News

When temperatures rise, it seems like crime does too. And with January being unusually warm, there was a 5.7% jump in major city crimes. DNAinfo reports, "The increase is led by double-digit jumps in robberies, burglaries and grand larceny, police statistics show. Murder and rape reports are also up from the same time last year. NYPD insiders say the only logical explanation is the unseasonably warm weather that has New Yorkers, criminals included, spending more time outdoors on snow-free streets. In early 2011, criminals had to contend with snowdrifts and blizzards." more ›

A memo that was accidentally posted to the Nassau County DA's website reveals a different version of events surrounding the killing of an ATF agent who was trying to stop a pharmacy holdup in Seaford, Long Island. ATF agent John Capano was killed by a shot fired by a retired Nassau County cop, and the memo suggests the cop fired without asking who the perpetrator was. more ›

The United States and 49 state Attorneys General (no Oklahoma) reached a settlement with five banks over mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses and fraud. A press release states, "The settlement addresses past mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses and fraud, provides substantial financial relief to borrowers harmed by bank fraud, and establishes significant new homeowner protections for the future. This is the largest joint state-federal settlement in history and it is the result of a massive civil law enforcement investigation and initiative by state attorneys general, state banking regulators, and nearly a dozen federal agencies." more ›

Linsanity continued sweeping the nation last night as the Knicks beat the Washington Wizards behind a violent dunk from the surging Jeremy Lin (who also had a double-double!). Spike Lee was so moved by what he saw, he came up with a new-new nickname for Lin: "JEREMY "MY SHOT IS FALL"LIN." But perhaps the best part of the evening was when we all got a glimpse of Lin and Landry Fields' incredibly nerdy handshake: more ›

As anticipated, last night the DOT revealed forthcoming changes planned for Delancey Street, one of the most dangerous thoroughfares in the city. In five years, 129 people have been hurt in traffic crashes at the intersections of Delancey and Essex and Delancey and Clinton, and three pedestrians have been killed on Delancey in the past year. In response to calls for safety improvements, the DOT presented the plan [pdf] to the local Community Board last night. more ›

As the FBI continues to investigate PS 243 Teacher's Aide Taleek Brooks, 41, in regards to charges of both having and producing child pornography, Mayor Bloomberg has responded to the disturbing story with surprising nonchalance considering his normally outspoken views on education. more ›

When Governor Cuomo announced that the NY Department of Motor Vehicles would have a special Super Bowl XLVI Champions license plate for order, that surprised some NY state lawmakers, because they've been trying to get a license plate to commemorate 9/11 first responders and victims. Republican Assemblyman James Tedisco said, "I'm happy that the Giants won the Super Bowl as much as the next New Yorker, but who are the real heroes our state should first be celebrating with distinctive plates, the athletes on the gridiron or the first responders and the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11?" more ›

Forget about the score and the amazing ratings—if there is one fact you need to know about the Super Bowl this weekend it is this: after the game ended, so many people evacuated themselves in our fair city that water usage spiked 13 percent, a jump so big it caused the water level in the 30-foot-deep Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers to drop 2 inches. That's a whole lot of bowl bombing! more ›

A proposed hotel workers' union contract will give staffers panic buttons so "they can quickly and easily activate to effectively summon prompt assistance to their location." And here's a non-DSK reason why it seems like a good idea: Apparently a Midtown hotel guest from Ohio was arrested after allegedly trying to "hug" room service waitresses, who spotted guns in the room. more ›

Might as well start calling him Teflon Kelly—as far as public opinion polls go, scandals just don't seem to stick to our police commissioner. A new poll out of Quinnipiac University finds that 62 percent of New Yorkers approve of Kelly's job performance, down just four points since December despite the recent anti-Islam video brouhaha Kelly has been stuck in (to name just one of his headaches). In fact, when it comes to the treatment of muslims by the men in blue, New Yorkers don't seem too upset about how police handle the religion. more ›

Now that the Obama Administration has signaled it will reconsider the requirement to make insurance plans offered by Catholic universities and charities provide women with birth control without charging them, Archbishop Timothy Dolan is happy... for now. He told the Daily News, "I would welcome the fact of the government saying we’re willing to rethink this... The federal government should do what it has traditionally done since 1776 and keep its hand out of the internal workings of the church." more ›

Because you are unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker you know, check out today's mid-day links: Apple TV rumors, Arnold and Sly get shoulder surgery, and short people singing "Short People." Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

You know how all these Giants fans flocked to Indianapolis to go the Super Bowl and join in with various festivities? Well, now it seems there are two cases of measles (plus two probable cases) in central Indiana... and one of the people went to pre-Super Bowl events. more ›

Anti-Muslim graffiti was found scrawled on the side of a Kensington building Monday, and some local residents are worried the incident will spark racial tensions in the remarkably diverse neighborhood. The graffiti, which was left on the side of TDS Insurance on Beverly Road, declared that "Allah is Shit." The incident is being investigated as a bias crime, and some theorize that the vandalism may be retaliation for a rash of anti-Semitic graffiti left on Jewish homes and establishments in Midwood recently. more ›

Police say they found an infant girl abandoned in a Brooklyn apartment building just after midnight earlier today. The baby, believed to be about six months old, was found in front of a seventh-floor apartment at W. 33rd Street building in the O'Dwyer Houses; near her were a broken cell phone and a mini Vodka bottle. “She was cute. She was dressed in pink. She didn't even have shoes on, just socks," Angel Cruz told the News. more ›

A woman was rescued from the Metro-North tracks at Grand Central Terminal this morning. Authorities say that the 30-year-old "fainted and tumbled" into Track 28 after geting off a train that had arrived from Hartsdale around 8:30 a.m. more ›

The massive Giants Super Bowl ticker tape parade on Tuesday wasn't just about shredded Social Security numbers and Mike Tyson spotting: a group of rowdy Giants fans took some time out from their celebrating to wreck havoc upon a parked police car. One person stomps on the hood of the car and breaks the front window; another gets yanked off the car by a cop. Watch two videos of the scene below. more ›

A Chinese man is being scolded by the Internet for forcing his 4-year-old son to work out half-naked on the snowy streets of New York City last month. He Liesheng, who has been dubbed "Eagle Dad" because his tough child-rearing techniques remind some of an eagle shoving its young out of the nest, says he made his son exercise in the snow to get him to develop a "masculine temperament. I believe I am helping my son in this way, to force him to challenge limitations and exceed his own expectations." Here's video of the kid crying on the street in his underwear: more ›

Does it matter what gender is on your birth certificate? Apparently only sometimes. A 29-year-old ex-Marine is suing the city because since 2003 it has refused to acknowledge that he is not a she, no matter what his birth certificate says. more ›

Should the woman who filed a criminal complaint accusing Greg Kelly of rape herself be charged, now that the DA has declined to prosecute the Good Day New York host? The cop-friendly NY Post certainly thinks so. In addition to splashing her photo across today's front page (headline: "SHADY LADY"), the Post's Andrea Peyser is urging the DA to press charges against the woman, whom the tabloid has identified as Maria Di Toro. Quoth the Peyser: more ›

Some office workers tossed whole pieces of paper out of their windows during the Giants' ticker tape parade on Tuesday—and some of those papers included medical information with Social Security numbers. Other companies probably thought they were fine because they used shredded paper... but this photo shows that one firm probably needs a cross shredder, because this is clearly a stock call option. Probably with enough digging and tape, you could put together the whole document! more ›

Jeremy Lin took his show on the road -- to the tune of 23 points and 10 assists -- as the Knicks pulled away from the lowly Wizards in a 107-93 win in Washington. Lin even dunked the ball and has scored 20 or more points in three straight games. Of course, he has exploded against the Nets, the Jazz and the Wizards. Those teams average about nine wins, so everyone would be wise to take a deep breath. But Lin still has injected some intrigue to a Knicks team that looked oddly listless. They are still without Carmelo Anthony (groin injury) and Amare Stoudemire (family death), so Lin, who was cut by the Warriors and demoted by the Knicks earlier this season, will have a chance to create an even bigger foothold. more ›

Because Rex Ryan knows how to be the bigger man, check out today's end-of-day links: trademarking "Blue Ivy," Bon Iver reason for not performing at the Grammys, David Beckham's balls, and a plastic-eating addiction. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Last week, a single mother was arrested and charged with harassing and stalking Yankees general manager Brian Cashman amidst her claims that she had been Cashman's mistress since last April. Cashman is far and away not the first person Louise Neathway (who also goes by the last name Meanwell) has allegedly stalked—in all, 13 people have filed orders of protection against her since 1998. more ›

Brooklyn parents are still reeling over the revelation that Taleek Brooks, a teacher's aide at PS 243 (The Weeksville School), had been arrested twice this month for not only having but also producing child pornography—possibly inside the school itself. As the FBI started interviewing people today Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott stopped by for the second time in as many days. more ›

You'll recall that in 2002, the Catholic Church was deeply shaken (and continues to be) with numerous accounts of the sexual abuse of minors by priests. At the time, the Archbishop of New York and former bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Cardinal Edward Egan, apologized for what happened. Now retired, Cardinal Egan recently gave an interview to Connecticut Magazine, rescinding the apology. "First of all, I should never have said that. I did say if we did anything wrong, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we did anything wrong." more ›

As you can tell from the video montage below, Channel 11 News Director Tom Murphy really seems to enjoy his job, whether he's making Michael Jordan comeback references, quoting the "great poet and philosopher Nelly," or shouting out to all his "people in Jerz." The northern Michigan anchor's highlight reel was posted on Reddit by a local fan, and his effervescent style has elicited a range of reactions from people who don't know if they love him for his sincere enjoyment of his work, or hate him for being an overgrown frat bro. We will say he does a decent Victor Cruz salsa impression—but what's up with his eyesight? Does he need glasses to doesn't he?? more ›

The Transit Workers Union has been running a contest, asking New Yorkers to submit photographs of disgusting rats, to demand the MTA to improve current garbage cleaning/pick-up standards. And today the TWU has revealed the winner of a free monthly Metrocard. The Daily News reports that Michael Spivack's photograph of a rat with sores or burns or something horrible won over voters. more ›

Some Queens parents who are against vaccinating their kids on religious grounds have sued the city to get rid of the policy which keeps kids with communicable diseases out of school. "It is my opinion that resorting to vaccinations demonstrates a lack of faith in God, which would anger God and therefore be sacrilegious," said Fabian Mendoza-Vaca, the father of two students at P.S. 107, who sued the city last week in Queens Supreme Court to overturn principals’ decisions to send his kids home. more ›

