At 1 a.m. this morning, with D.C. still digging out from an historic blizzard, the Senate voted 60-40 along party lines to cut off debate on an expansive health care legislation. After securing the vote of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, on Saturday, the Senate appears on track to pass the bill by Christmas Eve. At this point, Senate Republicans are fighting the bill with parliamentary tactics, demanding the full 30 hours of debate allowed under the rules after each filibuster is broken by a vote of 60 senators. Because the storm had severly delayed Amtrak, a government plane was sent to retrieve New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez. more ›

Last week Miley Cyrus took GMA's Bryant Park stage, sans Hannah Montana wig, for an early morning concert. This morning she took her act over to The Today Show, while Feist owned the GMA crowd at Bryant Park. It wasn't a competition but...they did both bring their spirit fingers! And even though Miley is popular with the tweens, Feist is sure to win over the tots after her appearance on Sesame Street airs later this year. more ›

The Williamsburg Stabber, who is more than likely a group of stabbers, has struck again. In April two cops walking the beat told us "the increased police presence was in response to a spate of machete-wielding gang violence" -- well, a lot of good the increased security has done. A tipster writes in to tell us about last weekend's Saturday morning stabbing, which police suspect was part of a gang initiation and in step with an upsurge of gang activity in the neighborhood. From the email:

At around 8-8:30 on Saturday he was walking home from the Metropolitan Pool gym. When he turned onto Driggs, he noticed someone riding on a bicycle. He turned onto Fillmore and the person rode slowly next to him. When they reached around the middle of the block the person on the bike pulled up in front of him, and without saying anything, he stabbed him 3 times in the chest. He then took off, again biking slowly away. more ›

Though it may rain this afternoon today promises to be less gloomy than yesterday. Less than half an inch of rain was measured at Belvedere Castle, though it sure seemed like more fell. Today there should be plenty of sun in the morning. Clouds will begin to build around noon and there's a chance for showers and thundershowers through the evening hours. Today's high will be in the upper 60s. more ›