Results tagged “thestar”

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay doesn’t give a damn about you, your girlfriend, or the special Valentine’s Day dinner you had planned – so drop your fork and get the hell off his set! That seems to be the way things went last Thursday night when diners at New Jersey’s fancy Hannah and Masons restaurant were summarily evicted – mid-meal – to facilitate production on Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA series. No matter how romantic the rabble, it just wouldn’t do to have them cluttering up Ramsay’s frame – one only hopes the cameras were rolling when the guests were asked to leave.

A week and a half ago, hundreds of headstones at the Poile Zedek Cemetery in New Brunswick, NJ were toppled over, raising concerns that the Jewish cemetery had been targeted in a possible hate crime. Yesterday, when four teens, a 15-year-old, two 16-year-olds, and a 17-year-old, were arrested, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said that the investigation so far did not suggest this "was an attempt to intimidate, target or harm the Jewish community."

While the NBA season is less than a month old, you wouldn't know it from the amount of press the Knicks have received so far. Between the well-publicized scandals and a tumultuous 8-game losing streak, there hasn't been much good to report on. But The Observer offers a glimpse into why the media often seems to take so much pleasure in reporting on the team's embarrassing demise. Turns out, The Garden doesn't think too fondly...

READING: It's the first Tuesday of the month, which means...there's a Sci-Fi reading! "Now In its 19th year, the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series has showcased some of the most prominent and upcoming authors in the genre. However, the series' commitment to providing a venue as an ongoing science fiction reading series in New York City, is open to all works of speculative fiction, whether they be works of fantasy, magical realism, horror, or science fiction." 40 years ago, Samuel R. Delany narrated a radio adaptation of his novella, The Star Pit, for The Mind's Eye Theatre, Baird Searles' ongoing series of radio dramas at New York's listener-sponsored WBAI-FM. Tonight the anniversary of the broadcast is celebrated with Delany himself.

Early yesterday morning, Newark authorities arrested the sixth and last suspect in the schoolyard shootings of four Newark residents that left three dead. Eighteen -year-old Melvin Jovel was arrested in Elizabeth, NJ at his family's home. He surrendered and is now being held on $2 million bail. Newark Mayor Cory Booker said, "Through collaboration with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the final suspect in this heinous crime has been arrested and the city is grateful. Now the process of healing must take center stage and the prosecution of the case begins."

A look at some noteworthy television this week:

Cops followed suspects in the execution-style killings in a Newark schoolyard below the Mason-Dixon line. Newark Mayor Cory Booker announced that two more arrests were made in connection to the triple murder of three young residents and the attempted murder of a fourth in a schoolyard two weeks ago.

Grieving families buried the three victims of last weekend's execution-style murders in Newark. Authorities also named a fourth suspect in the crimes: Rodolfo Godinez, a 24-year-old who has a record of robbery, assault, and weapons arrests.

The Newark police arrested a third suspect in the murders of three young residents. The third suspect is 15 years old, and he will be arraigned in Family Court on charges of murder, felony murder, attempted murder and other counts, according to the Star-Ledger. He is the third suspect in custody; another 15-year-old is was arrested on Thursday and as was 28-year-old Jose Lachira Carranza, who pleaded not guilty to the crimes. The police are still looking for two other suspects.

The NY Times reports that Newark authorities may be close to naming a suspect in the Saturday night execution-style shootings of four people. Three friends were killed, while the fourth, Natasha Aerial, survived being shot in the head and has been talking to investigators. The Star-Ledger offered this description of the crime:

Aeriel, her younger brother, Terrance, and two of their friends, Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower, had driven to the school playground to drink, eat and listen to music, authorities said. But at around 11:30, a group of Hispanic men gathered near them. Scared, the friends exchanged text messages saying they should leave.

Continue reading "Possible Suspect in Newark Shootings"

Blender has a list of 100 Days That Changed Music, and not surprisingly a good amount of them took place in New York. Here are a few, see any missing?

More reactions and details about the men who authorities say were planning a terrorist attack on Fort Dix in NJ are emerging. Jennifer Marino, the Brooklyn-born wife of suspect Dritan Duka, spoke to the Post and said, "He works as a roofer all day long. He comes home tired and then he takes the kids to the park. I don't know when he would have had time to plan this. I believe he was set up. Everything they are saying is not true."

Yesterday, the NJ Attorney General released calls and radio transmissions made by the state police, EMS, and other responders during the April 12 crash of Governor Jon Corzine's SUV. The Star-Ledger notes that calls show "a mix of confusion, chaos and concern." Here's a transcription of one emergency call:

"Sixty-year-old male. Rear passenger. It appears to be a roll-over motor vehicle accident, multi-vehicle accident. The patient is conscious. Obvious left femur fracture. ... Patient stable at 100 over 60, although patient complaining of excruciating pain in his leg, abdomen and chest."

NJ Governor Jon Corzine has been moved from intensive care as his condition improved to stable. The governor continues in his second week of recovery after a car crash on the Garden State Parkway which revealed his SUV (a state trooper was driving) was going 91 MPH while Corzine was not wearing a seat belt in the front passenger seat. However, the governor's chief of staff Tom Shea said that Corzine will not be getting back to work any time soon, "The state is in very good hands with acting Gov. (Richard) Codey." Shea added, "[Corzine]'s not as grouchy as you might expect him to be."

