Kathleen Horan

New York, NY —

Lawmakers and homeless advocates are pushing for legislation that would make attacks against the homeless, a hate crime. The recommendation for the bill comes on the heels of a recent study from the National Coalition for the Homeless. It says there's an uptick in violence ...

New York, NY —

Indian Point nuclear plant has passed a major test. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its final safety report today. It found owner Entergy can safely manage Indian Point 2 and 3 as they age over the 20-year period that new licenses would cover. But environmental ...

The U.S. restaurant industry saw its steepest decline in restaurant traffic in 28 years during the end of the recent spring quarter. Needless to say, New York City eateries, which have always endured stiff competition, are doing their darndest to stay afloat in the current recession. If you’ve walked around ...

New York, NY —

New York City has always been a challenging place to open and operate a restaurant. The competition is intense, not to mention keeping up with permits, licenses and operating costs. Add a recession to the mix and you've got a recipe for more than the ...

New York, NY —

The confirmation of the Sonia Sotomayor to become the next Supreme Court justice was celebrated throughout the city - including the offices of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Civil Rights Attorney Christina Cheralde, 29, says in law school she noticed the plaintiffs were ...

New York, NY —

A new report says there were more than 30,000 cases of elder abuse in New York State last year.

State senator Jeff Klein commissioned the report, which includes data from seven state agencies. Klein says that's part of the problem and he's proposed a bill to ...

New York, NY —

The Coney Island redevelopment plan moves into its next phase today. The City Council's Zoning and Land Use Committees are meeting to consider amending the plan, before the full council votes on the proposal.

Matt Ryan, with the group New York Jobs with Justice, says this ...

New York, NY —

Former City Councilman Miguel Martinez has admitted stealing more than $100,000 in taxpayer money intended for non-profits. The second-term politician pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering in federal Court. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

REPORTER: Martinez confessed to the judge that he'd taken funds ...

Undeterred by scattered showers, and big crowds, hundreds of New Yorkers watched the televised memorial service of Michael Jackson on big outdoor screens in Times Square and Harlem. Hundreds of people were there mourning the death of Michael Jackson. But they were also visibly celebrating his life. They were singing ...

New York, NY —

New Yorkers are energized about a Fourth of July holiday weekend that promises to be sunny, warm, and free of rain. Some 2,500,000 are hitting the roads today, a sharply lower number than in years past. Triple A New York says that's because of the ...

New York, NY —

In five months, New Yorkers will go to the polls to elect a mayor. Signs of the election season are already popping up - with frequent campaign events, and political commercials in heavy rotation.

As Mayor Bloomberg runs for his third term, WNYC's Kathleen Horan took ...

New York, NY —

The City Planning Commission is giving the Coney Island redevelopment plan a green light to move forward. It's the latest step in the long process the city must go through to redesign the famed boardwalk and surrounding area. Supporters say the plan will create permanent ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg is urging passage of a bill that would require homeowners and lenders to use mediation programs to avoid foreclosure. On a conference call with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Bloomberg praised Nutter's success using such programs to reduce foreclosure rates in Philly.

Bloomberg joked that ...

New York, NY —

Table tennis anyone? That's a question that can now be heard in Bryant Park, where two ping pong tables have been up for the past week. Its free and paddles and balls are available from 11-7 every day throughout the summer.

Attendant Swati Dlamini says she's ...

Brooklyn's Record and Tape Center has existed for nearly four decades, almost in spite of itself. It’s a mish-mosh musical treasure trove and it’s anything but organized. Now the owner has to pack it all up. He’s been served eviction papers by the landlord and has to move piles ...

New York, NY —

Brooklyn's Record and Tape Center has existed for nearly four decades, almost in spite of itself. It’s a mish-mosh musical treasure trove and it’s anything but organized. Now the owner has to pack it all up. He’s been served eviction papers by the landlord and ...

New York, NY —

Chanting and waving signs, hundreds of supporters of gay marriage marched through Greenwich Village to a rally in Union Square last evening.

REPORTER: They protested the California Supreme Court decision that upholds a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. The decision comes as the New York State ...

New York, NY —

As the nation observes Memorial Day, 125 members of the New York Army National Guard are dedicated to providing honors all year long. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

REPORTER: The special unit provides military detail for the funerals of honorably discharged veterans. On average, these honor ...

Legislation that would legalize same sex marriage in New York awaits vote by the senate. As supporters fight to get the votes needed to pass the bill before it adjourns, discussion about “marriage equality" is heating up. Even in the gay community, there is debate about the best ...