Tim Tebow isn't the only Plan B that can inspire endless controversy—according to a new study out of Boston University, one in five pharmacies still refuse to give teens 17 and over access to Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive, despite a federal mandate. We assume that's because they're just redirecting them to the Aspirin aisle—only .24 cents after coupons at Walgreens! more ›

Before he met up with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Mayor Bloomberg made it clear he did not agree with her decision to overrule the FDA and keep emergency contraceptive Plan B restricted to those over 17 years of age. He told reporters today, "It would be much better if these young girls didn’t get pregnant, but once that happens I think this should be available." more ›

After Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA's decision to make emergency contraceptive Plan B available to everyone (and lift the requirement for those under 17 to show a prescription) on Wednesday, President Obama had to defend the move. While insisting he didn't make Sebelius block it, he said, "The reason Kathleen made this decision is that she could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old going to a drugstore should be able — alongside bubble gum or batteries — be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could have an adverse effect." more ›

Today, the Food and Drug Administration decided to make Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive, available to everyone and lift the requirement that those under 17 years of age need a prescription. However, Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius rejected the decision, which means access is still restricted. Sebelius's statement says, "The science has confirmed the drug to be safe and effective with appropriate use. However, the switch from prescription to over the counter for this product requires that we have enough evidence to show that those who use this medicine can understand the label and use the product appropriately. I do not believe that [Plan B maker] Teva’s application met that standard. The label comprehension and actual use studies did not contain data for all ages for which this product would be available for use." more ›

The Federal Drug Administration has until tomorrow to decide whether to allow Plan B, a morning-after pill, to be sold on shelves and without a prescription. more ›

A month after a federal judge ruled that the Food and Drug Administration must give access to morning-after pill Plan B to 17-year-olds without a prescription, the FDA has done just that and lowered the age for the contraceptive to 17. U.S. District Judge Edward Korman had pointed out, "The record shows that FDA officials and staff both agreed that 17-year-olds can use Plan B safely without a prescription," but said the agency restricted access during the Bush years for political reasons. Now women, 17 and over, can go to pharmacies, show proof of age, and ask for and receive Plan B. The NY Times reports that while advocates have hoped the pill would help slash the teen pregnancy rate and critics have said it would lead to more abortions and unprotected sex, there's no evidence that either has happened. Princeton's Office of Population Research director Dr. James Trussell tells the Times, "This is not going to be a cheap cure to the unintended pregnancy epidemic in this country. It’s very depressing." more ›

A federal judge in Brooklyn said the Food and Drug Administration must give 17-year-olds over-the-counter access to morning-after pill Plan B. U.S. District Judge Edward Korman said the FDA, which only allowed women over 18 to buy the product without a prescription from pharmacy counters, was being too political for restricting access to the pill during the Bush years, saying the agency apparently allowed "political considerations, delays and implausible justifications" in the decision-making process. Korman pointed out, "The record shows that FDA officials and staff both agreed that 17-year-olds can use Plan B safely without a prescription," and ordered that the pill be made available without prescription to 17-year-olds within 30 days. The Center of Reproductive RIghts and others sued the FDA in 2005, "after the FDA denied a petition asking it to make Plan B available without a prescription to women of all ages," the AP reports. The Center's director Nancy Northrup said, "Today's ruling is a tremendous victory for all Americans who expect the government to safeguard public health." more ›

Ah, New Year's Day. The perfect time to sit down and make some changes in your life. Like maybe a change towards being a little less, you know, promiscuous. Or at least stocking up on Plan B when you know what kind of decisions you'll make after all that champagne. The above sign was spotted at a local Duane Reade sometime after the clock struck midnight and before the hangover started to subside. more ›

Plan B: After waiting almost a year for liquor license approval, Prospect Heights bar Plan B has finally come to fruition. (Not to be confused with Greenpoint’s incorrigible Studio B or the East Village’s ever-mobbed Plan B.) This Plan B, located in the old Half wine bar space, has four flat screen TVs for sporting types, a classic bar menu, ten beers on tap, and plenty of elbow room in the back courtyard. 626 Vanderbilt Ave, no phone listed. more ›

The Broadway stagehands strike may not be a hit with audiences, but it’s settling in for a long run anyway. Day eleven of the strike is dominated by the dashed hopes of children who’d been promised a visit to Whoville. Yesterday James Sanna, a producer of “The Grinch”, announced that because the show had a separate contract with the stagehands’ union, they’d reached an agreement that would let the kid-friendly musical continue its brief... more ›

