After a Tennessee resident was arrested on felony gun possession charges after checking her 0.38-caliber gun in at the National 9/11 Memorial, NY State politicians are now wondering if our gun laws are maybe a little too much. Medical student Meredith Graves did have a permit to carry the gun in Tennessee, but she didn't have a permit to carry it in New York (because that's what all tourists need in New York—their own guns), so she was in jail for days, including Christmas. And her plight has touched even Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. more ›

Because the spirit of togetherness and healing the country felt after September 11 is far behind us, the 9/11 Museum's projected opening date of September 2012 is likely to be pushed back, as the Port Authority and the September 11 Memorial & Museum foundation are at odds over hundreds of millions of dollars in construction costs. "The Port Authority, the city and the museum are working collaboratively to resolve these matters," the PA's executive director tells the WSJ. What, they didn't sell enough commemorative coins? more ›

The 9/11 Memorial has barely been open a month and already people (read: tour companies) are finding ways to make extra bucks off of it. Like charging tourists for free tickets. And companies are coming up with some pretty interesting BS to explain away their blatant cash grabs. more ›

This morning on his radio show, Mayor Bloomberg revealed that he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum last night, "[Netanyahu] just said, 'This is unbelievable, this is so moving.'" more ›

Pamela Geller's SHARIA Hotline is burning up right now: the organizers of Park 51 AKA "The Ground Zero Victory Mosque" are opening a photo exhibition by artist Danny Goldfield in the former Burlington Coat Factory on Wednesday. What kind of photos? Muslims celebrating 9/11? Puppies getting beaten with Korans? Bald eagles being tortured by crescent moons? From Park 51's Kickstarter: "Danny is photographing a child from every country on earth currently living in New York City." more ›

9/11 Memorial Museum planners take notice: people get pissed when there is a barrier to peeing. 31-year-old Brooklyn barber Nicholas Curtis learned this lesson after a group of disgruntled, cross-legged revelers from the West Indian Day Parade descended upon his shop. After allowing folks to pee freely all day, they began instituting a $1 fee to use the bathroom after the toilet became clogged, as a "nuisance tax." But it became more of a nuisance for Curtis and friends when a group of women who refused the tax came back with some male muscle. "We're tussling with them. I was just hitting," Curtis tells the Times. But he was actually hitting a woman with a wig: "My hand tangled in her hair and it fell off." more ›

Never forget... the local politicians in New Jersey who made ultimate sacrifice to install a 9/11 memorial in Washington Township. The memorial, which opened with pomp and bagpipes on Sunday, features a piece of World Trade Center steel and a granite stone inscribed with the names of the town's committee members and mayor. None of them died on 9/11, but each of them was bravely holding public office when the memorial was dedicated. Doesn't that count for something? Not if you ask the bagpiper. more ›

Two Reuters reporters who traveled with President Bush on the morning of September 11, 2001 recall their experience of watching their leader reel from the most indelible event of the past decade. One, Arshad Mohammed, shouted a question to Bush as he was reading My Pet Goat to students in a Florida classroom: "Mr. President, are you aware of the reports of a plane crash in New York?" more ›

As the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, we're encouraged to reflect upon how the country and indeed the entire world changed after the events of that horrific day. Oh, and buy stuff. Spending money is important otherwise the terrorists will win. Coins, wine, cartoons, whatever. But if you make only one jingoistic 9/11 purchase this year, log on to Etsy and make it the Superman On September 11th Stainless Steel Flask. more ›

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 fast approaching, it's important to solemnly remember the things that really matter: the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, the way New Yorkers came together to get through the ordeal, and, most of all, the poor politicians who've been tragically denied a speaking role at this year's memorial service. Governor Chis Christie never forgets—according to an unsourced report in the NY Post, the distinguished-looking gentleman from the Garden State is fuming about Mayor Bloomberg's 9/11 Day guest speaker list. more ›

