January 17, 2014

Taxpayers on the hook for 9/11 Memorial & Museum

In a twist that should surprise no one, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum doesn’t have enough money to pay the estimated $60 million in bills each year to...

The media turn on Chris Christie

Memo to Chris Christie: They hate you. If you don’t know who “they” are, you haven’t been watching the news or reading the papers. Usually, it takes winning the GOP...

Eric Holder’s racial-profiling lunacy

Racial profiling, which has always been a thorny issue, is about to get a lot more complicated. In a private meeting with Mayor de Blasio, Attorney General Eric Holder this...

It’s not poverty that breeds jihadis

The myth of the poor, oppressed jihadist never dies. Secretary of State John Kerry is the latest Obama official to peddle this odious narrative. Cue John Lennon’s cloying “Imagine,” don...

Americans flee big-government states

The Census Bureau’s holiday treat is its release of annual state population estimates, to be digested slowly in the new year. The headline from this year’s release is that population...

'Laggies' ladies get few laughies

PARK CITY -- I was packing up my things and getting ready to beat a retreat from director Lynn Shelton's "Laggies" at about the halfway mark. I'd had just about...

California governor proclaims state in a drought

LOS ANGELES — California is nearly as dry as it's ever been. High water marks rim half-full reservoirs. Cities are rationing water. Clerics are praying for rain. Ranchers are selling...

Clippers crush Knicks on day full of losses

On one level, it seemed like a total Bizarro Garden. J.R. Smith played well, drew comments from his coach — positive comments. Jeremy Tyler, he of the 11 minutes on...

Red alert for St. John's Red Storm

Through five Big East conference games and five losses, St. John’s has done a lot wrong. But it also has done some right. The Red Storm have been in position...

49ers' star Aldon Smith moves on from DUI suspension

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Aldon Smith might be more grateful than most to be playing in Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. It wasn’t long ago...

Nets owner says goal remains NBA championship

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has endured a fair amount of criticism — to use his word — for not being around his team much this season. But despite Thursday’s 127-110...

Odds in Brady's favor over Broncos' defensive coordinator

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If you are a numbers person and a gambler, bet on the Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Broncos. Tom Brady appears to have Jack...

Fox's strength, spirit helped Broncos overcome his absence

ENGLEWOOD , Colorado — For anyone who subscribes to the theory the Broncos might be rattled by the playoff-hardened Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship game — with all the pressure...

Head for the hills! The Post rates NYC's slippery sled slopes

Snowfall brings New Yorkers out of their apartments and onto their sleds for some downhill action that makes everyone feel like a kid again. Here’s a roundup of some of...

Former Queens star Washington big on the court and class

Chris Skinkis heard a number of stories about Jordan Washington when he began recruiting the beefy power forward from Queens. Most of them described Washington as difficult and undisciplined. Halfway...

Archie Manning: AFC title game 'about teams, not just two QBs'

NEW ORLEANS — The “Peyton vs. Brady” NFL quarterback case has been argued 14 times previously at various levels of the NFL judicial system, and Archie Manning, a friend of...

'God's Pocket' crafted with great skill

PARK CITY - It's high praise when a film adaptation of a novel makes you want to go back and read the book. Such is the case with Pete Dexter's...

Jets QB Geno kicked off plane over cell phone

Jets quarterback Geno Smith was tossed off a flight in Los Angeles Friday after refusing the flight crew’s orders to stop blabbing on his cell phone, authorities said. “[Smith] pulled...

Underused Boyle glad for chance to contribute

Brian Boyle had been on the bench for just over 10 minutes against the Red Wings at the Garden on Thursday night when he was called upon by coach Alain...

Vigneault says Rangers getting better game by game

You can call it Alain Vigneault’s Manifesto, issued approximately 24 hours in advance of Saturday afternoon’s match in Ottawa that will mark yet another of the seemingly endless stream of...

Lightning breaks finger off Rio's Christ statue

Lightning has broken a finger off the right hand of Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. Father Omar, rector of the shrine that holds the statue, told the...

