Urbanite

5/15/13
opinion
By amNY

Editorial: Lopez needs to go; Albany needs to change
Special prosecutor Daniel Donovan Wednesday found no basis for criminal charges against Vito Lopez, the veteran Brooklyn assemblyman caught up in a sexual harassment case that's lurid even by Albany's laughable standards. But Donovan's report and one by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, also released Wednesday, should alarm all New Yorkers who want to restore ethics, openness and honesty to... » more
5/15/13
local
By amNY

Vasishta: Weighty matters for New York City's college grads
It's college commencement season, and a new crop of graduates is hitting the workforce. But student-loan debt isn't the only thing weighing some of them down. Adding extra pounds continues to be part of the college experience.
As a health nut and late-in-life college student, I found that declining the abundance of free pizza and alcohol during these last four years of academia has made me... » more
5/15/13
sports
By AMNY

Injury forces Jets' David Garrard to retire: Reports
The Jets starting quarterback race is already clearing up a bit.
David Garrard, the former Jaguars starter who joined the Jets this offseason, said he will be forced to retire due to injury, according to a tweet by SNY’s Adam Schein.
The tweet read: “Text from Garrard: ‘Having to call it quits. My knee is not holding up. Continuing to swell after practices. Limiting what I can do.”
With... » more
5/15/13
news
By AMNY

'Teen Mom' star Farrah Abraham a role model?
Farrah Abraham, star of the porno "Farrah Superstar: Back Door Teen Mom," sees herself as a "role model."
But Catelynn Lowell, another teenage mother on the MTV show "Teen Mom," tweeted that Abraham sounded like "a dying horse" in her record-breaking adult video.
Asked by Us Weekly to comment on that criticism of her sex tape, Abraham replied,... » more
5/15/13
entertainment
By AMNY

Fan swims to see Taylor Swift, is arrested
Taylor Swift’s fans are notoriously devoted, but one took his love for the 22-year-old over the edge Wednesday morning.
A 22-year-old man was booked for trespassing shortly after 2 a.m. after swimming a mile to Swift’s Westerly, R.I., beach house in an attempt to see the “I Knew You Were Trouble” singer, according to TMZ.com.
The man, whose name was not revealed, was spooked by Swift’s... » more
5/15/13
entertainment
By AMNY

Heartfelt Beyonce apology for canceled concert
In a handwritten letter posted on her Facebook page, Beyoncé apologized to fans in Antwerp, Belgium for canceling her concert Tuesday night.
“Queen Bey,” who cited dehydration and exhaustion as reasons for pulling the plug, promised to “make it up very soon.” Her second performance in Belgium went on as scheduled Tuesday night.
“I’ve never postponed a show in my life,” she wrote.... » more
5/15/13
news
By AMNY/REUTERS

Obama calls for sweeping changes at IRS in light of scandal
Washington's top tax official was fired Wednesday as President Barack Obama sought to stem a rising tide of criticism over the IRS' targeting of conservative groups for special scrutiny.
Seeking to confront a series of controversies that have threatened his second-term agenda, Obama said new leadership was needed to restore public confidence in the IRS.
The president said Treasury Secretary... » more
5/15/13
news
By IVAN PEREIRA

WTC developer announces construction of city's tallest hotel tower
The developer behind some of the skyscrapers at World Trade Center announced Wednesday it is creating the city's tallest hotel and residential building in lower Manhattan.
Silverstein Properties, which is developing four of the World Trade Center buildings, got $950 million in financing from British firm The Children's Investment Fund Management for the 82-story tower at 30 Park Place that... » more
5/15/13
news
By AMNY

Red Hook Ferry expanding to new area devastated by Sandy
The Red Hook Ferry is expanding its route to include an area ravaged by Superstorm Sandy that will run weekends throughout the summer, the city said Wednesday.
The expanded service will stop at a new landing at Van Brunt Street in Red Hook starting Memorial Day, and will run free every weekend until Labor Day. Two boats will traverse the new route, and will head from Pier 11 in Manhattan to... » more
5/15/13
news
By TIM HERRERA

MTA worker arrested for staging a fake robbery: Officials
An MTA worker was arrested and charged Wednesday for staging a robbery of her subway booth at a station in Queens on Saturday, officials said.
Tracy King, 48, of Jamaica, Queens, was arrested for the fake hold-up, in which she was bound and gagged with duct tape, allegedly telling police a man had shoved a gun in her face and demanded access to the cash in her booth in the 111th Street... » more