B’klyn Gas Stop a Kosher Delight

BOROUGH PARK, Brooklyn — It’s a fill-up with a schmear.

A gas station in one of Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish communities is offering up more than just candy and soda — it’s also peddling hearty stews, bagels with lox, challah and homemade gefilte fish for commuters hankering for an old-country nosh.

“People fill up on gas and fill up on food at the same time,” said Sam Kay, 50, as he munched on goodies at Rio gas station in Borough Park. “It’s good, Jewish and tasty.”

Don’t Linger in Statue of Liberty’s Crown

NEW YORK — Welcome to the Statue of Liberty, and enjoy the view – quick.

A new safety report obtained by the Daily News recommends once Lady Liberty’s crown reopens on July 4 that only up to eight people enter at a time and that they shuffle out after spending no more than five minutes admiring the vista.

Sen. Schumer Asks For Probe Into Cell-Phone Scam

NEW YORK [CBS] — Sen. Charles Schumer is asking for an investigation into the scam phone calls pitching bogus car warranties that many Americans receive several times a day.

He says the scam artists are using random call generators allowing them to call people who are on the “do not call” list.

War Against Black Market of Cigarettes Burned Out

NEW YORK — Despite its having been touted as a way to close budget gaps, city and state officials have backed off plans to crack down on the $1.6 billion black market for cigarettes.

The sole city unit targeting illegal tobacco full time has been reassigned, and a new law aimed at Indian reservations — the prime source of the butts — hasn’t been enforced.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

NEW YORK — A city doctor who tried to help uninsured patients by charging them a low monthly fee might get some help from Albany.

State Sen. Andrew Lanza introduced a bill allowing physicians like Dr. John Muney to charge patients a flat fee.

City Unveils Faster 911 System

NEW YORK — The city debuted its new 911 dispatching system this week with hopes that a new streamlined system will reduce response times to emergencies, officials said Tuesday.

The new system – which went into effect Monday at 5 a.m. – will funnel all calls to NYPD operators so a caller to 911 would only have to describe an emergency once before help is dispatched, officials said.

Raccoon Ringworm Disease Hits Brooklyn Teen and Baby

BROOKLYN, NY — A rare, deadly disease that has left an infant brain damaged and a teenager blind in one eye, has been detected in Brooklyn, the Daily News has learned.

The city’s Department of Health is on alert for Raccoon Ringworm, a disease contracted through contact with raccoon feces. It can cause permanent nerve damage and death.

NY Governor Wants Immediate Vote On MTA Bailout

ALBANY, NY [NY1] — Governor David Paterson wants the state Legislature to vote Monday on his plan to bail out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The plan still calls for a payroll tax to raise more than a billion dollars for the agency and stave off huge fare hikes and deep service cuts.

Report: Few NYC Drunken Drivers Do Jail Time

NEW YORK [CBS] — The numbers could be enough to drive someone to drink.

New York City police made nearly 10,000 drunken-driving arrests last year, but of the more than 6,000 cases that have gone through the courts so far, only 187 offenders have landed behind bars. That’s according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Paranoia: City ERs Flooded With Swine Flu Fears

NEW YORK [CBS] — New Yorkers were able to breathe a breath of fresh air Friday when Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there were no new confirmed cases of the swine flu, or what officials calling the H1N1 virus. Yet plenty of people are still afraid the virus is spreading, causing a paranoia that’s clogging up the system at local hospitals.

NYPD Hands Out Cards People Stopped and Frisked

NEW YORK — The NYPD didn’t answer lawmakers’ questions about its controversial stop-and-frisk policy Thursday, but people who get patted down are getting clarification – on a card.

The department has begun handing out informational cards to people police stop and frisk, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Thursday. The cards, in seven languages, list general reasons why police might deem the encounters necessary.

‘BAD COP’ Suit$ Cost the City a Half-Billion

NEW YORK, NY — The city has coughed up $540 million in payouts related to improper police actions since 1998 — and taxpayer cost for such cases hit a record high last year.

In 1998, the city paid lawsuit settlements or judgments to 571 claimants who accused the NYPD of bad behavior. That figure more than doubled to 1,265 in 2008, according to Law Department data.

Stats Say Crime Low Despite Economic Downturn

NEW YORK [CBS] — The economy may be dismal, but the recession doesn’t seem to be driving New Yorkers to commit crime.

The New York Police Department says the crime rate for the first three months of the year is the lowest since comparable record keeping began in the 1960s.

Swine Flu Confirmed in Queens Students

QUEENS [WABC] — New York City was dealing with a growing public health threat Sunday after tests confirmed that eight students at a private Catholic high school had contracted swine flu. Some of the school’s students had visited Mexico on a spring break trip two weeks ago.

Traffic Agent Lying to Justify Tickets?

NEW YORK — A Brooklyn animal rights activist arrested after complaining about parking tickets being given to volunteers at an animal adoption fair is suing the city.

Laurie Bleier claims the NYPD traffic enforcement agent who arrested her falsely accused her of punching him. Bleier says their run-in came after she complained the summonses being given to people dropping off homeless pets were hurting the non-profit Brooklyn Animal Foster Network.

8 Likely with Swine Flu in NYC

NEW YORK [AP] — At least eight students at a New York City high school probably have swine flu, but health officials say they don’t know whether they have the same strain of the virus that has killed people in Mexico.

New York Gov. David Paterson has directed the state Department of Health to monitor and respond to the cases.