Now that Karen Handel has stepped down from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, it seems that she can get back into Georgia Republican politics with her head held up high. One Georgia-based GOP strategist tells the AP, "It's kind of hard to criticize her now. She comes out of this with some really strong bona fides with pro-life voters across the state." Right, the pro-lifers who made an issue of her... being "barren," "infertile" and "desperate." more ›

Next Wednesday the City Council will hold hearings on the NYPD's handling of accident investigations, with a special focus on crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians. Among those expected to speak is the mother of Mathieu Lefevre, a cyclist who was killed by a flatbed truck driver one night in Williamsburg last October. The Lefevre family had to sue the NYPD to get basic information about the investigation and find out why the driver was not charged with a hit-and-run. Now Lefevre's mother Erika is expected to make the trip from her home in Canada to demand accountability from the NYPD. more ›

It took three days, but CNN has succumbed to pressure and suspended commentator Roland Martin after his arguably homophobic Super Bowl tweets about David Beckham's H&M ad. Somehow we don't think this spat is over just yet? more ›

With the euphoria of the Super Bowl finally wearing off, football fans, bloggers, reporters and caricaturists all have to face the fact that there are over 200 hundred days until the next season starts. Which means football fans have nothing better to do for the next 208 days than debate statistical/nerdgasm questions back and forth. Which is how we got to a point where everyone and their mother is asking: has Eli Manning now booked himself a one-way-ticket to the NFL Hall Of Fame? more ›

West Siders? It is almost your turn to curse the MTA for a few nights! That's right, the second round of the MTA's consecutive weeknight subway closures (a.k.a. FASTTRACK) is almost upon us—and this time the 1, 2 and 3 lines get the pleasure of shutting down below 34th Street, Monday through Friday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. So if you were planning on taking the train back uptown after a nice romantic Village Valentine's dinner, well...be prepared to cab it home, because platforms are going to start closing before 10 p.m. But, hey! Progress! more ›

The parents of a 5-year-old girl are outraged over their daughter's homework assignment, which included spelling exercises for the words as "GUN" and "ROB." NY1 reports that the Flushing family is "demanding answers" after seeing their daughter's lesson when she came home from school today. "She showed me her homework, I look at it and I see the word gun on it. The first thing I thought was oh no no no, I don't want you reading it, I don't want you spelling it. I don't even want you looking at the picture. Trying to keep her away from from violence and she is being drawn to it in her homework, and that's not something I want her to learn," Lawrence Gillman told NY1. more ›

It might be the bizarro world, but the Knicks are not complaining about the surging (if you can call two games a surge) Jeremy Lin. The Knicks had signed the Harvard graduate off of waivers last December as a backup point guard, not expecting much. But then a dazzling 25-point game against the Nets on Saturday—plus other Knicks injuries and absences—prompted coach Mike D'Antoni to start Lin against the Jazz. And Lin led the team with 28 points. So the NY Times has a feature on the "Linsanity": "From Ivy Halls to the Garden, Surprise Star Jolts the N.B.A." more ›

For years, Upper East Side residents have wondered whether the ongoing Second Avenue Subway work is causing them health issues, and in particular respiratory problems. But while those concerns have mostly been brushed aside, UES residents are now truly concerned about the health of their furry best friends: "There has definitely been an increase in complaints," Veterinarian Dr. Paul Schwartz told DNAInfo. more ›

The Department of Transportation will announce initiatives to improve safety along Delancey Street at a special meeting of Community Board 3 tonight. Four people familiar with the project told DNAinfo that the changes will include wider sidewalks, different signal timing, and improved traffic patterns. "We're going to see significant safety improvements on Delancey Street in months, not years," State Senator Daniel Squadron said. "This is a quick and dramatic proposal." more ›

Someone should tell the MTA that not all contract negotiations have to get serious after a contract has expired. Sometimes, they can wrap the whole thing up months before—and they can even include good news for employees. Take hotel workers, for instance. If their new contract is ratified on Monday (months before the old one ends) not only will workers start making more, but some of them will be getting outfitted with personal panic buttons—to try and prevent DSK 2: The Wrath Of Kahn, naturally. more ›

The city's proposal to rezone part of the Upper West Side to discourage big box chain stores and banks from proliferating will have "unanticipated consequence," according to the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. BID Executive Director Barbara Adler tells us the city's plan "is a solution looking for a problem. We have no problem on Columbus now. Columbus has been able to weather all markets for many years, it's in the historic district, it's different from Broadway and Amsterdam, and we feel tampering with our storefronts and telling property owners what they can or can't do would be huge mistake. " more ›

After a week of training in Mexico, the New York Red Bulls held their first pre-season match of 2012 against FC Dallas on Tuesday. Despite missing strikers Thierry Henry (loan), Luke Rodgers (visa), and Juan Agudelo (injury), the Bulls came away with a sound 2-0 victory in Cancun. more ›

Left for dead in Florida and Nevada, Rick Santorum won all three contests last night in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado, sending warning signals from Mitt Romney's CPU to the mini replica of the 2001 monolith that stands in for the candidate's heart. At his victory speech, Santorum said he wasn't aiming to become "the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama." more ›

Memo to Gisele Bundchen: Just because you're married to one of the best quarterbacks of all time, it doesn't make you an expert, okay? That's the message from the Giants, who beat the supermodel's husband and his Patriot teammates in a thrilling Super Bowl game—Brandon Jacobs said, "She just needs to continue to be cute and shut up." more ›

A group of straphangers who were stranded on an A train for eight hours overnight during the 2010 Christmas blizzard should take their legal complaint to the pearly gates, says the MTA. In a response to a lawsuit filed by several of the passengers, the MTA is blaming God in their defense. According to a court filing obtained by the Post, transit lawyers are arguing that "employees were confronted with an emergency situation by virtue of an Act of God." Please be patient, for the Lord moves in mysterious ways due to an earlier incident. more ›

The DA is throwing the book at the one-legged ex-con millionaire who was convicted of assaulting a Russian stripper in January. Manhattan prosecutors want to sentence Thomas Hartmann, who was found guilty of smacking Sophia Kandelaki with his Rolex watch, to a year in prison for the misdemeanor assault. Hartmann's lawyer has asked for more time to respond to the prosecutions' 11th hour demand: "We're hoping he can stay out (of jail) altogether," said Joseph Tacopina. more ›

"Poor management" at the Port Authority has resulted in billions of dollars in cost overruns at the World Trade Center site, according to an audit requested by Governors Cuomo and Christie, who control the Authority. The report, released yesterday, found the cost of rebuilding at the 16 acre site has risen to $14.8 billion, up from an $11 billion forecast in 2008. Auditors blasted the agency as "dysfunctional," and recommended a "top-to-bottom overhaul" if it is to stay solvent. more ›

Because chickens are really stupid dumb idiot creatures, check out today's mid-day links: spreading Santorum, gorilla plays the recorder, Ellen DeGeneres responds to anti-gay group, and a brief history of librarian-porn. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Could it be that we'll have a brush with winter today? The weekend too? It's true! There's a storm passing south of the city today that's not quite nor' enough to be a nor'easter but will bring cooler air, clouds and maybe a few flurries or snow showers. No accumulation is expected except in Union Square. Today's high will flirt with 40 degrees. more ›

Unable to find lucrative lawyer work, several ingenious graduates of the Brooklyn Law School have simply decided to sue the law school. The Daily News reports that Jesse Strauss, a 2003 Brooklyn Law grad, is representing the four graduates in a lawsuit that accuses the school of misleading them into thinking their law degree would be a guaranteed entrée into the bourgeoisie. more ›

A NJ man is accused of impersonating a cop and threatening hookers with jail time if they wouldn't give him free sex. Warren D. Taylor, 32, was caught after police tracked down a cell phone number he had given to one of the women he allegedly attacked; Taylor was allegedly taking a page from real cops, and trying to become her pimp. more ›

In today's Presidential capitulation triangulation news bulletin, the Obama administration has signaled that it will rethink a law that would require insurance plans offered by Catholic universities and charities to provide women with birth control without charging them. “We’re going to look for a way to move forward that both provides women with the preventative care that they need and respects the prerogatives of religious institutions," David Axelrod told MSNBC yesterday. "To turn it into a kind of political football to take advantage—to try and capitalize that isn't going to make it easier to resolve that issue," Obama For America's football coach said without a hint of irony. more ›

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As expected, last night the Manhattan DA formally declined to press charges against "Good Day New York" host Greg Kelly, who was accused of raping a woman in her office last October. And the NY Post wasted no time identifying his accuser: They say name her is Maria di Toro, and there are some glamor shots of her here. Di Toro has yet to issue a public statement, but last night reporters confronted her mother outside her Port Washington, Long Island home. more ›

A tourist from Texas reportedly experienced a New York nightmare last weekend. While visiting the city the 19-year-old says she was sexually assaulted in her midtown W Hotel room. Since the assault, the NYPD have arrested two Swedish tourists they say were involved in the crime. more ›

Yesterday's ticker tape parade for the Super Bowl XLVI Championship Giants was boisterous and loud. But our embedded reporters noticed that whole pieces of paper were thrown out of windows, instead of locally-sourced confetti or shredded paper—in fact, in some instances, it seemed like someone opened up a new ream of paper and threw a stack of sheets out. Now, Inside Edition has discovered that at least some office workers were throwing papers with people's personal information—like SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS—out during the revelry! more ›

It seems like the Devils and Rangers engaged in a great hockey game last night! Unfortunately, those of us in New York City with Time Warner Cable couldn't see it because TWC and MSG seem determined to ruin the lives of sports fans in the region with their dispute. more ›

The Manhattan DA's office will not pursue rape charges against Greg Kelly, a Fox 5 co-anchor and son of NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. "The facts established during our investigation do not fit the definition of sexual assault crimes," Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office wrote in a letter to Kelly's lawyer that was obtained by the New York Times. more ›

Today's end-of-day links include Jerry Seinfeld's run-in with a naked onanist in Central Park, Grant Achatz may be bringing Aviary to NYC, the scary model with the 20-inch waist and more. Follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

A teacher who was fired for saying on Facebook she'd like to see her "devil spawn" fifth grade students drown still wants her job back—and a Manhattan Supreme Court judge is on her side. But the city? Not so much! more ›

Oil and gas companies spent millions of dollars on lobbying Albany to make a decision on hydrofracking, but the state doesn't seem any closer to allowing the practice and all sides are urging caution. "I wouldn't say it's a given," Republican state senator and hydrofracking advocate Tom Libous tells the Times. "Economically, we need it desperately. But at the end of the day, if the scientists and geologists at the D.E.C. say 'this is not a good thing to do,' I'm not going to challenge it." Did the earth just shift, or what? more ›