A-Rod's two lawsuits vs. MLB kept separate by judge

In the Alex Rodriguez saga, the score remains … three pending lawsuits. Manhattan federal Judges Lorna Schofield and Edgardo Ramos ruled on Friday Team A-Rod needn’t consolidate two of its...

Seahawks' Percy Harvin ruled out of NFC title game

RENTON, Wash. -- Everyone knew it was a long shot and on Friday it became no shot: Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin has been ruled out of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game...

Driver has fatal heart attack, flips SUV near Bryant Park

The driver of a black Cadillac Escalade suffered a fatal heart attack Friday while driving up Sixth Avenue during the afternoon rush and flipped his vehicle into a fire hydrant...

Knicks say Amar'e, Kenyon will miss 2 weeks

With the injury-ravaged lifestyle the Knicks have led this season, their theme on a daily basis could be “Another One Bites the Dust.” Except that wouldn’t even apply to Friday....

Time for Jennifer Lawrence to give up doe-eyed ingenue act

As the saying in sports goes, “Act like you’ve been there before.” While it refers more to not over-celebrating when you score a touchdown, I couldn’t help but think of...

Third Newark teen dies from Christmas shooting wounds

A third Newark teen wounded in a Christmas Day shooting has died from his injuries, leading to a fresh murder charge against the 15-year-old who is being held in the...

LA wildfire mostly tamed, but thousands can't go home

GLENDORA, Calif. — Firefighters were chasing flare-ups Friday morning in a damaging wildfire that was largely tamed but kept thousands of people from their homes in the foothill suburbs northeast...

Boxer returns to ring after pummeling last foe into a coma

Mike Perez will have Magomed Abdusalamov’s name “Mago” stitched on his trunks when he enters the ring to face Carlos Takam of France on Saturday night at the Bell Centre...

Michelle Obama's 5 best fashion moments

Michelle Obama and Kate Moss are both Capricorns — who knew? Our favorite British model celebrated the big 4-0 Thursday, and on Friday, the one and only FLOTUS turned 50,...

Gitmo drama 'Camp X-Ray' disappoints at Sundance

PARK CITY -- Kristen Stewart stars as a green Army private sent to work as a guard at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in the so-so character...

Mom and kids flee Brooklyn fire

A mom and her seven kids fled from a fire Friday afternoon in their 12th floor apartment in the Langston Hughes Houses on Sutter Avenue in Brownsville, authorities said Sioly...

2 shot at Philadelphia high school

PHILADELPHIA -- A boy and a girl hanging out with a group of fellow students in a high school gym were shot and wounded Friday afternoon, police said. One boy...

The day in photos

A wildfire rages through California, a Hindu festival, a dogsled team, a purple lighting storm, activists rally in Washington , and more. 

Man admits framing Elvis impersonator with poison letters

OXFORD, Miss. — A former martial arts instructor pleaded guilty Friday to sending poison-laced letters to President Barack Obama and other officials in a bizarre case in which authorities say...

Mets have unfinished business with arbitration-eligible players

The Mets have contract commitments of $15.85 million to five arbitration-eligible players who collectively earned $8.704 million last season. Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, Ike Davis, Eric Young Jr. and Ruben...

Aaron Hernandez can't watch Patriots game on jailhouse TV

If former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez wants to know the score of Sunday's AFC Championship game, he'll have to hope he overhears it from an officer or...

The Central Park Ice Festival, LA on film and more weekend events

Cold, Cold Art Ice sculptor Shintaro Okamoto hopes Saturday’s weather is, well, cold as ice. From noon to 3 p.m., he and other artists from his Astoria studio will re-create...

Local college rankings: How far did St. John's fall?

After five straight losses to open the Big East season, St. John's finally tumbles from the top spot. The Manhattan Jaspers, easily the area's best bet to make the NCAA...

Yankees tick closer to $189M with five arbitration pacts

The Yankees’ attempts to get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold in 2014 came into better focus Friday as they completed contracts with all five of their arbitration-eligible players. The...

Pope Benedict defrocked 400 priests in 2 years for sex abuse

VATICAN CITY — A document obtained by The Associated Press on Friday shows Pope Benedict XVI defrocked nearly 400 priests over just two years for sexually molesting children. The statistics...

