June 15, 2011
Mets promote Shields to High-A
After the Savannah Sand Gnats clinched the Low-A South Atlantic League's first-half title Tuesday night, the Mets have begun to promote prospects off of that team to High-A St. Lucie....
House Democratic leadership to consider sanctioning Weiner
WASHINGTON -- The House Democratic leadership will hold a meeting Thursday to consider sanctioning embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), FOX News Channel reported late Wednesday. The closed-door meeting of top...
Female accuser in B'klyn 'sex slave' case may not return to testify
A Wisconsin woman who was allegedly held as a sex slave in Brooklyn, was suffering "severe" alcohol poisoning when she alleged she was raped — and may not come back...
What if 'Spider-Man' moved to a new theater?
It's with great relief that I welcomed the opening of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." Now the reviews are out, including mine, and the past year or so feels like a...
LICH's nursing school freezes admissions, won't accept fall freshman class
Applicants anxiously waiting to hear if they were accepted to a Brooklyn nursing school were devastated to abruptly learn last week that the school isn't accepting a freshmen class for...
Hackers say they attacked CIA site, service disrupted
BOSTON -- The Lulz Security group of hackers said in a Tweet that it had launched an attack on the public website of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The site,...
Game on: Federation ruling satisfies CHSAA, scheduling with PSAL OK
It is business as usual for New York City high school basketball as CHSAA schools have been cleared to schedule PSAL programs in scrimmages, non-league games and tournaments following a...
Gee, Mets shut out Braves, 4-0
ATLANTA — The New York Mets are at .500 for the first time in almost a month, and rookie Dillon Gee deserves credit, even if he couldn't qualify for the...
Weiner text pal Ginger Lee set to strip again tonight
She blasted the pol -- and now wants back on the pole. Stripper Ginger Lee is scheduled to take it all off at an Atlanta jiggle joint tonight, just hours...
Giffords released from Houston hospital, will begin outpatient treatment
HOUSTON – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) was discharged from a Houston hospital Wednesday, marking a major milestone on her path to recovery after being shot in the head last January....
'Book of Mormon' cast album breaks sales record
Just days after winning Best Musical at the Tony Awards, Broadway's "The Book of Mormon" set a new record Wednesday for sales of its cast album. The profane production from...
'Serial corpse-stasher' pleads not guilty to sticking grandma's body in her closet
One corpse was left under a Brooklyn bed. Another -- his own grandmother's -- was stuffed into a clothes closet in Harlem. Bodies seem to turn up hither and yon...
Can sexting be an illness? Experts are split
Married men sometimes behave badly. They covet. They flirt. They philander. And when they get caught, they occasionally adopt the insanity defense, telling spouses that an inner demon made them...
Rollins, Phillies hammer Marlins in first of two
PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer, Wilson Valdez had a three-RBI triple and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 8-1 Wednesday in the first game of a...
Homeless Harlem man arrested for stabbing his aunt
A homeless man was busted today for allegedly stabbing his 82-year-old aunt in Harlem, police said. Larry Brown, 57, was arrested after a tipster spotted him on the street near...
Teixeira homers twice, Yankees rout Texas 12-4
Mark Teixeira hit two-run homers from each side of the plate and Curtis Granderson homered for the fifth time in seven games, powering the Yankees past the Rangers 12-4 Wednesday...
NY hiker found dead in Juneau
JUNEAU, Alaska — A 30-year-old New York man has died in an apparent accident while hiking on the Herbert Glacier trail system near Juneau. Alaska State Troopers Sgt. Tim Birt...
Now can we retroactively delete some Best Picture nominations?
As Lou writes below, the Academy of whatever-whatever-whatever has owned up to blundering when it widened the Best Picture field to 10 movies a couple of years ago, not realizing...
11 winners share record pick 6 at Belmont
There were 11 winners of Wednesday's pick 6 at Belmont Park that paid $308,000 to 11 winners, none of them on-track. There were 995 consolation tickets (5 of 6) that...
Swisher batting leadoff, Pena starting for Yankees
With Derek Jeter on the disabled list, and Brett Gardner sitting against Rangers lefty Derek Holland, Nick Swisher will bat leadoff for the Yankees on Wednesday night.Alex Rodriguez will DH,...
Too much celebrating: Mavericks' Stevenson arrested for public intoxication
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Mavericks guard DeShawn Stevenson has been arrested for public intoxication. Police in suburban Irving say Stevenson was arrested Tuesday night after reports of an intoxicated person...
Gay marriage bill passes New York State Assembly, Senate Republicans say they will consider it
The New York State Assembly passed a gay marriage bill Wednesday night for the fourth time, as Senate Republicans said they would meet again Thursday to decide if they will...
Judge: No public trial for Sheen over 'Men' firing
LOS ANGELES — A judge says Charlie Sheen's $100 million lawsuit over his firing from "Two and a Half Men" should be handled through private arbitration rather than in a...
Bay back in Mets lineup
ATLANTA -- Jason Bay will be back in left field and batting sixth Wednesday night against Braves' righthander Tim Hudson, one game after being benched against another righty, Jair Jurrjens....
NFL's labor negotiations continue on Wednesday
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and several owners are meeting with NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith and a group of players for a second straight day in Maryland. A person...