In 2009, the city passed tough new regulations requiring drivers to stop their engines after three minutes (or within one minute if parked in a school zone), or face steep fines. The changes were intended to help lower NYC's high childhood asthma rates—the malady is the most common cause of hospitalization for New York children 14 years and younger. It was nice, feel-good legislation, but unfortunately it hasn't been much more than a feeling. Out of the 10 million parking tickets issued each year, traffic enforcement agents have only issued a few thousand idling tickets, and environmentalists are steamed. more ›

The explosion of confetti along the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI Ticker Tape Parade route was beautiful. And messy. The Department of Sanitation got right to work on its "giant" task (yes, the DSNY's press release says "giant" task!): more ›

Sure, fair weather fans happen all the time, that is the nature of sports. And they turn out especially strong when there is a giant parade to go to. But this blonde woman that NBC caught up with after today's giant Giants parade just gives lady football fans a bad rap. We know keeping track of two football teams in the city is hard and all, but c'mon! more ›

The FBI last night arrested PS 243 teacher's aide Taleek Brooks for the second time this month on child pornography charges. When Brooks was arrested the first time it was simply for having child pornography on his Brooklyn computer. The second arrest was because it appears that Brooks was producing child pornography, too. Did we mention he was making the videos in school? more ›

Take a look at some photographs of Giants fans celebrating the franchise's fourth Super Bowl Championship at this morning's ticker tape parade. See people standing on top of some poor driver's van. Observe the police take down a guy who tried to cross a barrier (we hear he was drunk and possibly took a swing at a cop). Live vicariously through these videos below: more ›

A state law against loitering has been ruled unconstitutional three times since it was passed in 1965, but the city has continued to enforce it, often using it as an excuse to round up the homeless in bus terminals and men whom cops perceive as gay and "cruising" for sex. In 2010 a judge held the city in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders to stop enforcing these loitering laws, and now, finally, a federal court has approved a class action settlement requiring the city to pay $15 million dollars to approximately 22,000 New Yorkers who were charged under unconstitutional “loitering” statutes between 1983 and this year. more ›

A new book by the Catholic Church's self-proclaimed exorcism expert alleges that Pope Benedict XVI performed an exorcism on two possessed men in St. Peter's Square three years ago. The two men "banged their heads on the ground" waiting for Benedict to work his magic faith. "They were trembling, slobbering, working themselves into a frenzy," Father Gabriele Amorth writes. Hear that, Benedict? Boston needs you. more ›

The Daily News has awful details about the Bedford-Stuyvesant home invasion-turned-sexual assault. According to the News, "When their victim, who was tied in a bedroom, refused the sexual demands, 'the defendant threatened to shoot her,' [Brooklyn ADA Wilfred] Cotto said of the youngest in the crew." And that suspect is 13-years-old. more ›

Lawyers representing the Bronx teen who was seen being beaten by cops in a widely circulated video are demanding a special investigator take over the probe. more ›

Only fitting that the day after we wrote about the silly man who wants to rename the Kips Bay neighborhood NoEVil (North of the East Village) we'd find out that today is, arguably, the 52nd anniversary of the East Village itself its moniker. Yup, as EVGrieve notes, the Paper of Record first mentioned the "East Village" in a February 7, 1960 story called "Village' Spills Across 3D Ave." The best part? The name is, naturally, all the fault of the real estate agents! more ›

No matter your issues with our billionaire mayor from Boston—where to start?—you have to give the man credit: He sure gives away a lot of dough. Hot on the heels of his quarter-million matching donation to Planned Parenthood the Chronicle of Philanthropy has declared Mike Bloomberg the fifth most generous person in all the land. According to their count hizzoner gave $311,276,000 away last year! more ›

Last night President Obama announced that he will join his Republican counterparts in suckling from the opaque, monied teat of super PACs. "Our campaign has to face the reality of the law as it currently stands," Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina wrote in an email to supporters. "We're not going to fight this fight with one hand tied behind our back," Messina added later. "Democrats can't be unilaterally disarmed." Mutually assured destruction has been achieved. more ›

There's nothing like a good viral video to change the focus of Patriots fans' anger. Now that everyone knows how Gisele Bundchen fired back at a Giants fan who said, "Eli owns your husband!" by slamming Tom Brady's colleagues—"My husband cannot (bleeping) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times"—the supermodel gets the "Super Brat" treatment on the Beantown tabloid, The Boston Herald. more ›

Today's mid-day links include Tony Bennett's face-tattooed fan, Clint Eastwood insists his Chrysler ad was not a secret Obama 2012 ad, the terrible Washington state murder-suicide gets worse and more. Follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

While nearly a million Giants fans pack into Lower Manhattan this morning for a parade celebrating the triumph of one billion-dollar corporation over another, veterans of the Iraq war have yet to be honored in the Canyon of Heroes. "If a football team gets a parade, shouldn't our veterans?" asks Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Former Mayor Ed Koch agrees, and tells the Times, "I believe a parade is required, is necessary, and New York City is the place to have it." more ›

Today's ticker tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes isn't the only Giants celebration happening today. Chris Christie, who insists on calling the team the New Jersey Giants, is throwing a celebration of his own at MetLife Stadium. And Naughty by Nature will be there! more ›

The Vietnam veteran who spotted an SUV packed with explosives while selling handbags in Times Square last year is now running for Congress. Duane Jackson was one of the street vendors who first noticed the Nissan Pathfinder parked on Broadway by 45th Street with its motor running and smoke coming out of it. He alerted police immediately, and was soon hailed a hero, feted by government officials and even receiving a phone call from President Obama. "Kind of going back to that whole May 1st (2010) incident, as I step back, it kind of changed my perspective of where I am in my life right now," Jackson tells LoHud.com. "This is my time to get involved and I’m going to." more ›

How many times do we have to tell you? Never take your light saber to a bar. Bad, bad idea. Today's lesson in leaving your light saber at home is courtesy of Flynn Michael, an engineer from Bed-Stuy who is now offering a $100 reward for the return of his saber. According to the Brooklyn Paper, back in September Michael put his custom made $400 light saber "beneath the bar" at Project Parlor, and when he went to grab it a little after 2 a.m., it was missing. more ›

Did you have to battle crowds of people wearing #10 jerseys during your commute this morning? The Giants Super Bowl XLVI celebratory parade begins at 11 a.m., and crowds are already 10-15 people deep along the route. Our Tien Mao is at the scene and reports that a fan told a Department of Sanitation worker, "You're going to hate me, I have silly string." The DSNY worker replied, "I have overtime." more ›

Hundreds of people gathered outside the 47th Precinct station house last night to protest Thursday's killing of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham at the hands of an NYPD officer. Marching from the family's home on East 229th Street, the crowd chanted "NYPD KKK" and "No Justice, no peace!" According to the Times, Graham's sister Leona Virgo addressed the crowd. "This is not just about Ramarley," she said. "This is about all young black men." more ›

The Susan G. Komen Foundation executive who was behind the breast cancer charity's decision to defund Planned Parenthood's breast cancer-prevention programs has stepped down today. Karen Handel, Komen's VP for public policy, wrote in her resignation letter, "I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve." more ›

The man found dead by firefighters after they extinguished a blaze in the 63rd Street / Lexington Avenue F station has been identified as Anthony Horton, a homeless man who co-wrote a graphic novel about his life underground. On a website promoting the graphic novel, called Pitch Black, Horton explained his life: "I was born to people who didn’t want me and so they gave me away. But I guess the people they gave me to didn’t want me either. No one wanted me. That’s why I ended up on the streets alone and uneducated. I couldn’t read or write. I didn’t know anything and the whole world knew it." more ›

An Astoria man wanted for questioning regarding the vicious bludgeoning of his wife, special needs teacher Tara Hawes, was captured in Connecticut Sunday. Jordan Hawes had been on the lam since last week. Hawes, who has not been charged with any crime, is reportedly being held in a psychiatric ward in a Connecticut hospital. more ›

The city's Law Department has filed two more lawsuits against stores that exploit a perceived loophole in the city's obscene cigarette tax law. You'll recall that New York Smokes, a retail tobacco outlet on Staten Island, was making bank selling customers loose tobacco, which is taxed at a far lower rate than cigarettes. Customers would then roll their own smokes in the store using cigarette stuffing machines, walking out with a pack for about $6—far less than the average $13 price. But then the city cracked down on that enterprise, and now the guv'ment is going after two more shops. more ›

While most of the Giants arrived at Newark International Airport yesterday afternoon, there was one notable member of the squad missing: Super Bowl XLVI MVP Eli Manning. It seems that the quarterback was cheating on his team with... Disney characters. more ›

Despite playing without Amare Stoudemire (who was in Florida after his brother died in a car accident) and a groin injury to Camrelo Anthony, the Knicks were able to beat the Jazz, 99-98. Jeremy Lin, making his first career start, had 28 points and may be persuading coach Mike D'Antoni that he is a viable option at point guard. Steve Novak scored 19 off the bench as part of a who's who box score for the Knicks. The win was their second straight. more ›

Workers have been busily preparing the stage for tomorrow's post-ticker tape parade ceremony where Mayor Bloomberg gives the Super Bowl XLVI Champion Giants keys to the city. The ticker tape parade begins at 11 a.m. at Battery Place and Washington Street, and then the floats go up the Canyons of Heroes to Worth Street, to be showered with tons of locally sourced confetti, which is an upgrade after toilet paper celebrations. more ›

Today's end-of-day links include a stupid Congressman, The Voice's big night, a shoeing arrest, and more. Follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Around 3:30 p.m., the MTA Tweeted, "#ServAdv: #6 via express, both directions, b/t 125th St & 42nd St-Grand Central due to NYPD investigation at 77th St," and nearly an hour later, "#ServAdv: Customer struck by train at 77th St is deceased, NYPD investigation ongoing service changes on #6 remain. Expect delays on #4 #5" more ›

It goes without saying that John F. Kennedy's missile was never in crisis (ZING). The 35th president has a long and storied list of not-Jackies that he bedded and his quicksilver loins are ensconced in American political lore. But a new autobiography written by JFK's 19-year-old White House intern, Mimi Alford, makes the man look less like a smooth operator and more like a garden-variety pervert. Using an excerpt of the book obtained by the Post, we've determined these moments to be JFK's creepiest. more ›