Doctor admits giving Martoma confidential drug-trial info

For renowned neuroscientist Dr. Sidney Gilman, it was either quit or be fired. Gilman, the former chair of the neurology department at the University of Michigan Medical Center, and the...

Packers’ McCarthy: Giants 'hired the right man’ in McAdoo

Not long after Ben McAdoo learned Tom Coughlin and the Giants wanted to speak with him about their offensive coordinator vacancy, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy offered some advice to...

Inspiring documentary 'Band of Sisters' a real eye-opener

‘We always tell people, ‘We do this peacefully, respectfully,’ ” says one of the activist nuns in this inspiring documentary. “But we never take no for an answer." Indeed: In their...

Knicks rewind: Chandler needs to step up now more than ever

My three observations from an awful night in Indianapolis that ended all the Knicks' momentum from what had been a feel-good 2014: 1. Memo to Tyson Chandler: It is time...

8 of the oddest movies at Sundance

As the Sundance Film Festival kicked off its 30th season, the program promised even more oddball choices than usual. Here’s a brief rundown of the 8 Strangest Ideas for a...

Frank Langella brings a fine but predictable ‘King Lear’ to BAM

For ambitious actors of a certain age, “King Lear” is a rite of passage. The hair’s going, the beard’s graying — and suddenly they feel the urge to sink their...

Man who shot at Shomrim members gets 12-year sentence

A Brooklyn man who beat charges that he tried to kill four members of the Shomrim neighborhood patrol was slapped Friday with a 12-year prison sentence for gun possession. David...

'Back in the Day' should stay in the past

This is basically an indie version of “Grown Ups’’ featuring longtime and unfunny Adam Sandler hanger-on Nick Swardson, who received a well-deserved Razzie nomination this week for his work in...

North braces for polar vortex 2.0

MILWAUKEE — The polar vortex that gripped much of the country has moved on, but don't get too comfortable — another round of frigid air is expected to arrive next...

Bunnies on parade to celebrate 60 years of Playboy

Playboy turns 60 with a bus full of extra hot Playboy bunnies in Beverly Hills on Thursday.  

Magic Johnson rips Lakers owner with team in disarray

Jim Buss was handed his father's team, but not his expertise. Former Lakers great Magic Johnson is blaming the team's current owner, son of the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss, for...

Nintendo sees third consecutive annual loss after weak Wii U sales

Nintendo said on Friday that sales of its Wii U consoles had flopped, pushing it to a third consecutive annual loss and raising a question mark over its future in...

Teasers for Super Bowl are paying off for ad buyers

Madison Avenue’s latest gimmick — teaser ads for upcoming Super Bowl commercials — are turning out to be a huge hit. In fact, the teaser ads, which are not subject...

Cops save choking infant

Two quick-thinking Brooklyn cops saved a baby with CPR Wednesday. Three-month-old Jaylen Taylor and his 29-year-old mom, Sunnia Carberry (above, after the incident), were at a Brooklyn Heights Bank of...

Nets rewind: Fitting Blatche into small-ball approach

LONDON – Here are my three thoughts on the Nets’ 127-110 win over the Hawks on Thursday: 1. The Nets' trip to London for a rare overseas regular-season game --...

Yahoo editor-in-chief exits after firing of COO

Yahoo! Editor-in-Chief Jai Singh has left the company in the wake of Wednesday’s firing of COO Henrique De Castro, according to a report from the independent tech news site Re/code....

Morgan Stanley profit eroded by legal bills

Morgan Stanley reported a sharp fall in quarterly profit as the Wall Street bank was hit by $1.2 billion in legal bills, but adjusted earnings beat market estimates. Net income...

Sundance opener 'Whiplash' inspires

PARK CITY -- Sundance usually wastes opening night on oddball art house fare (like last year’s druggie road trip “Crystal Fairy”) but last night it went the other way and...

Hollande's past, present & future gals snapped in pic

A photo surfaced Friday showing French President François Hollande with the three women in his life — his girlfriend, his future lover and his old flame. It was taken during...

