March 2, 2010
Model files $15M suit over arrest at Smith & Wollensky
An aspiring actress and model filed a $15 million suit against the city and Smith & Wollensky late today over her arrest last year at the famed steak house’s "spirited...
Fantasy spring training: The hot corner
The Fantasy Tracker moves on to the hot corner as we continue with Fantasy Spring Training. Third base was a position that may have disappointed many owners last season as...
Fantasy spring training: Don’t second-guess yourself
In terms of fantasy baseball, the prototypical second baseman has changed in recent years, evidenced by the combination of speed and power many of these players possess. When you take...
Fantasy spring training: No 'short'age here
Shortstop proved to be one of the most productive positions last season in fantasy baseball. Not only are these players calling the shots in the infield, they also held their...
Feds watch bank fraudster swallow flash drive evidence
An accused ATM scammer found the prospect of going to jail harder to digest than the evidence against him. Florin Necula, of Long Island City, Queens, swallowed a black 4...
Infinity Ward execs leave Activision
Both Kotaku & the Associated Press (!) have been moving stories on this throughout the day. Kotaku's (lengthy and well-written) coverage is here. Below is the AP:Activision says Jason West...
Pro Bowl will remain before Super Bowl
Despite much grumbling, the NFL is sticking with its revamped Pro Bowl schedule for at least another year. The league announced that next season's all-star game will be held the...
NY Police Superintendent Corbitt retiring as of tomorrow
State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt will step down from his post tomorrow, sources told The Post tonight. The move comes a day after Corbitt was grilled by state Attorney...
Faulty Toyotas have killed 52 in United States
The US death toll from runaway Toyotas was raised to 52 by federal transportation officials after a closer analysis of traffic accident data. The additional 18 fatalities were added after...
Feds declare Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal a Superfund site
Now it’s official: The Gowanus Canal is a real stinker. The feds today declared Brooklyn’s long-polluted industrial waterway a Superfund site, which fast tracks a much-needed cleanup of the canal...
Suit: union official racist, wished Oprah dead
A former maintenance worker at the Starrett City housing complex’s power plant filed a $4 million discrimination suit against her union today, claiming that a bigoted boss used racial slurs...
More angry words from the NFL
The owners remain ultra-sensitive to the NFLPA's repeated characterization of the league's proposal as tantamount to an 18-percent pay cut across the board.How sensitive? Take a look at this statement...
Gillibrand: Paterson must resign if allegations are true
With a potential primary challenge now behind her, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand moved to cut any tether to Gov. Paterson - telling NY1 today that he needs to resign if the...
Limo driver claims Naomi Campbell assaulted him: cops
Ill-tempered temptress Naomi Campbell allegedly attacked a hired chauffeur today who was driving her around the city, then fled the car when he hailed a traffic enforcement agent, police sources...
Mayweather, Mosley start fight early
Music blared over the loudspeakers, smoke billowed across the stage, and the curtain dropped to reveal Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley dressed to the nines as a crowd of...
Obama unveils program to increase home energy efficiency
President Obama unveiled his HOMESTAR program Tuesday, a plan that would provide rebates of up to $3,000 to U.S. homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient. The president outlined...
Minaya: Mets are best ... if Phillies decimated by injuries
Give this to Mets GM Omar Minaya: He still has a sense of humor. Well, let’s hope he was joking. Minaya was asked by WFAN’s Mike Francesa on Monday if...
NFL extends Pro Bowl experiment
Despite much grumbling, the NFL is sticking with its revamped Pro Bowl schedule for at least another year. The league announced today that next season’s all-star game will again be...
DEALS: Turkish GP
Claiming a slightly lower body count than Olympic luging is Formula 1 racing, Europe's very own will-they / won't-they / hope-they crash spectator sport. Far from the typical NASCAR varietals of Fords...
New Mets reliever saves spring opener
PORT ST. LUCIE -- Ryota Igarashi took his first small step in a Mets uniform, pitching a scoreless ninth inning for the save in a 4-2 victory over the Braves...
Ford's reason for not running carries shades of Weiner
It was hard not to see shades of another recent would-be candidacy - that of Rep. Anthony Weiner as mayoral contender - in the "Why I'm Not Running" piece Harold...
Celtics anticipated Nets buyouts
The Celtics were watching the Nets very carefully on Monday. According to multiple sources, the Celtics anticipated that the Nets would waive both Bobby Simmons and Tony Battie following buyouts....
Yankees Top 30 Prospects: No. 29 – Jairo Heredia
Beating the Bushes is counting down to the start of the 2010 baseball season, which kicks off April 4 at Fenway Park when the Yankees take on the Red Sox.In...
Mets Top 30 Prospects: No. 29 – Tobi Stoner
Beating the Bushes is counting down to the start of the 2010 baseball season, which kicks off April 4 at Fenway Park when the Yankees take on the Red Sox.In...
Yankees Top 30 Prospects: No. 30 – Jamie Hoffmann
Beating the Bushes is counting down to the start of the 2010 baseball season, which kicks off April 4 at Fenway Park when the Yankees take on the Red Sox.In...
Rangers ready to move on from Olympics
OTTAWA -- This won't be like 2002 when Theo Fleury infuriated a number of his Rangers teammates by displaying the gold medal he earned with Canada at the Salt Lake...
Mets Top 30 Prospects: No. 30 – Jordany Valdespin
Beating the Bushes is counting down to the start of the 2010 baseball season, which kicks off April 4 at Fenway Park when the Yankees take on the Red Sox.In...
Reynolds, Cooper, Ford, Gyllenhaal to present at Oscars
LOS ANGELES — Eight leading men are joining the Oscar show lineup. Telecast producers Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman say Bradley Cooper, Tom Ford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Pine, Keanu Reeves,...
