+Hurricane Rita+

MIAMI Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have downgraded Hurricane Rita to a Category 2 storm.
And in Washington, FEMA says there are no reported deaths in connection with Hurricane Rita.

Williamsburg Bridge +Disabled Vehicle+

Williamsburg Bridge +Disabled Vehicle+ PD on the scene at the Williamsburg Bridge with a disabled van on the outer roadway lanes causing delays.

NY Catskills Leads Job Growth Even Without Casinos.

NEW YORK, -- New York's Sullivan County, home to the Catskills' faded resorts, led the state in growing jobs.

Brooklyn +Suspicious Envelop+

Brooklyn +Suspicious Envelop+ At 4 Metrotech and Flatbush Ave at the Chase building a sospicious envelop contaning some white podwer, ESU, FD and Hazmat are all on the scene doing the investigation.

Queens +Bias Crime Investigation+

Queens +Bias Crime Investigation+ In the backyards of the 302 Seagirt Blvd area, a location of previous bias incidents a place targeted with swastikas and ongoing disputes. Police and Hate Crime unites are investigating multiple flammable devices and Molotov Cocktails like beer bottles filled with gasoline and stuffed with towel paper that were found today in the area.

U/D: 12:39
PD and Fire Marshals on the scene continuing the investigation.

Water Cascades Over New Orleans Levee

Jafferson, LA -- Water poured over the patched Industrial Canal Levee area on Friday, cascading into one of the city's lowest-lying neighborhoods and heightening fears that Hurricane Rita would re-flood this devastated city.

"Our worst fears came true. The levee will breach if we keep on the path we are on right now, which will fill the area that was flooded earlier," Barry Guidry with the Georgia National Guard.

U/D: 12:46
The Army Corps Of Engineers is reporting that the rising waters have caused the levee to break, water is already waist deep in parts of the 9th Ward and additional flooding is expected possibly up to eight feet.

DALLAS -- Bus Full Of Evacuees Exploded

DALLAS, TX. A bus, apparently carrying multiple senior citizens hurricane Rita evacuees, has exploded on Interstate 45 near Dallas, and there are multiple aided that expired due to the fire.

U/D: 08:55
Reuters reports that at least 24 people are killed.

Shofar Blowing Contest

Eleven days before Rosh Hashana, New York's first Great Shofar Blast Off yesterday tooted, bellowed and cried through tiny Herald Square Park. One by one, some of the nation's most seasoned blowers of the ram's horn got the chance to show off their style, technique and sheer, sweaty, vein-popping power.

They came with their ram's horns in hand, 10 men with strong lungs and weathered lips. But only one could leave as grand champion.

When it was over, the judges chose as the winner Kalman Feinberg of Teaneck, N.J., who had a relatively smooth tone. He gets a trip for two to Israel.

Rockland +NYS Thruway Diesel Spill+

Suffern, Rockland County +NYS Thruway Diesel Spill+ NY State Thruway exit 15 has a diesel spill on the ramp, delays in the area.

Largest Synagogue In Modi´in, Destroys By Fire, Two Torahs Also Burned

A passerby noticed the blaze at the Nachal Paran synagogue in the city of Modi'in and called the fire department, which took much longer to arrive than usual due to a strike, residents claim. The strike was due to the fact that firefighters have not been paid in over a month. they say it took between twenty minutes and a half-hour.

The fire destroyed the synagogue Wednesday, and also burning two Safer Torah scrolls but resulting in no injuries. Modi'in is located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Downtown Brooklyn +Major Accident+

Downtown Brooklyn +Major Accident+ Earlier today an MVA at Tillary St. and Adams St in front of the court house, a motorcycle hit a pedestrian, the pedestrian that was struck is a 71 year old poss supreme court judge, and was a member and former president of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and was now serving as a NYC judicial committee hearing officer, PD Highway-2 A.I.S. team are on the scene aided is very likely in Bellevue Hospital.

U/D:
The driver of the motorcycle is an off-duty-officer, a 26-year-old woman whose identity was not released, she was issued a summons for driving with a learner's permit instead of a motorcycle license.