Alex Wallace to head NBC’s Washington bureau

The big NBC News shake-up is under way. Deborah Turness, the recently named boss of the division, on Friday named Alex Wallace to be the executive in charge of the...

Why Rob Ryan won't cut his hair right now

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan says he will indeed cut his controversial silver locks in the future, but it will be on his own terms and for a...

David Wilson celebrates successful surgery by mooning NYC

http://instagram.com/p/jRi2tjDXy3/ Giants running back David Wilson underwent neck surgery on Thursday and seems to be feeling better already. Wilson was expected to be a major contributor for the Giants last...

Jets' Kellen Winslow was masturbating in car: witness

The synthetic pot found in his car could prove to be the least embarrassing part of Kellen Winslow’s recent run-in with the police. According to a police report obtained by...

Porsche driver abandons car, jumps to her death off bridge

A young Long Island woman drove a Porsche SUV to the Throgs Neck Bridge, walked to the middle of the span and leaped to her death into the frigid waters...

Heavy turbulence injures 5, sends China flight back to Newark

Terrifying turbulence struck a United Airlines jet flying out of Newark Airport Thursday, leaving five crew members injured, officials said. The Beijing-bound Boeing 777 was tossed like a rag doll...

Ackman to claim Herbalife operates illegally in China

Hedge fund activist Bill Ackman plans to make a presentation next month that he claims will lay out evidence that Herbalife likely operates illegally in China, The Post has learned....

'Generation War' is entertaining but hardly profound

In its native country, this German TV miniseries has had an impact similar to the 1977 broadcast of “Roots” in the States. While it’s easy to see how this engrossing...

Man who injured 5 in crowd shooting pleads guilty

Prosecutors say a man has admitted firing into a crowd of spectators and hitting five people during a fan dispute at a popular Harlem basketball tournament. The Manhattan District Attorney’s...

Matchups and predictions for conference title games

The Post’s writers break down Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games, with the two berths in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium at stake: Broncos vs. Patriots (Sunday, 3 p.m.,...

Most donors contributed $10K or more to Cuomo's re-election fund

ALBANY — Eighty percent of Gov. Cuomo’s $33.3 million in re-election campaign funds comes from donors who have each given a total of $10,000 or more, a government watchdog’s analysis says....

Reid blasts former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' scathing tell-all

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bluntly accused former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday of being “out to make a buck” with a memoir that attacks numerous officials...

Rick Nash regaining his offensive mojo after concussion

It’s not so much a revelation as it is a pointing out the obvious, saying the Rangers need Rick Nash to play without hesitation. But the star winger admitted he...

Lance Stephenson shows up J.R. Smith, Knicks bench

INDIANAPOLIS — Imagine if the Knicks had Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson and not Jersey’s J.R. Smith. While Smith returned from banishment in a nondescript performance Thursday, Stephenson made another case he...

'Like Father, Like Son' explores the meaning of parenthood

Ryota Nonomiya (Masaharu Fukuyama) is a Type-A architect, strict and orderly. His 6-year-old son, Keita, is biddable and introverted, not the go-getter the man wants. Then Ryota and his wife,...

Legler: Garnett, Pierce weren't invested in Nets early

With the Knicks and Nets set to face off for the second time this season, ESPN analyst Tim Legler analyzed both teams’ recent run of success with The Post’s Justin...

Aikman: Seahawks-49ers built for epic rivalry

First, it’s the rivalry that has defined the NFL for more than a decade, then comes the one many expect to set the tone for the next 10 years. The...

'Live with Kelly and Michael' tops 'Dr Phil' for 2nd consecutive week

I’m not sure if this trend will continue — they’re called “trends” for a reason, after all — but, for the second consecutive week, “Live with Kelly and Michael” topped...

Time Warner commits to Hudson tower offices

Time Warner has sold its floors at Time Warner Center to Related Companies and its foreign partners — as expected. The media company also announced Thursday it will move to...

Devils lose NHL-record 12th straight shootout

DENVER — The Devils came away with a point, but still managed to be record-settingly bad. After falling in another shootout — an NHL record 12th consecutive shootout loss, dating...

