Free Republic

Times Square Is Evacuated in Bomb Scare The scene at Times Square on Saturday night after police found a suspicious package inside a Pathfinder on West 45th Street. RAY RIVERA and KARIN HENRY May 1, 2010 A bomb in Times Square led to the evacuation of thousands of tourists and theatergoers from the area on a warm and busy Saturday evening, the police said. There was no explosion. “It appears to be a car bomb left in a Pathfinder between Seventh and Eighth,” said Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman. The device, he said, contained “explosive...

The top government official in Nassau County says he’s willing to look into the feasibility of Long Island seceding from New York to become an independent state. In a letter last week, County Executive Edward Mangano joined several local officials who support measures in the state Legislature to probe the possibility. The concept is one that has been discussed — and often laughed at — for many years. The other top elected official on Long Island, Suffolk County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Steve Levy, says the statehood idea has no future. It would have to be approved by Congress and...

Note: The following text is a quote: Seventeen Members and Associates of the MS-13 Street Gang Arraigned in Federal Court on Racketeering, Witness Tampering, and Firearms Charges Earlier today, 12 alleged members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha, or the “MS-13” street gang, were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge E. Thomas Boyle, at the United States Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, on federal criminal charges, including murder, assault with dangerous weapons, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, witness tampering, firearms offenses, and conspiracy. Five additional defendants named in the indictment were arraigned earlier this week, also before United...

A feisty 91-year-old Long Island pharmacy cashier fought with a robber -- then insisted on finishing her work shift. "I want him to get caught because I want to smack him," said Florence Critelli after completing her day's work at the Rite Aid Pharmacy in East Northport. Critelli was behind the register just before 11 a.m. when a man gave her a dollar for a candy bar. When she opened the register to get his change, the thief reached over and helped himself to a handful of cash. Critelli leaped into action.

Americana Manhasset, the luxurious Long Island high-end shopping mall, frequented by everyone from the Hamptons to Manhattan, features glamorous British model Lily Donaldson showcasing their S/S 2010 collection of premium designer clothing. There’s Lily in Escada, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Dior, Tiffany, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, and much more. All wonderfully summery, breezy, appealing, chic… time to hit the mall.

Dean Murray, a 45-year-old Long Island, N.Y., businessman who organized Tea Party protests, will be sworn in as the new Republican state assemblyman representing Long Island's eastern 3rd Assembly District after being certified the winner of a special election held last Tuesday. The Tea Party followers can boast about their first elected official. Dean Murray, a 45-year-old Long Island, N.Y., businessman who organized Tea Party protests, will be sworn in as the new Republican state assemblyman representing Long Island's eastern 3rd Assembly District on Monday, after being certified the winner of a special election held last Tuesday. Murray defeated his...

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) - Republican Michael Montesano has won a special election for a vacant assembly seat on Long Island. Montesano led with 72 percent to 28 percent for Democrat Matthew T. Meng in nearly complete but unofficial results Tuesday night...

Home owner Charles Garnar, of Bethpage, speaks to CBS 2 HD after receiving an unwanted oil delivery on Wednesday morning. Garnar's basement was flooded by the oil. Why? Because his home is heated by natural gas. BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBS) -- Nassau County is warning homeowners to protect themselves from messy oil deliveries. It seems many people don't even know about a law requiring them to cap or remove abandoned oil pipes. It happened at least twice in the past two weeks in Nassau: oil coating basements with foul-smelling fuel, forcing families out of their homes in Freeport and Bethpage....

Home Owner Charles Garnar Wakes Up To Oil Spill In His Basement, The Thing Is, His Home Is Heated By Natural Gas BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBS) -- A Long Island homeowner woke up Wednesday to a shocking discovery in his basement. Charles Garnar of Bethpage awoke to the sound of an idling truck, the whoosh of pumping, and an immediate overpowering odor of oil. The only problem is: his home is heated by gas! "The gas meter is right on the side of the house, so yeah, obviously whoever it was just completely blew by it, and didn't realize it, and...