Fun and games for Yankees on team-bonding trip
TAMPA -- A year ago when the Yankees struggled in April, Joe Girardi believed they stayed together because of a spring training billiards tournament/bonding session. So, on the eve of...
NY cop accused of driving drunk, leaving scene
PELHAM, N.Y. — Police say an off-duty policewoman has been charged with drunken driving after another motorist collided with her car while it was stopped and facing the wrong way...
Chile earthquake may have knocked Earth off axis, shortening day
NEW YORK — Earth's days may have gotten a little bit shorter since the massive earthquake in Chile, but don't feel bad if you haven't noticed. The difference would be...
EPA designates Gowanus Canal a Superfund site
The Environmental Protection Agency this week declared the Gowanus Canal a Superfund site, ending nearly a year of often toxic debate and beginning what supporters say will be a new...
Islanders trade Sutton to Senators
Andy Sutton's departure off Long Island may not be the only move the Islanders make before the NHL trade deadline Wednesday at 3 pm, with one of their veteran goalies...
Up to 25 players questioned about Canadian doctor
TAMPA -- According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Feds have a list of 20 to 25 major-league players they want to talk to about their relationship...
Curry returns to Knicks practice, could see action Friday
Eddy Curry returned for his first practice today, looked good and could see action Friday in Toronto. He may dress tomorrow night but not play.Haven't I written this comeback story...
Red Bulls announce MSG slate
The Red Bulls and MSG today announced the TV slate for the upcoming season _ assuming there is one. MSG and MSG Plus will televise 22 of the Red Bull's 31 scheduled tilts, the most in...
Injured at Olympics, Gaborik won't play for Rangers tonight
OTTAWA -- Marian Gaborik will become Exhibit A when NHL team and league executives present their case against continued participation in the Olympics. That's because Gaborik, the Rangers' essential goal-scoring...
Apple hits HTC with iPhone patent suit
Apple Inc. on Tuesday said it filed a patent infringement suit against smartphone maker HTC, charging the Taiwanese company with violating patents related to the iPhone. In a statement, Apple...
Lubos Kubik named U.S. assistant
U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has named former Czech international Lubos Kubik to be an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Kubik’s impressive resume includes a 20-year professional...
Streep has record Oscar noms, but few wins
LOS ANGELES — Meryl Streep has a record 16 Academy Awards acting nominations, yet her batting average is minor league when it comes to winning. Streep has two Oscars but...
Obama is open to four Republican health care proposals
A day before he outlines his strategy to secure health care legislation, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's willing to consider at least four Republican-backed proposals. In a letter to...
Bart Scott: Patriots’ Thomas wants to join Jets if cut
Another former Raven could be joining Rex Ryan and the Jets. Bart Scott told ESPN Radio this morning that current Patriots LB Adalius Thomas would love to join the Jets...
5 unique ways to see LA
AS cities go, Los Angeles is pretty much a wallflower. It reveals what it wants to, in its own time and on its own terms. Vast and confusing as it...
Yankees' Chamberlain waits day to throw
TAMPA -- If the flulike symptoms that forced Joba Chamberlain to go home Tuesday don’t improve enough to allow him to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, he could be in...
LI university in lockdown after discovery of powder substance
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — About 110 students at Adelphi University on Long Island are currently on lockdown after a suspicious powder was found inside a campus building. Adelphi spokeswoman Kali...
This week's calendar, March 4 to 10
Thursday, March 4 RED Nite: 9inety North 5th The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce's Real Estate & Development (RED) Committee presents this evening of networking, drinks and hors d’oeuvres in architect...
Lil Wayne sentencing delayed after fire breaks out at courthouse
First tooth decay. Now a fire delay. Lucky hip hop superstar Lil Wayne is getting a second temporary reprieve from the jailhouse thanks to a basement fire forcing the daylong...
Ebert, with computerized voice, gives Oscar predictions
CHICAGO — Film critic Roger Ebert, who lost his ability to speak after surgery for cancer, tried out a new voice on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Tuesday as he...
Judges testify that they feared for their lives
Two federal judges testified in Brooklyn court that they feared for their lives after a New Jersey shock blogger's Web screed called for their murder. "I considered it to be...
Bronx woman pleads guilty to embezzlement scheme
A Bronx woman pleaded guilty this morning to a $54,000 embezzlement scheme that funneled stolen money to a pair of Democratic pols, including a city councilwoman believed under investigation in...
Police: Woman charged with prostitution near Clintons' NY home
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. -- A woman who lives about a mile from the Clinton home in upscale Chappaqua has been charged with prostitution. New Castle police, who cover Chappaqua, say 46-year-old...
Lady Antebellum leads ACM Awards nods with 7
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An astounding run keeps getting better for Lady Antebellum. Already buoyed by the crossover success of its latest album, the country trio learned it's up for seven...
Jessica Simpson: I don't want people to know how I am in bed
Jessica Simpson opened up to Oprah Winfrey about John Mayer's graphic descriptions of their sex life and her weight issues, according to a new report. The 29-year-old, who famously remained...
Mets' frustrating offseason was still better than most
The Mets' offseason was unspectacular, but they are not alone in the National League.The complaints about GM Omar Minaya not signing a legitimate starting pitcher, catcher or first baseman to...
Official: Uganda landslides kill 70; 250 missing
BUDUDA, Uganda — Rivers of mud swamped houses, stores and at least one school after heavy rains in this Central African country, killing at least 70 people with some 250...
Safety Brown tendered by Giants
The Giants have made a decision that qualifies as a no-risk move that nevertheless will have many fans scratching their heads. They have given safety C.C. Brown a restricted free...
Sheekey out, Wolfson in (eventually)
Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, long known as the mayor's Karl Rove and the man who helped get him elected in 2001 for his first mayors's race, will be departing City...
FBI spoke with Mets' Beltran about HGH doctor
PORT ST. LUCIE --- Carlos Beltran today said he met with federal investigators last week and answered questions pertaining to his relationship with Canadian physician Dr. Tony Galea, who is...
