Ailsa Chang

One goal of mine when I went to the courthouse for the appearance of suspected Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad was to hear how he pronounces his own name. There's been some debate in the public sphere, and in the WNYC newsroom, about this. But all Shahzad said was "yes" ...

New York, NY —

The man accused of driving a car bomb into Times Square has finally been appointed a lawyer -- after spending two weeks in custody while cooperating with federal investigators. It was an accident of timing that landed Shahzad's file in Julia Gatto's lap on Tuesday, ...

New York, NY —

Faisal Shahzad, the man accused of driving a car bomb into Times Square, appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since his May 3 arrest.

He walked in quietly dressed in a grey sweatshirt and sweatpants. His hair was a bit longer than it has ...

Governor David Paterson is not ruling out layoffs as a way to get savings from the state's workforce after a federal judge last week blocked the governor's plan to furlough workers one day a week.

New York, NY —

Gov. David Paterson is not ruling out layoffs as a way to get savings from the state's workforce after a federal judge last week blocked the governor's plan to furlough workers one day a week.

The state is facing a $9.2 billion deficit and Paterson says ...

When American citizen Faisal Shahzad was arrested for the attempted car bombing of Times Square this month, some politicians, like Sen. John McCain, said he shouldn’t have been read his Miranda rights. And this week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced he plans to ask Congress to change the ...

New York, NY —

When American citizen Faisal Shahzad was arrested for the attempted car bombing of Times Square this month, some politicians, like Sen. John McCain, said he shouldn’t have been read his Miranda rights. And this week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced he plans to ask Congress ...

New York, NY —

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board say they still cannot determine what caused a Staten Island ferry to slam into a pier Saturday morning, injuring nearly 40 passengers. WNYC's Ailsa Chang has more.

REPORTER: Board member Robert Sumwalt said right now, they're not ruling anything ...

New York, NY —

Speaking Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and ABC’s “This Week,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last Saturday's failed car bombing attempt in New York City’s Times Square was orchestrated by the Pakistani Taliban. Holder said mounting evidence shows that the group directed, facilitated ...

The question everybody is asking this week has been, who is 30-year-old Faisal Shahzad, the man held and accused of placing a car bomb in New York's Times Square over the weekend? After two days of intense interrogation efforts, news continues to trickle in about the motives and connections behind the attempted attack.

New York, NY —

New York's highest court is allowing a class action lawsuit to proceed in challenging New York's system of providing public defenders. The state's chief judge, Jonathan Lippman, ruled the suit could proceed because it poses fundamental questions about the fairness of the system. Donna Lieberman, ...

New York, NY —

Terror suspect Faisal Shahzad has waived his right to a speedy arraignment. That means it could be a while before Shazad sees a judge for the first time. The decision could have legal costs for Shahzad -- and legal benefits.

Federal prosecutors first announced Shahzad ...

WNYC reporter Ailsa Chang is at the Manhattan federal courthouse where the alleged Times Square bomb suspect, Faisal Shahzad is expected to arrive. The courthouse is mobbed with news cameras all waiting for his arrival.

New York, NY —

For the hundreds of stores, hotels, companies and theaters that populate Times Square, Saturday's failed car bombing raises the question - are businesses prepared to deal with a real emergency in the middle of one the busiest districts in the world?

Tim Tompkins is president of ...

Policemen and street vendors have been applauded for their quick reaction to Saturday's bomb scare, but how did the shops and businesses in Times Square respond? WNYC's Ailsa Chang has been talking to officials at hotels and businesses in the area to answer some questions about what kind of security ...

New York, NY —

Police are still investigating the failed bomb attack in Times Square Saturday night and who might be responsible for parking the SUV filled with explosives. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says even though New York is such a prominent target, people should feel safe living here because ...

New York, NY —

The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow. For more than 125 years, that race has meant seersucker suits, fancy hats, and frosty mint juleps. But that’s not the scene at the Off-Track Betting parlors here in the city, where bettors watch the horses. These bankrupt parlors feature ...

New York, NY —

The trial of a former Queens student accused of sending equipment to al-Qaida fighters begins Wednesday in Lower Manhattan. Syed Hashmi, 30, faces four counts of providing support to the terrorist organization.

A federal judge ruled Monday that the jury for Hashmi will remain anonymous and ...

Negotiators for building workers and real estate owners agreed on a tentative four-year contract shortly after midnight, averting a strike by some 30,000 doormen, porters, concierges, and handymen that was set to begin Wednesday morning.

The new contract gave the building workers nearly everything they demanded: wage increases, full employer-paid ...

New York, NY —

Negotiators for New York City building workers and real estate owners reached agreement on a tentative four-year contract, averting a strike by some 30,000 doormen, porters, concierges, and handymen that was set to begin Wednesday morning.

The deal was reached shortly after midnight, as negotiations at ...