Manhattan - Firefighter Critically Injured In Fall Off Fire Truck

Manhattan - On Friday night when FD truck, from Ladder Company 13, was pulling out of the fire house and was making a left turn onto Lexington Avenue between 84th and 85th streets, a 26-year-old city firefighter Joseph Moore fell off the truck and fractured his skull when one of the truck's doors malfunctioned and swung open, he was critically injured and got serious head trauma and was rushed to New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center unconscious, PD Highway AIS Team was called in for the AI job.

The truck was not the company's regular truck, but a spare used because the regular truck was being serviced, after that the truck didn't respond to the fire.

Moore remains now in critical condition.

Monticello - Kutsher's Country Club For Sale For $50 Million

Monticello - One of the last old-time, family-owned Catskill resorts is up for sale. Kutsher's Country Club is officially on the market for $50 million.
The listing comes about a month after the St. Regis Mohawks decided to forgo plans for a casino at the resort. Instead, the tribe decided to go with the Monticello Raceway, where they were five years ago before switching to Kutsher's. "We saw a door possibly closing, and it gave us impetus to look at what options might be out there," hotel owner Mark Kutsher said. "This has been an ordeal for five years and (the Kutsher family) is not willing to wait anymore."
The $50 million asking price for the 1,400-acre resort includes the 400-room hotel, an 18-hole golf course, the sports complex, two lakes, two camps, and a bungalow colony.
The real estate listing is just one more sign of doom for the casino project, which went south a month ago.
The Mohawks believe their casino application for the raceway, which won federal approval years ago, is still valid. They had waited nearly five years for approval of the Kutsher's casino - approval that never came.
The site plan, approved a year ago, expired Dec. 1, according to Thompson Supervisor. He said Kutsher requested a special meeting of the Thompson Planning Board to extend the site plan at the end of last month, but was denied.
In the meantime, Kutsher said, "We're still here doing what we've always done. And if anything were to happen, I'd assume there would be continuity to our business."

Tuxedo +NY State Thruway Traffic Alert+

Tuxedo +NY State Thruway Traffic Alert+ A major accident on the northbound New York State Thruway at M/M 38.7 with a confirmed overturned vehicle and victim possibly ejected, PD on the scene requesting Medivac to lunch for an unconscious aided with major trauma, but the chopper will not be available before 20 mim so patient will be transported by ground, Monroe EMS on the scene.

NYC +Flyover+

NYC +Flyover+ The NYPD wants to alert the public, that about 19:30 hours there will be a flyover above NYC of a low flying Southwest Boeing 737 plane, the plane will fly low over NYC on a scenic tour authorized by the FAA.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants Threaten 'To Kill Hostages'

Iraq militants threaten to kill four Western peace activists hostages, in a new videtape broadcast by Arab TV al-Jazeera, unless their demands are met by Dec. 8.

Newark Airport - Threat Forces Evacuation Of Plane At Gate

An unspecified threat against an airliner at a gate at Newark Liberty International Airport forced the plane to be evacuated, and authorities ere conducting a bomb search on board.

Borough Park +House Fire+

Borough Park +House Fire+ Fire in a M/D house on 55th Street and New Utrecht Avenue with one victim that has sustained serious life threatening burns, FD and Hatzolah are on the scene requesting multiple BLS and ALS units to respond.

U/D: 14:24
Fire is U/C.

Orange County - Judge Rosenwasser Lost The Race For State Supreme Court And Is Reconsidering Being A Judge Altogether

Orange County - Court Judge Stewart Rosenwasser lost the race for state Supreme Court by a few hundred votes to acting Ardsley Village Justice Lewis Lubell and Suffern Village Justice Matthew Byrne.
He sounds like he might be reconsidering this judge thing altogether. "Let's just say I'm gonna take some time and consider all my various options," Rosenwasser said.

Courthouses Around Connecticut Evacuated After Threat

Courthouses in Waterbury, New Haven, New London, Danielson, Bridgeport, Hartford and Rockville were evacuated Friday because of an unspecified threat.

