March 17, 2011
Head of security company gets wrist slap for $1 million tax ripoff
The head of a security guard company that serviced city housing projects pleaded guilty in Manhattan today to stealing $1.2 million in sales taxes, and received a sentence that will...
PSAL Class A boys basketball semifinals preview
PSAL boys basketball beat writer Zach Braziller breaks down Wednesday’s Class A semifinals at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. For real time updates via Twitter, click here. SCHEDULE 5 p.m....
UN Security Council authorizes military strikes on Libya
Moving swiftly in response to a request by Arab nations, the U.N. Security Council paved the way for international air strikes against Moammar Khadafy’s forces, voting to authorize military action...
Haiti's Aristide heads home, despite US pressure
JOHANNESBURG -- Haiti's ex-president Jean Bertrand Aristide ended his seven-year exile Thursday, despite a warning from US President Barack Obama on his "destabilizing" return ahead of a key election. Aristide...
NJ gets Special Olympics in '14
New Jersey will host the US Special Olympics in 2014. The game’s opening ceremonies will be held at The Prudential Center, while most of the competition will take place at...
Knight's shot lifts Kentucky over Princeton, 59-57
TAMPA, Fla. — Brandon Knight missed his first seven shots and even found himself on the bench in the final minute against Princeton. His confidence could have been shaken. His...
Red Bull opener on MSG, RBNY notes
The Red Bulls’ season-opener Saturday against Seattle will air locally on MSG. The pregame show kicks off at 7 p.m., in HD no less. They’ve sold over 20,000 tickets but...
Sweet smell of dismissal in air for Phil Spector's lawyer in hubby-bottle-smash case
The husband has officially decided not to make a stink. Beautiful, hot-shot lawyer Jennifer Barringer -- who once repped Phil Spector -- may be off the hook by June on...
Judge blocks $1.4M Ground Zero settlement with Tishman Construction
A judge today refused to sign off on a $1.4 million settlement between the Tishman Construction Co. and nearly 750 sickened Ground Zero workers, saying he couldn't vouch for "each...
Mets' Beltran limited in batting practice
Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran participated in baseball activities for a second straight day Thursday, but his batting practice again was limited to the right side because of tendinitis in...
Jets’ Cromartie thinks prospects should go to NFL Draft
Antonio Cromartie thinks all the prospects should show up at the NFL Draft at Radio City, and the Jets cornerback may join them. “I hope all the top guys go...
Obama: US regulators to review reactor safety
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Thursday he had asked nuclear regulators for a comprehensive review of the safety of U.S. plants in light of the disaster in Japan, saying...
Nonagenarian avenged in thefts by 76-year-old 'pal'
A 76-year-old Manhattan man will spend his weekends in jail for the next year -- his sentence for stealing $330,000 from his 98-year-old buddy. The shocking geezer-on-geezer predation happened last...
Louisville stunned by Morehead State on last-second 3
DENVER — Demonte Harper of 13th-seeded Morehead State dribbled patiently, watching the clock tick down — 10, 9, 8, 7 — then stepped up behind the 3-point line, swished the...
Tiger Woods vs. Gary Williams on Morning Drive
This is the New York Post, so I'm pretty much obliged to mention that Tiger Woods has had a bad couple years. Scandals. Divorce. General unpleasantness. But the man's still...
Casino bus driver gave 'false statements' when applying for driver's license
ALBANY — The driver involved in the horrific bus crash that killed 15 people in the Bronx on Saturday gave "false statements" when he applied for a driver's license, officials...
Senate passes stopgap spending bill, temporarily averts government shutdown
WASHINGTON -- The US Senate passed a three-week extension of a stopgap federal spending bill containing $6 billion in cuts Thursday, temporarily averting a federal government shutdown despite widespread disagreement...
House votes to ban government funding for NPR
WASHINGTON -- The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted Thursday to prohibit federal money from funding National Public Radio (NPR). The bill, which passed in a 228-192 vote along party lines,...
Wood Memorial purse bumped to $1M
Genting's Resorts World New York Casino at Aqueduct isn't scheduled to open until late summer, but already it is paying dividends for the New York Racing Association. Today, NYRA announced...