FIFA investigates U.S. soccer rep Blazer after slander accusation
The man who blew the whistle on alleged bribery within FIFA could himself be investigated, after a complaint from Caribbean football chiefs, Sky News reported Wednesday. Chuck Blazer, the U.S....
Red Bulls' penalty problem
In four of their last five games, the Red Bulls have given away a penalty kick, suffering maddening lapses in concentration that have cost them points. Shorthanded and starting a...
Knicks' Stoudemire still bothered by back
Nearly two months since he pulled his back muscle during the Knicks’ first-round ouster by the Celtics, Amar’e Stoudemire said he still hasn’t recovered 100 percent and is still doing...
Iran successfully launches satellite into space
TEHRAN -- Iran successfully launched its Rassad-1 satellite into space on Wednesday, the country's Arabic-language television channel Al-Alam said. "It was launched by the Safir rocket and put into orbit...
Jets, Sanchez finish workouts 'our way'
Mark Sanchez got a few dozen of his Jets teammates together to practice for three days in private. Yep, one of the NFL's chattiest teams went silent and got to...
Lawmakers sue Obama administration over US involvement in Libya
WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against the Obama administration to halt the ongoing conflict in Libya because they believe the president is acting...
Injured Jets, Giants taking advantage of lockout
MARTINSVILLE, N.J. — Offensive lineman Damien Woody is no Nastia Liukin. So when the 320-pound Woody tries to balance on a metal strip laying on the artificial turf at the...
Rangel sells vacation home that he failed to pay taxes on
Rep. Charlie Rangel has sold the Dominican Republic vacation house that helped lead to his censure by the House. Rangel unloaded the property for $250,000 to $500,000 in December, Bloomberg...
Giuliani maps out 2012 strategy in meetings with Govs. Christie, Perry
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani held meetings with two Republican heavyweights in New York Wednesday in an attempt to gauge support ahead of a potential 2012 campaign. Giuliani, 67, held separate...
Bankruptcy judge orders sale of Peter Madoff's $270K vintage Aston Martin
A vintage sports car that helped drive Bernard Madoff's victims to ruin will be put up for auction in August, a Manhattan bankruptcy judge ordered today. Madoff's brother, Peter, formerly...
Police seek truck in search for Indiana student Lauren Spierer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Police made a new bid for help in finding a missing Indiana University student on Wednesday, releasing security camera images showing her just before she left for...
3UP: Jeter, Kuroda, Gordon
1. I wrote this column in today’s Post about how the Yankees could be getting a blessing in disguise with the minimum, 15-day absence of Derek Jeter, who is now...
LI cop arrested on highway grope charge
MINEOLA — A suburban New York police officer faces charges he groped a woman during a traffic stop. Garrett Mannerz pleaded not guilty Wednesday to bribe receiving, official misconduct and...
John Edwards mugshot released
Even in a mugshot, slick former presidential candidate John Edwards is all smiles. The Feds today released mugshots of Edwards, who is charged with six felony counts, including conspiracy, illegal...
Islanders dangling fifth pick in draft: report
The Islanders sound ready to choose the present over the future. Islanders Point Blank reports that GM Garth Snow would be willing to trade the team’s fifth pick in the...
Former porn star Ginger Lee says Weiner wanted her to lie about online messages
A former porn actress who claims to have received steamy emails and tweets from pervy Rep. Anthony Weiner said the lawmaker sent her messages where he discussed his "package" --...
Libyan rebels advance on road to Tripoli, NATO says it won't need ground troops
TRIPOLI, Libya -- Libyan rebels Wednesday captured three western villages on the road to Tripoli, while NATO insisted it could complete its mission against strongman Moammar Khadafy without putting soldiers...
Serena bounced from Wimbledon warmup
EASTBOURNE, England -- Serena Williams' comeback tournament at Eastbourne ended in the second round Wednesday with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 loss to top-seeded Vera Zvonareva. Zvonareva came through a...
Swimsuit stunner Jessica White to serve anger management in taxi slapdown charge
Gorgeous swimsuit model Jessica White has sashayed out of her criminal charges for an alleged slapdown with another woman over a cab last October -- and she managed to do...
Texting juror who caused mistrial faces judge
A juror on a Queens rape case who caused a mistrial when he texted a pal about the deliberations became the defendant today apologizing for sending the messages. Daniel Matz,...
JFK flights not enough to justify Credit Suisse broker's fraud conviction: appeals court
A crooked ex-Credit Suisse broker won a partial victory this morning when a Manhattan appeals court tossed his conviction for securities fraud -- but said he was still guilty of...
U.S. Open returning to Long Island's Shinnecock in 2018
BETHESDA, Md. — The U.S. Open will return to Shinnecock Hills in 2018, heading back to a course that produced one of the most embarrassing final rounds in the tournament's...
Singer triumphs in case of diva-vs.-doctor slapdown at Trader Joe's
Justice has been served! A Manhattan judge today took only 15 minutes to acquit opera singer Marcella Caprario of all charges in a wacky, diva-on-doctor slapdown over a frozen vegan...
Police searching for brazen Harlem bank bandit
Police have released a picture of the brazen bandit wanted for knocking off three Harlem banks. The robber made off with nearly $2,660 after targeting the Citibank at 2481 Seventh...
