The Daily News is all over this LIRR discrimination lawsuit, and why not, when they can fit the keywords "lesbian," "breasts," and "locomotive engineer" all in package? Gay Asian-American engineer Melissa Stampf, 43, is suing the railroad for punishing her more severely than hetero white male coworkers who were suspended for similar incidents of sexual harassment against the same employee: Angela Trigg. In Stampf's case, she was suspended for ten days for allegedly grabbing one of Trigg's breasts. But in court yesterday, it emerged that Trigg hasn't been at all shy about sharing her girls with the crew. more ›

A lesbian locomotive engineer is suing the Long Island Railroad for millions, accusing superiors of punishing her more harshly than her co-workers because she's gay and Asian-American. Melissa Stampf, 43, was accused of grabbing a fellow engineer's breast in a parking lot at the West Side rail yards. Stampf had been friends with her accuser, Angela Trigg, leading up the incident, and even shared a locker with her, the Daily News reports. But that collegiality ended one day in June 2006, when Stampf spotted Trigg sitting in her car and went over to say hello. more ›

Former New Jersey Governor John Corzine's hand must be cramped—on his last day in office he signed 54 bills into law, including one to legalize medical marijuana. And though he's letting state residents with chronic illnesses toke up, he also wants to discourage the munchies. Yesterday he followed New York's lead in making calorie postings mandatory at fast-food restaurants. more ›

Now that a Long Island Rail Road engineer and passenger have been charged with reckless endangerment—the passenger, a court stenographer (pictured), was allegedly allowed to drive a 500-ton train 25 miles—Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is turning her attention to basic LIRR matters. Newsday reports that Rice's suggestions for the LIRR include "Improving event recorders - or 'black boxes' - on trains to make them record data about the use of the 'dead man pedal,' which must be constantly compressed for the train to operate; installing video and audio recording devices in the engineer's cab; and requiring engineers to wear identification badges and uniforms while on duty." Yes, LIRR engineers are not required to wear uniforms, though conductors and ticket takers are. Rice explains that uniforms "will enable the general public to quickly identify them, particularly when an emergency arises, or when there is some question about their conduct." The LIRR, which is reviewing the suggestions, says that the uniform issue will have to be taken up in collective bargaining with the engineers' union. more ›