Butler beats Old Dominion at buzzer (video)
WASHINGTON — Sometimes, a game-winning play is craftily designed and enacted with precision by each of the five players on the floor. And sometimes, the decisive basket is the result...
Houston woman, one-year-old daughter found drunk on Four Loko, cops say
HOUSTON -- A Houston woman was facing felony child endangerment charges Thursday after police allegedly found her and her one-year-old baby both drunk on the infamous alcoholic energy drink Four...
West Virginia rallies past Clemson, into third round
TAMPA, Fla. — Clemson’s determination to overcome fatigue was no match for West Virginia’s fresh legs. Playing its second game in just over 36 hours, the 12th-seeded Tigers built an...
Giants’ Manning, Jets’ Ferguson could lose workout bonuses: report
Jets offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson stands to lose the biggest offseason workout bonus among NFL players if the lockout drags on, according to an ESPN.com report. Ferguson, who re-signed with...
Families of 'Fukushima 50' grow increasingly worried about health of engineers
As the "Fukushima 50" continue to work on Japan's crippled nuclear reactors to try prevent a catastrophe, families of the engineers who volunteered to stay behind are concerned for the...
SI man busted for selling drugs out of ice cream truck
He was the good humor man, alright. A Staten Island man allegedly sold huge quantities of potent and dangerous prescription Oxycodone out of his ice cream truck -- and parked...
Irving will return for Duke's NCAA tournament opener
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyrie Irving zipped down the floor toward an empty frontcourt and fired a pass to a teammate for an easy basket. Even during a simple drill with...
Yankees to try Gardner at leadoff
Derek Jeter may be losing his spot atop the Yankees’ lineup. Yankees manager Joe Girardi is tweaking his lineup over the final two weeks of exhibition games, and one of...
Nets' Williams vs. Bulls' Rose is battle of top point guards
Nets point guard Deron Williams was talking this morning about how the “flavor of the day” among NBA observers always is changing. So he doesn’t pay too close attention to...
50 celebrities had computers and phones hacked: report
Some 50 celebrities have reportedly had their personal computers and phones hacked into -- with personal information and compromising pictures stolen -- as the FBI continues to investigate the matter....
Chunk of Calif. coastal highway falls into Pacific
CARMEL, Calif. — A stretch of California's coastal highway is closed to traffic indefinitely after a chunk of the road fell into the Pacific Ocean. State transportation workers are scrambling...
Schools from across globe interested in NYC campus
Stanford and Cornell universities and the University of Chicago are among the schools expressing interest in building an applied science and engineering research campus in New York City. The city...
Sandra Bullock donates $1 million for Japan earthquake relief
WASHINGTON -- Actress Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to The American Red Cross Wednesday to support relief efforts in Japan after last week's tsunami and earthquake. The number of dead...
WADA: Underground criminals control big part of world sport
LONDON -- Underground criminals now have "control of a significant percentage of world sport," World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman said Wednesday. Addressing a conference in west London, Howman...
France recalls World Cup soccer failures Ribery and Evra
PARIS -- Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery were called up to the France national soccer squad Thursday for the first time since their team's controversial first-round exit from the 2010...
Arsenal's Wenger confirms return of veteran keeper Lehmann
LONDON -- Arsene Wenger confirmed Thursday that veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will sign a contract to rejoin Arsenal until the end of the season. Arsenal has been looking to bring...
Manchester United star Ferdinand's injury threatens to end his season
MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand could miss the remainder of the English Premier League (EPL) season due to a calf muscle injury, Sky Sports reported Thursday. Ferdinand...
DVR Alert: Lee Tsiantis and 'Caught' on TCM
TCM's "Employee Picks'' month will offer an especially notable guest programmer on Monday -- at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, Lee Tsiantis will join Robert Osborne to introduce Max Ophuls "Caught'' (1949)...
Sheen yet to sell out Radio City
Charlie Sheen hasn't made it in New York City yet. A report that the onetime "Two and a Half Men" star had sold out two shows -- April 8 and...
New Zealand scraps Japan soccer match over safety fears
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- New Zealand's soccer association said Thursday it was canceling a March 29 match with Japan due to fears over the nuclear crisis and the impact of...