U/D: 12:42
Hatzolah being requested with a bus to the Eldridge Street Shuel now.

Again! Another NY-bound Jet Blue flight reports problems

A Jet Blue airliner landed safely an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport today after its pilot reported a problem with the wing flaps as the plane prepared to descend, an airline spokeswoman said. No injuries were reported.
This comes one day after another of the airline's planes circled Southern California for hours with a faulty landing gear. That plane also landed without any injuries.

Manhattan +West Side Hwy Traffic Alert+

Manhattan +West Side Hwy Traffic Alert+ North bound of the West Side Highway at West 56th St, PD on the scene of an MVA blocking some lanes, traffic delays throughout the area.

Williamsburg Builders Plans Dealt a Blow

The six-story building, built in 1915 and designed by Cass Gilbert at 184 Kent Avenue has been designated a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, making it a distinctive part of the Brooklyn skyline when viewed from Manhattan, throwing a wrench into the developer's plans to add extra fs and carve out a courtyard.

Jewish slave labourers' grave found near US base

Jewish inmates from the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp have been found in a wartime makeshift mass grave in the US army base in southern Germany next to Stuttgart airport by workers, police said yesterday.

The skeletal remains of about 30 individuals were dug up during work and tests indicate the bodies are the right age to be Jews used as forced labourers in the area.
Jewish inmates from the nearby Echterdingen detention camp were used at the airbase thathas been used by the Gestapo when the site was a Luftwaffe air strip during World War II, between November 1944 and February 1945.

U/D: 09/23/05
Construction work the airport was halted Thursday after a Rabbi protests against removal of Jewish remains

Williamsburg Bridge Bumpy Bike Road Being Fixed, But Not Everyone Is Happy About It.

A stretch of bumps along the Williamsburg Bridge bike and pedestrian path is finally getting smoothed out.

Many cyclists crashed and were severely injured, but to the city's credit, they recognized this was a problem and are making it safer," said someone from Transportation Alternatives, who led the campaign to remove the bumps.

But not everyone was happy the bumps will be removed.
Isaac Abraham, argued the bumps help to slow cyclists. Just yesterday, Abraham said his wife, Sara, was stuck by a cyclist during her daily morning walk across the bridge.

"Not only should the bumps be there, the bumps should be higher," said Abraham, whose wife was taken to NYU Medical Center for treatment.

Loch Sheldrake +Large Fire+

Loch Sheldrake, Sullivan County +Large Fire+ a 2nd alarm structure fire with some explosion at Labaugh Road, multiple engines and tankers from surrounding towns responding.

Queens +Queensborough Bridge Traffic Alert+

Queens +Queensborough Bridge Traffic Alert+ MVA involving 5 vehicles is causing major delays on the upper level Manhattan bound of the Queensborough Bridge, PD requesting EMS to respond from the wrong way on the upper level of the bridge.

Who Will Be Satmar Rebbe's Keeper?

Children of the chief rabbi of Kiryas Yoel's majority congregation, went to court yesterday to begin an unseemly tug-of-war for access and control on their 92-year-old father, leader of the world's largest movement of Chasidic Jews because they claim he isn't in good hands.
But the head rabbi in Williamsburg, and his faction contend the Satmar leader is in good hands and accuse their rivals of sacrificing a holy man's dignity to advance their own quest for power.

The judge repeatedly scoffed at the suggestion that the case had no political motivation and no connection to the fighting to succeed the grand rabbi. "If this is about politics," he said angrily, "then take all these papers you spent thousands of hours on and throw them down the toilet."
After two hours, the judge set another court appearance for Nov. 3 to deliver his decision, one that he said neither side might like.

President Bush Praised Chabad's Hurricane Relief Program

President George W Bush singled out and applaud Chabad's hurricane Katrina's relief program, saying "They rescued stranded people; they distributed bottled water and self-heating kosher meals.

