoshop work? Whatever the case, it's an astonishing image. [Via Chrysanthe Tenentes's Twitter] more ›

The holidays are upon us and here's a feelgood story to go along with all the Christmas cheer. 1010Wins reports that a New York City businessman and philanthropist gave one of their listeners an early present this year in the form of $10,000. more ›

One night last month, 11 black and Hispanic high school students were heading home to Jamaica, Queens after a visit to Howard University when they got had in an all-too-familiar encounter with New Jersey's finest. After the students had dinner at the rest stop near Exit 7A of the New Jersey Turnpike, someone called 911 to say that at least one youth was brandishing a gun. (Police say the caller warned of three youths with guns; the students and their three supervisors say troopers cited a report of a black male in a gray sweatshirt carrying a gun.) Regardless, the police reaction left the group outraged, the Times's Peter Applebome reports. more ›

Updated: The police say that four people were found dead at an Upper West Side apartment this afternoon, around 1:45 p.m. According to 1010 WINS, the four victims were male: "Police said two bodies were found in a bedroom, one in the bathroom and one in a backyard. A wounded woman was also taken to the hospital. Two children have also been removed from the apartment. Police say they were unharmed." more ›

In a U.S. Court of Appeals hearing, families of victims killed during the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center argued that 1.6 million tons of debris at Staten Island landfill be removed, sifted and then prepared for proper burial because it may contain victims' remains. In the other corner is the city, which argued, "These ashes are undifferentiated dirt." more ›

With Posterchild putting up so many new pieces in town lately, we nearly forgot about ol' Poster Boy. The slice 'em and dice 'em artist who mashes up subway ads agreed to a plea deal yesterday, according to the NY Post, which landed him 210 hours of community service. His lawyer said the number of hours is "somewhat extreme," and that "the DA's office took a very harsh view of this case, and they were not terribly flexible." The 28-year-old, Henry Matyjewicz, had pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal mischief (a felony and a misdemeanor). more ›

Kerry Sullivan, a longtime Staten Island gadfly who's awaiting a liver transplant, claims that police arrested him outside his home in August as retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Borough President James P. Molinaro. Yesterday the NYCLU filed a federal lawsuit on Sullivan's behalf, naming the City of New York and the two police officers who arrested Sullivan as defendants, and claiming they violated Sullivan’s rights under the First, Fourth and Fourteenth amendments; the New York State Constitution; and New York common law. Those are a lot of violations! But what's really outrageous is what the cops allegedly told Sullivan during the arrest. more ›

Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen tells Our Town that he's going to challenge State Senator Liz Krueger in the Democratic primary next year. He "wants to tap into voters’ anti-incumbency mood, especially toward those in Albany" and says the Senate coup was the "precipitating factor," adding, “Somebody needs to step up to the plate and almost teach these senators the right way to balance a budget.” Cohen, who once switched to the Republican party for a failed City Council run, also said that none of the current Senators would last working under Trump, "He’d fire the entire lot, lock, stock and barrel." more ›

The NY Times looks at how the end of a federal subsidy to help the unemployed cover Cobra insurance costs may result in people dropping health insurance. For one Queens resident, who was laid off from her job last year, "it reduced her monthly insurance premium to $135.93 from $388.37," but now, paying the full amount, will force her to take out money from her 401K. The Times notes, "From March through November, the federal government picked up 65 percent of the cost. But the subsidy lasts for only nine months and will not be available to people who lose their jobs after Dec. 31, unless Congress extends it. On Wednesday, the House approved a six-month extension, and the bill now goes to the Senate." more ›

A 43-year-old married woman from West Philadelphia wasn't wearing underwear when she told an undercover cop, "I'm a whore. I love sex," in order to score World Series tickets, the officer testified yesterday. Susan Finkelstein of West Philadelphia, was arrested in late October and accused of offering various sex acts in exchange for tickets. Her troubles began after investigators noticed her Craigslist ad: "DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX. Diehard Phillies fan - gorgeous tall buxom blonde - in desperate need of two World Series Tickets. Price negotiable - I'm the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!" more ›

The poor, poor NJ Nets. Not only are they 2-24 for the season so far (they lost to the Utah Jazz by 16 points last night) and not only is their mythical Brooklyn home still in progress, now a plan to relieve them from the Meadowlands and move them to more easily accessible Newark has apparently fallen through! more ›

Secretary of State Clinton arrived in Copenhagen last night to find the UN climate change negotiations at a standstill, with China’s representatives refusing to accept a deal requiring them to provide transparency on emissions. Clinton described China’s no-transparency position a "deal-breaker... All major countries [must] stand behind full transparency." Britain's energy and climate minister, Ed Miliband, warned that the two-week conference risked becoming "a farce... We may not get there on the substance. It is quite possible we'll fail on the substance. But at least let's give it a try." In that spirit, Clinton threw "a climate change Hail Mary," as Politico puts it. more ›

Last month, a typo apparently sent firefighters on a wild goose chase and delayed them from reaching a Queens fire where three people were killed and four injured in an illegally subdivided home. Now, one of the victims is suing the city. The NY Post reports, "Shari Ahammed, 30, spent 18 days in a burn unit after his hair caught fire as he tried to alert fellow residents of the illegally subdivided house in Woodside. [His] lawyer, Herb Subin, said he'll file a notice of claim for unspecified damages Monday." Subin noted, "The Department of Buildings should never have let this place be carved up into five apartments. And the Fire Department should not have sent fire engines to the wrong house. The delay was over five minutes." more ›

