In 2001, an off-duty police officer who spent up to 12 hours drinking before going to his Brooklyn precinct struck and killed a 24-year-old pregnant woman, her 4-year-old son, and her 16-year-old sister. Medical staff delivered the woman's baby boy, who died 13 hours later, and police officer Joseph Gray was eventually convicted of four counts of second degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison and yesterday, after 10 years behind bars, Gray was released. more ›

Have you heard of the movie Dorothy and the Witches of Oz? The low-budget flick is coming out on Friday and looks wicked bad. The movie (of which there may also be an alternate television mini-series version) puts Dorothy in Manhattan, sipping on cosmos. "The Witches of Oz follows the exploits of the grown Dorothy Gale, now a successful children's book author, as she moves from Kansas to present day New York City. Dorothy quickly learns that her popular books are based on repressed childhood memories, and that the wonders of Oz are very, very real. When the Wicked Witch of the West shows up in Times Square, Dorothy must find the inner courage to stop her." more ›

Ilan Grapel, the 27-year-old law student from Hollis Hills detained in Egypt since June and accused of spying for Israel, has been released in exchange for 25 Egyptians held in Israeli jails. more ›

Former Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress has been lifting weights and getting existential in prison ever since he mistakenly shot himself in the thigh at a nightclub in Nov. 2008. But finally, he can see the light at the end of the tunnel: Burress is due to be released from prison three months early, in June. And just in time for the NFL lockout! more ›

The three 18-year-old and one 25-year-old arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Central Park early Sunday morning were released today. The Post reports, "To the frustration of cops and prosecutors, four young sex suspects are going free in the coming days -- because the women they're accused of attacking have emotional or drug issues too severe for them to testify credibly." more ›

It's been one day since the fugitive coyote landed in the hands of The Man after a daring dodge down the West Side Highway's bike lane. Where is she now? (Yep, its a girl!) more ›

Former NY1 political anchor Dominic Carter was released from jail 11 days early on good behavior. New York Magazine reports that the newsman was let out this week after serving 19 days of his 30-day sentence for attempted assault against his wife. Following a judge's orders, Carter—who hopes to appeal the verdict—must now attend domestic violence classes, receive "psychiatric treatment," and stay away from his wife for two years, a stipulation his attorney called "draconian." Because he isn't allowed home, Carter is reportedly staying with relatives in the city. "This is all behind me now," he said. "I'm writing a new chapter in my life." more ›

Click on the film stills above for more on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which also include Antichrist, (Untitled), Astroboy, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant , Saw VI, Eulogy for a Vampire, Motherhood, Night and Day, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, Rembrandt's J'Accuse, Wild River, The Lost Boys, and Life of Brian. more ›

Click on the film stills above for more on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which also include White On Rice, Crude, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Gogol Bordello Non-Stop, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, No Impact Man, The Painter Sam Francis, Sorority Row, The Other Man, Walt & El Grupo, Give Me Your Hand,Whiteout, and The Godfather.
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The Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, back to his home in Libya. Two hundred forty-three people aboard the plane—189 of them Americans, many from NY and NJ—were killed while 11 people on the ground died when the NY-bound jet exploded on December 21, 1988. al-Megrahi, sentenced to life amid his claims of innocence, is suffering from terminal prostate cancer. Scottish Justice Kenny MacAskill Secretary said, "Mr al-Megrahi did not show his victims any comfort or compassion... But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days...Our justice system demands that judgement be imposed, but compassion be available." The U.S. condemned the decision; Senator John Kerrey said, "The news today from Glasgow turned the word ’compassion’ on its head." Perinton, NY resident Paul Halsch, whose 31-year-old wife was killed, let the Daily News know how he feels, "This might sound crude or blunt, but I want him returned from Scotland the same way my wife Lorraine was ... and that would be in a box." more ›

