Morning Headlines | Selected by the WNYC News Hub

Must-read headlines from around the city, curated by the WNYC Newsroom.

SANDY
$30 Billion Firestorm Over Gov. Cuomo’s Request for Hurricane Sandy Aid (NYDN)
Three Daily News reporters write: “On the eve of President Obama’s planned visit to New York on Thursday, sources tell the Daily News that the governor went rogue this week when he announced plans to ask the federal government for $30 billion to recover from Hurricane Sandy. He didn’t tell Sens. Charles Schumer or Kirsten Gillibrand. He didn’t loop in the members of New York’s congressional delegation. In fact, none of the pols charged with prying the money out of Congress in the middle of a difficult partisan fight over federal spending knew about the major request until Cuomo went public with it on Monday.”

EDUCATION
Newark Teachers Union Approves Landmark Merit Pay Contract (Star-Ledger)
Jeanette Rundquist reports: “The three-year pact, which will award merit pay to teachers who earn ratings of ‘highly effective,’ was approved by a vote of 1767 to 1088 after a day in which educators lined up at union headquarters to cast ballots. The contract would be the first in the state, and one of the first in the nation, to base teacher pay on classroom performance, including student progress.”

SANDY
Conservatives in Congress Appear Ready to Help Northeast Rebuild From Sandy (The Record)
Herb Jackson reports: “Some House conservatives who unsuccessfully fought last year to require budget cuts to pay for the disaster aid needed after Hurricane Irene now say they are open to helping the Northeast rebuild from superstorm Sandy. One difference between now and then is the reputation built by Governor Christie among Republicans — including those he campaigned for this year.”

SANDY
Stuck Underground, as Water Rose to the Ceiling (NYT)
J. David Goodman reports: “The storm exacted a heavy toll in the city, killing many people in or near their homes. But of the 43 people in New York City whose deaths were attributed to the storm, Mr. Narh appeared to be the only New Yorker to die at his place of work.”

POLITICS
B’klyn Dems: Boot ‘Betrayer’ Felder (NYP)
David Seifman and Erik Kriss report: “Brooklyn Democratic leaders want to toss turncoat state Sen.-elect Simcha Felder (pictured) from the party. ‘We’re looking at the rules — the Kings County organization rules and the state Democratic organization — to see if there is a provision for expulsion,’ said spokesman George Arzt. ‘If not, we would explore proposing such a provision.’ Brooklyn Democratic Chairman Frank Seddio called Felder’s decision to side with Republicans in a Senate leadership fight a “betrayal” and labeled his campaign ‘a lie.’”

SANDY
Sewage in Rockaways is Latest Stink for Residents (NYDN)
Vera Chinese and Corky Siemaszko report: “Add 50 million stinking gallons of pollution per day to the lengthy list of problems facing the Rockaways in the wake of Sandy. That’s how much partially treated sewage has poured into the waters off the struggling Queens neighborhood since the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant in nearby Nassau County was damaged by the storm. Not only does it reek to high heaven, it’s a problem that’s not likely to get fixed until Thanksgiving, Nassau County officials admitted Wednesday.”

SANDY
Questioning the Power Grid (MetroFocus)
Beth Garbitelli reports: “More maintenance, line crews and tree trimming would raise prices for energy consumers. Undergrounding power lines as utilities have done in Manhattan would be expensive in regions like Long Island and rural New Jersey where homes are farther apart. Some analysts are suggesting an alternative solution called ‘micro-grids.’”

REAL ESTATE
Fifth Ave. Dethroned as World’s Top Retail Address (Crain’s)
Ali Elkin reports: “Fifth Avenue, which in recent years has proudly worn the crown as the most expensive retail strip in the world, has been supplanted. Top dog now is Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay.”

CULTURE
Macy's Unmoved by 'Dump Trump' Petition (AdAge)
Ali Elkin reports: “As a petition encouraging Macy's to "Dump Donald Trump" continues to gain steam, with nearly 558,000 signatures, the retailer shows no sign of dropping the outspoken tycoon. Macy's has long featured Mr. Trump in its TV advertising and carries an exclusive line of Trump branded men's apparel, home goods and a fragrance collection called "Success." But the retailer is coming under fire for its partnership with Mr. Trump, who has raised the ire of consumers, especially throughout the recent election cycle.”