Just because the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, which restricted openly gay, bisexual and lesbian citizens from serving in the military, has been repealed doesn't mean that openly gay people will be getting into West Point academy right up until the day the law goes into full effect. West Point has rejected a lesbian cadet who resigned from West Point last year, because she refused to hide her sexual orientation anymore, from readmission into the academy. more ›

Early Sunday morning NYPD officers bravely rescued two West Point cadets who were stranded in a storm on a cliff on Storm King Mountain upstate. And would you know that the boys were ill prepared for the climb? The cadets were reportedly trying to rappel down a rockface on the eastern side of the mountain but got stranded 500 feet up because they didn't have enough rope. more ›

Two West Point cadets who were stranded on an upstate mountain cliff for over eight hours were rescued in dramatic fashion by the NYPD early this morning. The two freshman cadets called 911 around 6 p.m. yesterday after they realized they were stuck on a cliff on Storm King Mountain; they were trapped on an 18-inch-wide rocky ledge, clinging to a tree as winds increased up to 50 mph and temperatures dropped below freezing. Both had hypothermia by the time authorities arrived in the area. more ›

As a change of pace from our usual cocktail of animal sex offenders and political costumes, Blogger Peter Shankman forwarded us his story about a run-in today with three West Point students. Shankman ran into cammo backpack-wearing seniors Andrew, Phil, and Gary, and asked why they looked so tired: “Well sir, we’re walking from West Point, where we go to school, to Ground Zero to pay our respects.” The three students had walked for 22 hours, and about 55 miles, from West Point in order to "pay their respects" at the WTC. more ›

Yesterday, Prince Harry arrived in New York for his weekend visit. The prince, who is third in line to the British throne, first headed to West Point Military Academy, where he joined cadets in different training drills and exercises. According to the Daily News, he "fired an M4 rifle alongside cadets at popup, silhouette targets as far as 300 meters away." more ›

Last year Prince Harry made the rounds in New York City during his weekend visit, but this year it seems he's starting off his trip to the States at West Point (they really like to make sure he doesn't party when he visits!). more ›

President Obama addressed the graduates at West Point Academy on Saturday, saying, "Adversaries want to divide us, but we are united by our support for you - soldiers who send a clear message that this country is both the land of the free and the home of the brave." His comments about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the threats of terrorism received applause from the graduates, but Fox News apparently didn't like it! Filmmaker Michael Moore posted the Fox video on Twitter, which features what seems to be an edited pause, making it look like Obama was met with silence when he said the country is poised to end the war in Iraq this summer. However, Michael Moore isn't exactly the most unbiased reporter. Watch the Fox version for yourself: more ›

President Obama outlined his plans for the war in Afghanistan during speech given at West Point, saying that 30,000 more U.S. troops would head to the region next year and, conditions permitting, withdrawal will begin 18 months later, "These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan." more ›

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Hostages(!) on Geranium and Kissena Blvds. in Queens, a pedestrian struck at Stillwell and Mermaid Aves. in Brooklyn, and a bank robbery on Columbus Ave. and 72nd St. in Manhattan. Knicks coach Isiah Thomas says that the stress of lawsuits are no distraction. He can keep doing what he's doing regardless of legal problems. A boat full of gadget-minded men. There was a stop-off at Liberty Island; and slide... 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.

Major Klatt took Vincent Laforet, a photographer for The New York Times, up in an Extra-300L aerobatic plane on Thursday. more ›

The rain may be keeping people in, but by the looks of theNY Times Weddings announcements, many local weddings were yesterday. more ›

The Post has this crazy story about how a woman used various identities to attend schools like Columbia, Harvard, and California State. Naturally, she studied criminology and psychology! It sounds like a Law & Order: Criminal Intent multi-episode arc in the making. more ›