When announcing it wanted to leave government oversight by repaying its $20 billion TARP bailout, Citigroup said it would raise the money by selling stock. However, because it sold $17 billion worth at $3.15/share—less than the $3.25/share the government paid for the stock last year—the U.S. Treasury is delaying the sale of its stake. more ›

An unidentified male cop in the notorious Brooklyn South Narcotics unit allegedly took personal photos of a female drug suspect during multiple, unauthorized strip searches. Claudia Bova, 23, was arrested in a Coney Island drug sweep in June 2007, and taken to a building in downtown Brooklyn for booking. The officer allegedly told Bova he would have to perform a body search because there were no female officers available, in violation of an NYPD policy prohibiting cross-gender searches. Bova claims he led her to the bathroom and ordered her to lift up her shirt, "shake out her bra" and pull down her pants, according to court papers obtained by the Daily News. But it didn't end there! more ›

After Governor Paterson decided to withhold 10% of payments to schools and municipalities—a move he deemed necessary to keep the state from going "insolvent"—a teachers union and other school officials have sued, accusing him of violating the State Constitution. New York State United Teachers vice president Alan Lubin told the NY Times, "This is a terrible day in New York’s history. ;For this coalition to stand back and watch the governor take the money that was allocated by the State Legislature for schools, for programs, for children, and pull it back, is really a terrible thing to have witnessed." more ›

Last night, a fire broke out in a Borough Park apartment, and neighbors say it was started by a menorah. WCBS 2 reports, a 3-year-old girl "suffered third degree burns and went into cardiac arrest." She is now at Staten Island University Hospital. The girl and her four siblings were being watched by a neighbor in her 70s, who was able to leave the apartment with the other children. Other neighbors told the Fire Department there was still a child in a back room. One said, "The menorah must've tipped over and the house started burning." more ›

After deliberating for just four hours, a jury acquitted the man accused of fatally stabbing a 19-year-old college student who cut the line at the popular midtown Halal Chicken and Gyro food cart. Ziad Tayeh, 26, never denied killing Tyrone Gibbons during the October 2006 fight, but he's always maintained that it was in self-defense. The bloody incident began when Gibbons, his brother Shannon, and a third man, Chandradat Deodat, insinuated themselves in front of Tayeh on the line. When he protested, an argument led to a car chase and then a fateful confrontation at a red light at 52nd Street. more ›

A Windsor Terrace grocery store manager came under fire from customers for installing and promptly removing a menorah and a Christmas tree he had placed in front of his store. For the second year in a row, Key Food manager Mike Jordings allowed Rabbi Moshe Hecht to put a 10-foot tall menorah in front of his Prospect Avenue store during Hanukkah. But by the third night of the Festival of Lights, complaints about the Jewish icon were getting intense. "I was trying to be festive, but my everyday customers didn't feel that way," he told the Daily News. "They felt uncomfortable." more ›

• Islanders 2, Rangers 1: They didn't get shut out, but the Rangers deserved to. They played the entire game as if they were short-handed and didn't score a goal until 55 seconds remained in the third period. Jon Sim and Blake Comeau had the goals for the Islanders, who are now 2-0 against the Rangers. Dwayne Roloson made 25 saves and almost had the clean sheet. The Rangers still haven't been shut out this season, but who cares at this point? The teams play again -- on Long Island -- tomorrow.
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A new area code will soon replace 718 and 347, which serve Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Thanks to the ever-growing number of cellphone accounts, officials must establish a new three digit code before existing numbers run out for the boroughs in 2012, according to NY1. The digits themselves have not yet been selected. The new area code would be instated on an "overlay plan," meaning old numbers won't be reassigned to the new code. Oh 347, we hardly knew you. more ›

According to a recent survey, 50% of the workforce says their working environment is too cold or too hot, with 1/3 saying the uncontrollable climate makes it hard to concentrate. more ›

37-year-old John Ray Wilson has multiple sclerosis, and he's found that smoking the leaves of a certain plant helps alleviate his symptoms. So he grew 17 of the plants in the ground on his property. But the government of New Jersey believes that plant is evil and must be driven from the earth, so the Attorney General is trying to send Wilson to prison. For twenty years. The plant, obviously, is marijuana, and America, obviously, is really screwed up. The most serious charge against Wilson is that he was operating a drug production facility, and unfortunately for him, the judge has forbidden his lawyers from making any mention his illness during the trial. more ›

Even while haggling in Copenhagen, our politicians are still hard at work for us: case-in-point, Mayor Bloomberg did an interview with CNBC yesterday to discuss the MTA funding crisis, and alluded to the possible re-birth of his congestion pricing plan: more ›

A Queens woman is suing a Flushing spa for a botched butt job! She claims the procedure given to her at Bellstetika Spa resulted in "disabling injuries," according to the Daily News. The treatment took place in 2007 and was to "augment her unflattering buttocks," but all it resulted in was a malpractice suit. Spa owner Alejandro Moreno, however, says the suit "is crazy," because they don't offer any invasive procedures that could cause injury. He explains, "We have girls who give massages and we give advice about nutrition. But there are no needles, no injections." more ›

Yesterday, the Port Authority officially announced that it would give the public updates of World Trade Center construction progress through YouTube and Flickr accounts. The Port Authority's press release explains, "While subscribers to the Port Authority's World Trade Center web site already have access to up-to-the-minute updates, milestone reports, picture slideshows and videos, the new social networking hubs will allow even more picture and video content to be disseminated to a much broader audience. The new online initiatives support the Port Authority's mission to provide transparent, timely information about construction at the World Trade Center, and will make images and videos more accessible to constituents throughout the region and the world." more ›