Los Angeles +Airplan Incident+

Los Angeles +Airplan Incident+ JetBlue flight 292 with 145 souls on board on the way from L.A. To J.F.K. Is being returned to L.A.X. Due to a twisted front landing gear problem, gear is stuck, emergency landing imminent.

U/D: 21:17
Aircraft in the air for more then 3 hours burning fuel before an emergency landing.

U/D: 21:20
Airplane landed safely.

Brooklyn +MVA - EMS & NYPD+

Brooklyn +MVA - EMS & NYPD+ An accident between EMS and a police car on Graham Ave and Moore St. minor accident no injuries.

Manhattan +Bomb Threat+

Manhattan +Bomb Threat+ A bomb threat was received in transit at 96th St and Broadway, PD on scene requesting the bomb squad, and a level one mobilization has been called.

U/D:
PD requesting Highway units to shutdown the West Side highway north and south ramps at 96th St.

U/D: 17:39
All vehicle and pedestrian traffic reopened.

Uniformed And Undercover Cops Patrolling Houses Of Worship During The High Holy Days

The NYPD is taking no chances again this year with the approach of the Jewish high holy days.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced that security will be beefed up at area synagogues, with extra uniformed officers in addition to undercover cops that will be patrolling houses of worship.

Kelly insisted today that there is no specific threat to the Jewish community.

Hurricane Rita

MIAMI -- The National Hurricane Center says that Hurricane Rita has strengthened into a top-of-the-scale Category 5 storm, with sustained wind of 165 mph.

Brooklyn +FD Vehicle MVA+

Brooklyn +NYFD Vehicle MVA+ NYFD Chief's vehicle involved in an MVA at Ave P and East 21st St, battalion 31 chief and his driver involved and have minor injuries, one civilian injured. Hatzolah established command, requesting 3 buses to the scene.

Queens +G.C.P. Large Oil Spill+

Queens +G.C.P. Large Oil Spill+ Eastbound the Grand Central Parkway near the 82nd St overpass, multi car MVA with large oil spill onto all three lanes, major delays in the area, FD and PD are on the scene closing down the highway, requesting a sanitation sander.

Queens +L.I.E. Traffic Alert+

Queens +L.I.E. Traffic Alert+ An MVA involving 4 vehicles at the Long Island Expressway and Woodhaven Blvd. is causing heavy traffic delays in the area.

Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+

Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+ An MVA with a pedestrian struck on Ocean Parkway and Avenue O, Hatzolah requested.

Many Issues Over Synagogue Battle In Uman, Ukraine Remain Unresolved

Spring Valley Man Convicted In Monsey Robbery

A County Court jury yesterday convicted two Spring Valley man of stealing $100,000 in jewelry, $1,700 in coins and personal items during March 22, 2004 home invasion robbery on Esther Lane home in Monsey NY. They could serve 20 to 35 years for robberies.

During the robbery they threatened a woman with a blunt metal object and stole 2-by-2-foot safe with a large amount of jewelry and money, In another robbery they shoved a woman into an upstairs bedroom closet and threatened to kill her the resident was home alone.

Queens - Rabbi Beaten In Divorce Case

A Queens rabbi was slapped and threatened inside Kew Gardens Synagogue Adath Yeshurun on Lefferts Boulevard by an ex-con and a mechanic posing as mob-connected debt collectors, prosecutors said yesterday.
The men, Matthew Gross, 39, of Bronxville and Pinchas Elgaoi, 50, of Queens, allegedly told the rabbi that he was responsible to them for a $60,000 debt incurred to "connected" people by his former secretary's ex-husband.

According to prosecutors, Gross said he was seeking the money from the rabbi because it was the rabbi who'd helped broker the secretary's divorce.

Gross' lawyer said his client denied extorting or hitting anyone.

The Washington Nationals Ban Chapel Leader For Comments About Jews

Club officials said the Washington Nationals chapel will not be allowed access to the locker room while the team investigates.

Meantime, the Nationals have asked the Christian ministry Baseball Chapel, which oversees clubhouse prayer services, to provide a replacement.

Someone asked the Chapel if Jews are "doomed" because they do not believe in Jesus - to which he reportedly nodded.