This week's calendar, June 16 to 22
Thursday, June 16 Brooklyn Real Estate Summit At this all-day event, 50 speakers, including MNS CEO Andrew Barrocas and David Von Spreckelsen, Senior VP at Toll Brothers, will touch on development,...
Top charge dropped against NYC synagogue plotters
The top charge has been dropped against two men accused of plotting to blow up synagogues in New York City, authorities said Wednesday. Ahmed Ferhani and Mohamed Mamdouh pleaded not...
Offended gay audience member accepts Tracy Morgan’s apology
LOS ANGELES -- The Nashville audience member who publicized a homophobic rant by comedian Tracy Morgan has accepted the "30 Rock" star's apology and said he should not lose his...
Gary Busey fired from new movie over cast complaints
LOS ANGELES -- Hollywood actor Gary Busey has been fired from his latest movie after a slew of complaints from colleagues about his on-set behavior. The famously unpredictable actor was...
Actress Elizabeth Hurley granted quickie divorce
LONDON -- British actress Elizabeth Hurley's four-year marriage to Indian businessman Arun Nayar ended in divorce Wednesday. The couple were granted a decree nisi at London's High Court by District...
Kissinger donates his papers to Yale
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who helped steer Vietnam war policy, will donate his collection of some one million documents and objects covering his...
CIA informants who led US to bin Laden arrested by Pakistan
WASHINGTON -- Five CIA informants who led US intelligence to Usama bin Laden's lair in Pakistan have been arrested by Pakistani security forces, The New York Times reported Tuesday. According...
U.S. beats Guadeloupe to advance at Gold Cup
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The United States is marching on in the Gold Cup. It sure wasn't easy. Jozy Altidore scored in the ninth minute off an assist from Michael...
Marbury doesn't blame Walsh for splitting with Knicks
Stephon Marbury wasn't surprised Knicks president Donnie Walsh is stepping down June 30th because he didn't feel he'd have full autonomy of basketball operations thanks to owner James Dolan's omnipresence....
Prosecution rests case against Casey Anthony
ORLANDO, Fla. — Prosecutors finished presenting their case Wednesday morning against a Florida woman accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter. Casey Anthony's attorneys are expected to call their first witness...
Teen shot and killed on Harlem street outside community garden
A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot last night near his Harlem home, police said. Juan Ortero, 15, was on East 117th Street near Madison Avenue when bullets flew at 9:36...
Bond denied for driver in fatal Va. bus crash
BOWLING GREEN, Va. — A bus driver charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter after he fell asleep behind the wheel on a Virginia highway was ordered held without bond...
Spew anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism and nothing happens
The Jerusalem Post reports on a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which he blames just about every modern-day ill on either Israel or America. "Zionism has brought only...
Manhattan socialite charged with theft in Greenwich
GREENWICH, Conn. — A Polish-born New York socialite has been arrested and charged with stealing an $11,500 scarf from a shop in Greenwich. Thirty-eight-year-old Beata Bowman of Manhattan, a self-described...
Suspects punch, rob 2 car occupants on Long Island
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — Police on Long Island are looking for a group of men who punched two occupants of a car and stole jewelry, cash and other items from them....
Facebook hires former Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart
Facebook has hired Joe Lockhart, who served as press secretary during President Bill Clinton’s second term, as vice president of global communications. The 51-year-old Lockhart will start on July 15...
Mladic finishes prison induction in The Hague
THE HAGUE -- Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has completed an "initial induction process" and medical tests at a Hague-based UN prison, a Yugoslav war crimes tribunal official said...
Greek anarchists hurl petrol bombs in anti-austerity demonstration
ATHENS -- Greek anarchists threw petrol bombs and clashed with police during a major protest Wednesday against fresh government austerity measures, with at least two people reported injured. Dozens of...
Two men charged over alleged plot to target singer Joss Stone
CULLOMPTON, England -- Two men were charged Wednesday over an alleged plot to target British singer Joss Stone, Sky News reported. The two men, Junior Bradshaw, 30, and Kevin Liverpool,...
South African charity boss cleared over Naomi Campbell 'blood diamonds'
JOHANNESBURG -- The former head of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund was cleared Wednesday of charges of holding "blood diamonds" that proved pivotal in the war crimes trial of ex-Liberian...
Oscar Watch: Academy tacitly admits 10 Best Picture nominees was a mistake
It's being spun as a way to add an element of surprise to nominations morning. But it seems to me the motion picture academy's surprise announcement last night that...
Royal newlyweds announce details of California visit
LONDON-- British royal newlyweds Prince William and Catherine announced details Wednesday of their planned visit to California. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will fly to Los Angeles on July...
Detroit bomb squad detonates suspicious package left outside IRS building
DETROIT -- Bomb squad officers in Detroit blew up a suspicious package early Wednesday outside a building that houses the Internal Revenue Service, the FBI and other federal offices. A...
Weiner faces decision about future as wife returns home
WASHINGTON -- The wife of disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner arrived at her Washington, D.C. apartment early today, triggering what could be the endgame in her husband's political career. Huma Abedin...