In a rare decision for the City Council — which has voted in support of almost every single development project backed by Mayor Bloomberg — the group turned down a plan to convert the Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping mall, voting 45-1 against the proposal. Following the landslide decision, Bloomberg said he would veto the ruling, even though the Council will easily have enough votes to override him: "We will veto it. It is the right project for the Bronx" more ›

Earlier this week it was reported that Courtney Love had lost custody of her and Kurt Cobain's 17-year-old daughter Frances Bean. Reportedly Frances Bean said she preferred to live with her grandmother, and custody was handed over to her, Wendy O'Connor, as well as Kurt's sister. more ›

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, the "most powerful nerd on the planet," was named as Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2009. For a magazine that has often savored picking controversial, argument-starters (Bono in 2005?, you in 2006?), Bernanke, "with his perpetually guilty, Eeyore-like expression," definitely seems like a particularly relevant pick. Time calls him, "the most important and least understood force shaping the American — and global — economy." You can find the full list of runner-ups and "people who mattered" here. more ›

After sitting in jail for five years awaiting his trial, a Bronx man was cleared of all of the charges against him on Tuesday. Michael Ikoli, 22, had been behind bars at Rikers Island since 2004, when he was accused of being involved in the shooting outside a skating rink. more ›

Oh those heady days of early October, when bike lane battles and doomsday MTA plans weren't even whispers in the ear. Suspected talk show host extortionist Robert "Joe" Halderman, who is tangled up in all sorts of shenanigans involving Late Night host David Letterman back in October, was in court yesterday, where it was revealed that he was an extremely paranoid dude: he feared that Letterman might cause him to lose his job, burn his house down, or even murder him. more ›

This is the man who was fatally run over by a southbound B train at the Central Park West and 110th St. station; his name was Shem Herman and he was the father of a 2-year-old son, Dylan. The 33-year-old Washington Heights man had jumped down onto the subway tracks to recover his iPod when he was killed by the oncoming train. Yesterday reporters tracked down his distraught wife and mother, so keep reading if you're not sad enough today. more ›

The porn was on, but there was nobody home. An NYPD officer inspecting a Bronx narcotics unit last week found a soft-core porn movie playing on one of the TVs in the facility, sources tell the Post. But there was nobody watching it, because all the officers had left for the day. Poor, lonely, neglected porn! The unidentified movie ("NYPD Blew"?), which was was playing on a satellite-TV premium channel, violates a departmental policy banning such channels at work. Well, at least it wasn't kiddie porn. more ›

As expected, Hideki Matsui, the Yankees' MVP during its latest World Series championship, and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $6.5 million one-year deal. Angels GM Tony Reagins said, "We are excited to have a player with talent that Hideki brings. He is a professional hitter and we look forward to seeing him in an Angels uniform in 2010." more ›

Brooklyn Heights residents have mixed opinions about the plan to try a suspected Al Qaeda operative in Cadman Plaza East courthouse. The Daily News took to the streets of the tony neighborhood, where they found supporters of the proposal to bring Guantanamo Bay detainee Majid Khan before a jury in Brooklyn, and opponents like Brooklyn Heights business owner Andrea Demetropoulos, 57. "Everyone deserves a fair trial ... I'm just not sure I want it happening here downtown." more ›

As expected, the full MTA board approved a new budget that includes service cuts on subways, buses, commuter railroads and paratransit— plus the controversial phase-out of student fares. The agency found it would be over $400 million short, after the State underestimated tax revenue, the State Legislature decided to eliminate some funding, and a judge ordered the MTA to pay transit union raises. more ›

Senator Chuck Schumer is doing damage control today after he was overheard calling a flight attendant a bitch. The Pool Party lover was sitting next to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand aboard a US Airways shuttle as the crew prepared to begin a flight from New York to Washington on Sunday. Both senators were talking on their cell phones when an unidentified flight attendant approached and told them to terminate their calls. Can you believe the nerve of this woman, telling famous ruling class elites to follow the rules? more ›

After a demonstration last weekend drew more police officers than protesters, cycling activists will rally again to show their support for the Bedford Avenue bike lane — but this time they'll do it in less clothing. more ›

This looks dangerous! Restless reports seeing a Manhattan-bound Roosevelt Island Tram yesterday dangling above the East River... and then moving with "two men dangling off it, a few hundred feet above ground. And they were climbing around." Well, this seems like a terrible idea. Video here. more ›

Today's frivolous lawsuit that will probably flush away more of your tax dollars in an out of court settlement: A Queens teenager is suing the city because she broke her ankle in a base sliding drill during high school softball practice. Francis Lewis High School sophomore Alina Cerda had to have six screws and a metal plate implanted in her ankle after sliding on a muddy base path during a May practice. You'll never guess who's fault that was! more ›

Police have released surveillance video of three men (one is pictured) suspected of robbing and assaulting a 65-year-old and then an 11-year-old on November 25 at the 205 St. and Perry Ave D line subway station in the Bronx. The Post describes them as "three bored-looking thieves" because one yawns—the assaults occurred around 6:30 p.m. and neither of the victims was seriously injured. It's believed the suspects are in their late teens; anyone with information is urged contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477), texting CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577 or going to www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg is heading back to New York after participating in the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen, where he joined dozens of the other mayors in signing a joint declaration urging world leaders "to embrace this chance and seal an ambitious and empowering deal in Copenhagen." While there, Bloomberg also took a swipe at Washington's $787 billion federal stimulus package, calling it a "great waste of money" when it was funneled to the states for projects. more ›

One of the city's wealthiest neighborhood is also among its most polluted, according to a new air quality study. Researchers examined data from 150 sensors mounted atop light poles to figure out which communities had the highest levels of air pollution from contaminants like elemental carbon, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which "can irritate lungs, worsen asthma and boost the risk of heart attacks" — and the Upper East Side turned out to be one of the worst, according to the Daily News. more ›