Leak Found In Indian Point

Indian Point 2 workers have found a small amount of radioactive water that leaked from the fuel storage building at the nuclear power plant during a construction project to reinforce walls.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating the leak, they say it does not appear to pose any immediate health or safety threat to the public or plant workers, said an NRC spokesman. "We don't believe there is any cause for concern." But until the source and size of the leak are determined, the NRC will continue to investigate.

Judge Declared Mistrial In Junior Gotti Case

A jury found John A. "Junior" Gotti not guilty of conspiracy to commit securities fraud today, but said it was deadlocked on other, more serious charges against him, including an allegation that he plotted the kidnapping of a talk radio host.

U/D:
The judge has declared a mistrial on the most serious counts against Gotti in his racketeering trial.

U/D: 09/21/05
Judge Shira Scheindlin said, ``The man is entitled to bail.'' And she also signaled she would enter a not guilty verdict on the most serious racketeering charge - the alleged plot to kidnap Curtis Sliwa, a WABC-AM host and founder of the Guardian Angels crime-fighting group.

Nyack, +NYS Thruway Traffic Alert+

Nyack, Rockland County +NYS Thruway Traffic Alert+ Northbound NY State Thruway M/M 16.8 at Exit 10 and Highland Ave an MVA with a female seriously injured, FD and EMS on scene, EMS/ALS canceling the medivac Stat Flight due to aided being unconscious and unresponsive with serious head injury and to critical to fly.
NY State Police closing down some lanes to set up for escort, major traffic delays through out the area.

Queens +Belt parkway & Van Wyck Expressway Closed+

Queens +Belt parkway & Van Wyck Expressway Closed+ An on-duty police officer with a heart condition is having some chest pain at Beach Channel Drive and 116th St. PD, ESU, EMS and Highway units all on the scene, officer will be taken to Jamaica Hospital, route will be Belt Parkway eastbound to the Van Wyck Expressway northbound, route is frozen at this time by Highway units.

Mayor Bloomberg Appealing For The Orthodox Jewish Vote

The Mayor is stepping up its outreach to Orthodox Jews, He's hiring Governor Pataki's top aide Jewish liason, Michael Fragin this week, who also played a role in President Bush's apparently successful wooing of the socially-conservative Orthodox.

Mr. Fragin, an executive assistant to the governor since January 2004, will work on politics, field operations, and get-out-the-vote efforts for Mayor Bloomberg's campaign. The Pataki camp is sorry to see Mr. Fragin leave, a Pataki spokesman said.

"The governor thinks he's been a tremendous asset to the administration," a spokesman, said. "Essentially, he is the governor's primary adviser on issues relating to the Jewish community in New York State."

Woodbury -- Rezoning Property To Build 451 Homes Subject Of Another Hearing

Woodbury -- A builders bid to build 451 homes on land zoned for 148 will be given another public hearing tomorrow night, offering residents their latest chance to sound off on the town's dominant political issue.

The builder hopes to build a gated community of 451 houses on what is now 400 acres of woods and meadows off Dunderberg and Nininger roads, near Monroe-Woodbury Middle School and High School.

The central issue for many is whether Kiryas Yoel, MonDroe developers would buy the property and build much denser housing if the plans are thwarted, as the developer has warned.
Activists who fear that prospect have rallied behind his proposal and the Town Board, while opponents have denounced his warning as an empty threat.

U/D: 09/22/05
Approximately 80 residents gathered at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building at 67 Commerce Drive South to hammer away on the effects the project would have on the community.
More than a dozen citizens approached the microphone and voiced concerns.
Although the village was never mentioned by name, the central concern for many was whether Kiryas Yoel developers would buy the property and build much denser housing if the builder's plans are thwarted, as the developer has warned.

Manhataan +Traffic Alert+

Manhataan +Traffic Alert+ Northbound Harlem River Drive at 145th St an MVA involving four vehicles and one female laying in middle of the roadway. no entrapment.

