Though the response to Chris Christie's veto of gay marriage in New Jersey has been unsurprisingly mixed in the Garden State (where a majority support marriage equality) it doesn't seem to have hurt the gov on the national stage—which was pretty much the point. more ›

Vice President Joe Biden was in town yesterday to lend his support to Rep. Tim Bishop and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. According to Newsday, he said, "This is a real important election. It's more important than the one that got Barack and me elected, it literally is. Because there, at least, we would have continued to drift another four years, which would be bad. Now at least we've stopped the drift and are starting to head in the right direction." (Biden believes the Democrats will hold onto control of Congress.) Also: "Biden stumbled over Gillibrand's name at least twice, calling her 'Kristen' instead of Kirsten." more ›

Vice President Joe Biden ruins everything for visiting dignitaries! The Post reports the "motorcades for dignitaries at the upcoming UN General Assembly won't include motorcycle cops, sources said yesterday. This follows last month's accident in Queens in which two motorcycle cops suffered minor injuries as part of Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade, and an accident in November in Hell's Kitchen that left two other motorcycle cops injured, also while escorting Biden." However, when President Obama comes to visit for the UN General Assembly, he will get motorcycles in his motorcades. more ›

When Vice President Joe Biden isn't giving hot dogs out to the troops, he's making them gift packages. Yesterday morning, Biden attended the reading of the names of the 9/11 victims at Zuccotti Park, along with Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Paterson. Afterwards, he and wife Dr. Jill Biden made a surprise visit to PS 140, where the care packages and cards were being made, as part of 911 Day of Service. Also volunteering was singer Jordin Sparks, the American Idol winner. more ›

Some details on that Midtown car accident that involved an advance car from Vice President Joe Biden's motorcade around 5:40 p.m. last night. According to the Daily News, "The squad car with two detectives scouting the route for the motorcade was headed west on 49th St. when it was T-boned by a cab going north on 10th Ave." more ›

There were reports of a car accident at 49th Street and 10th Avenue and then we got word the vehicle was in the "Vice Presidential motorcade." A reader sent us this photo, adding, "Apparently a car from Biden's convoy hit a livery cab." D'oh! more ›

Our Amtrak-loving vice president was his usual chatty, off-the-cuff self when speaking on the Today Show. Politico reports, "Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that he would not recommend taking any commercial flight or riding in a subway car 'at this point' because swine flu virus can spread 'in confined places.' A little more than one hour later, Biden rushed out a statement backing off his stern warning a bit." more ›

Vice President-elect Joe Biden may have picked up a German shepherd puppy, partially sating the public's desire to know what kind of pets the incoming administration will have, but even a cute dog can be controversial. PETA is upset because the puppy apparently came from an animal breeder...and "If it weren't bad enough that Biden chose to buy from a breeder, we are now trying to confirm the accuracy of a report that was sent to us alleging that he bought his dog from a known puppy mill operator!" The Humane Society is also upset Biden bought a dog from a breeder "since he has been a leader on animal-protection issues and has championed a number of important animal-welfare reforms in the Senate," but Biden's spokesperson said, "He is an advocate for rescuing animals, as shown by his rescue of the Biden's current cat, Daisy, from a local shelter." more ›

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin confirmed that her eldest daughter Bristol, 17, is five months pregnant. Guess that scurrilous pregnancy-conspiracy gossip that the youngest Palin (baby Trig) is actually Bristol's will have to end. Palin and her husband issued a statement, "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," and asked for the media to respect their privacy. Question: When is Fox News going to use a "Baby Mama" graphic, because wouldn't that be "fair and balanced"? more ›

After earlier reports that Senator Barack Obama would be ready to announce his vice presidential running mate this week, now it seems that he may do so as soon as Wednesday. According to the NY Times, the focus is "mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware," (though there are hopes Obama will choose a female running mate, like Senator Hillary Clinton or Kansas's Governor Kathleen Sibelius--a CBS News-NY Times poll 61% of Democratic candidates like Clinton as a VP). Recent issues: The Georgia-Russia conflict, Musharraf's resignation suggest that Obama needs more foreign policy experience in his VP. On the other side, Senator John McCain will announce his running mate on August 29. more ›

A Hillary Clinton supporter says Barack Obama is considering Hillary Clinton as a possible running mate, but there may be a snag with former president Bill Clinton. The LA Times reports that Obama had reached out to donor and Westchester resident Jill Iscol, who was apparently "unhappy" how the media and other Democrats treated Hillary. Iscol recounted Obama's concerns about Bubba, "[Obama] said once you're a president, even if you're a former president, you're always a president." Iscol still thinks Hillary Clinton may have a chance at being VP, but says she's waiting to see how Obama does with promises to pay down Clinton's debt (plus who he picks for VP) before donating. more ›

Tabloid reaction to Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement that he will not run for president is the usual study in contrasts. The Daily News’s Josh Greenman and editorial board haven’t missed a beat and are already clamoring for Vice President Bloomberg. Grossman says Bloomberg would be the perfect complement to an Obama candidacy by inspiring confidence with his unstoppable financial skills. more ›

President George Bush gave his final State of the Union address, sounding positive about his leadership but also noting that there's still more to do: "From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we have made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done." (You can read the entire text here.) more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: smoke inhalation victims at Centre and White Sts. in Manhattan, a shooting on Neptune Ave. in Brooklyn, and a truck vs. overpass at 155th St. and South Rd. in Queens.
• Design firm EDAW was chosen to plan the Steeplechase Plaza for a now-vacant lot near the Coney Island boardwalk. The development beneath the Parachute Jump may include a water park and a platform for viewing Cyclones minor league baseball games.
• A large brokerage firm in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is saying the Corcoran Group's report claiming an 8% increase in average condo prices in the neighborhood during 2007 is incorrect. Aptsandlofts.com says that it's seen a 10-12% retreat in condo prices since the market's peak in early 2006.