'Tis the season for somewhat infuriating news: The Washington Post reports, "The federal government quietly agreed to forgo billions of dollars in potential tax payments from Citigroup as part of the deal announced this week to wean the company from the massive taxpayer bailout that helped it survive the financial crisis." more ›

Post offices have suffered a year of insufferable lines and rodent attacks, and now as a grand finale their terrible service is being featured in the Daily News. As holiday crowds rush to get their gifts shipped, there aren't enough USPS employees to keep things moving quickly. more ›

Why breaking and entering isn't a great idea—from the Post: "A heroic Brooklyn dad whacked a home invader with a machete after hearing his daughter's screams for help, sources said. Dwayne Johnson, 28, allegedly slipped into the house on Amersfort Place in Flatbush Monday. When the homeowner's daughter saw him and screamed, her father grabbed a machete and hit Johnson, who ran off but was caught later. Johnson was hospitalized in stable condition." more ›

Developer Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project "cleared a major hurdle," according to the Daily News, by selling $511 million in tax-free bonds for the arena's financing yesterday. Apparently the bonds were selling like hotcakes—the NY Times says they were sold out in two hours, "Indeed, the demand for the bonds from institutional investors far outstripped what was available and belied the project’s tortured history and court challenges." more ›

• Charlotte 94 Knicks 87: A fourth quarter collapse kept the Knicks from winning their fifth-straight. Leading by eight entering the quarter, the Knicks were outscored 28-13 in the final period. Part of the problem may have been Mike D’Antoni’s decision to go with a 7-1/2 man rotation. While Eddy Curry did play, his five minutes off the bench didn’t contribute much and every other player logged 20 minutes or more.
• Cleveland 99 Nets 89: Yes, they should lose on the road in Cleveland, but they made it competitive. New Jersey kept things close thanks to 22 points each from Brook Lopez and Devin Harris, but they ultimately fell to the Cavs. Amazingly, New Jersey was outshot 59%-39% yet the final score was only a ten-point difference. more ›

No part of the MTA's planned service cuts has proven to be more controversial than the agency's proposal to get rid of free Metrocards for students. more ›

Could wind power be coming to Queens? According to the Daily News, Mayor Bloomberg took a look at high-tech windmills in Cophenhagen, anchored miles offshore — and now wants to build replicas in Rockaway. more ›

Last month Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit against the United Homeless Organization, accusing the group of running a scam that funnels money to the bosses at the top and the workers who solicit donations throughout Manhattan, in the name of "helping the homeless." Today Cuomo obtained an interim court order requiring the not-for-profit group to immediately halt all charitable solicitations from the public by any means. The order also freezes UHO’s assets, including bank accounts and vehicles. more ›

Forced to choose between listening to his girlfriend or following the law, a Staten Island 17-year-old decided on the latter — and now he faces up to seven years in prison because of it. An Oakwood teen, identified in the Staten Island Advance as Sean Potop, told police that he and his girlfriend were at a Mariners Harbor movie theater on Dec. 7 when they saw a woman accidentally drop her car keys on ground. Potop claims his girlfriend grabbed the keys, waited for the woman to walk away, and stole the 2005 Mitsubishi Galant. more ›

Some new polls show that junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand may be vulnerable during her first election next year. According to the Observer, a Siena poll found that "I don't know" (35%) won out over Gillibrand (32%), who was followed by City Comptroller Bill Thompson (23%), while a Quinnipiac poll found that Thompson would beat Gillibrand 41-28 in a hypothetical primary. However, Quinnipiac's Maurice Carroll says, "Giuliani, who is pondering a Senate race, tops both of them" and Siena says Giuliani would beat Gillibrand 50-40. more ›

It must be Spitzer Hooker Day—Madam Kristin Davis, who claims that former governor Eliot Spitzer was one of her clients (he allegedly got rough with her girls!), updated her blog to announce, "Client number 9 is talking to potential fundraisers and political consultants about a comeback bid. If Eliot Spitzer runs I will also take the plunge and enter the Democratic Primary for New York State Comptroller. I am confident I can gather the necessary signatures to get on the Primary ballot." more ›

Police continue to look for answers following the execution-style killing of a Bronx mother who was shot dead in front of her children. Lakisha Scriven, 30, was a caseworker for the city's Administration for Children's Services, where she was known for her cheery attitude, her tireless work ethic, and according to the Times, her taste for flashy high-heeled shoes that brought her "into work, into parties and into the city’s gloomiest conditions as if she were Carrie Bradshaw with a penchant for social justice." more ›

Love 'em or hate 'em, 7-Eleven is here to stay. According to the Observer, the store will be a "recessionary scar" on this city for quite some time. The company will open 100 new Manhattan locations (up from six) in the next five years. They're also encouraging storeowners "to convert their existing business to a 7-Eleven store, complete with business model, products and technology." Will the corporate giant kill the bodega? At least we can look forward to easy access to Free Slurpee Day and that cabernet "with juicy plum Slurpee overtones." more ›

The fire department has eliminated regular maintenance of its defibrillators — prompting concern among some medics that the machines might fail. more ›

In response to the death of 33-year-old DJ Solange Raulston, who was struck by a flatbed truck while on her bike in Greenpoint Sunday afternoon, Transportation Alternatives and Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) have released a statement calling for action. more ›