Celebrating the Giants' Super Bowl victory might have meant cheering and high-five-ing folks in Times Square, but when you're in Bay Ridge, it means toilet paper, firecrackers, and standing in front of cars. (Tomorrow's ticker tape parade should be real!) Check out videos of some celebrations in neighborhoods including Bay Ridge, Howard Beach, the Upper East Side and Astoria. more ›

More dolphins have beached themselves on the shores of Cape Cod in the past three weeks than typically beach in an entire year, and marine biologists have no idea why. This is the "single largest stranding" of dolphins in the Northeast since at least 1999, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and rescuers anticipate more to come. Interestingly, this is happening just as Congress is poised to cut funding for stranding response teams nationwide. "If scientists do not have the funds to determine the cause of a mass mortality event, there could be a threat to public health without anyone knowing," the IFAW warned Congress last week. Here's an MSNBC news video segment from the dolphin-clogged beaches of Cape Cod: more ›

Superman is currently atop the statue of George Washington in Union Square. And it appears that he needs a man bun. Twitter users and our handy police blotter note that a large crowd has gathered around Superman, who may or may not be shouting something about freeing humanity. Oh get a job, Superman! We know print media's in a tough spot right now but if you send your resume to BuzzFeed Ben he may bite. more ›

In an article that confirms all of the suspicions about why the Susan G. Komen Foundation decided to defund breast cancer prevention programs at Planned Parenthood, the Huffington Post reports that a Komen source says vice president for public policy Karen Handel was the "main force behind the decision to defund Planned Parenthood and the attempt to make that decision look nonpolitical." The source said, "Karen Handel was the prime instigator of this effort, and she herself personally came up with investigation criteria. She said, 'If we just say it's about investigations, we can defund Planned Parenthood and no one can blame us for being political.'" more ›

Demonstrators affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement interrupted a legislative budget hearing in Albany to make some noise about taxes. The protest interrupted testimony by Taxation & Finance Commissioner Thomas Mattox, who was being questioned about an agreement between T&F and the Inspector General’s office that enabled IG to look at tax returns of state employees. Here's video: more ›

The history of New York City is littered with neighborhood names that have stuck—South of Houston, SoHo; Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, DUMBO—and those that have not stuck nearly as well—Pro-Cro, Crown Heights; North of Madison Park, NoMad—so hopefully the latest one being proposed will be disposed of quickly. In the Times Real Estate section this weekend an enterprising Kips Bay resident wrote in to suggest that the small neighborhood next to Murray Hell Hill be renamed NoEVil. As in North of the East Village. Gag us with a spoon. more ›

You know what would complete your ecstasy of the Giants' Super Bowl victory over the Patriots AND help out NY State's revenue? Getting a special Giants Super Bowl XLVI victory license plate. more ›

The bizarre case of the woman accused of stalking Yankees GM Brian Cashman exploded into the tabloids last week and yesterday, the Daily News revealed that Louise Neathway (sometimes referred to as Louise Meanwell) claimed she was pregnant with the married Cashman's baby and had an abortion. Now the News' rival gets word from Neathway's mom about her apparent bluff. more ›

The MTA is taking seriously a proposal to bring Metro-North and 28,000 more commuters to Penn Station. Trains on the Hudson and New Haven lines would use existing Amtrak lines to service the West Side, but the LIRR would be forced to cut some service to make room for Metro-North, a move that advocates for the plan say is only fair given that the LIRR will serve Grand Central in 2018. Naturally, some (read: Long Islanders) are skeptical. "It's the old saying," the executive director for the Association for a Better Long Island tells Newsday. "Once it's gone, it's gone forever." Yet this assertion was famously disproved by the McRib and the Mickey Rourke Accords of 2005. more ›

An area Giants fan won some money after his beloved "G-men" won the Super Bowl yesterday, and his dignified celebration was captured on video and posted on YouTube. Then BuzzFeed picked it up, and here we are. (Look, we don't make the rules.) To be sure, it is pretty "LOL" to watch this grown man completely "OMG" lose his shit like a tween going "WTF?" outside a Ke$ha concert. But it's even LOLer when his wife appears to warn his kids not to post the video on YouTube. In response, the exultant winner orders his son to post it on "IRS YouTube." more ›

Today's mid-day links include making crazy overtime, Schumer thinks the press is always negative, tragedy for Amare Stoudemire and more. Follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Though we found last night's Super Bowl ads pretty tame, at least one of them has managed to cause a bit of controversy. Damn you, David Beckham for causing heterosexual men to question their sexuality! Because of Mr. Posh Spice's H&M ad, GLAAD is now calling on CNN to fire commentator Roland Martin. more ›

It must be pretty rough being beautiful and rich when God doesn't answers your prayers for your handsome and rich husband to win the Super Bowl. Which is probably why supermodel Gisele Bundchen lashed out at someone who yelled, "Eli owns your husband!" after Big Blue bested the Patriots once again in the Super Bowl. The bodacious Brazilian was caught on tape saying, "You (have) to catch the ball when you’re supposed to catch the ball. My husband cannot (bleeping) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times." more ›

Once upon a time we used to spend an inordinate amount of time after school sitting on the floor of the Hudson News on Broadway and Eighth Street reading any and every magazine we could grab before buying one (maybe) and heading home. That adolescent magazine habit would have been much harder for us to foster had Hudson News and its ilk not existed, and for that reason we mourn Robert B. Cohen, the former president of that chain who helped change the way travelers buy magazines. Cohen died last week at the age of 86. more ›

It was a violent weekend in Queens: In the span of 12 hours, three people were killed in three separate incidents. more ›

When do you think the latest date is that really cold weather can strike New York? That depends on how you define "really cold" but this graph of every January through March daily temperature since 1971 has the answer. The squiggly line is the mean and that bottomed out a couple weeks ago at 29 degrees. Following the January Thaw, the curve reaches another nadir on February 5th before beginning a slow increase. We should dutifully point out that the thaw, like all the day-to-day squiggles in the line, is not statistically significant -just look at that variability. From a climate perspective there is still a chance of cold weather, but the odds are against us having a brutally cold week like what happened in 1979. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] We've received a report that a Manhattan-bound F train was delayed this morning because a woman was going into labor, and the MTA has confirmed it. The woman was "removed by EMS from Southbound F Train at 21st-Queensbridge," and the delay was from 8:58 a.m. until 9:21 a.m. This is officially a trend! Will the next issue of Brooklyn Magazine skewer the designer afghans you can spread out on train benches for when little Dylan greets the world? more ›

"Why are the people at our school fucking retarded?" wonders one University of Massachusetts-Amherst student as she videotapes the wild scene on campus from the safety of her dorm room last night. On the quad below, an estimated 1,500 students had gathered so express their outrage at billionaire Robert Kraft's devastating Super Bowl loss. Students set off fireworks, threw bottles, and chanted "Fuck the Giants" until riot police arrived, at which point the chant segued to "Fuck the police." Here's a bird's eye video from the dorm room, complete with co-ed commentary: more ›

The Giants' Super Bowl win over the Patriots for the second time in four years does mean a lot of deja blue jokes. And there's lot of happy Eli Manning, sad Tom Brady, and Ahmad Bradshaw butt, too. Check 'em out. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] This YouTube video has it all: a highly intoxicated person, an unsteady documenter, very little information, no closure, and an MGMT soundtrack. The footage was uploaded last night, and we've contacted the uploader to get more details about the scenario. But until we hear back, let's discuss: should the fellow straphangers have made more of a hands-on effort to help this guy out? Or were they all (except for the MTA worker who has a brief interaction with him) too drunk from the big game, too? more ›

An unidentified middle-aged man died after a fire engulfed an unused room in the Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street F station. MTA officials believe the man was living in the room, which is located about 150 feet from one of the F train platforms. Firefighters were called to the station around 8:30 last night to investigate reports of smoke in the station. They soon traced the smoke to the room, which the MTA says had been used for communications. more ›

This is what it looked like at the Crossroads of the World after the New York Giants stunned naysayers by winning Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17, over the New England Patriots. Enjoy the classy, sarcastic "Let's Go Patriots!" chant by smug Giants fans! more ›

The Super Bowl wasn't the only event involving local teams on Sunday — there were also two hockey games. At Madison Square Garden, the Rangers defeated the Flyers, 5-2, for the fourth consecutive time this season and the sixth time in a row going back to last season. In a physical game with four fights, the Rangers pulled away from a 2-2 tie with Philadelphia by scoring three goals in the 3rd period. more ›

They didn't quite get a helmet catch, but after a thrilling game with a dramatic last drive, the Giants came back to defeat the New England Patriots and win Super Bowl XLVI 21-17. An estimated 111 million U.S. viewers watched as the Giants became the first 9-7 team to win the Super Bowl. Mario Manningham's fourth quarter catch with less than four minutes left in the game was one of the defining plays, setting up Brandon Jacob's butt-first, clock-eating game-winning touchdown. And in case you were wondering, the game finished at 9:55 p.m. more ›

Because a year-round puppy channel seems like the best idea ever, check out today's end-of-day links: lady sues NYC for $900 trillion, Kanye West's favorite cereal, Mayor Bloomberg's BIG plans, and dangerous Michael Jackson impersonations. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

As expected, Mitt Romney soundly beat Newt Gingrich in the Nevada caucuses yesterday, no thanks to Donald Trump, who endorsed the candidate on Thursday. According to an extremely scientific poll of Nevada Facebook users, just 9.6% thought it had a positive affect on Romney, 41.4% voted "negative," and 49% voted "neither." In other equally important polling news, Rasmussen finds that Santorum beats Obama if you sample 12% of the electorate, and a certain cat has outsourced his way to impending victory. more ›

With all the talk here at Giantsist.com about tonight's Super Bowl XLVI game between the Giants and the New England Patriots, it's easy to lose focus of just how incredible Super Bowl XLII was—who could have guessed that an incredible David Tyree helmet catch would become the symbol for the team's unlikely upset victory over the Pats? more ›

Ever since the Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers in a tough OT game two weeks ago, we've been noticing more and more people on the subways and sidewalks wearing Giants gear—EV Grieve noticed the same phenomenon, with lots of Duane Reades and bars suddenly becoming diehard fans. But while they label those people "bandwagon jumpers," we have a far more sympathetic view of them. For you see, on this Sunday-est of all Sundays, we are all Giants fans—except for insane Pats fans and depressed Jets fans. more ›

All week, the internet has been making fun of the infamous Huffington Post, "What Time Does The Superbowl Start" SEO-trolling article from last year. As Deadspin summarized, the post existed "for the sole purpose of garnering internet search traffic from the thousands of people Googling 'what time does the superbowl start?'" And it was damn successful too. But instead of just following that trail, we thought we'd pose a much more difficult question to pin down: what time does the Superbowl Super Bowl end? more ›

