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<p>The magnitude 3.9 quake was detected about 80 miles south-southeast of Southampton just before 10:45 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 122 miles from New York City. The quake was first reported by the Lamont-Doherty Cooperative Seismographic Network ( LCSN ) at Columbia University.</p>

JERICHO, N.Y. — Fifteen eighth graders at Jericho Middle School were considering a fictional case of stereotyping by hair color the other day, or how a boy came to be prejudiced against people with green hair, or “greenies.” From there, they extrapolated to the stereotypes in their own lives: dumb football players, Asian math whizzes, boring bankers. “We can feel stronger going back to our hallways,” the teacher, Elisa Weidenbaum Waters, said, “going back to our homes, going back to our society, and saying: ‘You know what? What you said is a stereotype, and that’s not cool.’ ” This year,...

A law enforcement scandal is unfolding on Long Island. A Suffolk County District Attorney investigator and a police officer are now charged with tipping off members of organized crime about police investigations.

A New York man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he unwittingly funded a Connecticut man's attempt to bomb Times Square on May 1 by providing unlicensed banking services, an arrest that continues an effort by federal authorities to reduce the illegal flow of money that can finance terrorism. Mohammad Younis, 44, was accused in an indictment in U.S. District Court in Manhattan of engaging in hawala activities, an informal banking system which relies on wire transfers, couriers and overnight mail. He was arrested at his Long Island home and brought to the courthouse, where he was expected to make...

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBS 2) — He was arrested for protecting his property and family. But it’s how the Long Island man did it that police say crossed the line. He got an AK-47 assault rifle, pulled the trigger and he ended up in jail, reports CBS 2’s Pablo Guzman. George Grier said he had to use his rifle on Sunday night to stop what he thought was going to be an invasion of his Uniondale home by a gang he thought might have been the vicious “MS-13.” He said the whole deal happened as he was about to drive his...

A homeowner who grabbed a rifle from his house and fired warning shots in a confrontation with a group of men on his lawn faces criminal charges, but his family said he was defending his home from a threatening mass of strangers. George Grier, 30, fired rounds into the ground and air from an assault-style rifle after arguing with a large group of men gathered outside his Long Island home Sunday evening, Nassau County police said Monday. No one was hurt. His sister, Caprice Rines, said Grier feared for the safety of his wife and two small children when about...

Saturday, July 17th Time: 10 am to 1 pm Location: Deer Park - Knights of Columbus Chief Ray Downey Field. 759 Long Island Avenue DIRECTIONS to the EVENT Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will be here rallying support for John Gomez in his bid to take back New York's 2nd Congressional District. The grass roots event will be FREE to the public and all are welcome. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors to come down and support John Gomez.

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....