Spidey's web feat
A bevy of A-listers last night brought their star wattage to Broadway for the long-delayed official opening of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” — and even Julie Taymor, the musical’s...
Rooftop Decker is highly sexy
Supermodel Brooklyn Decker is as dazzling as the skyline as she chills on the roof of SoHo hotel 60 Thompson during a bash for fashion stylist Annie Ladino.
Yankees bats break out to hand Sabathia win
The first nine innings of life without Derek Jeter weren’t hard to swallow. Hours after their captain, shortstop and leadoff hitter landed on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade...
Yankees may give journeyman Gordon spot start
Add minor league journeyman Brian Gordon to the list of candidates to start tomorrow against the Rangers. The Yankees signed the 32-year-old righty after he exercised an out in his...
Jeter's injury could be blessing in disguise for Yankees
PSSST, come close I want to tell you something. Closer. I don’t want to say this too loud because one of the policies of Yankee Stadium is to do your...
Gardner has no problem taking ‘lead’ for Yankees
Brett Gardner said before last night's 12-4 victory over the Rangers that he felt comfortable no matter where he hit in the batting order. The results might not have indicated...
Yankees sit Jeter against wishes
Derek Jeter’s date with history has been postponed. The Yankees placed their captain on the 15-day disabled list yesterday after Jeter, who is six hits away from 3,000 in his...
Tough U.S. Open course is target of criticism
BETHESDA, Md. -- Tiger Woods is a couple of thousand miles away nursing his injured left knee and Achilles tendon. Phil Mickelson's form has not been sharp since he won...
Tough 18th will make for an exciting U.S. Open finish
BETHESDA, Md. — Phil Mickelson called it “an extreme challenge,” and Jeff Overton thinks it will make for “a phenomenal finish.” Four days from now when the 2011 U.S. Open...
The full book-fest lineup
The Brooklyn Book Festival, set for Sept. 18, is better than ever. Here’s a full list of confirmed participants:NON-FICTIONKurt AndersenAmy ChuaBrooke GladstoneJohn HodgmanPhillip LopateSigrid NunezChristian ParentiJennifer PoznerDavid RakoffJeremy ScahillAdrian TomineTouréKatrina...
Dimitrov brace lifts Pancyprian Freedoms over Brooklyn Italians in Open Cup
Stefan Dimitrov didn’t move to the United States from his native Bulgaria until he was 20 years old and the rich history between the Pancyprian Freedoms and the Brooklyn Italians,...
Here they are — your Brooklyn Book Festival authors
The lineup for the sixth annual Brooklyn Book Festival is out — and it carries some prestige, with a capital P.Among the more than 100 authors at this year’s literary...
Spidey's back!
At long last, Spider-Man is ready to do some serious web-slinging on Broadway. And what do we get after $70 million, nine years of work and 183 previews? Silly string...
Kicking back at Newsweek
The partners behind Newsweek Daily Beast Company appear to be holding down the flow of red ink this summer by cutting back on the number of Newsweek issues. This past...
With Net-a-Porter Live, know what's hot, or not
Net-a-Porter.com wants to transform online shopping into a global spectator sport. The fast-growing Internet fashion retailer today will launch "Net-a-Porter Live" -- an interactive Web page that gives an up-to-the-minute...
Avis deal drives down Dollar Thrifty
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group fell the most since 2009 after suitor Avis Budget Group agreed to acquire Avis Europe for $1.04 billion, leaving investors to wonder if Avis could buy...
Best Buy's 'smart' 1Q
Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy reported first-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' forecasts, helped by demand for smartphones. Net income was 35 cents a share, in the quarter ended May 28,...
Mitsubishi's stake OKd
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.'s plan to take a Morgan Stanley stake of as much as 24.9 percent won Federal Reserve approval after a review of the competitive effects of...
New regs may friend Facebook
Facebook may get a public reprieve, if it wants one. Congress is considering revisions to a decades-old law that compels companies to disclose financial information once they hit a 500-shareholder...
NY fiber firm buy in works
A Westchester fiber-optics company, which has been shopping itself for several months, received a binding offer in the last few days from a private-equity firm, The Post has learned. The...
Rift grows in Alibaba
In a rift between Alibaba and its biggest investors, Jack Ma, chairman of the Chinese online-commerce company, said Yahoo! and Softbank failed as board directors. "They exploited the imperfections of...
Bronfman buck$
Warner Music boss Edgar Bronfman Jr. is set for a $21.7 million payday -- including a $16.8 million "golden parachute" -- as a result of the company's pending $3.3 billion...
Thor near Scribner deal
Joe Sitt's Thor Equities is in contract to buy the Scribner Building for $108.5 million. The 12-story plus penthouse building at 597 Fifth Ave. has over 12,000 square feet of...
Business briefs
Bernanke Federal Reserve Chair man Ben Bernanke warned that a failure to lift the government's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling risks a potentially disastrous loss of confidence in America's creditworthi ness.Conn.-Citi...
Cheap gas lifts May retail data
Americans shrugged off the economic gloom of the past month to go on spending sprees for eating out, buying new clothes, shopping online and fixing up homes, says a government...
Penney shares shine
JCPenney shares just got a lot sexier. The Texas-based department-store giant tapped a top Apple exec as its next CEO -- a surprise move that sent its stock soaring more...