The city will debut a special limited-edition condom package next fall, and the Health Department is holding a contest to pick the new look. They're calling for designs that reflect NYC's "distinctive culture and style while also promoting safer sex." As they put it on the website, "Maybe you’ve admired the NYC Condom’s sleek package design. Maybe you even own one or two of the 41 million the Health Department gave away last year. We’re not about to abandon the now-iconic package, but we want to keep things interesting." (But "not raunchy"!) So what does the winner get? more ›

From Politico: "House Minority Leader John Boehner said Tuesday that the Obama administration’s plan to move some Guantanamo detainees to Illinois shows that the White House 'must've forgotten' about the Americans who died on Sept. 11. 'I think the administration wasn't around for 9/11,' Boehner said after emerging from a weekly meeting with House Republicans." more ›

Don't worry Brooklynites — your borough might also play host to the terror trial excitement that's sweeping Manhattan. Federal prosecutors are considering moving suspected Al Qaeda operative Majid Khan from Guantanamo Bay to Brooklyn, where he would stand trial, the Post reports. Khan, a legal U.S. resident who lived in Maryland before traveling to Pakistan and allegedly joining the terrorist organization, is considered one of fewer than 20 Guantanamo detainees of "high value" based on their high ranks and extensive knowledge of the group. more ›

In what is being described as a "high-profile event" tomorrow, Governor Paterson will sign an executive order extending legal protections to transgender employees of New York State. (The order applies only to state employees under the executive branch—not to the private sector.) Sources tell City Room that the executive order will include transgender people in antidiscrimination policies that already govern state agencies, and will offer the broadest protections ever extended to transgender public employees in New York. Dru Levasseur, Lambda Legal transgender rights attorney, says, "This will bring New York up to par with other states that are taking the lead on workplace fairness." more ›

Ashley Dupre, former Governor Spitzer's high-class escort -turned-aspiring singer- turned-Russell Simmons protege, is all over the TV now that she's the NY Post's new advice columnist. Yesterday, she appeared on The View—video below—discussing why men cheat, and today, it was Good Day New York (also owned by the Post's owner News Corp). more ›

A man who witnessed his young friend's murder after a dispute at a popular Halal chicken and gyro street stand has admitted that he lied to police about the incident. Chandradat Deodat, 23, of Jersey City, was with the victim, 19-year-old Tyrone Gibbons, and his brother Shannon on the night in October 2006 when the trio cut the line at the food stand at 53rd and Sixth. An argument ensued with the man behind them, Ziad Tayeh, who is accused of stabbing Gibbons to death after a car chase. But yesterday Deodat may have complicated things for prosecutors. more ›

Prospect Park swans have already fought against each other — now they're fighting against fishermen. At least two of the swans that live in the park's 60-acre lake have been injured by fishermen, according to The Brooklyn Paper. One lived for months with a hook through its beak (the hook has since been extracted), and another apparently swallowed a hook and line that is now protruding from its chest. more ›

A woman in Brooklyn was killed by an ambulance early this morning. NY1 reports, "Sources say an emergency medical services vehicle struck a 80-year-old woman as she was standing in a crosswalk on Bay Parkway by the Belt Parkway just after 6 a.m. The ambulance was transporting a 100-year-old woman with stomach pains to Lutheran Hospital." The investigation is ongoing. more ›

The wife of Senator Joe Lieberman—whom the Times dubs a "master infuriator" for his recent threat to join a Republican filibuster unless Democrats drop a plan to let uninsured Americans under 55 purchase coverage under Medicare—is in the cross hairs. Liberal activists led by the blog Firedoglake are calling upon the Susan B. Komen Foundation to fire Hadassah Lieberman, who works as a paid international spokesperson for the breast-cancer research group. more ›

Two men killed a 50-year-old social worker in a brutal attack over fitness equipment in a Brooklyn gym, according to police. Douglas Smith was murdered after a dispute over who had dibs to a Nautilus elliptical machine at the Church Avenue Fitness Club in East Flatbush. more ›

The police have released an image of a man accused of exposing and fondling himself to a young woman. According to the Daily News, "The sicko sat across from the teen on a Queens-bound G train at the Woodhaven Blvd. station in Elmhurst on Nov. 7 at about 3a.m., cops said. He allegedly stared at the victim and pleasured himself. The woman bolted from the train when the doors opened and boarded a Brooklyn-bound train out of the station, police said." The suspect is "described as a 5-foot-11 black male between 30 and 40 years old. He was last seen wearing a white jacket, dark pants and a blue stocking hat with white trim." Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: Call 1-800-577-TIPS, text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. more ›

The tenants at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are rejoicing after development owner Tishman Speyer agreed to roll back rents for six months starting in the new year. In October, the Court of Appeals ruled that Tishman illegally raised rents of 4,400 former rent-stabilized apartments while still receiving tax breaks from the city. more ›

The NYPD has not revealed any more details about a man who was charged over the weekend with ten felony counts of using Manhattan pay phones to make "terroristic threats" to kill Mayor Bloomberg. Jeffrey Fisher of Philadelphia (not Robert Morgenthau of New York) is accused of calling 911 to make statements such as, "There are bullets now aimed at the mayor’s head everywhere." NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly and his family were also threatened. more ›

Only in New York, kids: Yankees' World Series MVP Hideki Matsui may be headed to the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim). Per reports, the slugger has agreed in principle to a one-year, $6.5 million deal. The only thing that's standing in the way is a physical. His agent said, "I can confirm that we are in serious discussions with the Angel. I have no further comment." more ›

An unidentified man was fatally struck by a southbound B train last night around 7:30 at the Central Park West and 110th St. station. Witnesses told police the man, an Hispanic male from Washington Heights in his mid-30s, was engaged in an agitated cell phone conversation when he dropped his portable music device onto the tracks. One bystander says, "I saw a guy sitting on the stairs talking on his cellphone, then I saw him leaning over the tracks watching for a train to come, when, all of a sudden, he was nowhere to be found." more ›