Briacliff Manor - Board Shows Support For Rabbi

Briacliff Manor - The rabbi who was charged with having 27 grams of marijuana in his car and convicted of impaired driving won a vote of confidence for a new contract from his board yesterday - an indication that the respected spiritual leader has been forgiven.

Flatbush +Motorcycle Accident+

Flatbush +Motorcycle Accident+ A MVA involving a motorcycle on Avenue R and East 15th Street has Hatzolah on the scene requesting more units to respond.

Flatbush +Gas Main Break+

Flatbush +Gas Main Break+ At a construction site excavation has ruptured a gas main, and the leak could not be found on East 29th Street and Avenue L, FD is on the scene requesting PD to help out in traffic control, Gas Co. has also been requested.

Borough Park - Maimonides Hospital Top In Survival Rate

Borough Park - Maimonides Medical Center outranked all the other hospitals in New York City as the top-notch hopital, this Borough Park hospital made it onto the statewide honor roll seven times, more than any other single hospital in the five boroughs.
The honor roll recognizes hospitals with highest patient survival rates in thirteen categories.

Kiryas Yoel - Not Pleased With Orange Counties Plans To Tighten The Zoning Rules

Orange County - For the first time in more than a decade, nearly every housing development, new shopping mall or zoning change in Orange County is facing the scrutiny of county planners.
They're reviewing blueprints, recommending changes and, in a few cases, leveling stern criticism of moves that smack of poor planning, as Orange became the state's fastest-growing county. "We now have the clear political support from the county executive and the Legislature," Planning Commissioner said. "We're free to take advantage of all the tools that are available to us."
Most communities have welcomed the county's interest and expertise. But the new oversight has also rattled some cages in a county where communities have rarely been challenged on their prized right of home rule. For instance, the county will have to contend with the Village of Kiryas Joel, which argues it doesn't have any obligation to submit local projects for review. Kiryas Yoel Administrator says the county can't unilaterally alter standards it's used in years past.

Williamsburg +Helicopter Above+

Williamsburg +Helicopter Above+ The chopper above the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, is due to a MVA between a bus and a SUV on Park Avenue and Adelphi Street, FD is on the scene with two occupants in the SUV that need to be removed, requesting FD Rescue, ESU and EMS all to continue in.
32-MCI has been declared.

TOKYO, Japan +Earthquake+

TOKYO - Earthquake with preliminary magnitude 6.4 rocks northern Japan.

Kiryas Yoel Developments Corp. To Build Edison Movie Theater In Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Israel - The Capital's Edison Movie Theater, on Rechov Yeshayahu, once a symbol of Zionist secularism in Jerusalem, will be transformed in a 60-unit building project by Kiryat Yoel Developments Corp. of America, who bought the building two years ago for $5 million.
The burned-out building, was the scene of bloody fisticuffs between charedim from nearby Mea She'arim and secular Israelis in the late 1940's and early 1950's.
Frequently the confrontations were sparked in the summer during daylight savings when Saturday night movies would begin before Shabbas was over.

A spokesman said that in the coming months it will be razed, with building commencing in the summer, and the apartments would be sold exclusively to Satmar Hassidim at special discounts.

Brooklyn +Williamsburg Bridge Traffic Alert+

Brooklyn +Williamsburg Bridge Traffic Alert+ A tractor trailer got stuck in the inner roadway of the Williamsburg Bridge Brooklynd bound due to low clearance, PD on the scene holding traffic to the bridge from Manhattan until they have the truck cleared.

German Retailer To Drop Cases Against Jewish Family Wertheim Over Land Lost To Nazis

BERLIN - German retailer KarstadtQuelle AG said Thursday it is dropping three lawsuits against a Jewish family in a dispute over Berlin properties seized during the Nazi era and now worth more than $117 million US.
The Jewish Claims Conference, which is representing the heirs of the Wertheim family in the case, called the decision a "long-delayed victory for justice and a victory for history."
"Karstadt needs to now accept responsibility for the remaining cases," said Gideon Taylor, claims conference executive vice-president, in an e-mailed statement. "It is time for these issues to be finalized so that this sad chapter can be closed."
The family claims ownership of property in Berlin worth more than $200 million.