Jewelry store that accused Lindsay Lohan of theft is shopping book, movie deal
LOS ANGELES -- The jewelry store that alleged its famous customer, Lindsay Lohan, stole a $2,500 necklace from the pricey boutique is working to profit from a book and movie...
'Part of beauty of me is I'm very rich,' Trump says of possible 2012 White House run
He has millions in the bank, his own plush 727 jet, and he is threatening to use both to shake up the 2012 presidential race. In an interview with ABC's...
US allows military families to leave Japan
The US military said Thursday it had given the families of troops stationed in Japan permission to voluntarily leave the troubled country as it battles a nuclear disaster. Pentagon spokesman...
MTA inspector accused of falsifying crucial safety record vows to beat records
An MTA signal inspector caught up in the alleged wide-spread falsification of crucial safety records has vowed to beat the charges — and said he’s a scapegoat for inept transit...
Groupon in talks on possible $25B IPO: report
CHICAGO -- Groupon Inc. is in talks with banks on a potential initial public offering that would set the value of the online-coupon firm at as much as $25 billion,...
New York Times to put up paywall March 28
New York Times Co. on Thursday released details of its long-awaited plans to charge readers for access to the paper's website and other digital services, setting in motion a high-profile...
Man pleads guilty to murder of Yale lab tech
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The man accused of murdering a Yale graduate student last year pleaded guilty to the crime Thursday in a Connecticut court, the Hartford Courant reported. Raymond...
Washington Post suspends reporter for 'borrowed' reporting
WASHINGTON – The Washington Post said late Wednesday it suspended one of its Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters after it became apparent that "substantial material" published in her coverage of the Tucson,...
Tuck plans to talk to Asomugha about joining Giants: report
Though the NFL lockout prevents teams from talking to players, it won’t stop Justin Tuck from doing some recruiting. The Giants defensive end said Tuesday night he plans on talking...
Mel Gibson booked on battery charge
Mel Gibson turned himself in last night for booking in his battery case. Cops in El Segundo, Calif., fingerprinted and took a mugshot of Gibson, part of the process following...
Tokyo blackout narrowly averted as Japan disaster toll rises
TOKYO -- Japan's embattled authorities narrowly averted a blackout in capital Tokyo on Thursday, as the number of dead and missing from last week's tsunami and earthquake topped 15,000 with...
3UP: Contraction, Hughes, A-Rod
1. I presented what I call my Michael Corleone theory to a person involved in baseball labor and I expected this person to laugh in sorrow for me and move...
Mary Higgins Clark heads NYC's St. Pat's parade
A sea of green filled Fifth Avenue on Thursday, marking the life of Ireland's patron saint with the biggest St. Patrick's Day parade in America and the 250th in New...
EXCLUSIVE: Robert De Niro to testify tomorrow in Manhattan gallery theft of father's paintings
He's the star witness -- literally! Actor Robert De Niro is coming to Manhattan Supreme Court tomorrow to testify against an art gallery director accused of swiping two of his...
NYC patient infected with AIDS virus by transplant
ATLANTA — Health officials are reporting that a patient was infected with the AIDS virus through a kidney transplant from a live donor. They are calling it the first confirmed...
NY school employees fired in shrink wrap incident
A school district north of New York City says it has fired four employees and suspended a fifth for wrapping a co-worker in shrink wrap and then photographing and videotaping...
Ex-mayor in NYC suburb gets 3 years' probation
The ex-mayor of one of New York's major suburbs has been sentenced to 3 years' probation for domestic violence. Former White Plains mayor Adam Bradley was also told to stay...
Historic NYC cemetery reaches tentative agreement
A historic New York City cemetery and its union have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx was established in 1863 and is...
Tiger Woods says he's getting his life -- and golf game -- back on course
Disgraced golfer Tiger Woods said he is working on improving his life and game, while trying to be a parent for his two kids. "It's work, there's no doubt," he...
Ex-cop hubby of dead Bronx mom refuses to give police DNA
An ex-cop believed to be a "person of interest" in the death of a Bronx mom was questioned by police this morning, a day after her body was found in...