Who’s influence still felt
During the Super Bowl halftime show, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend somehow condensed 46 years of legendary rock ’n’ roll into 12 explosive minutes. Tonight at Carnegie Hall,...
EPA adds Brooklyn canal to Superfund list
NEW YORK — A Brooklyn canal that was once so polluted locals called it “The Lavender Lake” has become the nation’s newest superfund site. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday...
Dow Jones buys other half of SmartMoney
Dow Jones & Co. has acquired the 50 percent interest in Smart Money that it did not already own from Hearst Corp.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The two formed...
Jones could reunite with Mangini in Cleveland
Thomas Jones won’t be in the Jets backfield next season after he is officially released on Friday, but he could end up playing for their former coach.Eric Mangini’s Browns are...
Lawmakers visit gov as Paterson vows not to resign amid 'cover-up'
Not going anywhere for a while. That's what Gov. Paterson plans to do after he dug in his heels today, telling top Democratic officials that he does not plan to...
New Nets owner lost $54M on deposit for French Riviera mansion
A lump sum of $53.7 million will buy a sumptuous mansion on the French Riviera. Russia's richest man lost that amount -- and a lot of face -- when a...
Bad news for Specter
The same poll that puts Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter ahead of his Republican challenger also holds some serious bad news. “Pennsylvania voters say 52 - 38 percent Specter does not...
Good news for Specter
The latest Quinnipiac University poll has Democratic Sen. Arlen Spcter ahead of Republican challenger Pat Toomey by 49-42 percent.
Leno beats Letterman in return to 'Tonight'
Nielsen says Jay Leno got a warm welcome from viewers with his return on Monday to “The Tonight Show.” Preliminary Nielsen Co. ratings from 56 metered markets across the nation...
Homicide cops investigate teen's sewage death
SMITHTOWN, N.Y. -- Long Island homicide detectives have found half of a manhole cover and believe the other half may be at the bottom of a sewage pit where a...
Walpin firing still stinks
According to ABC News, two GOP legislators have issued a report today regarding questions of bias affecting President Obama’s firing last June of former Inspector General for the Corporation for...
DVD Extra: Mailer, Flynn, Kelly at Warner Archive
"An American Dream'' (1966), an adaptation of a Norman Mailer novel starring Stuart Whitman (as an acerbic TV commentator), Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker, is the most intriguing of 12...
Iowa man found guilty of shooting football coach
A 24-year-old Iowa man was found guilty of first-degree murder Tuesday in the shooting death of a nationally known high school football coach, the Des Moines Register reported. Jurors in...
Long Island heat-aid program suspended
DEER PARK, N.Y. -- Fundraisers hope to revive a program that helps Long Island residents pay their home heating bills. Project Warmth halted subsidies on Feb. 22 - two months...
Fire forces evacuation of Manhattan courthouse
A basement fire in Manhattan Criminal Court forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 employees this morning. The fire sent smoke swirling up stairwells as high as the 17th floor...
Reality TV Tryouts: 'Big Brother'
"Big Brother" Please, if we all stop applying to get into this house of horrors, perhaps we can prevent another bartender/waitress/aspiring actor from gaining fame for using obscene language/exploding in...
Bank tax to pay for auto bailout
As Jeanne Cummings tallies winners and losers among lobbyists this year, she uncovers a stunning nugget about President Obama’s proposed bank tax. The tax, which is supposed to help pay...
Report: Elias says Jagr could return to NHL
Patrik Elias says Jaromir Jagr could play in the NHL again, according to NJ.com.The Devils forward and the former Rangers captain were teammates on the Czech Olympic team. "I think...
Clinton in quake-ravaged Chile to offer support
SANTIAGO, Chile -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in earthquake-ravaged Chile on Tuesday to offer the devastated country moral and material support as it recovers from the...
Tiger back home, working on golf game
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Tiger Woods is closer to competing again.Woods is back home after a week of family counseling in Arizona and is trying to get back into a routine...
Poll: 68 percent think Paterson should stay in office
ALBANY – Voters believe Gov. Paterson's ethical lapses have ended his days as an effective executive, but they're not yet ready to call for his resignation, according to a new...
Apple sues Google phone-maker HTC over iPhone patents
CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple is suing Taiwan’s HTC, saying the handset maker has violated patents related to the iPhone. HTC Corp. was the first company to manufacture cell phone based...
LeBron files to change from No. 23 to 6
LeBron James will not be wearing No. 23 for the Cavaliers next season. But not for the Knicks, either. James has filed paperwork with the NBA to change his uniform...
GM auto sales up 11.5 percent in February
DETROIT — General Motors Co.’s February sales rose 11.5 percent thanks to new models and pent-up demand from fleet buyers, but it was unclear how much the Detroit automaker benefited...
Report find's borough's retail gold coast
Rents along retail corridors in Downtown Brooklyn and Bay Ridge are the priciest in the borough, a report released last week revealed. The 2010 Retail Report issued by CPEX Real...
Cab driver shot in Flatlands
A cab driver was held up at gunpoint in Flatlands Saturday night and got a lot more than he gave. The 55-year-old victim told police that he was standing outside...
Toasted Hamantashen after Purim blaze
Sunday’s Purim party at the Mirrer Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway and Avenue R became a celebration for the record books when a fire broke out in the kitchen. Upwards of...
NY chapter of National Organization for Women calls for gov to resign
The head of the National Organization for Women's state chapter is calling for Gov. David Paterson to resign in the wake of reports that he personally directed government workers to...
Tsunami swept away bus full of retirees in Chile
PELLUHUE, Chile — The 40 retirees enjoying summer vacation at a seaside campground nestled under pine trees knew they had to move fast after Chile's powerful earthquake struck. They didn't...