Methamphetamine has reached its lowest popularity among teens in years, according to surveys of eighth, 10th, and 12th graders. The number of high school seniors reporting they used crystal meth in the past year is now at only 1.2 percent. (In 1999, it was 4.7 percent.) Cigarette smoking is also at the lowest point in the survey's history, and cocaine use is down too, but marijuana use was about the same as the previous year: 32.8 percent of 12th graders, 26.7 percent of 10th graders, and 11.8 percent of eighth graders say they've smoked grass. And for the first time this year, the survey measured the non-medical use of Adderall and found that more than 5 percent of 10th and 12th graders were using it (and probably getting straight A's). more ›

• Thrashers 3, Rangers 2 (SO): Not even a barrage of 48 shots could get the Rangers the full two points against Atlanta. Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik had the goals for the Rangers, but they couldn't muster much in the shootout. Gaborik was turned aside, and then Ales Kotalik flat-out missed. The Rangers are now two games under .500.
• Panthers 7, Islanders 1: The Islanders have put forth some valiant efforts this season. This was not one of them. They gave up four third-period goals -- including two in the first minute -- to turn it into a laugher. Jesse Joensuu got the lone Islanders goal.

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg vetoed the 5-minute grace period bill which was overwhelmingly passed by the City Council. He also vetoed a similar bill which would allow clergy to receive city-issued free parking permits. Today it was expected that the Council's Transportation Committee is expected to overrule the vetoes on both bills. This would be followed by the full Council voting to overrule on Dec. 21, with both bills becoming law 90 days thereafter. more ›

There's no New York issue as divisive as gentrification, so it's not surprising that this week's New York Magazine article arguing in favor of gentrification has become an issue of contention. more ›

Brooklyn comic Eugene Mirman is spending the week in Copenhagen, covering the protests coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference for Grist. He reports that over the weekend, "somewhere between 50,000 - 100,000 protesters marched without incident, even when I teased them." Our favorite part of this video is probably when he chats with an elderly protester who says he's visited NYC, and Mirman asks, "Oh, have you ever been to Lit? It's like a crazy, late-night bar. Actually, it's not worth it." Keep speaking truth to power, Eugene! more ›

While crime is down throughout Brownsville, the blocks around Brooklyn's 73rd Precinct stationhouse have been played host to a number of recent shootings. In the past four months, there have been seven shootings within 10 blocks of the stationhouse — two of them fatal. These crimes come at a time while shootings have declined precinct-wide from 82 at this point last year, to 67 so far this year. Those are encouraging figures, according to NYPD spokesman Paul Browne: "The fact that overall crime is down by 6%, shootings are down by 18%, and murder is down by 23% reflects well on the precinct command's crime suppression." more ›

The city has put its pest infestation statistics online, allowing New Yorkers to see just how vermin-ridden our neighborhoods really are. The new Environmental Public Health Tracking Portal allows visitors to create maps depicting the percentages of households infested by roaches as well as rats and mice. more ›

Controversy has kicked up around last week's reports that the city was considering Mylan Denerstein to replace Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, who resigns at the end of the year. Denerstein, 42, a former federal prosecutor, would be the first female head commissioner, as well as one of the first African-Americans to hold the job. However, firefighters and department sources interviewed by the Post about her possible hiring yielded a tinderbox of negative reactions. more ›

The 175-square-foot microstudio the NY Post recently declared as the city's smallest living space now looks like a palace compared to that same paper's newly discovered cramped quarters. Today they take a look three small spaces that require tenants to adjust the way they live — however they each pay cheap rent, in comparison to the $150K the other couple paid for their Morningside Heights apartment. more ›

After saying on 60 Minutes last night, "I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street," President Obama met with many of those fat cats at the White House today. Obama wants bankers to support his administration's financial industry reforms. more ›

Now that Frances Bean, daughter of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, will be turning 18 next year... the system has decided her mother is in no shape to care for a child. It somewhat shockingly took 17 years for this to happen. TMZ reports that "guardianships of this nature are frequently established when the parent is not capable of taking care of their children. The guardianship is for both Frances Bean personally and her financial well-being." Again, this took 17 years? Frances is now under the guardianship of Kurt's mom and sister (Wendy O'Connor and Kimberly Dawn Cobain, respectively), who will not have power over the trust established after Kurt's death. Both Courtney and Frances Bean have been living in the city; Courtney recording a new Hole album... and making out with DJ Qualls. more ›

Bike riders weren't the only ones demonstrating in the rain yesterday; in Times Square a small but annoying group gathered to protest a Congressional proposal to tax breast augmentations, facelifts, tummy tucks and other procedures, as a way to fund a health care bill. The protest was organized by an affluent Park Avenue plastic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Greenberg, who was on hand holding a sign that read, "Washington leave our boobs alone." But this video of the small, shrill protest suggests that Greenberg might have his hands full trying to rally the masses. more ›

A new Siena poll shows that Governor Paterson's rating have improved a little bit. Apparently 36% have a favorable view of him, up from 27% in the spring. However, 65% of voters surveyed would rather vote for someone else in the 2010 election. Voters will prefer Andrew Cuomo—but in a matchup vs. Rick Lazio, Paterson finally beats him, 42% to 39%. Guess that reinvention plan can't come soon enough! more ›

Investigators believe that the gun used by a rapper and CD peddler who was killed after opening fire at police in Times Square might be tied to an interstate smuggling ring. more ›

