WNYC News

New York, NY —

In a local update on the federal stimulus package, $3.4 billion in aid is expected for New York City.

Mayor Bloomberg joined Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Charles Rangel, who heads the House Ways and Means Committee, last night at City Hall.

The Mayor was cautiously optimistic.

BLOOMBERG: ...

New York, NY —

Two Connecticut lawmakers say the state is spending too much money prosecuting people caught with small amounts of marijuana, and they're calling for fines instead of arrests.

State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and Senator Toni Harp -- both Democrats from New Haven -- hope the ...

New York, NY —

Drugmakers Pfizer and Wyeth reached a $68 billion buy-out deal today.

Pfizer will acquire Wyeth, paying about 50 dollars a share, according to early reports in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

The deal will help Pfizer cushion itself against a steep revenue decline expected ...

New York, NY —

The latest round of MTA public hearings moves to Staten Island tonight. Transit officials are holding the hearings across New York City to get the public's input on the agency's plans to increase fares and cut some subway and bus service.

Tonight's hearing is being held ...

New York, NY —

Connecticut officials can thank some lawbreakers for helping with the state's budget deficit, which continues was hit hard by declines in income and sales tax revenue.

State police say they issued nearly 78,000 speeding tickets last year, a 16 percent year-over-year increase. The rise in tickets ...

New York, NY —

A New Jersey Bill seeks to ban train conductors and bus drivers from text messaging or sending e-mails while their vehicles are moving. The bill is in response to the fatal Los Angeles train commuter crash that occurred last fall.

Only emergency electronic communication would be ...

New York, NY —

After an outburst of criticism, New York's governor has backed off of his plans to attend a business forum at a Swiss ski resort. Governor Paterson said yesterday he was going to the World Economic Forum in Davos, to bring attention to the problems governments ...

New York, NY —

Three families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11 want to meet with President Barack Obama to urge him to reverse his decision to suspend the trial of five detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In a meeting with reporters at their attorney's office ...

New York, NY —

Police say an elderly man is dead after an early morning fire at a Manhattan high rise apartment.

Firefighters responded to a fire in a 10th story apartment on East 80th Street. Police say an 82-year-old man was taken by EMS to Lenox Hill Hospital where ...

New York, NY —

Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand is pledging to combat gun violence, while protecting hunters' rights, which she calls "a core value" upstate.

Gillibrand spoke briefly after meeting privately with Governor Paterson, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Charles Schumer yesterday. She promised to "hit the ground running," ...

New York, NY —

A new book due out next week from former Yankees manager Joe Torre is causing a stir among the Bronx Bombers.

According to media reports, in his book titled The Yankee Years Torre takes some harsh swings at Alex Rodriguez and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

In ...

New York, NY —

Among those praising the actions of US Airways pilot Chesney Sullenberger is aviation expert, William Voss. He is a licensed pilot and President of the Flight Safety Foundation, a research and advocacy group.

He says Sullenberger likely had seconds to decide to land the plane in ...

New York, NY —

Both engines are missing from US Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing in the Hudson River yesterday. Kitty Higgins is with the National Transportation Safety Board.

HIGGINS: We could see that the left engine was not attached as the plane was pulled into its ...

New York, NY —

At City Hall, Mayor Bloomberg presented certificates of appreciation to those who came to the aid of the 155 people on board the plane that made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. Among them: NYPD diver Detective Robert Rodriguez, who helped rescue a woman ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg is among those calling Captain Chesley Sullenberger a hero, for safely landing a US Airways passenger jet in the Hudson River yesterday. At a ceremony at the Blue Room in City Hall, Bloomberg held up a Key to the City.

BLOOMBERG: And I’m going ...

New York, NY —

City officials overwhelmingly voted to approve an additional $370 million in tax-exempt bonds today for the Yankees' new baseball stadium. The bonds will pay for extra features, such as a better sound system and an enclosed press box. It will also pay fees to accelerate ...

New York, NY —

The FAA says that all passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 are off the plane and safe after it crashed into the Hudson River this afternoon shortly after taking off from Laguardia airport. The crash landing of the Airbus 320 sent 150 passengers on board ...

New York, NY —

Craig Baldwin is a San Francisco based teacher and filmmaker who's been making avant-garde films, using found-footage montages, for over 30 years. His new film, MOCK UP ON MU, is screening now at Anthology Film Archives. It tells the story what happened with Lockheed Martin, ...

New York, NY —

At least 11 parochial elementary schools are slated for closure, under a new plan by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to deal with declining enrollments. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said in a statement that its schools are operating at only 85 percent of capacity. The ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a new marriage bureau today in City Hall, one that he hopes will bring more tourism to the city. The gleaming, 24,000 square-ft. space officially opens on Monday, and includes a sound system that allows couples to play their wedding processional music ...