Germany - Remains Of 34 Holocaust survivor's Will Not Be Identified

Germany - After the discovery of 34 bodies buried in a mass grave from World War II, on a U.S. Army base by construction workers in September, the German authorities launched an attempt to identify the remains and locate the victims' relatives, but some rabbis reject DNA tests as part of a larger precept of honouring the dead, and German, so officials dropped the idea.

But some holocaust survivors expressed disappointment over the German decision not to conduct the DNA tests on the bodies found, dashing the hopes of identifying some remains.

Manhattan +Hazmat Situation+

Manhattan +Hazmat Situation+ Several workers overcome from an acid spill, when workers on the 13th floor of the building - at 15 West 47th Street between 5th and 6th Ave's - pured ammonium sulfide solution down the drain causing some in the building to have difficulties breathing, FD on the scene, EMS requested with several ambulances, Hazmat-1 and Hazmat-Bat are enroute

Elkridge, MD. - Police Investigating Hate Crimes Of Swastikas Sprayed On Cars And Homes

Elkridge, MD. - Howard County police are investigating several hate-bias crimes in Elkridge along Ducketts Lane, Kyle Leaf Court, Lori Lane and Karas Walk.
Officers said at least 10 homes or vehicles were spray-painted with swastikas, and police are offering a $300 reward for information about the person or people responsible.
Investigators believe the graffiti was sprayed randomly and wasn't directed at specific targets.

New York - Beth Israel Hospital To Pay $73M In Fraud Deal

New York - Beth Israel Medical Center has agreed to pay nearly $73 million to settle civil charges that it bilked taxpayers by defrauding the Medicare program in a massive, decade-long, illegal-billing scheme.
The feds charged in a civil complaint that Beth Israel doctored its bills to Medicare to suck in a staggering $54.7 million in illegal reimbursements between 1992 and 2001.

Williamsburg +Public School Bomb Threat+

Williamsburg +Public School Bomb Threat+ The Public School IS 318 at 101 Walton Street Throop Avenue to Harrison Avenue, has been evacuated due to a bomb threat, PD of the 90th Pct are doing a floor by floor search, ESU has been canceled..

Chester +Route 17 Heavy Traffic+

Chester +Route 17 Heavy Traffic+ Fire Department and PD are on the scene of numerous MVA's on Route 17 eastbound between exits 125-129, very heavy/long delays in the area, use alternate routes.

Queens +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Queens +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A MVA in Kew Gardens at Audley Street and Abington Rd, Hatzolah on the scene working.

Kiryas Joel - Lawyers Pressed To Bring Satmar Grand Rebbe Into Court

A crowd of Hasidic spectators sat riveted yesterday as an Orange County judge grilled lawyers about his request to have the leader of the Satmar Hassidic sect testify to settle a critical question in a case before him.   "Is he physically capable, yes or no?" demanded acting state Supreme Court Justice Stewart Rosenwasser, after lawyers from Aron Teitelbaum's faction pressed the judge to forcefully bring down his 91-year-old father to court.

His case began as a dispute over which of Satmar's two warring factions owns the Kiryas Yoel cemetery. But it quickly rekindled a convoluted, neverending fight for control of the main Satmar organization in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.   Attorneys for the side closest to Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum told Rosenwasser the grand rebbe has already addressed the issue he was probing and shouldn't have to do so twice. They offered to provide supporting testimony instead.   An exasperated Rosenwasser ordered both sides to submit any final written arguments within a week and promised a decision before the end of the year.

Brooklyn +Track Fire+

Brooklyn +Track Fire+ large visible fire and heavy smoke is coming from the tracks 3rd rail area of the Newkirk Plaza at Newkirk Ave and East 16th Street, train traffic for the (Q) Express and (B) Local lines have been ordered to be stopped and all power to be shut off.