High note for Pandora's IPO: Priced at $16
Pandora opened its IPO box, and there was plenty of optimism inside. The company, which streams music on the Internet and has reported nothing but yearly losses, hopes to capitalize...
It's Lowman out
Less than a month after proclaiming to shareholders that foreclosing on the homes of 27 active-duty military personnel was the worst mistake the bank ever made, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie...
Assault and battery
One big question has hung over hybrids since they first appearedin driveways: what happens if the battery pack has to be replaced? The figure often quoted is $5,000 for the...
Who ya
You’re never alone when you’re looking for a used car. There are Web sites galore offering price guides and road tests. Buying privately will be cheaper, but it’s buyer beware...
Made in Japan
Watching terrifying images of the tsunami surging across Japan on March 11, one striking image was that of fields of new cars, all ready for shipping, left wrecked or floating...
Winning autos that your teenager — and you — will approve of
Think back to the first time you had your own car. Remember what it meant — the fun you had, all the things you did in it that would have...
One careful owner
The finance director of a premium auto dealer told me there were two main reasons people came in to buy a luxury car. One was because they were bored or...
Saving on utilities
If you’re thinking about a used SUV or minivan, you probably have a life full of ‘stuff’. You’re rarely driving alone; you have a car full of kids, their sports...
A 'pane'-ful event for rob victim
A Lower East Side store owner was chucked through his display window yesterday as he tried to fight off a crew of shoplifters. Richard Ives was working at his Pilgrim...
Anti-union law upheld
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court handed Republican Gov. Scott Walker a major victory yesterday, ruling that a law that strips most public employees of their collective bargaining rights could take...
DA: Duo made girl a sex slave
Two Manhattan men forced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution, advertising her services online and offering her to johns out of a Midtown apartment, authorities said. Richard Lukasik, 27, also allegedly...
NYPD Daily Blotter
Manhattan Things didn't turn out so sunny for this guy. He was arrested for stealing flip-flops and sunglasses from an H&M on East 86th Street, authorities said. Kemar Soloman, 22,...
Russian 'theft' gal to rehab
She gets to say nyet to jail time -- for now. Former Miss Russia Anna Malova, 39, who was busted in April for swiping a $10 hat and $135 sandals...
Pot sitter mercy bid
If the judge grants her request, a Brooklyn day-care operator will have to keep the kiddies off the grass. Donna Rogers, sentenced to probation yesterday for storing more than 10...
Cops suspect 3rd b'walk gunman
The fast-food worker who allegedly gunned down an innocent teen on Brighton Beach had as many as two accomplices in the boardwalk bloodbath, cops said yesterday. "It's possible there may...
Queens guy no spy: Israel
He may be an odd duck, but he's no mole. Israel's foreign minister yesterday vehemently denied that a law student from Queens -- arrested in Egypt on spy charges Sunday...
'Fired for becoming pregnant'
A former Whole Foods cashier says getting pregnant put her on the express line to unemployment. Zackya Gordon, of Brooklyn, filed suit yesterday over claims she was harassed, then fired,...
America poll-axes Weiner
America has seen enough of Anthony Weiner. The first national Weinergate poll shows 60 percent of Americans want the lewd lawmaker to quit Congress. And a paltry 8 percent have...
Grime rate dips in NYC
New York no longer leads the dirty dozen. A new poll by Travel + Leisure magazine ranks New York only the fifth-filthiest tourist destination in the country -- which is...
Few city HS grads are college-ready
Shamefully few city high schools are graduating students with Regents scores high enough to be considered ready for college, The Post has learned. Only 27 of the 347 public schools...
Tat's all for notorious label-loving 'thief'
A serial shoplifter obsessed with designer labels was arrested for stealing credit cards that he used to pay for a tattoo of a fashion logo on his neck, police said...
Deutsche trio's last stand
No one imagined the way careless smoking could spiral into a deadly inferno in a toxic Ground Zero bank tower, so three construction-company supervisors shouldn't be blamed for it, a...
Zsa Zsa kin's willful battle
Gravely ill Zsa Zsa Gabor is unknowingly in the middle of a bitter family feud, pitting her playboy husband against the actress' only offspring, hotel heiress Francesca Hilton, the warring...
Maria, please forgive me!
Arnold Schwarzenegger's baby mama tearfully fell to her knees and begged forgiveness from Maria Shriver after admitting giving birth to the Governator's love child, a bombshell report revealed yesterday. Longtime...
O's hola to Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- President Obama paid Puerto Rico its first official presidential visit in 50 years yesterday, courting an important slice of Hispanic voters on the mainland who...
Sext siren still has 'family values' job
The Georgia cheerleading coach who sent X-rated messages to Rep. Anthony Weiner still has a job with the family-values-promoting Christian group that hired her. Traci Nobles, 34, has not surfaced...
Pak $$ on hold
WASHINGTON -- A House panel approved $649 billion in defense spending for the 2012 fiscal year, but placed greater oversight on the $1.1 billion in counterinsurgency funds slated for Pakistan....
Gov 'drags' self to show
ALBANY -- With gay marriage just a vote away from passing the Legislature, Gov. Cuomo showed impeccable timing last night with a gala big-ticket fund-raiser at the Broadway hit "Priscilla:...
