Just before noon a reader wrote in from 6th Avenue and 20th Street saying, "Lots of emergency vehicles. People in the street. Smoke billowing out the north side (20th st.) of the building. 6th ave traffic messed up." Word over the newswire was the fire, at 641 6th Avenue, was sparked by a manhole explosion. Another reader, who works in that building, told us they were evacuated because of a fire in the subway; she also notes a "huge fireball" reached the 5th floor. Con Ed and the FDNY are on the scene. more ›

There's good news and there's bad news. Good news: Wal-Mart won't be moving to Union Square. Bad news: They're still eyeing Manhattan. (If you're a big box supporter, adjust accordingly.) The NY Post that "The company's real-estate scouts have also been roaming the area around 620 Sixth Ave" (which Curbed points out is part of "the Ladies' Mile building with T.J. Maxx and Bed, Bath & Beyond"). We asked Reverend Billy, who recently announced he's running for Mayor under the Green Party, what he would do to stop this madness:

Wal-Mart tries to come here—well it's a good thing for New Yorkers because we're waking up in a city that's been asleep and soon we'll all be awake and Bentonville will never know what hit it. We need Wal-Mart to keep the knives of our conscience sharp. Wal-Mart is a war-mongering company—we call them WAR-Mart, since for election after election they showered Bush with money. They were the biggest donor to Republicans through several election cycles. Their union-busting is famous, of course—the red phone in the middle of the store that workers are supposed to pick up and spy on any possible organizing. Come on, Wal-Mart in New York City? DEVIL GET THEE BEHIND ME! As Mayor, I will take that company to the LAKE OF HELLFIRE!

A reader sent us some cameraphone photos and wrote:

I was in my apartment when I heard something that sounded like a 13-car pile up. After going outside I saw a crazy scene. more ›