Fifth Grader Making Case Against Homework

CORAM, NY [CBS] — Even though he’s just a fifth grader, 11-year-old Ben Berrafato is challenging – seriously challenging – one of this country’s most enduring and widely held beliefs: The belief that kids need homework.

Experts Warn NYC In For Big Quake

NEW YORK, NY — The Big Apple is due for the Big One.

The trio of earthquakes that surprised New Jersey over the past month has seismologists wondering what’s next – and they say it doesn’t look good.

Food Fight: Brooklyn Co-op Mulls Israel Ban

Located in the heart of Brooklyn, near Prospect Park, the Park Slope Food Coop is at the nexus of the borough’s many diverse Jewish populations. From the liberal Jews of Park Slope to the Hasidic Jews of Crown Heights, the coop is one of the few places in Brooklyn where Jews of all denominations converge in a shared mission: to buy natural foods at reasonable prices.

But the co-op’s unusual Jewish character is being tested by a proposal to ban products bought from Israel, such as the persimmons and red peppers that are currently in the produce aisle.

City Plans First Public Toilet for Grand Army Plaza

BROOKLYN, NY — The city is moving towards placing Brooklyn’s first official public toilet in Grand Army Plaza — finally bringing some relief to the heart (and other organs) of the borough.

NY Post Cartoon Seems to Link Obama to Dead Chimp

NEW YORK, NY [AP] — The New York Post is standing behind a cartoon that some have interpreted as comparing President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police.

New York Only to Get Hotter, Rainier and More Flood-Prone

NEW YORK, NY — New York will be hotter, rainier and more likely to flood in the coming decades – with sea levels possibly rising more than four feet, a panel of scientists said Tuesday – “All of the evidence from the science community is that the seas are going to rise,” said Mayor Bloomberg as he unveiled the panel’s report.

NYPD Learns Lessons from Mumbai Terrorist Attack

NEW YORK, NY — Cops with helmets, heavy vests and assault rifles approached the building where hostages were being held. One barked orders as cops bounded across the street with military precision to cover each other at cross-angles.

Man Struck in Queens and Dragged 17 Miles to Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY — Police are questioning a driver in Brighton Beach after it was discovered he had struck a pedestrian — 17 miles away, near Shea Stadium — and unknowingly dragged him into Brooklyn.

60 Minutes on Flight 1549

When US Airways flight 1549 crash-landed into New York’s Hudson River, what seemed destined to be a tragedy became an extraordinary tale of success and survival. By the time all 155 people were pulled from the icy waters by a flotilla of rescue boats, a story began to emerge of a highly trained pro with a cool demeanor who had deftly guided his doomed aircraft to safety.

In an instant, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger found himself at the heart of an uplifting news story people all over the world wanted to celebrate. Now for the first time, he gives his account of the harrowing five minutes in the sky over New York City.

Tapes Released in Hudson Plane Landing

NEW YORK, NY [AP] — The pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, which ditched into New York’s Hudson River, calmly radioed to air traffic controllers, “We’re going to be in the Hudson.”

Video – MTA’s Lost And Found Unit Goes Online

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — New York City Transit announced last night that it has put its lost and found department on the web.

Riders who have left something behind on a subway or bus can go to MTA.info and then go to “Travel” under the NYC Transit tab. The site features drop-down menus, with options to describe the item, when it was lost, and on which subway or bus line.

TO SWERVE & PROTECT – NYPD ‘CRASH’ COURSE AFTER ACCIDENT SURGE

NEW YORK, NY — It’s back to driving school for the NYPD, which has just laid out $225,000 for its first squad-car simulator in an effort to reduce the rising rate of cop-car crashes.

The Post first reported in August that patrol-car accidents among its 8,839-car fleet have surged by 11 percent over the past three years.

NYC Council Inquiry Into NYPD Complaint Cases

NEW YORK, NY — City Council Speaker Christine Quinn convened an oversight hearing about police misconduct cases.

Lawmakers want to explore why the NYPD does not prosecute dozens of cases documented by the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

City Cracks Down On Idling Cars Outside Schools

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — The council passed a bill Wednesday making it illegal to idle outside schools for more than 60 seconds.

Elsewhere, trucks and cars are allowed to idle for up to three minutes.

Video – USPS May Cut Out Full Day Of Mail Delivery

WASHINGTON DC [NY1] — U.S. Postmaster General John Potter says the post office’s financial situation could force the agency to cut a full day out of mail delivery each week. NY1’s Anthony Pascale filed the following report.

CON ED PRICE SHOCK – TOP ‘CHARGER’ IN US

NEW YORK, NY — Con Ed charges its 2.4 million residential customers the highest prices of any major utility company in the 48 contiguous states, new federal data show.

On average, Con Ed charged 21.58 cents for a kilowatt-hour of electricity in 2007 – more than twice the national average of 9.13 cents.

City Considering Shared-Ride System For Cabs

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — City officials are said to be considering a plan that would open up yellow cabs to a shared-rides system.

Cab drivers would be permitted to pick up more than one fare at a time.