Those of you who ditch the office for the weekend at 3 p.m. on Fridays on the pretense of "picking up some of those sour candy straws": the MTA is on to you. A recent report co-authored by an MTA researcher shows that bus service on Fridays between noon and 3 p.m. experiences a "mini-surge," but drops off later in the evening for a 5% total dip in customers. Naturally, the implication is that the agency could cut or "adjust" Friday bus service and save $13 million. more ›

This week, a single mother was arrested and charged with harassing and stalking Yankees general manager Brian Cashman amidst her claims that she had been Cashman's mistress since last April. Cashman's life has gotten increasingly messy since then: his wife has filed for divorce, the Post has been trailing him everywhere he goes, and now, emails between him and alleged mistress Louise Neathway have been released, including one which contained an ultrasound picture "proving" Cashman got her pregnant: “What Brian Cashman has done to me is both incomprehensible and unforgivable...I am going to the press and informaing [sic] them of the preganacy [sic] and the abortion. And everything else.” more ›

We applaud those who show compassion towards the fat, feathered, bike-lane blocking disease bags that call our city home, be it the NYPD or a St. Francis stand-in. But saving a wounded pigeon is a Sisyphean effort: there's a good chance it will be euthanized, and there is no shortage of pigeons. "I think it's very nice that someone is willing to take care of these sick animals in the city," Dr. Charles Welcott, a former director of the Cornell Lab of Orinthology tells the Times. "But as a nasty biologist I think it probably doesn't make a difference in the big scheme." more ›

The police say that four teens, including a 13-year-old boy, have been arrested for "a broad-daylight home invasion that degenerated from armed robbery into the sexual assault of a Brooklyn woman for nearly an hour," according to the Post. more ›

According to sources, the NY Giants and New England Patriots are playing in the "Super Bowl" today in Indianapolis. Fans have already started converting their lawns into tributes to the gritty men and women who shall do battle today for our undying love (and/or hatred). What this all has to do with bowls, heaven knows. But it should make for some tasty bread, and some delicious circus. more ›

Surveillance video outside the Bronx home of Ramarley Graham shows police struggling to enter the residence and kicking in a door moments before an NYPD officer shot and killed the unarmed 18-year-old in his bathroom. While surveillance footage from a neighboring home showed Graham running down the street with police pursuing, this footage obtained by WPIX 11 shows Graham casually entering his house. Seconds later two NYPD officers with their guns drawn attempt to break down the door. more ›

Parents of students in a Washington Heights kindergarten class are freaking out after they heard that their kids were caught touching and kissing each other in school. The mother of a girl at PS 189 was told by school officials in a meeting that a group of 5-year-olds had been engaged in the sexual behavior: “They were exposing themselves and showing their body parts to each other. From what I understand, they were kissing and touching,” the mother told the Post. “They were trying to say that my daughter was inviting these children to do this to her.” more ›

There are lots of parallels you can draw between the 2007 Giants and the 2011 Giants. Both teams gelled late in the season. Both teams went on the road and beat the #1 seed in the NFC. Both teams won the NFC Championship in OT. And both teams went to the Super Bowl and faced the Patriots. more ›

After the discovery of slain special needs teacher Tara Hawes in her and her husband's Astoria home on Thursday night, police have been searching for husband Jordan Hawes and released a surveillance image of him using his wife's ATM card on Tuesday. more ›

Good news for the Knicks: They are probably still better than the Nets. The bad news: They needed a spark from Jeremy Lin to prove it. The Harvard guard product scored 25 points (obviously a career high) to help the sluggish Knicks to a 99-92 win. Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chanlder each had 17 points, but Lin was the story. He added seven assists and even outshone Nets start Deron Williams. Lin's alma mater also beat Columbia on Saturday night. more ›

Because you love seeing video of two-faced animals, check out today's end-of-day links: the Giants' website jumps the gun, Ja Rule checks in from prison, Harrison Ford's "Blade Runner" talks, and Woody Harrelson's Reddit disaster. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Redistribution of wealth doesn't get much faster than this—a man who had to leave his apartment because he couldn't pay rent allegedly stole a $400,000 Bentley Supersports Coupe after a parking attendant left the keys in the car. We blame the owner: if you're wealthy enough to buy a $400,000 car, aren't you wealthy enough to hire a manservant to babysit it too? more ›

The northern New Jersey assistant principal who has been accused of planting a hidden camera to videotape boys showering at a NJ Catholic high school where he volunteered for nearly three years has resigned from his job, more than a month after he was first arrested. Patrick Lott had been placed on an unpaid leave of absence as an assistant principal at the Bernardsville Middle School after being arrested last December, but it took until this week for Lott to officially step down amidst 22 counts of invasion of privacy (one for each victim), and more than two dozen counts of child endangerment. So despite "several" videos of nude teenagers showering being found at Lott's house, he was still given a gentleman's period to gracefully step aside. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg may tell you to "deal with it" when it comes to blizzards, paying for the FDNY to respond to your crash, smoking, cutting the number of teachers, brazen corruption, and police raiding your stupid protest, but let's face it: When he announced he'd donate up to $250,000 to Planned Parenthood, you liked him for at least five minutes. more ›

Hey, remember Roger Toussaint? He was the president of the Transit Workers Union Local 100 who made the decision to lead its members on a two-and-a-half day transit strike in 2005. More recently he's been vice president in charge of strategic planning at TWU, but now the Daily News reports he was at the MTA's Brooklyn office to be "reinstated as a track workers... [He] filed paperwork and took a physical required of any employee seeking to return after an extended absence, sources said." And when told of the news, a TWU official said, "Holy s---." more ›

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit against Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo yesterday for using "false and misleading information" to foreclose on properties. more ›

Would-be criminals don't seem to be learning their lesson: if you steal an iPhone, cops will use the Find My iPhone app to track you down. And if you're really dumb, you may get caught in an embarrassing manner. Case in point: according to CBS, two cops found a stolen iPhone after they heard it ringing inside the pants of a 14-year-old suspect. more ›

In the wake of the Susan G. Komen Foundation's change-of-heart regarding funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer-prevention measures, the Komen foundation finds itself reeling from a public relations disaster that may have left it irrevocably harmed. A Komen affiliate in Colorado told the Washington Post, "I felt like we were eaten alive. We had no advance warning.. . . We were sent into battle without armor." more ›

Four Occupy Wall Street protesters face felony charges after last week's "Occuparty" in an unfinished condo is Williamsburg. Three men and one woman are charged with riot, assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct according to information obtained from the Brooklyn DA's office by the Post. more ›

Commissioner Ray Kelly clarified yesterday that contrary to earlier reports, no struggle occurred between 18-year-old Ramarley Graham and the officer who fatally shot him in the bathroom of his Bronx home on Thursday. The Post reports that the two officers involved have been stripped of their weapons and assigned to desk duty, and the case will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether a crime was committed. "We're still evaluating the actions here," Kelly said. "We see an unarmed person being shot. That always concerns us." more ›

This week, a single mother was arrested and charged with harassing and stalking Yankees general manager Brian Cashman amidst her claims that she had been Cashman's mistress since last April. In the wake of that publicly humiliating event, as well as a previous revelation of a longtime alleged mistress by Deadspin, Cashman's wife Mary has now filed for divorce from him, writing that the marriage “has broken down irretrievably.” more ›

Suffolk County police pulled a man who had been swerving on County Road 19 in Holbrook on Thursday night—and found that he seemed "confused" and couldn't locate paperwork. And then the driver admitted he had been swerving so he could blow into his ignition interlock device. more ›

Despite leading for much of the game, the Knicks fell to the Celtics 91-89. Both Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler had double-doubles, but the Boston defense stifled the Knicks down the stretch and cut off Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. He led the Knicks with 26 points. The Knicks have lost 11 of 13 games. more ›

Because you'd like to go on an ice cream date with Rex Ryan, check out today's end-of-day links: BMW sponsors a fatal cold front, Mark Sanchez/Kim Kardashian rumors, an Asparamancer, and Super Bowl party tips. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

For the second time in a week, future president Newt Gingrich blasted the out-of-touch snobs who use our city's subway system. Like most Americans, you've probably never been able to afford a trip on the subway, as it is the exclusive domain of Champagne-sipping dandies who love nothing more than to luxuriate in the MTA's Gilded Age-opulence. But from what we've heard, it's like entering another dimension of sophistication and enchantment, where only the most glamorous citizens ride gold-leaf locomotives along shimmering silver tracks winding through wondrous subterranean cathedrals that none of you lickspittles posses the refinement to appreciate. Populist everyman Gingrich gets this, and today he told a crowd of real Americans in Las Vegas that these "elites" in Manhattan who live in high rises and "ride the subway" are killing this proud nation. more ›

Some Park Slope parents—inspired by the never-ending "Sh*t Blank Says" meme—have been conspiring together to create a "Sh*t Park Slope Parents Say" video that really nails down their unique culture. more ›

Last night, the in-laws of Tara Hawes, a 33-year-old teacher who worked with special needs children at the Aaron School in Manhattan, made a grisly discovery. After not having heard from their son or daughter-in-law for two days they went to the Astoria apartment they shared and found Hawes lifeless body lying in bed. Initially there was so much blood pooled around her they thought her throat had been slashed. more ›

The Brooklyn Paper has an update about the vandalism at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg. Because a statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus were defaced with what looks like Kiss masks that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley wear, 94th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Terence Hurson said, “We are looking for a KISS fan." In other words: TOTALLY Kiss Army. more ›

Over the years we've had lots of reasons to love the folks over at the Red Cross, but this map is a great example of just how much the organization does for our fair metropolis. more ›

Sometimes with all the bad moods and boondoggles, it's hard to remember that Mayor Bloomberg is just a humble billionaire in Bermuda shorts like the rest of us. And he's got his own daydreams to help him while away the last days of his third term. With him running a temperature due to Giants Super Bowl fever, Bloomberg revealed one of those fantasies on his radio show this morning: he thinks about coming back to Earth in a second life as a quarterback, ala Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait. Well, it's certainly better than coming back as this guy. more ›

The preponderance of big chain stores on the Upper West Side could be severely reversed under a plan introduced by the Department of City Planning. Acting on concerns from the Upper West Side community and elected officials, the city is considering rezoning part of the neighborhood to create two Special Enhanced Commercial Districts. Each of these zones would limit the frontage of new and expanding banks and residential lobbies along Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. Overall store size would not be restricted, so big chains could still burrow underground, but city planners argue that "over time the general multi-store character of Amsterdam and Columbus avenues would be maintained, while promoting a more varied and active retail environment on Broadway." more ›

