Urbanite

5/16/13
news
By DAN RIVOLI

SI lawmakers want more ferry service at night
Staten Island's City Council delegation doesn't want ferry riders to wait an hour to get on a boat any longer.
The three Staten Islanders on the Council said legislation will be introduced on Wednesday to ensure that there is ferry service every half-hour, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
That means no more long waits for riders who have the misfortune of barely missing the boat.... » more
5/16/13
news
By IVAN PEREIRA

De Blasio unveils proposals to help city's immigrant population
The city's public advocate unveiled an immigration reform plan Thursday that he said gives hardworking transplants in the Big Apple a chance at living the American dream.
Bill de Blasio, a mayoral candidate, joined several state and city elected officials and made a legislative request for bills that would help all immigrants living in the city, including one that would create a citywide ID... » more
5/16/13
news
By SHEILA ANNE FEENEY

NYers' hopes, dreams soar with $550 million Powerball jackpot lure
Why do we do it?
We know the odds of any number of things — being crushed to death by a vending machine (1 in 112 million), becoming homeless (1 in 450) or being struck by lightning (1 in a million so) are far better than our odds of winning the Powerball jackpot (1 in 175 million).
Yet, once the jackpot swells more than $100 million, even the skeptical seem willing to surrender... » more
5/16/13
sports
By SCOTT FONTANA

Will Derby champ Orb win Preakness?
The Triple Crown talk inevitably begins roughly five seconds after the latest 3-year-old wins the Kentucky Derby. This year, it’s trainer Shug McGaughey’s colt Orb who will continue to chase history at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.
Although he’ll start Saturday’s race from the rail, Orb is capable of getting through the other eight horses in the field. He debuted as the even-money favorite... » more
5/16/13
business
By MICHAEL COMEAU

Column: Electric cars charging forward
It’s been a wild couple of weeks for Tesla Motors, the rapidly-growing manufacturer of electric cars.
It became a Wall Street darling after its announced its first-ever quarterly profit, driven by significantly better-than-expected sales. But even more importantly, the highly-influential Consumer Reports named the Tesla Model S luxury Sedan the best car it ever tested, with a stunning 99/100... » more
5/16/13
news
By KELLY WEILL

Keith Urban wants to stay on 'American Idol' as fellow judges leave
Amid reports of a complete shake-up at the judges table on “American Idol,” first-year judge Keith Urban announced that he wanted to stay on the Fox show.
At Wednesday’s final faceoff between Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, Urban told reporters that he would like to return as a judge next season.
“I mean, I literally enjoy coming to work every day, and that’s a rarity,” he told People... » more
5/16/13
news
By DAN RIVOLI

A train heads back to Rockaways next month
Straphangers will be able to hitch a ride to the Rockaways on A train again this summer, transit officials said Thursday.
After six months since superstorm Sandy struck New York, full service to the A line will be restored May 30 “as to what it was the day before the storm,” said MTA interim director Tom Prendergast. The restored service will benefit about 35,000 riders, according to the MTA.
Gov.... » more
5/16/13
opinion
By amNY

Editorial: Gifted, talented. . . and seatless
Wanted: Some gifted and talented test administrators who can competently select students for the city's most elite academic programs.
At the moment the kings of slapstick seem to be running the show -- and, unfortunately, the joke is on some of the city's brightest children.
Last month the city announced that a processing error mistakenly eliminated 2,700 kids -- some as young as 4 years... » more
5/16/13
news
By DAN RIVOLI

And the most popular baby names in New York are...
Parents in New York have taken a shine to Michael and Sophia. Those names were the most popular in the state in 2012 for the second year in a row, according to the Social Security Administration.
There were 1,384 Michaels and 1,406 Sophias born in New York State last year.
For boys, Jacob and Jayden round out the top three names for boys. Isabella again took the No. 2 spot for girl names... » more
5/16/13
entertainment
By AMNY

Spotted: Lynette Carolla at Sons of Essex, more
Lynette Carolla hosting a girls night at Sons of Essex to promote her and husband Adam Carolla’s new sangria
Hayden Panettiere getting cozy with her boyfriend at ABC’s Upfront party at The General
Jesse Tyler Ferguson eating with Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet at 20th Century Fox’s Upfront party at Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel... » more