Abbas strategy: Conflict with Israel
As Khaled Abu Toameh explains, the current political strategy of the Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is to divert attention from the severe internal problems he faces by inciting a...
Bronx man falls to his death in elevator shaft
A man carrying a mattress backed into an elevator shaft in The Bronx, and fell to his death, MyFoxNY reported Tuesday. The victim's wife told police she and her husband...
Supremes avert showdown
The Supreme Court backed the Obama administration and opposed an effort to have a federal judge, not the government, release prisoners from the prison at Guantanamo Bay. According to Lyle...
Warrant issued after Ronald Reagan's grandson a no-show for pot charges
Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s grandson is a wanted man after blowing off a court date for a marijuana arrest, celebrity gossip web site TMZ.com reported Tuesday. Cameron Reagan, 31,...
US Postal Service may scrap Saturday deliveries
The U.S. Postal Service was expected to move towards reducing its delivery service from six days a week to five, according to reports Tuesday. Postmaster General John Potter said a...
Assault charges filed against Serbian student in NY attack
BELGRADE, Serbia — Prosecutors have filed assault charges against a former Serbian college student who jumped bail in the U.S. after beating a fellow American student into a coma, a...
White House vindicated by Paterson, Ford
Two of the most controversial and debated political moves by the White House -- moving to ask Gov. Paterson not to run for election, and sticking by embattled Sen. Kirsten...
Buzz Aldrin, Kate Gosselin to dance with 'Stars'
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin will take one quick step for man when he joins the celebrity lineup on "Dancing With The Stars." The second man ever on the moon after Neil...
More young conservatives
According to this report, more young people are identifying themselves as conservative these days. The recent Conservative Political Action Conference saw a 10 percent rise in attendance by students and...
CHSAA/Private girls basketball roundup: Dalton's Baker beats buzzer, Blue Devils
Poly Prep and Dalton have had a knack for the dramatic this season. Juliet Baker's layup at the buzzer lifted Dalton to a thrilling 63-62 victory over visiting Poly Prep...
CHSAA Class B playoff roundup: Salesian sails past Cathedral Prep
The odds were stacked high and Frank McQuail knew it. After all, Cathedral Prep had won just one game during the regular season and lost three times to top-seeded Salesian...
Rice cooks Ravens for fifth straight Archdiocean crown
In case Jermaine Sanders didn’t realize how important he was for Rice in its attempt to win back-to-back CHSAA Class AA titles, that point was driven home by Raiders coach...
CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens girls basketball finals preview
CHSAA girls basketball beat writer Joseph Staszewski breaks down the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I and II finals. Schedule @ St. John’s Prep Division II final 4:30 p.m. – No. 1...
QHST rides fast start to easy playoff win over Bronx Academy of Letters
Bronx Academy of Letters knew IT faced a tough task yesterday against third-seeded Queens HS of Teaching. Their worst fears were quickly realized when the 30th-seeded Ravens trailed 22-3 midway...
CHSAA boys basketball rankings
February ended with some stunning upsets in the Class A intersectional playoffs, with St. Joseph by the Sea shocking Mount St. Michael and Xavier knocking off defending champion Iona Prep,...
NYC boys basketball rankings
It's a new month, which naturally means a new No. 1. Christ the King returns to the top spot after beating former No. 1 Bishop Loughlin to capture a second...
PSAL girls basketball playoff roundup: Wheeler's double-double propels Columbus to quarters
Asia Wheeler had 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead No. 10 Columbus to a 59-46 win against host No. 7 Long Island City in the PSAL Class A second...
Playing the city's markets
I’d like to think of myself as a Martha Stewart in the making — but when it comes to entertaining, my funds aren’t nearly as plentiful as hers. My boyfriend...
New York's hottest party boy
It was just after 8 a.m. on Feb. 12, and for the last three hours Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose had been knocking back cocktails of vodka, cranberry juice...
CHSAA Archdiocesan girls basketball roundup: Villa extends season with win
Senior Breanna Archul was home sick for what could have been the Bears' final game of the season. Her teammates made sure it wasn’t. “We kind of won it for...
CHSAA Class AA intersectional first round preview
CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down the CHSAA Class AA intersectional first round being played at Holy Cross High School on Tuesday. For live updates during the...
CHSAA Class A intersectional semifinals preview
CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down the Class A intersectional semifinals being played at Cardinal Spellman on Tuesday. For live updates during the games, click here. Here’s...
Final four in PSAL Class AA semis hold plenty of intrigue
Any way you cut it, this will be an odd PSAL Class AA boys basketball postseason when it is over Saturday afternoon. From the absence of that one standout team...
Baggs, Arnone send Moore back to Archdiocesan A final
Nicole Arnone hit a low point of what has been an inconsistent season. The Moore Catholic junior was benched for the second half of a win over Cardinal Spellman just...
New spring for Maye
It sounds like an old MGM musical: A girl singer from a small town is discovered, becomes a star, then drops out of sight, only to rise again years later....
Boots puts her best foot forward with 'Hands'
LITTLE BOOTS "Hands" *** VICTORIA Hesketh, a k a Little Boots, is already a star in her native Great Britain, but the blond cutie is starting all over again here...
Biggest hockey game in 30 yrs
Sunday's nail-biter Olympic final between the US and Canada was the most-watched hockey game in 30 years. The game -- won by Canada 3-2 in overtime -- was seen by...
Almost'Idol'.com
'A merican Idol" creator Simon Fuller has moved to the Web for his next big project. "If I Can Dream" premieres today both on hulu.com and ificandream.com. It's aiming to...
Under the 'Hood'
'P ARENTHOOD," the dramedy that's been redone more times than Joan Rivers' face, is finally starting tonight and, believe it or not, it looks as fresh as if it were...
Bachelor finally picks the 'bad' girl
The sexy wife trumped the good wife on "The Bachelor" last night. After weeks of soul-searching, pilot Jake Pavelka popped the question to Vienna Girardi, the girl the other bachelorettes...