U/D: 08:19
No train traffic are running through the station.

U/D: 08:57
Local lines have been just reopened.

Kiryas Yoel +Search For Lost Person+

Kiryas Yoel +Search For Lost Person+ A search and rescue is going on by Public Safety for a missing at Rimenev Ct and Stropkov Ct., command post being set up and requesting FD and NY State Police to help in the search for a person that's lost in the woods and screaming for help.

U/D: 19:56
It turned out to be nothing serious.

Brooklyn +School Bus MVA+

Brooklyn +School Bus MVA+ A motor vehicle accident involving a Yeshivah Bus at Ralph Ave and Avenue N has FD on the scene requesting ESU to respond, EMS treating 11 children and several adoults all with non life threatening injuries.

Number Of Deadly Fires Up This Year Over Last Year

Deadly blazes across the city increased slightly this year after the number of fatal fires hit a near-record low in 2004.
Eighty-nine people had died in blazes this year as of Monday, according to preliminary FDNY statistics.
The top cause of fires was smoking in bed, followed by flawed electrical wiring, overloaded extension cords, candles, and arson.

Manhattan +F.D.R. Traffic Alert+

Manhattan +F.D.R. Traffic Alert+ Southbound F.D.R. Drive at 105th Street and northbound at 101st Street PD Highway units are on the scene of 2 MVA's heavy traffic in the area.

Bronx +School Students Drunk+

Bronx +School Students Drunk+ At IS 84 on 1434 Longfellow Avenue, EMS on the scene declared a 10-59 and requesting several ambulances for about 15 students that got intoxicated, all of them are stable and will be transported for evaluation.

Manhattan +Construction Accident George Washington Bridge+

Manhattan +Construction Accident George Washington Bridge+ At the George Washington Bridge at the NJ side a construction worker fell approximately 50 to 60 feet from a scaffold at the NJ tower at the NY bound onto the bridge, aided has serious injuries, FD and PAPD on the scene and requesting Fort Lee EMS and ALS to the scene forthwith.

U/D: 20:31
Victim has expired.

Spring Valley +Pedestrian Struck+

Spring Valley +Pedestrian Struck+ A Nyack man who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, was struck by a car driven by Shlomo Gold of Monsey, and seriously injured as he crossed Route 59 early yesterday.

The man remained in Nyack Hospital last night in serious but stable condition with several broken bones, a broken hip, leg and ribs and he was also breathing through a tube.

No charges have been filed against the driver.

Brooklyn +NYPD RMP MVA+

Brooklyn +NYPD RMP MVA+ A MVA involving a RMP on McDonald Ave and Avenue M, 66 Pct reporting some neck and back injuries to MOS, EMS and ESU requested.

Monsey - School Fined For Operating Illegally

Monsey - The owner of Congregation Beth Abraham, which owns the 65 College Road building, was fined $15,000 this week for operating an illegal school for boys, despite a state Supreme Court injunction that prohibited it.
He pleaded guilty before Ramapo Town Justice to three counts of the violation of operating without a site plan and without conditional-use approval from Ramapo's land-use boards.
The school has until Friday to vacate the site, and the town will conduct inspections.

Monsey - Developer Unveils New Wal-Mart plans

Airmont - The developers of a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter in Monsey presented preliminary plans to the Ramapo Planning Board.
National Realty & Development Corp. of Purchase is seeking to build a single, 35-foot-high building on the 22-acre site for use as a 215,000-square-foot Wal-Mart.
The Route 59 location in central Monsey is down the street from an existing Wal-Mart in Airmont, which at 99,000 square feet is less than half the size of the proposed Monsey store.
The Monsey store also would contain a full-service grocery store, which would compete with the nearby Pathmark; a 1,750-square-foot gas station; a tire and lubrication service area; and 992 parking spaces.
The proposed Wal-Mart would be built near a senior center complex and two apartment houses.
Village officials have opposed the store because they believe it would affect area businesses and worsen traffic along that portion of Route 59.