Commuters weren't happy about the Port Authority's obscene plan to raise tolls 50%, but now Governors Cuomo and Christie—who sit on the PA's board—are crying foul, saying they weren't told of the move despite reports that they had "confidentially signaled their grudging support." A source tells the Post that Cuomo was "shocked and less than pleased" about the proposal, which would hike E-ZPass holders' tolls up to $12 from $8 and cash tolls to $15 from $8. PATH commuters would pay an extra $1 a trip. But how much of this outrage is political theater? more ›

Like so many government agencies the Port Authority—currently bickering with the National September 11th Memorial over $150 million dollars—could use more cash. Which is why it is expected later this afternoon to announce that it will raise the tolls on the region's tunnels and bridges from $8 to $12 next month, with another $2 hike planned for 2014. Oh, and they are also mulling a $1 hike in the PATH fare. more ›

Keeping consistent with his belief that citizens of the United States should be free from the government meddling in what religion they choose to practice, Mayor Bloomberg defended the group of atheists that are suing to prevent the September 11 Cross from being installed in the 9/11 memorial and museum at World Trade Center site. In his weekly radio address, Bloomberg said, "This group of atheists, they're free in our country to not believe and not practice, and we should defend their right to do that, just as we should defend individuals' rights to practice and to believe." The Mayor's right: we have to be tolerant of the atheists' deity, even if he happens to be Bill Maher. more ›

As the hottest ticket in town, free reservations to visit the new 9/11 Memorial in its first 10 days of operations are completely "sold out." However, there is a way to be one of the 1,500 people let in at a time, but it's going to cost you a bit. The Daily News reports that tour companies like Statue Cruises, Gray Line Tours, and even New York Water Taxi will be able to give their patrons access to the memorial thanks to a special deal worked out with the memorial's management. For instance, Statue Cruises will transport their customers to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial for $20.50. To just see the memorial is $10, including a $2.50 fee that goes back into the memorial's coffers. more ›

Cue the cries of outrage! Not only will the 9/11 Memorial and Museum not have a bathroom when the memorial opens in September, it could cost $20 bucks a person to visit the museum when it opens next year, the CEO of the museum told a City Council committee yesterday. And if it doesn't cost a hard $20, it very well have a suggested donation of $25 or above, à la the Met. more ›

Last year, a judge agreed with a family who was fighting for retired FDNY Captain James Corrigan to be listed on the 9/11 Memorial. Corrigan was helping others when he was killed at the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the city argued he was working as a private sector safety coordinator at the time. Now, the city has decided his name will indeed be placed on the memorial. more ›

A day after Joe Daniels, the president of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, announced that an admission fee would likely be charged, an anonymous donor slid $10,000 in cash into the donation box at the World Trade Center memorial site preview center. That's like 500 tickets to the 9/11 museum right there! "I was home watching the Yankee game when I got a call from the preview center's manager. She asked me if I was sitting down," Daniels tells the Post. "We just found $10,000 in the donation box." more ›

The long-awaited September 11 Memorial won't open at the World Trade Center site until September 11, 2011, but yesterday morning there were more signs of its progress as the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum and Port Authority planted the first Swamp White Oak trees that will surround the two reflecting pools. Director of design for the memorial and museum, Ron Vega, said, "Trees are about life. Trees are about renewal. You know when you plant a tree in someone’s name, it’s a moment of reflection and respect and here we are." more ›

Some relatives of 9/11 victims were worried out by the initial news that they headed to the memorial to see if the plaque for their loved one was harmed. One said, "To do something like this, it's like all over again. With September 11th coming, it's very hard. And to have this, the pain never ends. It never, ever ends." Another said, "It's nice to know that it was an intentional thing, that they are repairing it. But they should let people know what they're doing." more ›

[Update: It turns out the memorial wasn't vandalized! See below] Sigh. Someone vandalized the 9/11 Memorial, Postcards, on Staten Island. Five of the plaques—which feature profiles of the victims as well as their names— were damaged, but Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro said that new ones will be ready in time for the ninth anniversary ceremonies. He told the Staten Island Advance, “It’s surprising and shocking to me. You have the feeling that this is hallowed ground and people would respect it." more ›