Though the Partnership for New York City's Kathryn Wylde told the NY Times that she finds Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver "quite the opposite" of the "dark Darth Vader figure of Albany" that many people think him to be, we're betting that Mayor Bloomberg thinks Silver is quite Vaderish. A number of lawmakers confirmed to the Post that the many people hate Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan for the city, offering comments like "It sucks, it does nothing for anybody, kill it" and "It's likely dead for good." And Streetsblog found out from new Department of Transportation Commisioner Janette Sadik-Khan that the city doesn't quite have a Plan B if congestion pricing doesn't go through. She said:

Everyone is shooting for [approval of the plan on Thursday when the legislative session officially ends] but the promise of a special legislative session later this summer is still out there. So, Plan B is the special session. We are not giving up hope at all. We are fully committed. We need to get this legislation passed. It needs to pass now. It would be ridiculous to throw away hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds. That's our plan and when the plan passes we're looking to institute a series of immediate short term improvements before the switch is flipped on congestion pricing, including increased express bus service, ferry service and a variety of other initiatives. So, our emphasis is on making sure this congestion pricing program passes. On the transportation side, we don't think there's anything more important for the future of New York than getting this plan through.

When the City authorized an over-the-counter version of the "morning after" pill last fall, we wondered how quickly its effects would be felt. Well, a study released by the City Council yesterday found that unwanted pregnancies and abortions have been down in the City thanks to the availability of over-the-counter emergency contraception. more ›

It's a sad sign of the world we live in that 11-year-old Xochil Garcia has thought about what she would do if she were being robbed or kidnapped, and it's sadder still that she actually had to put a plan into action. But thankfully Garcia managed to escape from a man who tried to kidnap her and also aided in his capture. more ›

What better way to ring in the election results two days ago than with tons of the same irresponsible sex that folks in those pesky Red States point to as destroying this fine country? And in order to prevent any annoying pregnancy from getting in the way of all of that reveling, the over-the-counter version of the "morning after" pill will be available in our own city very soon. If taken within 72 hours after sex, the pill should aid in preventing pregnancy and will be available to women over the age of 18 without a prescription. Teenagers and kids deciding to knock boots will still need a doctor's script to get their hands on one. Pharmacies can definitely choose (for some reason) not to carry the medication, but must display a sign stating so. more ›

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This morning, Jeanine Pirro kept her appointment to speak at the New York Hispanic Clergy Association and spoke out against the federal investigation into her possible plans to wiretap her lying and cheating husband (he's lied and cheated before, though it's unclear if there was any lying and cheating last summer). WNBC has footage of today's speech, where she says that she's fought to keep her family together, that she's disturbed by the leaking of court documents, and that's she is asking US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to investigate who leaked the docs. Hey, can't Bernard Kerik tap someone to find out who did that? Pirro wants an investigation, and people, she is "not rolling over...not this time." So, suck on it, Andrew Cuomo (her rival in the Attorney General race) and all the other polticial pundits who consider her campaign to be dead in the water. more ›

And once again Moynihan Station has hit a bump in the road. The Times today has a story on the newest set of roadblocks for the oft-delayed station. After years of delays the problems plaguing the station can still be summed up in one word: Politics. more ›

After its eviction from a city park, the Brooklyn College MFA graduates will get to another chance to exhibit their work, this time at 70 Washington Street, thanks to Two Trees Management which manages 70 Washington Street and 110 Livingston Street. The Brooklyn Parks Department freaked out when seeing art from "Plan B" at the War Memorial and unceremoniously hauled the works away (causing some damage as well). The show will reopen on Wednesday, and you can find out more about at Plan B Prevails. more ›

Mick Stingley, Low-Rent Rock Critic more ›

-The FDA has again delayed making a decision over making Plan B (the morning-after pill) available over the counter. In Gothamist's humble opinion this latest delay is BS. more ›

Infernal Affairs screened at last spring's New Directors/New Films and will be released in the U.S. this summer. However, if you have a region-free DVD player, you can probably get yourself a DVD of the film with a little elbow grease. more ›

Bad boy turned current critical and audience darling for his turn in Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp may play Willy Wonka for Tim Burton's adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Michael Fleming writes in Variety that "Depp and Burton...came away from their meeting sparked to make the film and negotiations are expected to begin shortly." Additionally, the film would be produced by Brad Grey, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (via their production company Plan B...so...many...pretty...people...our...head...hurts) and Michael Siegel who manages Roald Dahl's estate. Gothamist thinks this is brilliant. We never thought of Willy Wonka as being sexy, but okay. more ›

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Warner Bros.-based production company, Plan B, just bought the rights (Variety.com - registration required) to James Frey's memoir, A Million Little Pieces. Michael Fleming writes, "The memoir opens as Frey finds himself aboard a Chicago-bound plane, missing four teeth and with a hole in his face, unable to remember how he got that way. Strung out on booze and crack at age 23, and wanted by authorities in three states, he ends up in a drug treatment facility in Minnesota." And it's too clear why Hollywood came a-knocking - this is essentially actor's porn. more ›