New York - Coach Sentenced For Spanking Players

New York - Basketball coach Drew Sanders, 49, from the Staten Island Jewish Community Center was sentenced to six years probation on charges he spanked players for missing shots.
Sanders, was barred from entering schools with students younger than 18 and must register as a Level 3 sex offender.
Sanders would order teen basketball players to pull down their pants and the coach would then beat the players with a wooden paddle when they missed shots, prosecutors said.

Bronx +Bronx River Parkway Closed+

Bronx +Bronx River Parkway Closed+ Fire Department on the scene on the Bronx River Parkway northbound, near Gun Hill Road with a 4 car MVA with minor injuries, but have the Parkway northbound shut down at this time, major delays in the area.

Pataki and Bloomberg at Odds Over Penalty for Officer's Killer

If Governor Pataki had his way, the man responsible for fatally shooting a police officer on Monday would be executed if convicted.
"In my view, when a police officer is killed in the line of duty by someone who murders them while committing a crime, the death penalty is an appropriate remedy, and I'm disappointed that it's on hold because of a decision of our highest court," Governor Pataki said.
But Mayor Bloomberg has a different view.
"I'd rather lock somebody up and throw away the key and put them in hard labor, the ultimate penalty that the law will allow, but I'm opposed to the death penalty," he said.
Last year, the New York Court of Appeals, ruled that a key clause in the statute was unconstitutional. To make the law enforceable, the state Legislature would need to amend the law.

New Square - Foreclosed House Vandalized Again

New Square - Vandals flooded the basement of 9 Eisenhower Avenue house bought at auction by a Manhattan company and might have tried to burn it down, Ramapo police said.
Police found that there was 5 to 6 feet of water in the basement when officers went to the house on a report of a pipe bursting.
Also did officers found burned matches near a basement gas valve, indicating that the vandals might have tried to set the house ablaze.
Investigators determined that the house was broken into through a rear door. No arrests have been made.
Sunday wasn't the first vandalism at the house, which was bought in February by Galaxy Asset Corp.
Three families and two businesses were evicted in June.

County Summit Report On Human Rights Overlooks Kiryas Yoel

Goshen - An eight-page conference summary just released by the county Human Rights Commission fails to mention that the Chasidic community of Kiryas Yoel and its neighbors have been fighting for almost two years over the village's potential expansion and its plans for a 13-mile water pipeline.   Not a word about the resulting accusations and denials of anti-Semitism or anti-Hasidic bigotry.
The county lawmaker who represents Kiryas Joel, unloaded last week when the report was presented to a legislative committee. "We have, obviously, major issues regarding the relationship" between Kiryas Yoel and neighboring towns, he said. "And I was surprised to see that no one was on the advisory committee from Kiryas Yoel, nor was any of the panelists." But a vice-chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission, replied: "We very intentionally, actually, did not include them on the panel for the fear that it would become the only issue discussed.
He also said that the County Executive office eventually invited Ari Felberman, Kiryas Joel's government relations coordinator, to serve on a panel, but that he declined because the summit was being held the day before a Kiryas Joel election.

Williamsburg - Reversal Of Landmark Status At 184 Kent Avenue Advances

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City Council committee voted yesterday to reverse a decision by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The Council acted to reverse the designation of landmark status for the Austin, Nichols & Company Warehouse, a 1915 building at 184 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The owner wants to change the facade.
A vote by the full Council is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today.

U/D: 12/01/05
Meeting Summary:
By a vote of 43 to 6, the New York City Council rejected the Landmark Preservation Commission's decision to protect a historic building located on the Williamsburg waterfront. It was only the fifth time in the last 15 years that the council has overruled the agency.

"This is a piece of trash. We should knock it down and put something nice up." Councilmember Simcha Felder said.

O & R Seeks Rate Hike

Orange and Rockland Utilities yesterday filed an application with the state Public Service Commission to raise its natural gas distribution rates by $23.7 million, or by 4.7 percent, or about $10 per month for the average residential customer.