Rx-by-mail targeted
In a bid to steer business to neighborhood drugstores, state lawmakers are trying to sneak through a bill that would bar health insurers from requiring patients to order prescriptions drugs...
Caylee 'T' for tears
The grandmother of tragic toddler Caylee Anthony broke down in tears on the witness stand yesterday as she looked at a photo of the child in a pink shirt --...
Eateries busted keeping 'C'-crets
Now you "C" them, now you don't. An astounding 800 restaurants across the city have been caught trying to sweep their health-inspection grades under the rug -- either failing to...
Lenny's hit for $5M
That's a lot of bread. A popular Manhattan sandwich chain has agreed to pay $5.1 million for stiffing its workers with minimum-wage and overtime violations. The multimillion-dollar settlement with Lenny's:...
History lesson in poor ed.
They don't know much about history. Barely one in three fourth-graders nationwide has learned the purpose of the Declaration of Independence, according to results of national history tests announced yesterday....
No. of changes for sunscreen
Help is on the way if you're confused by the sunscreen number maze. Starting next summer, products that block both ultraviolet B rays and ultraviolet A rays will be labeled...
Dolan: Heaven help us if gays can wed
ALBANY -- Archbishop Timothy Dolan lashed out at the "stampede" to legalize gay marriage yesterday, even as a second Republican lawmaker flipped and brought the proposal within one vote of...
'Kid-porn' teacher
An elementary-school substitute teacher from Manhattan was among 26 people busted in a child-porn ring that traded "truly sickening . . . images of child sexual assault the way that...
Grad rates get royally skewed up
Say this for Mayor Bloomberg: He's consistent about his view of numbers. Those that make him look good are important, those that don't, aren't. The mayor's single-minded determination to portray...
Ex-cop's slay 'guilt' tossed out
The manslaughter conviction of a former cop in the shooting of an unarmed drunken driver in The Bronx was thrown out by an appeals court yesterday, and now he wants...
Shaq pal beaten over 'sex tape'
A Los Angeles music promoter who threatened to release a Shaquille O'Neal sex tape was abducted and beaten by a group of gun-toting gangbangers demanding the dirty video back, according...
Survivor rises from the ashes
She's finally shaken off the demons of 9/11. Marcy Borders battled severe depression, became addicted to crack and saw her two children taken from her in the 10 years since...
Shelly's tax-cap threat
ALBANY -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) threatened yesterday to sink Gov. Cuomo's marquee tax-cap proposal if Senate Republicans refuse to expand rent regulations that expire at midnight. Silver warned...
One tough 'cuss'-tomer
It was a heck of an oratorio. An amateur opera singer admitted on the witness stand yesterday that she belted out an aria of profanity, complete with F-bombs and B-bombs,...
Natalie Portman has a baby boy
Natalie Portman has given birth to a baby boy, People magazine reported last night. The report did not say where or when the boy was born or his name. Portman's...
Huntsman: I'm in the GOP hunt
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman will announce his bid for the White House next Tuesday near the Statue of Liberty, bringing a moderate Republican and China expert into the race...
Bridge Park lawn warn
The city issued a dire warning yesterday that Brooklyn Bridge Park's lush green lawns will soon go brown unless more high-rise condos are built around the public oasis. The news...
Well-plunge man stuck in muck overnight
What a stinky day at work. A Long Island street-sweeper missed his first shift in six years yesterday after plunging to the bottom of a debris-filled well and getting stuck...
Swim gal's Jersey score
What a commute! Marathon swimmer Elizabeth Fry smashed two records yesterday after splashing through 35 grueling miles from Manhattan to New Jersey and back. "It was a tough swim," the...
Libya rebs push back
KIKLA-MISRATA, Libya -- Libyan rebels made fresh gains on the western front yesterday, pushing back forces loyal to leader Moammar Khadafy in a string of clashes that brought them closer...
$20M for 'dumped-on' NJ town
TOMS RIVER, NJ -- A chemical company has reached a $20 million settlement with Toms River residents. The former Ciba-Geiga Corp., that produced industrial dye and resin from 1952 to...
Don't follow Europe's example
ROME -- If Americans think fuel and food prices are high, they should try Europe, where both can nearly double those in the United States -- while salaries are often...
An exit for Khadafy?
South African, Tunisian and European "fixers" are seeking a "magic formula" for the "early and peaceful departure" into exile of Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy and an ending the NATO-led operations...
Moynihan was right on urban crime
In just the last few days, a deadly shoot ing on the Brighton Beach boardwalk in Brooklyn killed Tysha Jones, 16, and wounded five others. In The Bronx, cops busted...
To grow U.S. jobs
The ongoing drumbeat of bad economic news begs for a change in national strategy. The two standard approaches -- raising government spending (Democrats) or cutting taxes (Republicans) -- are nonstarters,...
Brighton Beach bloodshed
On June 9, five people were shot on the boardwalk in Brighton Beach, one of whom lost her life ("Beach Shoot Arrest," June 14). How could something like this happen?...
Dems to Tony: Scram
The president of the United States has spoken. So have all the top leaders of the Democratic Party. Their message, delivered loud and clear: Anthony -- it's time to go....