2 alleged mobsters cop pleas in extortion case

Two reputed mobsters facing an extortion trial next week for a massive gangland effort to control the New York-New Jersey garbage-carting industry suddenly copped pleas on Thursday. The 11th-hour deals...

Rex better make playoffs, because deal offers few guarantees

In the raucous visiting locker room inside Sun Life Stadium, after Jets players had their prayers answered when owner Woody Johnson announced coach Rex Ryan would return, general manager John...

CC Sabathia becomes Jay Z client at Roc Nation

CC Sabathia became the latest athlete to join Jay Z’s Roc Nation Thursday, joining former teammate Robinson Cano, who bolted for Seattle in December after splitting with Scott Boras. Cano...

Son of Time Inc. CEO lands Sports Illustrated promotion

Brendan Ripp is moving up in the Time Inc. organization. He was just promoted on Thursday to be the vice president/publisher of Sports Illustrated, replacing Frank Wall, who resigned on...

Bloated sale price for Forbes Media

The push by the Forbes family to sell its Forbes Media for $400 million means it’s asking for a selling price that is a staggering 26 times earnings, according to...

Daily Beast promotes Avlon to editor-in-chief

The Daily Beast, owned by Barry Diller’s IAC/InterActiveCorp., quietly promoted John Avlon to editor-in-chief of the website. Tina Brown, the former top dog, bailed out of the leadership post late...

Obama limits NSA phone snooping

WASHINGTON — President Obama has ordered changes to the National Security Agency’s massive surveillance system that are intended to placate critics without undermining national security. In a long-awaited speech Friday, Obama...

UFT boss: Schools officials apologize for treatment during Bloomberg era

Top school officials “have been apologizing” for how they treated the teachers union during the Bloomberg administration, union President Mike Mulgrew told his members in a private meeting. “The president...

Daily Blotter

Brooklyn A firefighter was arrested and charged with assaulting a woman in East New York, authorities said. Wilkins Vega, 32, allegedly attacked a female acquaintance in the street around 2:30...

Mom of 1987 slay victim wails as accused killer is acquitted

The family of a Sunset Park teen stabbed to death in 1987 burst into tears Thursday after a Brooklyn jury delivered a shocking not-guilty verdict for an East Village man...

Activist plots snack attack on Oreo maker: source

Nelson Peltz is seriously weighing a proxy fight against snack food giant Mondelez International, as was first reported by nypost.com Thursday. The activist investor, who owns a 2.3 percent stake...

Rebecca Hall in thrilling revival of Sophie Treadwell’s ‘Machinal’

One of the most thrilling shows on Broadway is about a woman who kills her husband in cold blood. That would pack in the tourists . . . if we were talking...

Hollande wanted girlfriend to sign split announcement in hospital

French President François Hollande was so eager to be with his scrumptious side dish, actress Julie Gayet, that he plotted to get his live-in girlfriend to sign an announcement of...

Officials feared ObamaCare site not secure enough at rollout

WASHINGTON — The administration forged ahead with the troubled launch of the ObamaCare Web site despite repeated warnings about lax cyber security, top tech officials said. “I was frustrated by...

High school gossip page pulled off Internet

A cruel gossip Web page run by catty Forest Hills HS students was yanked down Thursday after it was discovered by parents and teachers. “They took down the page. I...

NYers oppose banning horse-drawn carriages: poll

When it comes to banning horse carriages, New Yorkers say, nay. By a margin of more than 2-to-1, voters say they’d like to keep Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages rolling, a...

Suffering for their art! Crowds throng Frick to see 'The Goldfinch'

Earlier this month, on one of the chilliest winter days in decades, most sensible New Yorkers were at home with mugs of hot chocolate, but scores of literary types on...

Gaby Hoffmann is back on TV in 'Girls'

If you think Adam Sackler (played by Adam Driver) on HBO’s “Girls” is a curious character, just wait until you meet his sister. Enter Gaby Hoffmann. The former child actress,...

Wilted 'Flowers in the Attic' bypasses story's purple heart

It cracks me up to see what passes for edgy in young-adult literary fare these days. Fights to the death in a dystopian arena? Trysting with vampires? Please. In my...