Bronx +Major Deegan Traffic Alert+

Bronx +Major Deegan Traffic Alert+ PD on the scene of a MVA involving a auto carrier on the eastbound of the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Major Deegan Expressway, truck is blocking 2 lanes causing heavey traffic delays through out the area.

Manhattan +Diamond District Armed Robbery+

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Manhattan +Armed Robbery+ An armed robbery by 2 H/M wearing FED-EX uniforms and armed with guns in a commercial establishment in the jewelry district at 580 5th Ave and West 47th Street, perps tied up the emplyees and robbed the jewelry store on the 6th floor from a duffel bag containing $4M in diamonds, perps are possibly still in the building, MTN Pct PD are calling for a level one mobilization, ESU and K9 are responding forthwith.

U/D: 13:48
Building and area is in a total lockdown.

U/D: 14:13
ESU will retain a freeze on the entire building until they finish going through the building.

U/D: 14:16
MTN units have cleard the building and both perps are gone, Level one mobilization is cleared and all ESU units are picking up.

U/D: 14:22
PD has video of the perps leaving the building.

Manhattan +Burn Victim+

Manhattan +Burn Victim+ Burn victim from a stove fire in the synagogue at 236 West 23rd Street and 7th Ave, FD and Hatzolah are on the scene.

Manhattan +F.D.R. Traffic Advisory+

Manhattan +F.D.R. Traffic Advisory+ A 5 vehicle MVA with minor enjuries on the southbound of the F.D.R. Drive near 30th Street taken up several lanes, PD Highway units on the scene requesting tow to respond.

Manhattan +Pedestrian Struck+

Manhattan +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck on 6th Ave and 39th Street, aided is unconscious Hatzolah working on victim requesting backup on a rush.

Washington - U.S. Supreme Court Refuses Casino Case

Washington - The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a state court ruling that Indian casinos are legal in New York.
The top court's decision not to hear the case ends a four-year battle by anti-gambling groups challenging the 2001 state law, which authorized up to three Indian-owned casinos in the Catskills.

Flatbush +Motor Vehicle Accident+

Flatbush +Motor Vehicle Accident+ A MVA on Avenue U and East 2nd Street, Hatzolah on the scene requesting backup.

Brooklyn +Snake Found+

Brooklyn +Snake Found+ ESU has been requested late last night by officers of the 70th Pct to 68 St Paul Place to secure a large snake that was found in an apartment at the location.

Queens +Plane Stopped+

Queens +Plane Stopped+ At the JFK International Airport late last night, the PAPD has stopped a plane on the runway as per request from the F.B.I. unknown the reason.

Alleged Cop Killer Wanted For Other Shooting Of Officer

The thug in custody for yesterdays shooting of Officer Dillon Stewart has also been wanted and picked out of a lineup as the gunman who shot and wounded off-duty Officer Wiener Philippe, 26, from the 77PCT in an ambush robbery in Crown Heights on Nov. 19.

"He thought they knew he shot the cop, so he lost it. He thought he was already going down for shooting one cop. What's two more?" a police source said.

Kiryas Yoel +Car Into Woods+

Kiryas Yoel, Monroe +Car Into Woods+ Public Safety Officer on the scene of a car into the woods on Acres Road, and reporting no injuries at this time.

Brooklyn +Major Traffic Delays+

Brooklyn +Major Traffic Delays+ Traffic is at a standstill eastbound and westbound of the Belt Parkway near Rockaway Parkway, due to construction in the area.

Queens +4th Alarm Fire+

Queens +4th Alarm Fire+ A large 4th alarm fire at a six story 100X100 OMD at 41-65 Foley Street and Elmhurst Avenue, FD reports heavy fire on the 6th floor with heavy extension to the cockloft, all fire lines are being withdrawn at this time and setting up one tower ladder, fire remains D/W/H.

U/D: 20:23
PD of the 110th-Pct are now calling for a level one mobilization, for crowd control of a large crowd due to the 4 alarm fire.

U/D: 21:03
Fire now being placed under control.