Spotlight on prison Jihadis
Rep. Pete King took a public beating when he held a key hearing on Islamic radicalization in America back in March. Get set for Round Two. This morning, King will...
Is Libya a war, Bam?
"[E]ither you have concluded the War Powers Resolution does not apply to the mission in Libya, or you have determined the War Powers Resolution is contrary to the Constitution. The...
A two-state solution: Pensions need reform
City and state pension costs grow at exorbitant rates, yet the public-employee unions bitterly attack Gov. Cuomo's plan to reduce pension abuse ("Pension Reform Gov Fest," June 11). The new...
Tammy Faye born-again again
It's casting from heaven. Kristin Chenoweth, the only Christian fundamentalist I know of on Broadway, played the mascara-encrusted Tammy Faye Bakker last week in an invitation-only reading of a new...
Ceviche is caliente!
Something fishy’s happening on the New York food scene. Ceviche, the spicy Latin version of raw fish “cooked” in citrus juices, is having its moment: New York restaurants as diverse...
Brasserie on plaza Rocks
I’ve lunched and dined at Brasserie Ruhlmann often enough to wonder: Am I liking it too much for a place so filled with tourists? Should I feel guilty about it?...
Blast from the cast + U2
No matter how bad a case of arachnophobia you got after all that’s been said about Broadway’s “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” the cast album, featuring 14 songs written by...
Sports shorts
COLLEGE: Pryor apologizes Terrelle Pryor, speaking out for the first time since his college career at Ohio State ended embroiled in scandal, appeared with agent Drew Rosenhaus and gave a...
Hondo goes four gusto
Hondo plunged deeper into the abyss last night when the wobbly Brew Crew was unable to hold down the Small Bears, causing the runaway deficit to soar to a season-high...
Niese has another strong start for Mets
ATLANTA -- Jon Niese has shown promise before, but never has been able to sustain success in the majors. Despite his recent run, the lefty still isn't sure he can....
Hot Reyes key to another Mets win
ATLANTA -- At this rate, no one will be able to afford Jose Reyes. Despite an inability to stay on his feet, the shortstop had three more hits and scored...
Anglers will get 'Hooked On' peacock bass
If you never have had the opportunity to catch a peacock bass, it is definitely worth your time and effort. The peacock is a very exciting fish to catch: they...
Yankees GM says concussion caught up with Posada
When Jorge Posada complained of headaches during spring training, the Yankees sent him for tests that led to him taking medication and put an end to him being a catcher...
Affrunti's Delaware Grade
Post Time: 1:15 pm.FIRST-6f; $16,000; cl($7,500); 3up; (f&m)1-SmmrWndHly 8-12-SurrelDncr 20-15-Spitha 8-13-RBPromsKpt 3-14-MySwtThndr 20-16-Dn'tTllMTh 2-17-HelpMtHlpU 6-18-Anna's Gin 4-1SECOND-5 ½f; $17,000; mdn cl($15,000); 3YO6-CottnTpPhl 9-52-DstnctvAlb 6-11-J J Garbar 5-23-WildleCrtn 15-14-WooPigSooi 3-11a-Keating 5-25-Mr....
Anthony Affrunti at Monticello
Post Time: 12:50 pmBest Bet: Open Range (3rd)FIRST-mile; pace; $4000; cl($2500)3JDSTycoon(JTaggartJr)3-4-33-14Tree Light(M Merton)7-6-510-11NiftyIllusion(KDIBndtto)7-5-68-12LifesBandit(BAldrichJr)3-9-65-25Jk Hooty(J Marohn Jr)7-7-35-16RedRiverGem(PLutmanIII)3-8-39-27Dine N Dash(W Parker Jr)4-4-74-1SECOND-mile; pace; $3100; conditioned7PrinceMarathn(KDIBndtto)2-3-65-23G P S(G Decker Jr)x-x-x9-21Trottown King(M Forte)3-6-x3-12Blue Villager(G...
Tomorrow's Belmont Entries
Post Time: 1:00 pm All horses appear in post position orderFIRST1 1/16m(T); $57,000; alw opt clm; 3upPNHorse Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1Wishful Tomcat(L),121RDominguez6-1-1Chattrpl 12-12Alcomatch(L),121J Bravo1-1-3Clement 5-13Asphalt(L),121JCastellno3-4-5Brown 2-14Blues Street(L),121JVelazquez2-8-5Pletcher 9-55Evolutionist(L),121J Lezcano8-1-4Mott 15-16Alyarf(L),123A...
Parx Racing Charts
June 14, 2011 Cloudy And Fast. Turf: Firm. ©2011 Equibase. All Rights ReservedFIRST -4 1/2f; $45,000; mdn spcl wt; 3upOff: 12:27. Good. pace,drifted,held well, Trainer: Phil SchoenthalTime: 22.68, 45.34, 51.31.Winner:...
Juvenile Sprint added to Breeders' Cup card
The Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be run this year at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4-5, has added a six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds, open to colts, geldings and fillies, bringing...