BULLETIN -- NEW YORK POLICE AND FBI RAID HOMES IN QUEENS IN TERRORISM INVESTIGATION.6 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters

SNIPPET: "TERROR mastermind Rashid Rauf has been linked to a fresh Al Qaida plot to launch attacks on the US. The Birmingham-born extremist has been named by witnesses due to testify against Najibullah Zazi, who was arrested for plotting suicide bombings in New York. MI6 officers have linked the plot to a complex terror network said to be directed from Pakistan by Rauf and fellow jihadists. Zazi, 24, was identified through an intercepted communication, and was further implicated by US national Bryant Neal Vinas, who was captured in Pakistan last November. Vinas, 26, allegedly admits meeting Rauf and receiving training...

After the first day of recounting votes from Election Day, Nassau County Executive GOP candidate Ed Mangano leads incumbent Tom Suozzi by 24 votes. The number is small but could paint a troubling scenario for Suozzi, who is seeking a third term in office. According to sources the votes counted were from the 14th Legislative District, where Democratic Legislator Dave Mejias is also hoping the recount puts him on top of his challenger Republican Joe Belesi, Long Beach and most of Suozzi’s hometown of Glen Cove. More than 1,000 voting machines were taken to the Nassau County Board of Elections...

Bernard Madoff once slept there. Soon, someone else will. The imprisoned swindler's Montauk, New York, home, located on a beach with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, has been sold for more than the $8.75 million asking price, a spokeswoman for broker Corcoran Group said on Thursday. The name of the buyer and the purchase price were not immediately disclosed. Several buyers submitted bids for the four-bedroom, three-bath, 3,000-square-foot home, which was on the market for two weeks. Sale proceeds will go toward reimbursing victims of Madoff's estimated $65 billion Ponzi scheme. The government is also selling two other U.S....

EAST MORICHES, N.Y. (CBS) ― An allegedly drunk driver brought down part of a house in Suffolk County when he crashed through the home's second floor. Police say the allegedly drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit a berm, causing the SUV to be catapulted action-movie style. From the second floor, the vehicle dropped down to the first floor vertically, with it's headlights pointing toward the sky. Homeowner John Sarli says he's lucky to be alive. He was the only person at the home, sleeping on a couch in the den when he heard the crash and the sound...

NEW YORK — Police say attackers used health care reform as a ruse to approach their victims and then shot two and pistol-whipped another in a Long Island home. Suffolk County police said Saturday that a 26-year-old woman was arrested on attempted murder and burglary charges in the attack Friday in Huntington. Two men were arrested on the same charges earlier. Information on the suspects' arraignments wasn't immediately available Saturday night. Police say the three told the home's residents they were selling insurance, referring to President Barack Obama's push to overhaul America's health care system. Police say the suspects then...

NY Congressman Tim Bishop tried to pack his town hall with unions on the ‘take’ for nationalized healthcare. The people of his district erupt in open rebellion when one of the union goons tries to speak! Union members, many from outside the district, were snuck into the hall beforehand in an effort to stack the deck with a friendly audience. The last straw came when one of the union leaders from outside the district was asked to speak. The citizens erupted in open revolt which almost led to violence from the union goons.

A local union leader was booed out of Rep. Tim Bishop's town hall meeting last night in New York.Like they tried to do here in St. Louis, union members, many from outside the district, were snuck into the hall in an effort to stack the deck with a friendly audience. There are reports that as many as three busloads were brought in.Things boiled over when Mr. Mitchell, head of the Long Island Federation of Labor, steps up to the podium and announces that he in fact does not reside within the borders of NY's First Congressional District.

More than 900 residents met U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop's promise to approve only a health care bill that "improves on a status quo that is unacceptable" with a mix of cheers and boos at a packed town hall meeting in Farmingville Thursday night.

Via Gateway Pundit, although I’m certain there’s an alternative explanation. Maybe the leader of the Long Island Federation of Labor couldn’t make it to the town-hall forum in his own district, or perhaps his Representative was busy hiding, like many House Democrats this August. His attempt to pander to the actual constituents of Rep. Tim Bishop results in catcalls and a full minute of disruption. Jim also reports that the Magical Mystery Bus Tour continued for this meeting, with unions sending three busloads of people to the event. Even so, the angry constituents shout them down fairly effectively … or...

Topics go well beyond healthcare - 2d Amendment, tax policy, bailouts, and cap and trade. Makes one proud. Best example of democracy since the Revolution.