Queens +E/B B.Q.E. Traffic Advisory+

Queens +E/B B.Q.E. Traffic Advisory+ A 2 car MVA on the eastbound of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and Northern Blvd, PD Highway Patrol Units are on the scene requesting tow to respond, expect delays in the area.

Man Tries to Bribe Officer after Accident

Police arrested a 27-year-old man for bribery after he offered his arresting officer $15,000 to release him.

Flores Gomez had been arrested for drunk driving after he drove his car into three parked vehicles in Washington Heights. He repeated his bribe offer to the arresting officer's supervisor at the 34th Precinct, Internal affairs then helped record Gomez repeating the offer, and then commissioned an acquaintance to deliver the money to the station.

Brooklyn Bridge +Jumper Up+

Brooklyn Bridge +Jumper Up+ A jumper is up on the Brooklyn Bridge ontop of the Manhattan tower at the flag, PD on the scene numerous Emergency Service Units, Harbor and Aviation are all enroute.

U/D: 14:29
PD reporting that it is a TMC worker lowering the flag to half staff, do to the NYPD officer that was shot today.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Block Judgment Against PLO Over Deaths Of Jewish Couple

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to disturb a $116 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority and the PLO in the deaths of a Jewish couple near the West Bank.

The PLO and the Palestinian Authority had been sued in federal court in Rhode Island over the 1996 drive-by shooting of Yaron Ungar, an American citizen, and his Israeli wife, Efrat, as the couple returned home from a wedding.

The family’s relatives argued that the PLO and Palestinian Authority provided a safe haven and operational base for Hamas. A judge issued a default judgment after the PLO did not respond.

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, the lawyer for the PLO, told justices in the appeal last month that Ungar relatives have "commenced sweeping national and international efforts" to collect the millions of dollars, including an attempt to seize Palestine’s UN Mission building in New York.

Rockland +Palisades Parkway Traffic Alert+

Rockland +Palisades Parkway Traffic Alert+ A serious MVA on the southbound of the Palisades Interstate Parkway near exit 11, multiple vehicles involved FD on the scene.

Flatbush +Pedestrian Struck+

Flatbush +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on Kings Highway corner Avenue N, with a pedestrian that was struck and down in the street, Hatzolah on the scene requesting an ambulance to respond.

Melbourne, FL - Hate Crime Shocks Synagogue Suspects Start Car Fire And Threaten Administrator With Gun

Melbourne, FL - Brevard County sheriff's investigators are searching for three men who waved a gun at a synagogue administrator as they drove near the synagogue entrance off Wickham Road.

The hate crime happened as the administrator walked to his car, smelled smoke coming from his trunk and called police for help.
It was the fourth incident in the last three months involving a house of worship in Brevard County.

The Brevard sheriff's bomb squad searched the car and used an explosives-sniffing dog to walk the grounds. The employee was shaken but not hurt.

Jewish Lawyer To Defend Michael Jackson's Anti-Semitism

Michael Jackson's jewish lawyer, Brian Oxman, says Michael Jackson is not an anti-semite and will defend the singer in an upcoming battle against the A.D.L.

Last week, it was reported some anti-semitic statements from Michael Jackson he made two years ago. That the reason he ended up penniless, i's a conspiracy that the Jews did on purpose.

The message was reportedly left for one of Mr. Jackson's former advisers, Dieter Wiesner, who filed suit against Jackson on Monday for fraud and breach of contract.

Flatbush +Police Officer Shot+ Level 3 Mobilization

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East Flatbush, Brooklyn +Police Officer Shot+ Units from the 70th Pct in an unmarked car attempted to do a car stop in regards to a stolen vehicle that past a red light, when perp started shooting at one of the two police officers and fled into 100 East 21st Street between Caton and Church Ave, perimeter being set up now and PD is calling for a level 3 mobilization, requesting one sector from each command with multiple ESU, K9, Aviation and other units to assist in the search for the pere. MOS 35/Y/O was shot to the chest and is in likely condition (respatory arrest) at K.C.H. Chief Of Dept has been notified, and all high ranking NYPD are enroute to the hospital.