Russia prez rips Olympic failure
MOSCOW -- Officials who prepared Russia's Olympic team for the Vancouver Games should quit after the country's worst showing since it began competing in 1956, President Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday....
The arts downtown
Following the devastating attack of 9/11, a commitment was made to the people of lower Manhattan that our community would be rebuilt and revitalized ("Dancing to Disaster," Steve Cuozzo, Post-...
Pirates sunk
BRUSSELS -- A NATO destroyer has sunk a pirate mothership in the Indian Ocean off the Somali coast after allowing the crew to leave, the alliance said yesterday. The NATO...
LI teen dies in cesspool
A teenage worker taking out the garbage at a Long Island Dunkin' Donuts Sunday night fell into a cesspool and died, police said yesterday. Amiri Zeqiri, 17, slipped into the...
City OD deaths decline sharply
Unintentional drug-overdose deaths in New York City fell dramatically in 2008, to their lowest levels since 1999, according to a City Health Department report released yesterday. Overdose deaths fell from...
The 2night show
Jay Leno returned to "The Tonight Show" last night with a new look and a new respect for how fleeting TV success can be. "It's good to be home. I'm...
'Allergic' to climate woes
Sneezing, congestion and runny noses from hay fever may be lasting longer because climate change could be extending pollen seasons, doctors in Italy said yesterday. Pollen seasons, as well as...
Ft. Hood killer move
After four months in a military hospital, the Army psychiatrist charged in the worst mass shooting on a US base is moving to a Texas county jail near Fort Hood....
Charlie's buck-passing: just one more excuse
Here we go again with Rep. Charlie Rangel and his ongoing mantra, "I did nothing wrong" ("Charlie the Coward," Editorial, Feb. 28). Rangel allegedly has been lying about his freebie...
Health 'reformers' in wonderland
Most health-care discussions are like something out of Alice in Wonder land. The biggest complaint about the medical care is "it costs too much." Yet one looks in vain for...
Put head on ice: judge
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A state judge ruled yesterday that the remains of a Colorado Springs woman can be frozen, despite protests from the woman's daughter. A magistrate said the...
Feud sinks 'Brady' show
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia -- still isn't a favorite of "Brady Bunch" actress Eve Plumb. A years-long, lesbian-tinged feud between former child actors Maureen McCormick, who played overachieving big sister Marcia,...
Utah kidnap trial a go
SALT LAKE CITY -- A federal judge says the man charged in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart is competent to stand trial. US District Judge Dale Kimball ruled yesterday that...
Al's latest global-warming whopper
Al Gore's defense of global-warming hysteria in Sunday's New York Times has many flaws, but I'll focus on just one whopper -- where the "Inconvenient Truth" man states the opposite...
'Sodomy' guy sues cops, city
Cops who were cleared by a jury of sodomizing a tattoo artist in a Brooklyn subway station will be back in court in June for a civil suit, a Brooklyn...
Greeks must cut debt: EU
The European Union's financial affairs chief tightened the screws on Greece yesterday demanding more painful, permanent budget cuts soon, which he said would secure the bloc's endorsement and break world...
NYPD Daily Blotter
Manhattan A Florida man was busted for swiping more than $50,000 in gems from a Midtown diamond dealership, authorities said yesterday. Tamaz Hubel, 59, entered the store on Fifth Avenue...
O targets dropouts
WASHINGTON -- President Obama took aim yesterday at the nation's student-dropout epidemic, proposing $900 million to states and education districts that agree to drastically change or even shutter their worst-performing...
Camp out for hundreds
ALBANY -- The state has canceled the reservations of about 350 people who had booked campsites and other accommodations at a dozen state parks that may be closed because of...
Nancy's dirty house
It may have been the shrewdest thing Nancy Pelosi ever said: In the fall of 2006, riding a wave of popular disgust at the ethical lapses of the then-Republican congressional...
Hey Washington! Economy has us very worried
Come real close to the page. I want to whisper a secret in your ear. Pssst . . . Americans are not happy. You already know that, of course, because...
Building full of miracles in Chile
CONCEPCION, Chile -- Rescuers found signs of life in the wreckage of a 15-story building yesterday, as the world offered aid to victims of an earthquake that killed more than...
Dog kills TV star's kid, 4
ASTORIA, Ore. -- The 4-year-old daughter of a reality-TV show star was mauled to death by the family's Rottweiler, authorities said yesterday. Ashlynn Anderson's mother found her on the family's...
Toyota hose job
Toyota will replace a leaky oil hose in nearly a million US vehicles due to the risk of potential engine damage, the beleaguered automaker said yesterday. The Japan-based company will...
Business briefs
Plane plans The aircraft leasing arm of American International Group Inc. -- Lease Fi nance Corp. -- said yes terday it was seeking to generate up to $3.5 billion from...
Salt study takes heart
CHICAGO -- Teaming with the food industry to cut salt intake by nearly 10 percent could prevent hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save the feds $32...
Underage drinking-game ban
A Long Island lawmaker hopes to curb underage drinking by banning the sale of booze-themed board games, like beer pong, to minors. It would be against the law to sell...
Suit says Dubai unit stole $3.2M
Istithmar Building, the Dubai World unit that lost control of the W New York Union Square hotel after defaulting on loans, was accused in a lawsuit of stealing $3.2 million...
ACORN set up by vidiots: DA
The video that unleashed a firestorm of criticism on the activist group ACORN was a "heavily edited" splice job that only made it appear as though the organization's workers were...
'Assault' mayor told: Quit, NOW
Facing a criminal charge of assaulting his wife over the weekend, White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley yesterday vowed to remain in office, despite a call from a leading women's organization...
It's Tea for Texas
A whole new kind of "Texas Tea" may be brewing in the Lone Star State. Tea Party-activist candidate Debra Medina is likely to force the Republican gubernatorial primary today into...
