WNYC News

New York, NY —

Pay phones may be a thing of the past on city streets, now that personal cell phones are so ubiquitous but transit advocates say they still perform an important service in the subway. And the group, Straphangers Campaign, says that's why it's a shame that ...

New York, NY —

The legislative saga continues in Albany. Senate Secretary Angelo Aponte, has reportedly locked the Senate chamber doors and is refusing to turn the keys over to Senator Pedro Espada. Espada has called for Aponte's resignation saying he is acting like a child because he knows ...

New York, NY —

Famed US Airways Captain Chesley Sullenberger was back in the national spotlight today when he testified before the National Transportation Safety Board about his splash landing in the Hudson earlier this year. Sullenberger, credited his years of experience as a pilot for his ability to ...

New York, NY —

New York State Senate Republicans have taken control of the state Senate. Two Democratic Senators -- Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens -- have joined the Republicans, giving them a two vote edge in chamber. But neither of them is ...

New York, NY —

City lawmakers don't agree that the mayor should keep his control of city schools -- just because test scores got a bump this year. During a council hearing yesterday, schools Chancellor Joel Klein credited the mayor's reforms with driving up those scores. Still, Councilman Charles ...

New York, NY —

The judge overseeing Chrysler's bankruptcy case in New York says the automaker has a good case for the termination of 789 of its dealer franchises as part of its ongoing restructuring. But the dealers argued in today's hearing that they don't cost the automaker anything.

General ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced today the city will use $32 million of federal stimulus for job training and placement services over the next two years. The training programs will reach about 10,000 New Yorkers, but no jobs are guaranteed ...

New York, NY —

The city is closing another public school because of swine flu concerns. PS 161 in Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood, will shut down Thursday, and will reopen next Tuesday. City health officials say more than 30 students are experiencing flu-like symptoms there. Also on Thursday, eight ...

New York, NY —

Nuyoricans are brimming with pride at the nomination of New York federal court judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, and she grew up in the Bronxdale Houses in the South Bronx. Cesar Perales, president of the ...

New York, NY —

City district attorneys say the mayor's budget plan strips them of funds they need to prosecute crimes. At a hearing today, DAs told the city council their caseloads are getting heavier while their budgets shrink. Queens DA Richard Brown says he can't afford to pay ...

New York, NY —

Opponents to the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn have lost another round. The state appellate court, second division, ruled 4-0 against nine businesses, homeowners and tenants. They argued against the state's use of eminent domain to take private property for a private developer. But the ...

New York, NY —

The American Red Cross in New York says it's cutting 23 percent of its paid workforce to compensate for a drop in donations. Terry Bischoff, the CEO of the New York chapter, says the layoffs will mean relying more on volunteers. She says preparations for ...

New York, NY —

Long Island Congressman Steve Israel says he won't challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary. In a statement, he says he's been asked by President Obama not to challenge the new senator. He called it a "tough, heartfelt decision." A source close to the ...

New York, NY —

Local Chrysler car dealers are expressing frustration that the bankrupt company is shutting some of them down. Of the 789 dealerships that will be closed nationwide, 27 of them are in the metro area. Mark Sheinberg is the president of the Greater New York Automobile ...

New York, NY —

President Obama has nominated a new U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara. He's the current chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer. He also played an important role in the congressional investigation of the Bush administration's firing of eight U.S. attorneys. ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg is poised to shatter his previous campaign spending record. The latest campaign finance reports show the mayor has spent close to $19 million. That's double what he spent at the same point in his last campaign. The mayor's early bid for a third ...

New York, NY —

The New York Yankees plan to auction off stadium seats and other memorabilia from the old stadium, and to do so, they'll pay $11.5 million to the city, which owns the site. Geoffrey Croft with New York City Park Advocates would prefer taxpayers benefit directly.

CROFT: ...

New York, NY —

In the first bill she's authoring as a senator, Kirsten Gillibrand wants to eliminate a fee paid by parents who use state programs to collect child support. Senator Gillibrand says the federal government, not single parents, should pay for the service. The bill would affect ...

New York, NY —

Too tired to take the subway, try pushing pedals on a two wheeler. This month is Bike Month and starting next week there will be 630 free bicycle rentals at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. Riders must reserve their bike online first, but ...

New York, NY —

The people who run the city's libraries are concerned about the job and social service cuts in Mayor Bloomberg's latest budget plan. Paul LeClerc is president of the New York Public Library and says in the last twelve months the city's three library systems have ...