U/D: 09:37
Officer Dillon Steward Shot In Brooklyn early this morning, has expired.
Perp is still at large.

U/D: 11:09
One perp male black in custody at 550 Ocean Ave.

Baghdad - Two congressmen injured in Iraq

Baghdad - A military vehicle carrying U.S. politicians overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport Saturday, injuring two congressmen.
Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania, was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, was sent to a Baghdad hospital, said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall. Marshall, a Georgia Democrat, was in the vehicle but was not hurt.

Spring Valley - Rockland Legislator Wants To Combat Hate And Bias

Legislator David Fried, D-Spring Valley, is proposing an award called "Symbol of Harmony" to bestow on any association or group that brings "all residents together in the spirit of harmony, Fried said. "We shouldn't focus on the bad. We should focus on the good."
A public hearing will be held Feb. 7 on a local law to establish the award.
If the award is approved, the Legislature would establish a committee to choose a winner each year.
Criteria for winning the award include reducing discrimination, or enforcement of hate-crime laws; efforts to educate municipal employees or residents about fair housing; and other anti-discrimination efforts and community events that promote pride and inclusiveness.
Winners' names would be put on five highway signs with the award's year and title.

Queens - Man Is Pushed Onto Oncoming Train

Police say two men got into an argument on the northbound platform of the 52nd Street Station in Woodside Queens this morning and one of the men apparently pushed the other onto the tracks, then ran off.
The man on the tracks was hit by a Number 7 train and died when he was pinned underneath.
Police are searching for the suspect.
Service on the 7 train was suspended following the incident, but returned, with some delays, after several hours.

Israeli Settlers Destroy Hundreds Of Palestinian Olive Trees

West Bank, - Jewish settlers cut down and uprooted hundreds of the town's olive trees on Palestinian farms near the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, the trees are the main source of income for 5,000 residents, and some of them were more than 30 years old.
Police said that at least 200 olive trees had been destroyed near Salem and that an investigation had begun.

ISRAEL - Yeshiva Teen Student Stabbed In East Jerusalem On Friday Night.

An Israeli medical source reported, that a Jewish ultra-Orthodox 16-year-old teen was stabbed Fiday night in east Jerusalem apparently by two Arab residents, the source stated that the teen suffered light wounds.
Policemen conducted wide searches in the area in an attempt to find the two residents who apparently did it.
The stabbing incident took place after a fight erupted between three Yeshiva students, and several residents in east Jerusalem.

New York - New Law Will Ban Flyers On Cars

New York - Starting tomorrow, a law signed by the governor prohibits putting ads anywhere on a vehicle.
The law holds "any person or group whose name, telephone numbers or other identifying information" on the handbill liable. The fine will be $75 for each handbill.
Sanitation Commissioner said the stiffer rules wil go a long way toward cutting littering by irate motorists who toss the ads onto the street.

Orange County +Large Power Outage+

Orange County +Large Power Outage+ A large power outage on the eastern side of Orange County, effecting treffic on Route 94, Route 9W and Route 32 because of multiple traffic lights that are out in New Windsor, Cornwall, Vails Gate.

Brooklyn +Power Outage+

Brooklyn +Power Outage+ Con-Ed reporting power outage in the area of East 38th Street and Avenue P effecting hundreds of customers, Fire Department on the scene.

U/D: 09:44
All power has been restored.

Brooklyn - Rabbi vs. Rabbi

Brooklyn - A politically connected rabbi who runs a Brooklyn girls school is being accused and a lawsuit filed, by another rabbi of stiffing him of $13,500 consulting fee.
In the lawsuit he is being accused of writing three bounced checks.
They first ended up in religious court, and the court gave some payment plan, but that was ignored, claiming "he didn't remeber what happened, It was many years ago."
He said he remembers a dispute over the fee but was surprised by the lawsuit, "I'm friends with him, and have known him for many years... He did do some work for the school."