The raccoon now known as Houdini—after escaping the cage his captors put him in yesterday—may have ended up being caught again, but the good news is he's still alive. The NY Post reports that the animal, who infiltrated City Hall, shows no signs of disease and "is scheduled to be released in a wooded area somewhere in the five boroughs." Phew! Mike Pastore of Animal Care & Control told NY1, "We get an animal like this, we're concerned for the public health aspect of it. We don't want somebody to encounter a raccoon coming across, so I'm glad that we were able to get him out the area." And just look how cute this 25-lb guy is! Guess all raccoons aren't foaming at the mouth. more ›

Cute Owl Overload! Five eastern screech owls were released in Central Park on Saturday (hopefully not in a quiet zone!). They won't be the only ones there, some were spotted in the North Woods last year. Turns out wildlife rehabilitor Bobby Horvath is responsible for both releases, and after seeing that the North Woods ones were doing so well, he brought the new troupe in—Yojimbot of The Origin of Species was on hand to document the release. Urban Hawks notes that "Central Park may have its risks, but it lacks Great-Horned Owls which are becoming a major predator of Eastern Screech-Owls." more ›

So how many years should a police officer spend in jail for sodomizing a handcuffed suspect with a broomstick? Justin Volpe, the cop who was convicted of torturing Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in a Brooklyn precinct in 1997 and who has been behind bars in a federal prison for nearly 12 years without any chance of parole, is petitioning the Justice Department for a reduced sentence. He's currently sentenced to 30 years, but letters from family, friends, and a priest pleading for leniency have been sent with his petition. (In 2004, GQ tagged along with Volpe's father, a retired NYPD cop, during depressing visits with his son.) more ›

Ridley Scott's Body of Lies stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a high strung CIA operative and Russell Crowe as his duplicitous supervisor who spends his days scheming covert ops from the ironically banal environs of his suburban home. A.O. Scott at the Times wonders: "If terrorism has become boring, does that mean the terrorists have won? Or, conversely, is the grinding tedium of this film good news for our side, evidence of the awesome might of Western popular culture, which can turn even the most intransigent and bloodthirsty real-world villains into fodder for busy, contrived and lifeless action thrillers?" more ›

According to Engadget, it’s “an absolute zoo” at Apple's 5th Avenue store, as consumers surged forth at 8 a.m. to purchase the next generation of iPhone, the 3G. Some of them have been camping outside the store (and at Apple stores around the world) since last week to be the very first geeks to own the new cell phone, and, with it, a priceless sense of self-satisfaction.

The amount of yelling makes it seem like a riot could break out at any moment... While the line doesn't seem as long as last year, the feeling of desperation is considerably thicker... Apple employees are doing their ego-booster/cult thing by standing at the door and cheering like maniacs... About 15 minutes after it all began, customers are slowly trickling out with phones in hand. Here's wishing you good luck, AT&T network!

Yojimbot at The Origin of Species has some beautiful photographs taken during the release of some kestrels back into the wild. These kestrels (which are in the falcon family) were being rehabilitated by Bobby Horvath, who gathered other bird enthusiasts in Van Cortlandt Park for the big day. Here are some photographs from Yojimbot, who also has video.
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Consider it official, it's Sex and the City month; be prepared to read about the movie up until, and past, its May 30th big screen debut. The ink's been bought by the barrell to promote this release, and even columnist Carrie Bradshaw herself never penned this many words about s-e-x during her career. more ›

Earlier this week it was announced that Foxy Brown would be released from prison after serving a drama-filled eight months behind bars. The first stop on her own personal freedom (publicity) tour, she said, was church, where "I've got to get on my knees." But what really came first was shopping in Harlem, followed by a trip to her mother's home in Prospect Heights. more ›

Last we heard, rapper Foxy Brown, who has been on Rikers for about 8 months now, was trying to get an early release because of her "hearing problems". Deaf or not, something worked, and this week she'll be a free woman once again. more ›

Wetlands Preserve, the beloved neo-hippy jam band club down by the Holland Tunnel, has been given a funny film tribute by Dean Budnick, senior editor of Relix magazine. His film Wetlands Preserved features ample archival footage and interviews with artist ranging from Bob Weir to Dave Matthews. The documentary was actually completed two years ago, but it took Budnick forever to find his keys and get out of the apartment. more ›