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As everyone already knows about the rules of dating, people just tell each other lies on the first date, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. But what if you haven't gotten that first date with a rent-a-gent yet? Fear not single ladies! The above flyer was spotted taped to the filthy tiled wall of the C line in Clinton Hill—and you know that in this case, the "C" stands for Carnal. more ›

In the wake of the alleged Whitehall station subway pervert, Gawker received an account of one woman's experience having a guy apparently pleasure himself while watching her on a train. And she has video. more ›

A tipster says she got a $50 ticket for smoking in Washington Square Park. "I really feel like this news should be out there because IT IS RIDICULOUS & people should know." more ›

If you own child pornography—which? gross—you might want to make sure it is well packed when you are moving. Just ask (now former) NYPD auxiliary cop Daniel Sayer. The 59-year-old was arrested this week and charged with two felony counts of possessing child pornography after police allegedly found a "massive" collection in his possession. According to one Greenwood lake resident who saw cops take Sayers away, "He didn’t seem surprised." more ›

Here it is, Mayor Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Menino's ad about gun control reform that will run during the Super Bowl. They make lots of NYC and Boston jokes, as well as Giants and Patriots puns! more ›

When a single mother realized she had the winning ticket for a $13.5 million lottery, she just told her diary. Brooklyn resident Sharisee Frails told reporters, "I didn’t tell anybody initially — I simply just wrote it down in my secret diary." more ›

After a six-and-a-half hour hearing, a NJ state Assembly committee approved legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry. The approval of the bill (which passed along party lines) sends it to the full Assembly for a vote on Feb. 16, and a potential showdown with Gov. Chris Christie, who has vowed to veto any gay marriage bill that passes his desk. But the most impressive, tear-filled moment of the day came when 15-year-old Madison Galluccio made an emotional plea on behalf of her two dads: more ›

Last year, a globe-trotting Torah rescuer who called himself the "Jewish Indiana Jones" was accused of being a fraud. And now, Baltimore bookshop owner Menachem Youlus has admitted that he is indeed a fraud: “Between 2004 and 2010, I falsely represented that I had personally obtained vintage Torah scrolls — in particular ways, in particular locations — in Europe and Israel,” he said in court yesterday. “I know what I did was wrong, and I deeply regret my conduct.” And he isn't even the real Jewish Indiana Jones! more ›

Sending drugs through the mail, not the best long-term drug smuggling method! A week after 35 pounds of coke was delivered (presumably mistakenly) to the United Nations, the DEA has started coming down on an allegedly mob-connected smuggling ring that used doormen in posh buildings to sign for their illicit deliveries. "It’s still an ongoing investigation—we’re still looking into it," a DEA agent told the Post. more ›

Because Jesus was a tax man, check out today's mid-day links: accordionists take on "Take On Me," Bill Murray sightings, Demi Moore's sad partying, and a Super Bowl guide for non-football fans. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

A single mother was arrested yesterday and charged with harassing and stalking Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. But before she was arrested, Louise Neathway, who also goes by the last name Meanwell, claimed in an interview with Deadspin that she had been Cashman's mistress since last April. In court yesterday, prosecutors portrayed the 36-year-old British national as an unhinged con woman out to extort Cashman: "The defendant extorted approximately $6,000 from the victim and attempted to extort over $15,000," prosecutor Eric Iverson said. more ›

The urge to check Twitter and email can be harder to resist than the lure of drugs and alcohol, according to a new study to be published in the journal Psychological Science. This means that when people joke about being "addicted" to the Internet or not being able to live without their "CrackBerry," it's about as funny as an alcoholic "joking" about mainlining Duff Beer "directly to veins!" If you think social media is destroying someone you love, be sure to share this blog post with them on Facebook. more ›

In an about-face no doubt fueled by the massive public relations mess, leading breast cancer charity The Susan G. Komen Foundation announced it would continue to funding programs at Planned Parenthood. In a statement today, founder Nancy Brinker said, "We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities." more ›

The court-appointed attorney for alleged cop shooter Luis "Baby" Ortiz said his client was beaten while he was in police custody. At Ortiz's arraignment yesterday, lawyer Eric Poulos surprised no one by accusing cops of roughing up his client after he was arrested, bruising his face and chipping a tooth. “He was struck by police officers’ fists, both at the scene and at the station house hours after,” Poulos told the judge yesterday. Considering all the other horrible things that can happen to a perp while in police custody, it sounds like the alleged cop shooter got off easy. more ›

While the Susan G. Komen Foundation remains on the defensive about defunding breast cancer prevention-related grants to Planned Parenthood, its marketing juggernaut remains unabated. For instance, what says ending breast cancer forever like a .22-caliber pink handgun? more ›

Since today is the twelfth straight day of warmer than normal temperatures we've taken to enjoying winter vicariously. Blizzard conditions and up to two feet of snow are expected to fall on Denver and eastern Colorado today. Here in New York we should see lots of sun early on and maybe a few clouds invading late this afternoon. With a high of 45 degrees it won't be as warm as the past few days. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg seemed less ominous than recent years in announcing his $68.7 billion preliminary budget for the 2013 Fiscal Year yesterday, which is balanced as required by law and doesn't feature any tax hikes or layoffs of teachers or cops. Rocking a blue V-neck sweater in honor of the Giants' Super Bowl bid, Bloomberg told reporters, "Cities across the country have struggled to keep their heads above water - laying off teachers, police officers, or firefighters, with a few even having to declare bankruptcy,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’ve avoided those painful steps, because we spent years planning ahead, made government more efficient and saved for a rainy day." more ›

A Bronx mom has been charged after her six-year-old son was given an accidental, lethal dose of methadone—which had been stored in a cold medicine bottle. Raquel DeLeon, 36, was charged Thursday with reckless endangerment in the death of Carlos Rios Jr. DeLeon, who has two prior drug arrests, told police she has a prescription for methadone, but it is unclear why she was storing it in the DayQuil bottle. "As soon as he got sick, he was dizzy, he got in a coma and he died," the boy's maternal grandmother, Letty Muentes, told CBS. more ›

For the third time in a week, an NYPD officer has shot and killed a suspect. Yesterday an unidentified officer killed 18-year-old Ramarley Graham with a single bullet to the chest. The officer, a member of the narcotics unit, had chased Graham into his home, seen him flush something down a toilet and reportedly saw him make "furtive" movements, apparently prompting the cop to fire. Graham—who lived with his mother, grandmother and 6-year-old brother—was immediately mourned by family and neighbors. "Nobody deserves to get shot like that, in your own house," his bereaved mother, Constance Malcolm, cried to reporters. more ›

The U.S. Labor Department announced that 243,000 jobs were added in January, sending the unemployment rate to 8.3%, its lowest point since Feburary 2009. more ›

The subway's a great way to get things done, whether its clipping your nails, licking your shoes, or eating noodles. So why not use that precious time to have your lady friend give you a buzz cut? After all, if you wait until you reach your destination, there's just going to be more hair to shave. You don't want to wind up looking like some dirty hippie when you get off the train at Jamaica Center, so nip that new growth in the bud and break out the hair trimmers, like this productive couple! more ›

Last night around 11:15 p.m., a freight train running on LIRR tracks derailed near Wyandanch, forcing the MTA to suspend service along the Ronkonkoma Branch while they cleared the train. Luckily, it looks like the morning commute is running smoothly. more ›

The Knicks kicked off a stretch of three games in three nights by almost beating the Bulls. New York had several shots at tying the game in the waning seconds, but couldn't connect and Chicago prevailed 104-102. Amar'e may have had his best game of the season, scoring 34 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Carmelo poured in 26, but had another off night shooting, hitting only 10-for-26. The defense didn't show up again as Chicago shot 52% from the field. New York faces Boston tonight on the road. more ›

Because your Wikipedia page hasn't ever been fact-checked, check out today's end-of-day links: the return of "The Watchmen," cannibal makes love connection with vampire, Democrats make fun of Trump, and toddler pingpong training. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Police are investigating vandalism at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg after staff discovered damage yesterday. Not only did someone(s) write "f*ck" on a Bible and break a statue of St. Jude, a statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus was defaced with... Kiss masks. more ›

The Brooklyn South narcotics detective who was convicted of planting drugs on a woman and her boyfriend was sentenced to five years’ probation and 300 hours of community service. Former cop Jason Arbeeny, a 14-year NYPD veteran, was previously found guilty of eight counts of falsifying records and official misconduct for planting drugs on innocent suspects—a crime he claimed he did in order to reach quotas. Arbeeny broke down in tears at his sentencing today: "I can't look at myself in the mirror anymore," Arbeeny told Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Gustin Reichbach. “Sir, I am begging you, please don't send me to jail." more ›

Apparently the Supreme Court's decision is not good enough to the NY State Legislature when it comes to allowing religious groups to worship in city schools. Last June, the U.S. Second Circuit of Appeals ruled that NYC public schools can prohibit religious services, and the Supreme Court refused to hear the case, letting the Second Circuit's decision stand. But, still, the State Senate will consider a bill to allow religious services in schools. And the NYCLU wants to remind lawmakers why it's a terrible idea. more ›

A cyclist is seriously injured today after colliding with a barrier on Varick Street near the Holland Tunnel. DNAinfo reports that the unidentified man was headed south on Varick Street around 2:30 p.m. when he tried to make a right turn onto Dominick Street. But there was a divider in the middle of the street that the cyclist either didn't see or underestimated, and he went down hard on the pavement. more ›

Last year when cellphone service first started popping up in Manhattan we learned that 30 other stations were set to get service at some point this year. And now we have a better sense of when. Just in time for the summer heat, the Times Square subway station is going to be an even noisier place. more ›

Well this is awkward. Last night police detained Talya Ben-Eliezer, 39-year-old daughter of former Israeli defense minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, at JFK on an outstanding "no-bail warrant" out of Florida. The dual American-Israeli citizen was booked as a "fugitive from justice" on a drug charge from the Sunshine State reportedly to do with some oxycontin she bought without the proper prescription. more ›

The Mets have spent their offseason cutting coupons, selling off pieces of their outfield, and generally lowering expectations about the team's immediate future to the point where a healthy Daniel Murphy seems about as good as it could get. The sorry state of the franchise is not lost on its long-suffering fans, who took to Twitter today to mock the organization's decision to bring back homemade Banner Day—for the first time since 1996—by creating the hashtag: #MetsRejectedPromotionalDates. Below, check out twenty of our favorite pathetic, imaginary Mets promotional dates. more ›

