The fight over the right for school children to bear cell phones in schools moved to the Appellate Court, where lawyers for NYC and public school students' parents appeared before a five-judge panel. This comes after the City Council passed a bill allowing cell phones in schools, which the Mayor vetoed. Many parents believe cell phones are critical for keeping in touch with their children, in case of an emergency or just to check in......

After a public scrutiny over police procedure when dozens of youths were arrested on their way to a gang members' wake, the Brooklyn DA's office has decided to drop the charges of 22 of the arrestees. Ten others will face charges. Last May, a number of young people were headed to the wake of 17-year-old Donnell McFarland, who police say headed the "Pretty Boy Family, a subdivision of the Bloods gang." The mourners wore t-shirts......

Last May a bunch of Brooklyn College MFA graduates exhibited their work at the War Memorial, only to have it banned by the Brooklyn Parks Department. In the process of hauling off the artwork the Parks Department deemed inappropriate, college officials managed to damange some of it. Two Trees Management (who is moving Galapagos to Dumbo) saved the day and exhibited their show at 70 Washington Street. Meanwhile, the students sued the Parks Department, the......

One of Mayor Bloomberg's biggest initiatives is to stop gun dealers from illegally selling guns that make their way to New York City. Last May, the city filed its first federal lawsuit against out-of-state gun dealers, after conducting sting purchases where one individual would purchase a gun for someone else. Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced that the gun dealers would not face criminal prosecution because the investigators conducting the stings may have acted illegally.......

Last May, math-majoring junior Michael Quercia was arrested for possession of 10 ounces of pot in his dorm room, and NYU decided that he should perform 500 hours of community service and would remain suspended until 2007. Quercia thought that was a bit extreme, and a Manhattan judge agreed, calling NYU's ruling "a Draconian measure that is disproportionate to the offense committed." The Daily News reported that Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub thinks that Quercia......

Last May, when Enrique Soriano's body was found beneath a 6 train at the Whitlock Avenue station in the Bronx, the police ruled it an accident or even a suicide. Now the ME's office says Soriano was assaulted and possibly pushed. Even though Soriano had been taking antidepressants, his family never believed he committed suicide because the gold chain and crucifix he wore were missing from his body. Wife Rosa Soriano told the NY Times......

Sources say the MTA will approve the Jets' bid to develop the West Side Rail Yards into a sports and convention emporium full of football, retail shops, and ugly architectural plans. This as it turns out that New Yorkers are opposed to the stadium, 53% to 38% supporting it. The MTA board reportedly found the Cablevision bid "not credible" - while the Cablevision bid was higher on paper, the actual cash value was less than......