Firefighter barred from driving FDNY van seeks disability pension after crash

A firefighter who failed a drug test and was barred from driving official vehicles took a spin in an FDNY van anyway and got into a serious crash — and...

‘Duck Dynasty’ returns to lower ratings after anti-gay remarks

“Duck Dynasty” laid an egg. Viewership of the hit A&E reality show’s fifth-season premiere was down 28 percent from the previous season’s. It was the first new “Dynasty” since comments...

Skunks on the rise in Central Park

Skunks are multiplying in Central Park and spraying their stench at helpless Manhattan pooches. Park officials are baffled by the outbreak of the stinkers, saying sightings have spiked in recent...

Weiner shoots back at jokester’s hot-dog tweet

Anthony Weiner has become a walking punch line for fellow Twitter users. A passer-by said she spotted the disgraced former congressman waiting to buy a hot dog from a street...

De Blasio’s property value rises under Bloomberg

Mayor de Blasio’s is moving closer to the 1 percent — and he’s got Michael Bloomberg to thank for it. Under Bloomberg’s watch, the value of de Blasio’s Brooklyn home...

'School of No' students watch bootlegged movies

They can’t get math or reading books — but students at Queens’ notorious “School of No’’ get to see first-run movies before their peers. Lesson-deprived students at PS 106 said...

Black makes a bid for Chuck E. Cheese's

So Leon Black, was it the pizza or the activities that attracted you to Chuck E. Cheese’s? The investor’s Apollo Global Management on Thursday reached a deal to buy the...

Best Buy investors spooked by weak earnings

Best Buy waged a holiday price war with Amazon — and it got hurt bad. Shares of the nation’s biggest electronics chain lost nearly a third of their value Thursday...

Goldman earnings not so Sachs-y

Goldman Sachs reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit fell 21 percent as revenue from mortgages and trading in bonds and other securities weakened. The Wall Street bank earned $2.25 billion...

Martoma busy talking to doctors during key meeting

Alleged inside trader Mathew Martoma was too busy chatting up “experts” on Alzheimer’s research to attend a SAC Capital compliance meeting in May 2007, his lawyer said in court Thursday....

Falcone grilled by Ergen lawyers

Lawyers for Dish Network founder Charlie Ergen grilled Phil Falcone on Thursday, asking the hedge fund mogul about his dust-up with regulators and placing the blame for LightSquared’s woes clearly...

The Co-Mush: How I would have curbed NFL playoff misconduct

IF I could be NFL Commissioner for one day, it would have been Monday. Monday was when the NFL was in need of immediate real-deal, at-the-wheel leadership, a day when...

Hondo's AFC and NFC championship game picks

If mediocrity was money, Hondo would be a millionaire. Mr. Aitch continued his so-so season last week, going 2-1-1 with the Divisional spreads and 2-2 in the over/unders, which left...

Police eye contractor owed $20K in slumlord's murder

Cops are eyeing a contractor who slumlord Menachem Stark owed big bucks as a possible suspect in the slaying of the Brooklyn businessman, sources said. The contractor is connected both...

De Blasio, Mark-Viverito to announce paid sick leave expansion

In their first legislative collaboration, Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito are set to announce a significant expansion of legislation passed last year to provide workers with...

Stoudemire, Martin, Hardaway hurt in Knicks’ blowout loss

INDIANAPOLIS — When it rains, it pours. In the Knicks case, whenever they’re about to achieve full health, injuries reign again. And just when Amar’e Stoudemire was in a groove,...

Nielsen lifts Isles over Lightning in shootout

TAMPA, Fla. — The Islanders certainly have felt at home on the road lately. Frans Nielsen scored the only shootout goal and assisted on a second-period score by Thomas Vanek...

Seahawks’ superb secondary has Seattle buzzing

RENTON, Wash. — You can’t do it in a classroom or in the office, but you can certainly do it on the football field. And that is what the Seahawks...

Cops investigate remains for link to missing autistic boy

The waterlogged sneakers and jeans recovered when a boy’s decomposed body parts were discovered washed up on a Northern Queens beach are a match to the clothing last seen on...