Home sweet home for Ilan Grael
Ilan Grapel, the Queens law student freed after five months in an Egyptian prison, made an emotional return to US soil Saturday. Grapel , a law student at Emory University, was in Egypt to volunteer with a legal- aid group. In June, he arrested and accused of spying for Israel after posting photos of himself in Israeli military garb on his Facebook page. Read More: New York Post
Ticket-Fix Cases May Spread
The Queens District Attorney on Sunday said he expected to hear this week from his Bronx counterpart if there are any ticket-fixing cases in his borough to prosecute. Richard A. Brown said his office has been in contact with Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for “months,” regarding an investigation that resulted in the arrests of 16 officers on Friday, 11 on charges related to the common practice of making traffic tickets and other summonses disappear for family, friends and others. Read More: Wall Street Journal
Cleanup Continues In Wake Of Pre-Halloween Snowstorm
Record-breaking snowfall left 15,000 New Yorkers without power and downed trees strewn across the five boroughs Sunday, prompting major cleanup efforts from city workers and residents alike. City parks reopened Sunday afternoon after closing during the storm, but New Yorkers are urged to use caution because branches may still fall due to the extra weight from snow. Read More: NY1
iPhone Slaying
A Queens teen was stabbed to death Saturday by a gang of thugs who wanted to steal his iPhone, police said. A group of four to six teens approached Patrick Dixon, 17, and demanded that he hand over his iPhone at around 11 a.m. on 142nd Street near Foch Boulevard in Jamaica, cops said. Dixon refused and fought back, and one of the teens slashed him in the neck. Read More: New York Post
Two off-duty NYPD officers in separate DWI arrests
Officer Ariel Rosa, 26, was busted on a DWI after he crashed into a parked car about 4:30 a.m. on Moffat St. between Knickerbocker and Wilson Aves. in Bushwick. He was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital determined to be drunk after a blood test at a local hospital where he was treated for a minor injury, police said. Another cop, Michael Botros, 29, was found asleep at 7:40 a.m. Friday inside his white Nissan with the keys still in the ignition in South Ozone Park, Queens. Police said he refused to take a Breathalyzer test and was arrested. Read More: Daily News
Ex-Councilman Allan Jennings sues Queens Chronicle, saying alleged ‘Asian-women’ mistruth cost him votes
Former city Councilman Allan Jennings is suing a weekly newspaper in Queens for defamation, saying it helped turn voters against him during last year’s Council race. Jennings said the Queens Chronicle erred in stating he had once put an advertisement in a Chinese-language newspaper “declaring his love for all Asian women.” He said the statement was made in an Oct. 28, 2010, article about his bid for his former 28th District seat. Ruben Wills won that special election. Read More: Daily News
Councilman lashes out with curse-filled rant at Queens auto business
A hot-headed City Councilman let loose a curse-filled tirade at a local car dealer last week that left stunned employees demanding an apology. Rothman received the brunt of two recent rants from Councilman Daniel Halloran, who says he’s fed up with noise from the repair shop that disturbs nearby residents. A video of Halloran’s visit to the shop last week shows the Queens Republican angrily threatening the shop with recriminations if it doesn’t keep its doors closed to control the noise. Read More: Daily News
Resorts World Opens
South Ozone Park’s Aqueduct Racino, reborn as Resorts World Casino New York City, officially opened its doors to an eager throng of thousands of gamers on Friday, October 28. Casino representatives and elected officials were on hand at the former Aqueduct Racino for the ribbon cutting, and to welcome those who came to play on opening day – a line which wrapped around the building, leaving visitors with at least a two hour wait. Read More: Queens Courier