NJ Governor Jon Corzine may taken off a ventilator that has been helping him breathe since his Thursday night car accident on the Garden State Parkway. Yesterday, doctors removed fluid from his lungs (considered a routine procedure) successfully, and today, they will be performing another surgery to continue to clean up wounds from his left leg - when the femur broke, it punctured his skin. Corzine remains in critical but stable condition.

Inside Schools describes PS 236 thusly:

PS 236 is a well-run, well-equipped school in a neighborhood with lots of stay-at-home mothers and one- and two-family homes with manicured lawns. Fifth graders lead The Pledge of Allegiance and sing The Star Spangled Banner over the public address system each morning. Classes are tracked, with children placed in groups according to their abilities. Homework is heavy. "They start homework at 4 in the afternoon and don't finish until after dinner," one parent said. "This breeds discipline and will pay off down the road." Even kindergarteners have homework assignments, such as filling out a phonics worksheet from a workbook. The school has an inviting library with classical music playing, plants, dioramas made by the kids, and big windows that overlook a playground. Students in all grades perform and stage musical plays.

Last month, Jason Kidd filed for divorce from his wife, Joumana, citing extreme cruelty. The Nets point guard claimed his wife kicked and punched him, as well as put tracking devices on his cars and computers, not to mention taunted him during games. The Kidds' relationship had its patches and other allegations of spousal abuse - back in 2001, Joumana Kidd had some called 911 while Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns (she said he had punched her in the face because she didn't want him eating their son's French fries).

For anyone who flies out of Newark, this is some distressing news: The Transportation Security Administration conducted 22 security tests at Newark Liberty International Airport, only for the Newark screeners to fail 20 of them. The Star-Ledger noted some of the problems:

One of the security officials familiar with last week's tests said screeners at Newark missed fake explosive devices that were hidden under bottles of water in carry-on luggage, taped beneath an agent's clothing and concealed under a leg bandage another tester wore.

Continue reading "Newark Screeners Might Just Suck"

With the NJ Supreme Court decision that gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples just one day old, it's still unclear whether or not New York will accept a NJ same-sex civil union or marriage, though it has with other states. Mayor Bloomberg said, "New York City has a policy of accepting bona-fide marriages from other jurisdictions. I've always believed it's not the government's business whom you marry." And City Council Speaker Quinn who is openly gay said, "New York State's Legislature must also act to address this injustice in New York so that all citizens are treated equally on both sides of the Hudson River."

Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha be damned. Just cause the foursome aren't continuing their escapades in New York's hottest bars and lounges, there is no reason for Gothamist to stop. We may find the Cosmo passé, but a well-heeled Negroni or Gimlet always coordinate with our Jimmy Choo's.

As soon as Bright Eyes (and the Faint) are finished hogging Webster Hall this week, former Conor Oberst label mate Rilo Kiley take over for a two day run. Former child actress Jenny Lewis leads this band of safe OC-ready indie pop-rockers. For a taste of Rilo, download MP3s of their entire Coachella performance. Portastatic and The Brunettes open both shows on Thursday and Friday.

- And why the cows came

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/national/deathonthetracks_index.html?">railroad fatalities and the coverups behind them. We spent some of the evening reading a lot of the winning work, including Newsday's Dele Olojede's excellent and harrowing series on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, which shared the international reporting prize with the LA Times, and the Willamette Week's winning investigative reporting revealing a former Oregon governor's sexual abuse of his 14 year-old baby-sitter. While it's natural that a lot of amazing reporting would come out of urban centers like NY, LA, and Chicago, it's great to see other papers get recognized. You can read the work on the Pulitzer website.

The Star-Ledger has an extensive section on McGreevey, including some investigative reporting on his governorship. And speaking of gays, the NY State Supreme Court ruled that Mayor Bloomberg must carry out a law that he vetoed and the City Council overrode - one that requires businesses the city works with to provide domestic partner benefits.

Guests dined on chicken fingers, crab cakes, ribs, Waldorf salad, and the newlyweds danced to Journey's City by the Bay. Britney gave Kevin a platinum ring with diamonds, and she got a platinum band.Chicagoist on Britney's engagement ring and Gothamist on Britney's first marriage. And for many, many things Britney, check out Stereogum, unofficial chronicler of everyone's favorite Mouseketeer.

NY Councilman Alan Jennings gets a little bit of a respite as political scandal mongers are LOVING the news that one of NJ Governor James McGreevey's biggest donors hired a prostitute to thwart a witness in the federal case against him. Yes, it's totally confusing, and it doesn't get back to McGreevey, but the fact that real estate developer Charles Kushner, being investigated for tax fraud and illegal campaign contributions, hired a prostitute to seduce a witness and then mailed a tape of the act to the witness's wife is totally insane. In fact, Kushner hired the prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and accountant, but only the brother-in-law did the deed - his sister's brother! The Post notes that it's "right out of a pulp crime novel," and that's totally spot-on. Gothamist says read up on this and then read some James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler stat!

The Medium's website was reportedly wiped out by a hacker Friday; now, there is a message saying its bandwidth has been exceeded. Rutgers' main daily is The Daily Targum.