Lately the city has been looking like a nature preserve, but the keeping of bees, even the nonaggressive honey-producing kind, still isn't allowed. That may change though—tomorrow a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene board will consider lifting the bee ban. The potential change is prompted by stats that show NYC bee stings are rare and a petition by beekeepers, who maintain the practice promotes sustainable agriculture. If successful, it will mean that covert rooftop apiarists—who loose the bees to pollinate their plants and also harvest honey from their hives—will finally be in the clear. more ›

Good news for Jon, Brandon, Eddie and honey enthusiasts across the city---the NYC Health Department unveiled plans yesterday to lift a decade-old ban on keeping honeybees. The Daily News reports, "The buzz began recently when a sustainable-food group - Just Food - and other bee enthusiasts begged health bosses to allow New Yorkers to keep the stinging insects." more ›

All sorts of cats have been coming out of the woodwork to ring in the quadricentennial of the Hudson River. But up in the Palisades, things might be getting out of control if there's any validity behind multiple sightings of panthers along the Hudson town of Sneden's Landing. The Times reports on a town meeting that took place at the end of last week to address the reports coming in since March of the 100-plus pound cats that "have no history of ever existing in the wild in New York." Despite there being no photographic evidence or even confirmed footprints of a panther, the Rockland community is vowing to pay for "more comprehensive cameras and perhaps tracking expertise." Our own Joe Schumacher, who does his virtual stormtracking nearby the potential panther pad, told us that he is disappointed to say that he has not seen the Palisades Panther, but does report back sightings of "a large black feral housecat." more ›