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.

MTA Considers Cashless Tolls

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — The MTA is reportedly moving ahead with one of the technologies that was originally proposed as part of the mayor’s congestion pricing plan.

According to the New York Post, the agency is looking into putting cashless tolls on its bridges and tunnels.

City Council Seeks Grace Period for Parking Violations

NEW YORK, NY — Several City Council members announced on Sunday that a bill had been introduced that would create a five-minute grace period before drivers are issued summonses for parking violations like expired meters and alternate-side parking rules.

The bill addresses a longstanding pet peeve among many city lawmakers, whose constituents often complain of feeling victimized by unforgiving traffic agents.

Shabbos Storm To Dump Heavy Snow On Tri-State

NEW YORK, NY [CBS] — A low pressure front is moving into the area from across the Plains on Friday that is expected to impact New York City and the surrounding Tri-state area on Saturday. The strong system will move closer to our area overnight, and precipitation will gradually work its way in through the late morning and early afternoon hours.

Video – DEP Warns Homeowners Of Imposters

NEW YORK, NY [NY1] — The Department of Environmental Protection is warning homeowners about people posing as city employees to make money.
The imposters pretend to be workers or contractors of the DEP.

Officials say the fakes usually travel in pairs and claim they need to check the pipes or collect money for overdue water bills.

NYPD Eases up on Petty Crimes, Focuses on Major Offenses

NEW YORK, NY — Some petty crime is apparently too petty for the NYPD.

The department is breaking from its highly successful model of attacking all minor crime to focus more on major offenses and counterterrorism, The Post has learned.

Gem Bandits Dress as Chasidim in Disguise

NEW YORK, NY — In a heist straight out of Guy Ritchie’s film “Snatch,” a pair of armed robbers disguised themselves as Hasidic Jews to steal $4 million worth of jewels from a Diamond District wholesaler in broad daylight, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

Dressed in Orthodox garb of black coats and hats – and phony beards – the robbers showed fake IDs to a lobby security guard on New Year’s Eve and took the elevator to the fifth floor of 2 W. 46th St., all while under video surveillance.