Judge rules duped investors will get Bern-ed
Investors who lost their fortunes to Bernard Madoff are not entitled to recoup the phony profits the Ponzi king led them to believe they had accumulated from the $65 billion...
Rotten to his routes
In what may be a record taxi rip-off, a licensed cabby has been charged with swindling 574 passengers in a single month by setting his meter to double the legitimate...
Aide's accuser is flying under the radar
The woman whose domestic-violence case ended up destroying Gov. Paterson's political career has gone into hiding. Sherr-una Booker, 40, has not showed up for work at Lincoln Hospital in The...
Louis Vuitton cries foul on trademark
This ball has bounced its way into court. French handbag maker Louis Vuitton filed suit against Hyundai yesterday over a Super Bowl commercial featuring a fancy basketball, complaining it was...
Project runway a disaster at JFK
The first day of the shutdown of JFK Airport's main runway for repairs wreaked havoc on passengers yesterday. Clara Gelabert, 17, had a connecting Delta flight canceled to Vermont. "I...
Tiger is best of the worst: poll
Among the biggest jerks in America, Tiger Woods is the one most likely to get a mulligan for his bad behavior. In a poll commissioned by CBS's "60 Minutes" and...
Elevator killer sent up for life
A 6-foot-6 career mugger who bludgeoned an 81-year-old man to death was yesterday given the maximum sentence of 25 years to life for murder. Jacob Gerstle, an Orthodox Jew, was...
Show us some glass
C harles Blaichman, developer of High Line-straddling 450 W. 14th St., insists there's nothing wrong with his 15-story project that's still a concrete skeleton, vowing that curtain-wall glass will finally...
Victims' kin want bldg.
Families of Marines killed in a 1983 barracks bombing in Lebanon demanded ownership yesterday of a Midtown skyscraper prosecutors say is owned by companies illegally funneling money to Iran. In...
All-out war breaks out between Dem & Shelly
ALBANY -- Feuding erupted between Democratic lawmakers yesterday -- with one blasting Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as a "modern-day Napoleon" -- as they convened for the first time since Gov....
Buffett is half full
Warren Buffett laments he might lose $30 million on his World Cup bet if France wins the soccer crown, but the billionaire investor isn't worried because he sees a bigger...
Senators eyeing reforms
US senators are taking dead aim on Wall Street. Senator James Webb (D-Va) is proposing a 50 percent tax on bonuses for employees of bailed-out financial companies including Goldman Sachs...
Goldman profits on both AIG's collapse, breakup
For Goldman Sachs, AIG -- and by extension, the American taxpayer -- is a gift that keeps on giving. A year and a half after Goldman pocketed billions of dollars...
Madoff victims' fed fury
Victims of Bernard Madoff's massive fraud are crying foul over prosecutors' plans to seek "extraordinary" leniency for his frontman. In a series of letters filed yesterday in Manhattan federal court,...
Slim's private times
Shares in the troubled New York Times Co. jumped more than 7 percent yesterday on rumors Carlos Slim, its biggest independent shareholder, was secretly moving to take the newspaper company...
Amtrak finally choo-chooses to offer Wi-Fi
All 20 of Amtrak's high-speed Acela lines went wireless yesterday, following the lead of such wildly popular bus lines as BoltBus. What's more, Acela Wi-Fi is free -- for now....
'Thief'-slay suspect obsessed: pal
A Queens man who may have killed for his car was so obsessed with the vehicle that he even refused to move to another borough for fear it would be...
High court raises Skilling's hopes
The former chief of Enron, who is fighting to be freed from jail, appears to have won sympathy on the Supreme Court bench. Lawyers argued yesterday that Jeff Skilling didn't...
The coming homeless boom
Get ready for more street people. US District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis yesterday ordered Albany to immediately begin moving mentally ill adults out of group homes and into their own...
MTA way cheaper than $1B for school buses
The city and state fork over a staggering $1 billion a year to move schoolkids on yellow buses, while stiffing the MTA on its student MetroCard program -- which is...
Tainted frogs jump genders
A commonly used but controversial weedkiller can turn male frogs into females, researchers reported yesterday. Atrazine is a suspect in the global decline of amphibians. "Atrazine-exposed males were both demasculinized...
O.J. suit is fit for museum
The suit O.J. Simpson wore the day he beat a double-murder rap is headed behind museum glass, after lawyers yesterday settled a bitter battle for the garment. In a phone...
Dolans, ABC in fee battle
The ongoing battle between content owners and cable operators opened a new chapter last night after Channel 7 warned Cablevision customers that they could lose their signal Sunday because of...
Ford at screeching halt in Senate race
Tennessee transplant and former US Rep. Harold Ford Jr. announced last night he has decided not to challenge unelected incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand for her US Senate seat. Sources said Ford,...
Housing win for mentally ill
Public-health officials cannot use the state's budget woes to avoid building housing for the mentally ill, a Brooklyn federal judge ruled yesterday. Judge Nicholas Garaufis (pictured) gave the state four...
ABC threat to blackout Cablevision
ABC yesterday began warning Cablevision subscribers that the network's signal could go dark after midnight Saturday in a dispute over how much it's paid by the cable operator. If the...
Probe's peek at Charlie in paradise
WASHINGTON -- Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel's Caribbean junkets, which broke House ethics rules, featured "pulsating" night life and gorgeous surroundings -- and he skipped the work sessions to goof off,...
$25m scalp 'scam'
A gang of scalpers pulled off one of the world's biggest ticket scams by hacking into Ticketmaster and other Web sites to corner the market on sellout events from Yankee...
Dave told state workers to call aide's 'beaten' gal pal
In an explosive development that puts Gov. Paterson at the center of an alleged cover-up, the governor instructed two female state workers to contact the woman involved in a domestic-violence...