Monsey +Working Fire+

Monsey +Working Fire+ Heavy fire at 11 Gwen Lane and West Central, fire is in the basement of a 3 story private dwelling, command on the scene.

Bronx +Large Demonstration+ Level 3 Called By NYPD

Bronx +Large Demonstration+ NYC PD are calling for a level 3 Mobilization by the C.O. Of the 52nd Pct in regards to a large demonstration by students of the DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx at East Fordam Rd and the Grand Concourse southbound, about 1500 students are protesting the use of metal detectors in the school for the first time today, they are marching nearly two miles to the borough's Department of Education offices.

U/D:
The new rules are that students cannot go out from the school facilities during lunch time, and they cannot bring to school cell phones, MP3 players and walkmans are permeated to school.

Officials Declare Ferrer Winner.

Democrat Fernando Ferrer has enough votes to officially win the Democratic mayoral primary and will face Republican Michael Bloomberg on Nov. 8, election officials said today.

Bronx +M.D.E. Traffic Alert+

Bronx +M.D.E. Traffic Alert+ Two lanes closed on the Major Deegan Expressway, due to an MVA, FD, EMS and PD are all on the scene.

Village Of Monticello To Provide Loans

Monticello has been awarded a $400,000 in Community Development Grant, and the village will use the money for providing loans to small business owners through its Downtown Commercial Building Improvement Program.

More Grants For Kiryas Yoel MonDroe.

Kiryas Yoel MonDroe -- Village leaders plan a host of projects to make it easier for residents to schlep across and out of their growing community, including the construction of a park-and-ride lot for its commuters, with a new $3.6 million from the federal government.

About $1 million is for the commuter lot, which will be built near Bakertown Road and have around 160 parking spaces. It comes from state-administered federal money for projects on a state wish list.
Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, both Democrats, secured $2 million for Kiryas Yoel; Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, rounded up $600,000

They also want to spend the money improving Route 44, a county road crossing part of Kiryas Yoel where hundreds of new condominiums have been built or are on the way.
There, the village wants to widen the road to 40 feet from 18 feet, realign a dangerous Y-intersection and install sidewalks and a traffic signal.
One hitch, however, is that the road belongs to Orange County, and Kiryas Yoel must either take it over or get the county's permission to do the work. Village officials have been prodding the county to turn over the road since last year, even threatening in April to seize it through eminent domain. Thus far, they've gotten no response.

Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+

Brooklyn +Pedestrian Struck+ Accident with a pedestrian struck on Ditmas Ave and Ocean Parkway, Hatzolah requested.

Williamsburg +Large Police Presence+

Williamsburg +Large Police Presence+ Marcy Ave and Broadway person stabbed, requesting EMS for the aided

Bronx +C.B.E Traffic Alert+

Bronx +C.B.E Traffic Alert+ Eastbound Cross Bronx Exp. at the G.W. Bridge an MVA is blocking the left lane, heavy delays through the area, PD on the scene.

NYC -- The Most Popular Names

The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released the name breakdown for the 124,099 babies born in New York City in 2004.

New York city's large Orthodox Jewish population has helped to push the name Moshe to No. 68 , Mordechai to 155 and Shlomo to 199, of the New York naming list.

List of NYC most popular baby names

War protester Cindy Sheehan's Visiting New York

War protester Sheehan's imminent visit to New York City has provoked a bitterly divided reaction from city leaders.

Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, has offered to "personally welcome" Ms. Sheehan to Brooklyn Borough Hall.
But City Council Member Simcha Felder, hopes to send a different message to a woman they view as a fanatic and doesn't speak for other families who lost their children in the war in Iraq.

"As far as I'm concerned, she can go back to where she came from," Mr. Felder said. "If she came to my neighborhood, I would drive her out. I would do everything I could to make her life miserable, legally."

Independence Party To Remove Fulani

Albany, NY -- The chairman of the state's Independence Party planned to seek the removal today of Lenora Fulani, accused of making anti-Semitic remarks, and her supporters from the group's executive committee, as reported by VOS IZ NEIAS.