Alycia Lane, the anchorwoman from the CBS owned station KYW in Philadelphia , who was at one time linked to WCBS anchor Chris Wragge, sent bikini photos to a married man, and is frequently mentioned in the Post’s Page Six column got into some more hot water in Chelsea around 2 a..m. Sunday morning. The Long Island native, allegedly punched a female police officer from the 10th Precinct in the face at W. 17th Street and 9th Avenue. more ›

Two weeks ago, Lord & Taylor unveiled its holiday windows theme "Christmas is the Moment," based on the the five senses and the wonderful things people enjoy during the holidays. The country's oldest department store and also the first retailer to move to Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor was also the first to create Christmas windows for "pure delight." The flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 38th Street has a hydraulic lift system that... more ›

A day after the NY Post served up a Thanksgiving day front page cover of Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas as a turkey, the embattled Thomas proclaimed he would stay in his job, saying, "I don't foresee there being any changes this year." Which the Post calls "LOAD OF BULL?" But really, if there's one thing that the Post and Daily News must have been thankful for, it's having such a spectacularly poorly managed... more ›

Democrats Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Dianne Feinstein joined nine Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee and approved the nomination of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey to go to the full Senate. The vote was 11-8, the eight opposing votes from the remaining Democrats on the committee. His confirmation is expected next week. Mukasey - and his supporters - has faced criticism after not declaring waterboarding illegal. Schumer has an op-ed in today's NY Times... more ›

Vice President Dick Cheney had a day of hunting at the Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in upstate New York - and no one was hurt. However, there is a storm brewing over the fact that a Confederate flag was hanging in a garage on the property. more ›

Quick! What's scarier than a ghost, ghoul, or goblin? It's Dick Cheney...hunting! Everyone around the Valley Rod & Gun Club in Dutchess County better stock up on all the orange clothing they can find because the Vice President is going to be in your back yard. The Poughkeepsie Journal first reported Thursday that Cheney is coming to upstate New York for a hunting trip. He's expected to arrive Sunday night at Stewart airport and to go hunting on Monday. more ›

A look at some of this week's noteworthy television: more ›

The New York Times has an interesting profile of the Senior Vice President for subways at NYC Transit, Michael Lombardi, who will retire next month after 45 years with the agency. He began working for the city making $2.63 an hour as a machinist's helper in 1962 and at the age of 18. He feels, along with many others, that his greatest contribution during his career was the work done to pull the subway system out of the slump it had fallen into in the 1970s and early 1980s. more ›

Starting on September 10th, WNBC will be making a seismic shift on the local television landscape. Live at Five is gone, with infotainment show Extra taking its place at 5 p.m. with News 4 You remaining at 5:30 p.m. However, there will be not net loss of newscasts, since WNBC will be starting a new 7 p.m. newscast, but it is not as new an idea as it would seem, since WNYW aired a 7 p.m. newscast from 1987 to 1993. WNBC’s Station Manager and Senior Vice President of News, Dan Forman, noted: “Our news at 7pm meets the needs of viewers coming home from work and is a perfect compliment to ‘NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,’ which precedes it.” more ›

Covering Coverage
more ›

7 Back on Set more ›

Save Veronica Mars Campaign Does Not Effect Local Mars Bar Availability more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a shooting at 178th Pl. in Queens, a bank robbery at White Plains Rd. in the Bronx, and a homicide on West 157th St. and Broadway in Manhattan, and a water rescue off 88th St. near Gracie Mansion..
• The suspected killer of FDNY Chief Ray Downey's nephew, who was tracked to California, killed himself yesterday when cornered by cops.
• East River State Park opened today. Be one of the first to visit.
• $1,000 goes a long way: the cash handed to Richard Johnson at the NY Post continues to gain him press at the Times.
• Perhaps in an attempt to take the edge off moving it from Gramercy, Manhattan, to College Point, Queens, the City wants to pour $1 billion into the new Police Academy.
• A Long Island husband was arrested for allegedly murdering his estranged wife in a Long Island bagel shop.
• The original Star Wars was release this weekend 30 years ago.
• Vice President Cheney delivers the commencement address at West Point.

Last night, Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. It took about 2 minutes for Rudy to invoke September 11. Until someone uploads the whole segment on YouTube, we've only got Giuliani's thoughts on Iraq, which prompted applause from the audience. And made us wonder how many Late Show attendees are out of towners. Anyway, it was a very welcoming stage for Giuliani (as it is with many candidates on the campaign trail), as Letterman basically let Giuliani give a stump speech. Here's the AP's transcript of Giuliani's thoughts on rising gas prices:

The situation in the Middle East has something to do with it, the fact that we don't have enough refineries has something to do with it," said Guiliani. "There's sort of a bottleneck that occurs – even if we find more oil, it's going to be tough to get it to where it needs to go because we haven't built a refinery in 20, 25 years, 30 years." more ›