After postponing two votes, two City Council subcommittees voted against a $310 million proposal to transform the Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping Mall. NY1 reports, "This is the first time the current City Council, that which was voted into office in 2001, has voted against a major Bloomberg administration proposal." more ›

Since May, a Philadelphia man has used Manhattan payphones to make 10 calls to 911 threatening to kill Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly, authorities tell NBCNewYork.com. Jeffrey Fisher, 48, is being held on $100,000 bail after his arraignment Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court on 10 counts of making a terroristic threat. According to prosecutors, his calls included such threats as, "I'm gonna come and kill your Mayor," and "The Mayor's office, he's a target, we will kill him." During one of four calls in October, he allegedly asked the operator to "tell Commissioner Kelly he is dead," and during another call he threatened to "kill the mayor if he shows up to the marathon." (This proved to be an empty threat.) more ›

Jamie Jungers, a Las Vegas cocktail waitress who claims to have had a relationship with Tiger Woods (who hasn't these days?!), tells The Real Deal that she's moving to NYC: "'With all the things that have happened,' plus a desire to pursue her modeling career, she said, 'it's probably in my best interest to move up here.' She said she plans to move to the Big Apple within the next couple of weeks and has not decided whether or not to give up her home in Las Vegas." Jungers, who complained about Tiger being cheap, is looking at a one-bedroom One Irving Place (the Zeckendorf Towers at Union Square), which rents for $3,000/month. more ›

New York's 28 adolescent prisons "are often sorely underresourced, and some fail to keep their young people safe and secure, let alone meet their myriad service and treatment needs," according to a new study by a state task force. In a policy that is "both extremely expensive and extraordinarily ineffective," the state spends about $210,000 annually for each of 900 young people it holds in "abysmal facilities where they receive little counseling, can be physically abused and rarely get even a basic education," the Times reports. more ›

When fares rose to $2.25 and the state legislature bailed out the MTA in May, it was with the understanding that there would be no service cuts. But now the MTA's "doomsday" scenario has been revived in order to cover an unexpected financial shortfall of nearly $400 million. A budget plan under consideration by the authority’s Finance Committee today would slash the number of subway trains during the day, late nights and weekends. Free or discounted fares for students would be phased out, dozens of bus lines would be reduced or eliminated, the W and Z would be terminated, and service on the M and G lines cut back. And people are pissed. more ›

The U.S. Post Service expects today to be its busiest day of the year, thanks to the last minute rush of cards and packages being sent to arrive in time for Christmas. According to reports, "USPS says holiday mail will increase by more than 40 percent. That amounts to about 830 million pieces of mail in one day. Postal workers say you should send all your packages by December 16 if you want them to reach their destinations by Christmas." more ›

NYC has the second highest cell phone tax rate in America, according to a study released by Representative Anthony Weiner, the Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet. His report shows that New Yorkers pay ten cell phone taxes and fees—more than any other major city in the country. And the tax rate is 16.20%, second only to Chicago, which clocks in at 19.02%. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] On the same day that a woman was killed while riding her bike in Greenpoint, protesters denounced the Bloomberg administration for removing a 14-block stretch of bike lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg. Approximately 15 cyclists braved the incessant rain to "resurrect" the bike lane, and according to progressive activist group Times Up, the small group was outnumbered by the NYPD. There were no arrests, but organizer Barbara Ross tells us Lieutenant Daniel Albano, head lawyer for the NYPD, was front and center. Check out this video of an absurdly long NYPD procession trailing the cyclists through the rain: more ›

Today's mid-day links: World Series Game tickets were hot sellers at Stubhub, a former decorated commander is returning to the NYPD to oversee CompStat, a Bridgewater, NJ high school says it's say, in spite of Columbine-style threats, and more. more ›

A 22-year-old man was shot and killed in a dispute over "bathroom rights" in a Bedford-Stuyvesant rooming house, according to the Daily News. Daquan Boyce called his mother late Saturday night and complained that another tenant in the building near the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard wouldn't allow him to use the bathroom. At around 3:30 am today, a brawl broke out amongst several men in the residence and Boyce — the father of an infant and a four-year-old — was shot four times, with several rounds hitting his stomach. He died at Kings County Hospital' police are trying to determine whether or not Boyce, who has a criminal record for drug and weapons possession, was selling drugs from the building. more ›

NYC club girl Cori Rist, one of Tiger Woods' many alleged paramours, appeared on the Today Show this morning to say that she feels guilty that she's causing Woods' wife pain, adding, "I hate that I'm a part of it." However, she did go into details about her two-and-a-half-year relationship with the renowned golf player, saying he claimed to be unhappy in his marriage but was just staying because his wife was pregnant! more ›

Police are looking for the boyfriend of the Queens artist who was discovered dead in her Long Island City apartment on Saturday. more ›

Last year, Queens resident Augusto Noguera was appointed to an administrative role in Paraguay's consulate in NY, apparently "as payback for supporting [its President Fernando] Lugo and other candidates in last year’s elections," according to the NY Times. Only, it turned out that Noguera was an illegal immigrant—he's currently "locked in an immigration detention center in Arizona," caught last month at the border carrying someone else's passport. The publisher of newspaper El Mirador Paraguayo laments, "We want qualified people with sensitivity to the needs of Paraguayans abroad, not political appointments. It’s more than embarrassing. We’re sad. Coming from one of the most corrupt countries in the world, we’ve lost the capacity to be embarrassed." more ›

Independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman surprised Democrats yesterday by declaring he would vote against the Senate health care bill in its current form. In an interview on Face the Nation, Lieberman said that he would "have a hard time" voting for the bill if it includes a compromise, reached last week, to set up insurance plans run by nonprofit companies supervised by the government, and allow people without insurance to buy into Medicare at age 55. His remarks seemed to surprise some Democratic leaders who thought Lieberman had agreed to go along with the compromise. more ›

Yesterday afternoon a British-born DJ residing in Brooklyn was struck and killed in Greenpoint while riding her bike to her day job at a florist. She was two blocks from her apartment, riding westbound on Nassau Ave. when a flatbed truck headed in the same direction sideswiped her near McGuinness Blvd. more ›

Citigroup has announced that it will return $20 billion that the U.S. government gave it in TARP bailout money last year. According to Bloomberg News, the banking giant "will raise the funds with a sale of $20.5 billion of equity and debt" and "also plans to substitute 'substantial common stock' for cash compensation." Notably, the move from under the government's thumb will also allow the firm to avoid executive pay restrictions. more ›

A 75-year-old man was fatally struck by a SUV in Sunset Park around 11:20 p.m. last night. A cabbie told the Daily News that Hugo Janssen was "crossing against the light" when he was hit by a Chevrolet Suburban at 45th Street and 4th Avenue. The same cabbie told the Post, "The SUV in front of me hit something. When I got closer, I saw it was a person lying flat on his face... I'm upset I didn't get the license." more ›

To keep the state from becoming "insolvent," Governor Paterson announced that he will withhold 10 percent of nearly $1.9 billion in funding for schools and municipalities — including New York City — that was supposed to be issued on Tuesday. As part of what he has described as a last ditch effort to avoid crossing "the financial Rubicon into fiscal disaster," Paterson will indefinitely delay the payout of $60 million in school aid and $23.9 million in municipal assistance that would have come to New York City. more ›

The Giants fell to the Eagles in a game without any D, the Jets routed the Bucaneers (in spite of Kellen Clemens being terrible) and the Nets managed to score 107 points—but gave up 130. more ›

Mamma mia! Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was hit in the face by a statue-wielding man in Milan. The 73-year-old leader, who had been signing autographs at the time, was rushed into his car—only to reappear briefly, his face bloodied, "apparently to show he was not badly injured." (Chaotic video here.) A 42-year-old man was apprehended; while the man doesn't have a criminal record, he has reportedly been treated for mental problems. Berlusconi had a "small fracture" to his nose, two broken teeth, and some cuts to his lip—and the hospital says he feels "demoralized." The last time we remember a world leader being attacked like this is...last December, when former President Bush was nearly shoed. more ›

The rapper and street peddler who was gunned down by cops in Times Square had a brush with fame last year when he defeated Kanye West on an MTV trivia show. more ›

The Yankees had a great week at the Winter Meetings, trading for Curtis Granderson and re-signing Andy Pettitte, but they still have some work to do if they want to repeat in 2010. Granderson gives the team a young, athletic centerfielder who will provide plenty of left-handed power. But, his addition will not make up for the potential loss of both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. One of those two should be retained, or another hitter brought in, to complete the lineup. And, while the top of the rotation is settled, who will fill the final two spots? more ›

Environmentalists say they've come up with an unlikely way to keep the city's tap water from becoming polluted: cow manure. Amidst mounting concerns about the impact of upstate natural gas drilling on New York City's water supply, the blog CleanTechnica reports on the burgeoning cow-power movement. more ›

Some of the Santas in the costumed Santacon bar crawl yesterday were naughty, according to police sources. An NYPD spokeswoman tells Gothamist that officers cracked down on holiday-clad revelers who were boozing in public in Washington Square Park. "There were 33 criminal court summonses issued for open containers," she said. "All of these were in the confines of the 6th Precinct." more ›

A robber held up a Queens nail salon on Saturday before fleeing from the shop in an ambulette. more ›

We sort of called it—after Ashley Dupre, best known as former Governor Spitzer's high-class escort, dished advice to Tiger Woods' wife, we thought she should consider a career as marriage counselor. Instead, she's found something way more fun for the NY Post—an assignment as their new sex columnist! more ›

"Don't bring expensive jewelry while giving birth" might be one lesson of this story from the Post: "An Upper West Side mom and Citigroup exec is suing to get back the baubles she left at Mount Sinai Medical Center's maternity ward. Alison Coen Searcy's suit accuses Marie Pugh, a since-fired nurse's aide, of grabbing $50,000 worth of bling on March 5, two days after Searcy's son was born." Searcy claims she left her "$22,000 diamond engagement ring, $8,800 wedding ring, $4,000 Cartier watch and $3,500 diamond ring on a windowsill before showering"—apparently Pugh was "allegedly captured on videotape entering the room about 15 minutes after the Searcys left." Coen Searcy wants the jewels or the money to cover them. more ›

The Giants did what they had to do last Sunday. Now the question is, can they do it again? Last week’s victory over the Cowboys put New York back into the playoff discussion. A win today would setup a whole new calculation. more ›

A Staten Island senior rescued his wife from a fire that ripped through their New Brighton apartment on Saturday — but he suffered a fatal heart attack on the way out of the building. more ›

After the city removed 14 blocks of bike lane in South Williamsburg, some activists tried to take back the streets—only to be arrested and for the DOT to paint over their efforts. Today, rain or shine, Times Up is holding a "New Orleans-style 'funeral procession' followed by a vigil" (and yes, the Bicycle Clown Brigade will be there). They are meeting at Brooklyn side entrance of the Williamsburg Bridge at 2 p.m. and the ride will end at a vigil for the bike lane at Bedford Ave & Wallabout St. You can share your photos by tagging them "gothamist" on Flickr or sending them to photos@gothamist.com. more ›