• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: brush fires in Jamaica caused delays and suspensions on the LIRR west of Jamaica Station (it's okay, just booze up) - there may still be some delays; a water main break on 3rd Ave at 86th Street; and found DOA on the Belt Parkway.
• Being the head of a crime family isn't easy these days. Danny "The Lion" Leo, the reputed head of the Genovese crime family was arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy yesterday. He pleaded not guilty while wearing a large white t-shirt worn over navy sweat pants and white sneakers. No, not a stereotype at all.
• The accused rapist of a Columbia grad student was arraigned today on 71 charges. Robert Williams allegedly forced his way into a woman's Hamilton Heights apartment and held the woman hostage for 19 hours.

Revered hurricane forecaster Dr. William Gray and his team at Colorado State have just issued their revised forecast for the 2004 hurricane season. Gray predicts 14 named storms for this year, including 8 hurricanes, 3 of which he describes as "intense." Due to "an increase in surface temperatures in the North Atlantic and a decline in surface pressure in the tropical Atlantic," we're in the middle of an unusually active stretch of hurricane seasons.
more ›