A transgender woman has filed a lawsuit against the city and several police officers who allegedly humiliated her and chained her to a wall inside the station house for 28 hours after she was arrested in the subway. According to the lawsuit, which you can read in full below, Temmie Breslauer was arrested by an undercover cop last month for illegally using her father’s discount fare card at the 125th Street subway station. Breslauer, whose legal name is Todd, is a transgender person undergoing hormone replacement therapy and intends to undergo genital reassignment surgery. She alleges that police "targeted" her because of her appearance, and then prolonged her booking so they could torment her. more ›

After the Susan G. Komen Foundation pulled its breast cancer prevention-related funding from Planned Parenthood, numerous people have been stepping up to donate to Planned Parenthood. And Mayor Bloomberg wants to donate $250,000—and have others donate another $250,000. more ›

NASA's Image of the Day is this picture of a "massive crack across the Pine Island Glacier, a major ice stream that drains the West Antarctic Ice Sheet." more ›

An internal NYPD document recently obtained by the Associated Press shows that in 2006 NYPD analysts advised the department to infiltrate a number of Shiite mosques because of tensions between the U.S. and Iran. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly has vigorously denied that the NYPD targets Muslims for surveillance, insisting that "We don't do it ethnically, we do it geographically." But a series of in-depth AP articles have repeatedly contradicted Kelly, revealing that the NYPD does in fact have a wide-ranging surveillance operation designed to infiltrate Muslim communities and mosques. (It's even called the Demographics Unit—not the Geographics Unit.) And the latest AP scoop is further evidence of the role religion plays in NYPD spying. more ›

Time to switch parties? According to a new survey of single Americans, "Single Conservative Republicans are more likely to achieve orgasm during sex (53%) than individuals of any other political party, while Liberal Democrats were the least likely (40%)." On the other hand? "Single Conservative Republicans also had the least sex in the last 12 months." So: fewer fornicators, but more orgasms! Vote Republican, and you're voting for efficiency. more ›

A Manhattan tattoo artist claims that his ex-girlfriend has kidnapped his beloved dog—and now he's been forced to sue to try to get his "son" back. Craig Dershowitz says that ex-girlfriend Sarah Brega "took unilateral control" of his puggle Knuckles, whisking him away to California after their breakup. "You say it is an extraordinary step but I think most pet owners would agree with me. Knuckles is my son, my heart—you would fight just as hard to protect your own children." more ›

[Update, more videos below] A van burst into flames in front of Foley Square earlier this afternoon, directly in front of the courthouse at 1 Federal Plaza. According to the FDNY the van caught fire at 1:52 p.m. and was put out quickly with no injuries reported. more ›

After news that leading breast cancer charity, The Susan G. Komen Foundation, was stopping its funding to Planned Parenthood's breast screening and health initiatives, Planned Parenthood supporters donated over $400,000 in 24 hours. And a grant from a Texas couple will raise the total to $650,000. UPDATE: Now, according to NYTMetro, Mayor Bloomberg says he'll donate up to $250,000 to Planned Parenthood, which would raise the total to $900,000. more ›

And we have a winner! The MTA's App Quest competition to find the best applications using MTA data has concluded and Embark NYC, a nifty trip planing app that also lets you know about service changes, is the big winner. But Embark wasn't the only sweet app in the running, quite a few of them caught the eyes of the judges (which included our own Co-Founder Jen Chung). more ›

Copyranter, the grumpy advertising blogger (his bio proclaims he's the "Best Fucking Ad Blogger in the World"), noted this fake advertisement submitted to a British advertising creative contest, declaring, "Tasteless is bad enough. Unfunny and tasteless, no excuse." The fake ad, for Sapporo beer, says, "A beer so good it's hard to believe we made it with our eyes three-quarters closed." Asian eye jokes—that's so crassy! more ›

A layman might think that when somebody gets accused of rape, one of the investigators' top priorities would be to interview the suspect, to get his side of the story on record. But it seems this is not the way it works, at least not for Greg Kelly, a local TV news host and son of the NYPD Commissioner. An unidentified woman filed a complaint against Kelly more than a week ago, but investigators have still not spoken to Kelly, whose attorney says he's innocent. more ›

A 47-year-old man was critically injured when he was struck by a driver in Brooklyn last night. The pedestrian was crossing 6th Avenue at 51st Street when a car slammed into him and kept going. And police may have found the car. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] This morning a 350-pound cannonball was found on Governors Island, which sort of makes sense given the old Army facilities housed there. However, according to some reports, the cannonball was found on a different part of the island. Dun dun dun. more ›

Because you like to play Angry Birds when you use the commode, check out today's mid-day links: Manhattan's filthiest Starbuckses, Brad Pitt parenting tips, remembering Don Cornelius, and awkward cat sleep positions. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

An airline passenger going through security at JFK airport last night was relieved of $5,000 cash by a quick-fingered TSA officer, authorities say. A TSA spokesperson tells us the employee has been working for the TSA for over four years, and she's been identified as Alexandra Schmid. She was allegedly caught on surveillance camera taking the cash from a passenger's jacket as it moved along the X-Ray conveyor belt at the A checkpoint in Terminal Four. more ›

According to numerous reports, combover raconteur and enormous balled shepherd Donald Trump will announce who he is endorsing for president today in Las Vegas, two days before the Nevada caucuses. Initial reports indicated Trump would side with good pal Newt Gingrich, who stood by Trump during that whole Donald Trump's Very Classy GOP Presidential Primary Debate: The Debatening fiasco in December. But now CNN reports Trump will back Romney. Our one and only question: why does America give a shit who Donald Trump endorses? more ›

A reader emailed us this morning with an account of what sounds like a horrible morning commute: While awaiting her train at 8:30 a.m. today, she says she saw a man pleasuring himself. more ›

The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign today issued its first-ever “State of the Station Platforms” survey, which looked at 250 subway platforms at 120 randomly-selected stations in the transit system. (You can see which ones in the full report below, but they account for 28% of the entire system.) The survey, conducted by interns and staff last summer, homed in on 12 subway platform conditions, such as rats, graffiti, water damage, missing tiles, and overflowing garbage cans. But it's what they didn't find that may shock you: just ONE overflowing garbage can was observed during the survey! At press time, it was unclear how many of the interns performing the inspections were legally blind. more ›

We've spent the last week and a half getting to know all the gnome worshipping, ass tattooing, elderly rapping Giants fans—but it's time to take a look at the state of Patriots Nation. Are they confidently following the lead of their supreme leader, rollerblading pirate and impish genius Bill Belichick? Or are they wetting their pants and getting their supermodel girlfriends to write "disgustingly sappy" emails imploring their friends and family to pray for victory? more ›

Luis "Baby" Ortiz, who is accused of shooting NYPD officer Kevin Brennan in the head Tuesday night at the Bushwick Houses, showed no remorse as he was escorted out of the 90th Precinct station house yesterday afternoon. "Yeah, take a picture of me," Ortiz, 21, told photographers during the perp walk as he smiled, blew kisses to family and friends, and mugged for the cameras. In Spanish, he yelled "I love the Latin Kings," adding, "You know what it is," according to the Daily News. His angry supporters also showed little remorse. more ›

[Update below] As rumblings of a "slowdown" "enhanced care" continue (seriously, the R train we took this morning was moving like a bus) the MTA and its largest union, Transit Workers Local 100, are set to return to the negotiating table. And though the last set of talks broke down because of leaks to the media, the Post today has some interesting details reportedly already agreed upon by the two sides. Most notably, when the contract is signed subway operators and conductors will be able to take three (paid) days off if they witness someone being hit by a train. more ›

Just like last year, Staten Island Chuck has once again predicted an early spring. Early this morning Mayor Bloomberg visited Chuck's house at the zoo for the annual Groundhog Day ceremony, along with the PS22 Chorus, and a large crowd, according to the SI Advance... and not one of them saw a shadow. more ›

Ryan Callahan grew up in Rochester, just down the road from Buffalo. Wednesday he celebrated his homecoming with the winning goal in the shootout to propel the Rangers to a 1-0 win over the Sabres. Callahan's heroics might not have mattered if not for an outstanding night in the pipes by Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist stopped all 34 shots he faced and made two amazing saves with time running out in regulation and overtime. The win gives the Rangers three points in four nights and keeps them atop the Eastern Conference. more ›

Because the NY Times doesn't think you really have Asperger's, check out today's end-of-day links: Kim Kardashian's bible group, The Boss will play The Apollo, the blackest Muppet, and Kanye West's Middle East video. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

Two men remain hospitalized after being injured by a shopping cart that was apparently thrown at them from the third floor of a Bronx parking garage. Lounceny Camara, 52, and his friend, Sagne Ibrahima, 30, who had been standing at the Bronx Gateway Center shopping center during the Monday incident, are both in stable condition. The police are continuing to investigate the attack and some think that a fight over a livery cab fare sparked the attack. more ›

Giants fans are turning out to be weirder than we ever could have imagined: some of them shave the Giants logo into their heads, some of them get tattoos of Eli Manning on their asses, and some of them worship garden gnomes. But then there are the fans like the ones in the video below, residents at Cedar Crest Retirement Community who want to show their support for the Giants the way they did back in the 1920s: by lip-syncing to rap songs and wearing backwards Giants caps. more ›

After yesterday's AP report on how leading breast cancer charity, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, was stopping its grants to Planned Parenthood—grants that go towards breast exams and information—Planned Parenthood asked its supporters to donate. And they have: The Washington Post reports that $400,000 has been donated to the organization in the past 24 hours. more ›

Take a look at this interactive map of NYC's annual energy consumption by block. It's by Vijay Modi, a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University, and graduate student Bianca Howard. According to Metropolis, "Their research allows New Yorkers to get a rough idea of how much energy is used inside their homes, offices and businesses — and it offers a peek into the building next door, down the street and across the city. The goal of the project is to take some of the mystery out of energy usage." more ›

It's February 1st, which means we're only two weeks away from Valentine's Day—the perfect day of the year to Facebook stalk former flames, or just load up on carbs and reflect on all the horrible dating choices you've made in your life. After reading some particularly inspiring V-Day publicity press releases, we started thinking about the unfortunate things that have befallen us on Valentine's Days past. So let's share in the misery together: if you have a terrible Valentine's Day story, send it to tips@gothamist.com before Feb. 10, and we'll pool all our miserable experiences into a collage of misunderstandings, awkwardness and rejection. Because Cupid Valentino was wrong when he said everyday is the 14th—love truly does hurt that much more on holidays carefully constructed by greeting card companies. more ›