U/D: 09/19/05
Fulani accused of making anti-Semitic remarks was removed Sunday from the executive committee of New York's small but politically influential Independence Party.

Fulani and five of her supporters were purged from the Ross Perot-inspired party's 25-member executive committee after more than three hours of often heated debate.

After 55-year wait, Jewish veteran to receive Medal of Honor

LOS ANGELES – Tibor Rubin a Hungarian Jew kept his promise to join the U.S. Army after American troops late in World War II freed him from the concentration camp in Austria.
Rubin immigrated to New York after the war, joined the Army and fought as an infantryman on the frontline's in the Korean War. In 1951, Chinese troops captured Cpl. Rubin and other U.S. soldiers and he became a prisoner of war for 2½ years.

He was nominated four times for the Medal of Honor the nation's highest recognition, for a lot of good deeds he did and bravery he showed during battle, but it is believed that the paperwork was never submitted because a member of his chain of command discriminated against him for being Jewish and born in Hungary. Now President Bush on Sept. 23 will give Rubin the Medal of Honor.

Williamsburg +Bridge Shut Down+

Williamsburg +Bridge Shut Down+ The Williamsburg Bridge Manhaatan bound has been shut down due to a fleeing red Astro vehicle with a female driver from a shooting crime.

Chester - The Motel Inn At Chester, Is About To Turn Into A Yeshiva.

A Chasidic group Yeshiva Toras Chemed from Westchester County is purchasing the motel located at 1425 Route 17M, and contiguous properties totaling about 17 acres, and proposing to turn it into a religious boarding school that could take in as many as 600 students from all over the world.
The group wants to convert the existing 7,200-square-foot motel into a 16-unit dormitory, as well as build a 24,000-square-foot school and a 9,000-square-foot, 21-unit dormitory on a contiguous parcel as part of an international religious boarding school for students ages 14-18.
The Chester Planning Board Acting Chairman said there are still zoning issues that must be resolved before the proposal can go forward.
A public hearing on the proposal has been tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19.

Manhattan +FDR Traffic Alert+

Manhattan +FDR Traffic Alert+ A pedestrian was struck at the southbound F.D.R. Drive and 125th St. also a 2 car MVA at location, pedestrian is in serious condition, but stable.

MonDroe -- A New Chasidic Jewish School, Synagogue And Wedding Hall.

The big, metal building on Larkin Drive in MonDroe peeking through the trees behind Gorgone's backyard had always been a beer distributors warehouse. But with the help of a federal law enacted five years ago to protect religious groups from discriminatory zoning, this cavernous structure will take on a radically new life, as a Chasidic Jewish school, synagogue and wedding hall.
Schools normally aren't allowed in heavy-industry zone. But after an initial attempt to portray the school as a permitted trade shop, the congregation came back with arguments about the special status of a religious school. The town Planning Board and its lawyer readily concurred. The board approved the first phase of the building conversion in August.
Gorgone, who can see the warehouse from her back porch, said she has no problem with a school operating in the building. But she worries about the noise from weddings and finds it frustrating that she and her neighbors can't get answers to their questions at meetings. "I don't know if there's going to be an impact," Gorgone said. "I don't know how noisy they're going to be. They don't really tell you much. Every time you talk to them, it's a different use, and they never really answer your questions."

Monsey Rabbi Will Stop Circumcisions For Now.

New York City announced that a Monsey rabbi linked to three infants who contracted herpes has agreed to stop performing oral suction circumcisions in New York City until a religious panel investigates the method.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene had been trying for months in court to stop the rabbi from using oral-suction circumcision.
An agency spokeswoman said an agreement had been reached. "The rabbi has agreed to stop performing metzizah bi peh in NYC pending an investigation being conducted by the Rabbinical Court of the Central Rabbinical Congress," the spokeswoman said in a statement.
The rabbi's lawyers, said that "the rabbi has been asked by the rabbinical court to refrain from practicing metzizah bi peh and agreed."
The New York state Health Department had rescinded its ban and joined New York City's plan for a committee of rabbis and medical personnel to review the oral-suction procedure and come up with guidelines.