Lame duck Paterson missing in quacktion
ALBANY -- Gov. Paterson, acting more like a dead duck than a lame one, never even made it to the office yesterday. Facing growing calls for his resignation and a...
One more nail
So it transpires that Gov. Paterson not only had advance knowledge of efforts to "counsel" a woman who was seeking protection from one of his closest aides, he was personally...
Flake and pals face a grilling
Former US Rep. Floyd Flake and rap moguls Jay Z and Russell Simmons will be subpoenaed today in the state probe into the controversial contract to operate slot machines at...
Venus tops Clijsters at Garden despite sore leg
With sister Serena sidelined with a leg injury, Venus Williams said she planned to plant the Williams flag in the Garden in last night's BNP Paribas Showdown -- and she...
The Post Line
NCAA Basketball Favorite Line Underdog SYRACUSE 15 St. John's Villanova 4 CINCINNATI MICHIGAN 2 Minnesota UCF 12½ East Carolina MARSHALL 1½ Utep FLORIDA 2½ Vanderbilt South Florida 3½ DEPAUL SO....
Rangers' Lundqvist wants NHL players to remain in Olympics
Despite the success of the Olympic hockey tournament, including very high ratings for Sunday's 3-2 overtime win for Canada over the United States in the gold medal final, there have...
Philadelphia Park Analysis
Today's analysis.1. 6f; $25,000; mdn cl($25,000); 3YO; (f)BELLA UNO closed to finish third this distance in first start for a tag. LADY JOLIE made a middle move to reach contention and...
Matthews: I'm natural choice for Mets leadoff spot
PORT ST. LUCIE -- Gary Matthews Jr. felt right at home in the leadoff spot yesterday. If Jerry Manuel's plan of batting Jose Reyes third in the lineup is to...
Islanders without DiPietro indefinitely
Want to sum up the last few years for Rick DiPietro and the Islanders? The goalie entered the NHL's two-week Olympic break with his surgically repaired knee in good shape...
Devils' Parise returning with silver, pride
The pain remains, the disappointment gnaws at the hero denied ultimate triumph. But something else has happened. Zach Parise saw the United States united for a day, and now longer,...
Drury could be Rangers' biggest asset
OTTAWA -- Maybe Olli Jokinen will carry the Rangers to the playoffs the way he carried Finland to the bronze in Vancouver. Maybe Marian Gaborik shouldn't have tried to drag...
Mets' Niese, Reyes trot out healed hamstrings
PORT ST. LUCIE -- Who needs pulled pork when you can enjoy healed hammy? The Mets yesterday indulged in a feast that left them drooling for more. Jon Niese --...
Rangers defenseman Staal happy for brother's gold
Rangers defenseman Marc Staal was thrilled to see his brother Eric, who plays for the Hurricanes, win Olympic gold Sunday in Canada's 3-2 overtime victory over the United States. But,...
A-Rod to meet with feds over HGH doctor ties
TAMPA -- Alex Rodriguez says he isn't concerned that the feds wanting to talk to him about Dr. Tony Galea will develop into a distraction for him and the defending...
Lightning-Rod still attracts controversy
TAMPA -- Alex Rodriguez was whistling yesterday as he pulled on his baseball pants. He then went out and launched bombs during batting practice, and did all his hitting and...
Yankees' Burnett 'changes' repertoire
TAMPA -- It could be nothing more than a ploy to mess with hitters' heads, but A.J. Burnett threw a dozen changeups during a 30-pitch batting-practice session yesterday at George...
NFL flips out about tweaking OT rules
INDIANAPOLIS -- Amid buzz of the scouting combine here and continued uncertainty over the labor situation, the NFL's overtime rules are again suddenly a red-hot topic. Stung by increasing criticism...
Releasing Jones could be costly mistake for Jets
Keep an eye out for this transaction on Friday: Jets release running back Thomas Jones. Don't be fooled by the small print. This could become a big deal. The Jets...
Knicks killer Miller lauded in film
It takes one to rate one, so that makes me eminently qualified to lump Reggie Miller among the NBA's all-time oddballs. While Indiana Bones vacillated from being accommodating, caring and...
Agassi to play at MSG next year
Pete Sampras vs. Roger Federer packed the Garden in March 2008 for an exhibition match that created so much more buzz than four top women playing a one-night tournament that...
Having Reyes hit third a bad call by Manuel
PORT ST. LUCIE -- Perfect. How many times, of late, has it worked that way for the Mets? Jerry Manuel moves Jose Reyes into the No. 3 slot and the...
Sports shorts
MLB: Tigers' Cabrera disputes 'alcoholic' label Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera said he has stopped drinking alcohol since an ugly incident last fall, right before his team surrendered the AL Central...
Mavs tame 'Cats with MJ on hand
Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points, Jason Terry had several key buckets down the stretch, and the surging Mavericks beat the Bobcats 89-84 last night in Charlotte to spoil the Bobcats'...
LeBron's response to T-Mac e-mail about coming to Knicks: LOL
CLEVELAND -- Tracy McGrady has already e-mailed LeBron James an overture to join him in New York next season. But James will have to see more from T-Mac for his...
Women's tennis needs Clijsters
The Grand Slam committee decided probation was punishment enough for Serena Williams, so she has suspended herself and her troublesome left leg for . . . who knows how long...
Sanders, Rice make it 5 straight
In case Jermaine Sanders didn't realize how important he was for Rice in its attempt to win back-to-back CHSAA Class AA titles, that point was driven home by Raiders coach...
No lead by Nets ever very safe
The Nets are a walking, talking, breathing (sometimes) version of Fenway Park. No lead is safe. In this season of horrors, the Nets have built double-digit leads in 16 games,...
Hideous Knicks show LeBron just how much he's needed in 31-point rout
CLEVELAND -- Let us just hope the Knicks play better with LeBron James than against him. If that day ever comes. James was in no mood to hear about the...