The NYPD made more than 50,680 arrests for low-level marijuana offenses in 2011, once again making low-level pot possession the number one cause of arrest in NYC. 2011 was the second-highest period for marijuana arrests in New York City history, and this despite NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly specifically ordering officers to stop arresting people who bring small quantities of marijuana into open view during a stop-and-frisk. In a September memo, Kelly told officers, "A crime will not be charged to an individual who is requested or compelled to engage in the behavior that results in the public display of marijuana." Unfortunately, most hippies were too stoned to read all the way the bottom of the memo, where Kelly included a photo of himself winking slyly. more ›

After a police officer was shot in the head in Bushwick last night, hundreds of cops descended on the scene to help track down the suspect. (An arrest was made within a couple of hours.) Meanwhile, the critically injured officer, Kevin Brennan, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where surgeons removed the bullet and saved his life. As you can see in that video, it probably didn't hurt his chances of survival that a MASSIVE police motorcade escorted his ambulance through Brooklyn at top speed. We count over 42 NYPD vehicles in all: more ›

A version of the "Buffett Rule" was introduced today by Senate Democrats after a call by President Obama for the super-rich to start paying their fair share in the State of the Union Address last week. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, formally introduced what he's calling the "Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012." Under the law, millionaires would pay a minimum 30 percent effective tax rate, or more than double what millionaire Mitt Romney has been paying. According to the Congressional Research Center, approximately 94,500 taxpayers, a quarter of all U.S. millionaires, pay a lower tax rate than the vast majority of middle-income taxpayers. While potential revenue has yet to be formally calculated, Whitehouse estimates that the law could generate $40-50 billion annually. more ›

"I'm in my 40s, I've lived in Brooklyn for 15 years," the victim in a brutal attack near McCarren Park told us today, "and nothing like this has ever happened to me. I've lived in Williamsburg for probably about ten years total." Last week the man was viciously slashed by a young Hispanic man wielding a broken bottle with such ferocity he had to get 37 stitches and 8 staples to his head. more ›

The New York Times has written another letter to the NYPD urging the department to stop harassing journalists and better inform their employees on the rights of members of the press. The letter, obtained by Capital New York and addressed to top NYPD spokesman and wooden Italian marionette Paul Browne, details further police interference and abuse, and strongly urges the department to "not underestimate our resolve in working to rectify these issues." more ›

The woman accused of donning a cat mask and robbing stores in Manhattan and Queens was convicted today. However, Shana Spalding yelled, "I’m not the Catwoman," as she was led from court. more ›

Sure, Los Angeles is an okay place to live if you like abundant sunshine and driving up Highway 1 on a weekday afternoon with the top down, a surfboard in the backseat, and Steely Dan's "Babylon Sisters" blaring on the stereo. But we could never live there! We'd miss the seasons; these magical winter days playing in the snow and nights making love in front of a roaring fire. And then there are precious afternoons like this, where all the windows in the office are open and we're fighting a despicable urge to turn on the air conditioning. more ›

Today's warm weather has us yearning for the days when we'll be able to shed these sleeved shackles and feel sweet chlorinated bliss on our pasty skin. Global warming schmobal warming. A tweet from the Parks Department showing the bowels of the McCarren Pool made us wonder how its $55 million renovation is coming along two years after Bloomberg broke ground, and the Parks Department forwarded us some evidence of its progress. more ›

The funeral for the Upper West Side soap opera actor who committed suicide after euthanizing his beloved pet dog took place on Monday. Nick Santino committed suicide last week the day after his 47th birthday, and the NY Post alleged that in his suicide note he said it was because he was wracked with guilt and grief over euthanizing his pit bull Rocco, following harassment and pressure from his condo board. Outside his funeral at St. Athanasius Church in Brooklyn, Santino's friend Sara Schwartz told the Post that she believes the death of Rocco was the tipping point for Santino: “It’s more than the dog. I definitely think the dog thing was the last straw. It gave him a reason to do it. If that didn’t happen, he may have lived a long life...He wanted to be in heaven with the dog.” more ›

Yesterday the Times profiled Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, the rapidly gentrifying boulevard and the "epicenter of renaissance" previously seen in Park Slope and Williamsburg. Though there are plenty of residents in the historically black and Hasidic neighborhood that welcome the influx of students, young professionals and families, a Crown Heights native and Medgar Evers professor notes,"There's a social cohesion gap right now." And Nick Juravich, a Columbia grad student and Crown Heights blogger, tells us, "There definitely is to certain degrees. But there are also signs that the groups living in the neighborhood are becoming remarkably integrated." more ›

Yesterday, police raided a Bronx building which happened to house a five-story marijuana growing operation. Around 800 plants were seized, the equivalent of over 1500 pounds, including 75 pounds of dried marijuana. And the street value? Oh, around $7.5 million. more ›

Before disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner 'fessed up to being a serial sexter, we were treated to a week of denials and finger wagging as Weiner pretended the crotch shots were not of his crotch—and then when he finally admitted he couldn't "say with certitude" whether the wiener was his, he still maintained someone had hacked his Twitter account to send them. So how dedicated was Weiner to keeping up that pretense? Dedicated enough to pay over 13K to a team of private investigators to get to the bottom of his self-made mess. more ›

Bronx resident Javin James was one of several witnesses to an NYPD beatdown caught on video last week, and he says that after he yelled at police to stop, they came after him. James claims he was in his apartment when he saw police beating and kicking 19-year-old Jatiek Reed on Thursday. He went out onto his fire escape and yelled at police to stop because, as he tells NY1, he wanted Reed "to know you are not alone with what is going on there." But after Reed was handcuffed, James says cops came up to his apartment, kicked his door in, and threatened him. more ›

Because craving yogurt is a clear indication you're pregnant, check out today's mid-day links: Joan Rivers gets high, Connecticut's "cannibal killer," Mitt Romney isn't worried about poor people, and a subway busker does Adele. Don't forget to follow Gothamist on Twitter and like us on Facebook. You can also get the top stories mailed to you—sign up here. more ›

The woman accused of abandoning her two young daughters alongside the busy Shore Parkway in Brooklyn was set up by the girls' abusive father, relatives tell WPIX. "What it all boils down to is the money," says Dalisha Adams's aunt Amy. She says Shawn Cobbs, Adams's estranged boyfriend and father of her daughters, is the one who abandoned the girls, as part of a scheme worked out with their grandmother. Adams's brother Peyisai also maintains that his sister handed the girls off to Cobbs. "I don't know if he walked off and left the kids," says Peyisai. "I really can't answer." more ›

Police are searching for a man who allegedly hit his three-year-old daughter with a brick in Brick, NJ. Edward Smith, 25, destroyed the child’s mother’s cellphone and stole her car after the Saturday night incident, and has been on the run since. Authorities believe Smith wasn't intentionally trying to hurt the little girl, who lost a tooth and needed stitches for a cut on her upper lip. more ›

Let's start February by taking a quick look back at last month's weather. It won't come as any surprise to learn that January was warm. Just how warm is anybody's guess! The weather instruments located near Belvedere Castle suffered a power failure over the weekend so the Weather Service missed out on several days worth of temperature readings. Looking at surrounding stations our best guess is that Central Park was five degrees warmer than normal. While that's not warm enough to crack January's top ten it is the eleventh straight month that's been warmer than average. more ›

A man was recently spotted on a crowded 4 train selling month old puppies out of a bag. The Chihuahuas were being hawked for $250 to $300, depending on if they were male or female, and the salesman notes that this is a cheap price because they usually go for 600 bucks. The straphangers ooh'd and ahh'd over the puppies, of which he had five (there were six, but one got "smothered"). more ›

Mayor Bloomberg's interest (if he really has any) in this year's Super Bowl goes beyond the Giants and his big bet with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. See, the man won't just be watching the big game live and in person but, at least to viewers in the Northeast, he's going to be sharing screen time with it. Yup, hizzoner's got an ad in the biggest advertising game going. more ›

A letter to the editor in this morning's Wall Street Journal has a breathtakingly straightforward lede: "Do you consult your dentist about your heart condition?" "Surely, not!" their readers likely chortled, spilling civet coffee all over their sprite-skin slacks. Yet that is precisely what the WSJ did four days ago when it published the hilariously titled op/ed "No Need To Panic About Global Warming" that was signed by people who have never studied global warming. more ›

At a press conference late last night, NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly held aloft the bullet that struck Officer Kevin Brennan, 29, a six-year veteran of the NYPD, in Bushwick last night. "He’s one lucky young man," Kelly told reporters, holding a jar containing the bloody bullet that doctors removed from Brennan's skull. "It's a miracle. He's very, very lucky." Brennan was shot once in the face, according to the Times, as he chased a suspected gunman into the Bushwick Houses project last night around 9 p.m. He's expected to make a full recovery. more ›

Police are seeking a man who they believe is responsible for 15 burglaries in Soho since September: "Police say he typically enters through the window, either climbing down from the rooftop or using the fire escape." And sometimes apartment dwellers make it easy for him by having unlocked windows. more ›

The Chris Christie civil rights apology tour continues! After flubbing his first apology by going and calling a New Jersey lawmaker "numbnuts," the Garden State gov took to the airwaves yesterday to again apologize to anyone he might have offended when he suggested white Southerners should have been allowed to vote on civil rights gains for blacks in the 1960s. But he's not sorry about calling Assemblyman Reed Gusciora "numbnuts," okay? more ›

Uh-oh: Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is recalling 1 million packets of birth controls pills "because of a packaging error that could leave women with an inadequate dose of the hormone-based drugs and raise the risk that they will get pregnant accidentally," reports the AP. more ›

Grand Central Terminal was relatively quiet and uncrowded last night at 5:15, and if not for the heavy police presence, you wouldn't have known that protesters were about to start making noise about a grab bag of political issues. Last time Occupy Wall Street raised their voices in the station a handful of demonstrators were swiftly arrested. But the widely-replicated video of cops collaring a woman for shouting was bad optics, so this time the authorities played it smart—letting the rabble rousers yell to their hearts' content, while effectively drowning them out with an unbroken stream of announcements over the terminal's p.a. system. more ›

Knicks 113, Pistons 86: With Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup, the Knicks were able to snap a three-game losing streak. Anthony had 25 points and 6 assists (!!) in the win, New York's second in its last eleven games. Luckily, they were playing Detroit, one of the teams with a more dismal record (4-19) than the Knicks (8-13). more ›