Delaware Results
FIRST-1m&70y; $20,000; clm; 3up5APrfctSqze (RccoJr) 6.203.002.203Baylor's Babe (Saez)3.202.606Tropical Dream (Santiago)2.80 * $1 Exacta (5-3) $10.60 * $0.1 Superfecta (5-3-6-2) $6.53 * $1 Trifecta (5-3-6) $27.90SECOND-5f; $15,000; mdn clm; 3up2LegsTme (CstllnoJr)...
How to hit the huge Pick 6 at Belmont
When Ruler On Ice concluded a string of improbable upsets last Saturday paying $51.50 to win the Belmont Stakes, he triggered a $1,130,718 triple carryover for today's card. Each of...
Hope high labor deal will be reached at end of month
Optimism that the NFL lockout could soon be over was raging at a fever pitch yesterday. The league's owners and players resumed their closed-door meetings, this time in suburban Washington,...
Former UConn QB in lockout limbo
For all the victims the NFL lockout has claimed, undrafted free agents have to be near the top of the list. With teams barred from signing them or having any...
McDowell glad to pass pressure of being U.S. Open champ
BETHESDA, Md. -- Now that he has returned the U.S. Open trophy he won at Pebble Beach last year, Graeme McDowell figures the pressure is off and he can get...
Nowitzki gets invite to hit at Arthur Ashe Stadium
Disney World? Not for Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA Finals MVP and national hero who slayed LeBron James and the Heat's hated Dream Team. According to a source, the USTA extended...
Mickelson not worried about Open 0-fer
BETHESDA, Md. -- Phil Mickelson this week will be using a psychological trick he has had success with in the past in an effort to end his U.S. Open drought...
The Post Line
NHLFavoriteLineUnderdogCANUCKS$135-155BruinsHome team in CAPS
Mets bench brutal Bay again
ATLANTA -- Jason Bay didn't need last night off. Terry Collins didn't say the left fielder needed a break. Instead, when asked why Bay was on the bench last night,...
Ohio State hotshots work out for Nets
Jon Diebler, the Big Ten's record-setting 3-point shooter out of Ohio State, has done his share of team workouts for next week's NBA Draft. "Eight," he said. Figure he has...
Liberty lose after pregame car crashes
The Garden's decision to move the Liberty to the Prudential Center in Newark for three years while it undergoes a $100 million transformation has left the team with emotional whiplash...
Classic Game 7 needed to save this ugly Stanley Cup
So when the handshake line forms tonight in Vancouver and the Bruins and Canucks are lavished with praise for their sportsmanship as they inevitably will be, because that's the rule,...
Canucks' Raymond out 3-4 months after check
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Canucks president Mike Gillis said Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk "used a can opener" in delivering a brutal hit on Mason Raymond that left the Vancouver forward...
A-Rod feels for LeBron
If anybody knows the public beating LeBron James is taking for the Heat not winning the NBA title, it's Alex Rodriguez. He was blamed for the Yankees' epic collapse against...
Verlander 2-hits Tribe
Justin Verlander nearly pitched another no-hitter, taking his latest bid into the eighth inning to lead the Tigers past the Indians 4-0 in Detroit and into first place in the...
Gay divorcée
If you're a fan of old-time sitcoms that have a certain pacing and a giant laugh track to match, TV Land's newest women-in-midlife-crisis comedy, "Happily Divorced," is the one for...
How much for your own 'Idol'
If you want to hire an "American Idol" champ, it'll cost ya. Then again, maybe not as much as you might think. Degny Booking International, which books celebs for different...
JLo unsure about 'Idol'
Jennifer Lopez, who signed a one-year deal to co-judge "American Idol," says she's "on the fence" about returning to TV's top-rated show. "I haven't been forced to make a decision,...
DVR for radio in works
Say goodbye to missing the last few minutes of your favorite NPR program. The newly launched Digital Audio Recorder Web site -- dar.fm -- is being likened to a DVR...
Starr report
As expected, "Dr. Phil" has assumed the mantle of TV's reigning daytime talk show, now that Oprah Winfrey has gone away. For the week of May 30 through June 5,...
Battle of the booties
Between the recent premiere of “Ice Loves Coco” and “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” kicking off a new season, E! has become the go-to place for bounteous booty on the...
Weird but true
Talk about getting rushed out of a restaurant. The owner of three Marie Callender's restaurants in Washington state declared bankruptcy and ordered managers to shut down immediately, in mid-bite. One...
Natalie Portman has baby boy, report says
"Black Swan" star Natalie Portman has given birth to a baby boy, People magazine reported Tuesday. No other details of the birth were revealed, with the 30-year-old Oscar-winning actress known...
Spidey through the years
It’s been a long wait through false starts, injuries, firings and mishap after mishap. But the finished “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has finally opened. Here’s our web-slinging timeline. Summer-fall...
Thor near Scribner deal
Joe Sitt’s Thor Equities is in contract to buy the Scribner Building for $108.5 million. The 12-story plus penthouse building at 597 Fifth Ave. has over 12,000 square feet of...
Lower East Side store owner thrown through window in robbery
A Lower East Side store owner was chucked through the display window onto the street after he tried to fight off a crew of robbers, police sources said. The victim...
A-listers turn out for 'Spider-Man' opening
A bevy of A-listers brought their star wattage to Broadway last night for the long-delayed, official opening of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" — where even ousted director Julie Taymor...