Weird but true
Kentucky lawmakers will soon decide whether the pen is mightier than the sword. They're debating whether to sign off on a law that would repeal a frontier-era constitutional provision that...
New No. 1 Syracuse takes on St. John's
The Syracuse players began texting each other around noon. Wesley Johnson asked Andy Rautins if the Associated Press college basketball poll had been released. Kris Joseph and Griffin Hoffmann texted...
Wagner dismisses basketball coach after 5-26 season
Wagner yesterday fired men's basketball coach Mike Deane, who had a record of 95-113 over seven seasons with the Seahawks. "I decided it was time make a change and go...
PSAL Class AA girls basketball semifinals preview
PSAL girls basketball beat writer Marc Raimondi breaks down the Class AA semifinals set for Tuesday night at St. John’s University in Queens. SCHEDULE 5 p.m. – No. 3 John...
Gov meddled in aide 'attack,' had staffers call victim: sources
In an explosive development that puts Gov. Paterson at the center of an alleged coverup, the governor instructed two female state workers to contact the woman involved in a domestic-violence...
Ford mulled independent run before quitting
Even as he was preparing his New York Times piece explaining why he was dropping out of the race he never fully joined, Harold Ford Jr. was slated to meet...
PSAL boys basketball rankings
When the entire PSAL Class AA boys basketball playoffs are just 11 days long, a lot can change in one week. Has it ever. While our top three of Boys...
Melton moves past tough first to lead Spellman to final
Jane Morris was worried. Her star player, Troi Melton, was uncharacteristically emotional early against Notre Dame Academy and the Cardinal Spellman coach sat her down. That’s when Melton did something...
PSAL boys basketball playoff roundup: Smith leads Midwood into third round
Bryan Smith scored 29 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out six assists, leading No. 12 Midwood past 21st-seeded Bayard Rustin, 75-49, in the second round of the PSAL Class...
Paterson directed staff to contact woman in abuse case: report
The New York Times reports that Gov. David Paterson personally directed two state employees to contact the woman who told police she was assaulted by her then boyfriend, a top...
Disney: ABC may go dark on Cablevision in New York
The Walt Disney Co. on Monday began warning Cablevision subscribers in New York that the local ABC television station signal may go dark this weekend in a dispute over how...
Cavs use 74-point half to hammer Knicks
LeBron James had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers used a 74-point first half to hammer the New York Knicks 124-93 on Monday night in...
New Domino, same plan
For New Domino’s developers, density may be destiny.The $1.2 billion project, consisting of several new towers with 2,200 units constructed on a 11.2 acre site on the williamsburg waterfront, received...
It's lucky to be Irish in Brooklyn
Break out your green finest – St. Patrick’s Day is coming.Here in Brooklyn, the whole month seems to be dedicated to the holiday, with special events and shows planned on...
Gill tries to hook Kruger
Fight Back NY to target Kruger?Philanthropist and software billionaire Tim Gill’s new political action committee called Fight Back New York is targeting lawmakers who voted against the marriage equality bill....
Madison Jewish Center celebrates Purim
Mom, dad and the kids rattled graggers and united in game and song as Purim festivities got underway at the Madison Jewish Center. Merrymakers headed to the synagogue, 2989 Nostrand...
Kings Bay Y Purim party
Rites and festivity stepped off Purim merriment at the Kings Bay Y. Mom, dad and the kids headed to the bustling community facility, 3495 Nostrand Avenue, to participate in a...
Flatbush Park Jewish Center celebrates Purim
A royal revel was on the books as mom, dad and the kids teamed up with the fellow faithful to celebrate Purim at the Flatbush Park Jewish Center. Costumed youngsters...
Danish Athletic Club hails Fastelavn
The merry masquerade had costumed visitors munching on cream-filled buns and enjoying a program of rites at the Danish Athletic Club, 735 65th Street, where special attractions and amusements hailed...
Congregation Israel of Kings Bay's Purim revel
A royal revel was on the menu as mom, dad and the kids teamed up with festive-minded frolickers to celebrate Purim at Congregation Israel of Kings Bay. The young and...
St. Anselm’s School bowl-a-thon
Cool cats of the alley showed striking form when the St. Anselm’s School community held a benefit bowl-a-thon at Maple Lanes. There were plenty of cheers to spare as students,...
Tall building makes for short tempers
A half-built house on a quaint Sheepshead Bay street has become a lightning rod of discontent for keeping the neighborhood character intact.Community Board 15 voted 27-2 with four abstentions to...
Money woes for CB13
Community Board 13 fears it will be “decimated” by another round of budget cuts.“The mayor instituted four percent cuts for most city agencies for this year. Next year, it’s an...
Herd ‘em back to Gitmo
Before advocating rights for terror suspects, there must first be a nation in which to advocate them.Islam’s mugs and thugs would like nothing better than to destroy the United States,...
School bake sales are back - kinda
With a few bags of Doritos and Baked Lays, the city Department of Education (DOE) is trying to make amends with Brooklyn’s Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA).Parents have criticized the DOE’s new...
Winter not so wonderful for 63rd Precinct cops
The first two months of 2010 may have been icy, but it hasn’t been as smooth as a frozen-over lake for cops in the 63rd Precinct.Cops from the Brooklyn Avenue...
Curbing the curb cuts: enforcement issues focus on roundtable discussion
A plethora of illegal curb cuts and other zoning and building code violations has local activists seeing red.And they are equally frustrated by what appears to be the city’s inability...
Edu's Glasgow greatness
Maurice Edu is officially back. And officially going down in Rangers annals. The U.S. National Team midfielder scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to hand Rangers a huge 1-0 victory over...
Brooklyn Chamber survey finds 'Conservative optimism' among small biz
The economy is still shaky, but Brooklyn business owners are getting more optimistic about it having a comeback. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce surveyed 193 of its members and found...