Middleton's see-through dress sold for $105K
A dress worn by royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton at a fashion show while she was at university with Britain's Prince William sold at auction Thursday for £65,000 ($105,000) -- more...
If Hillary could resign yesterday she would
Can't blame Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for trying to bow out with some shred of dignity but just because she tried doesn't mean she will succeed. In an interview...
Two dead in Long Island house fire
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. — Fire officials say an early morning house fire has killed two people on Long Island. Nassau County fire officials say one person and two volunteer firefighters from...
Ghadafi warns Benghazi his army is coming as UN prepares for crunch vote
BENGHAZI, Libya -- Col. Moammar Ghadafi warned inhabitants of the rebel-held Libyan city of Benghazi it would be attacked Thursday night as the United Nations Security Council prepared to vote...
High radiation found outside Fukushima exclusion zone
The Japanese military pumped jets of water from special fire trucks into a damaged reactor at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant Thursday in a desperate bid to bring down temperatures,...
TMLA AD shaving head to help raise money for cancer research
Joe Lewinger wasn’t exactly sure the type of response he would get. The Mary Louis athletic director’s wife Maura brought to him the idea of shaving his head in unison...
Bank of Japan pumps six trillion yen ($76 billion) into financial system to soothe markets
TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan on Thursday pumped six trillion yen ($76 billion) into the financial system to soothe money markets shaken by Japan's biggest ever earthquake, a devastating...
St. John's embraces rough road as it opens NCAA Tournament vs. Gonzaga
DENVER — For the first time since St. John’s became a team of destiny — a team as feared as any in the country after stunning Duke and Pitt during...
Johnnies hit Denver with a mix of awe & swagger
DENVER — The sweet sound of NCAA Tournament basketballs bouncing on the court reverberated through the Pepsi Center at approximately 7:10 Jamaica time last night, and dribbling them were proud...
Pitt looking for bracket breakthrough
Over the past decade, Pittsburgh has been one of college basketball’s most consistent programs. The Panthers have made 10 consecutive NCAA tournaments, five Sweet 16 appearances, won four Big East...
The Matchups: Gonzaga (21-11) vs. St. John’s (21-11)
FRONTCOURT Few teams have a player like Robert Sacre (12.5 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.9 bpg.), a 7-foot center with a deft touch around the basket. Elias Harris (12.1 ppg, 5.9...
Upset-minded Bucknell next hurdle for Connecticut
WASHINGTON — After Connecticut won an unprecedented five games in five days to win the Big East Tournament, the Huskies have been asked over and over this week if they...
Howie Hoops: Early surprises? Don’t bet on it
Now, the tournament really begins. Yes, everyone loves the upsets, watching a Coppin State earn a spot on the map, anticipating the emergence of the next Bryce Drew. But, this...
N.Y. native Fredette makes name for himself at BYU
DENVER — James Fredette’s mother nicknamed him Jimmer, and it stuck. And now, a long way from Glens Falls (N.Y.) High School, the BYU star is the nation’s leading scorer,...
Morehead St. star undeterred by unique Newark upbringing
DENVER — In the midst of every March Madness, the nation is introduced to less-publicized players with inspiring, fascinating and unbelievable stories. None of them can compare to the story...
PSAL Queens A softball preview: Lewis looking a year more mature
It happened so many times last year it almost became a running gag. But Francis Lewis coach Bryan Brown wasn’t laughing. His Patriots would take a lead in the middle...
Construction still building in Year Four
Marco Migliaccio saw Tottenville softball coach Cathy Morano at his school in January while she was coaching the Pirates girls basketball team in the PSAL ‘A’ Showcase. The two began...
Baby Bayside looking at bright future, this year and beyond
To call it a youth movement would be an understatement. If you log onto PSAL.org and look at Bayside’s softball roster, you might do a double take and think you...
Playoff awakening has Jones, Naz at top of their game
Maybe Tiffany Jones was conserving her energy during the regular season. Maybe she just wasn’t motivated enough watching Nazareth easily handle most teams it came across in the year’s first...
Washington, Johnson lead Pathways past Roosevelt, to 'B' title game
Eleanor Roosevelt was prepared for Jordan Washington, double-and triple-teaming the 6-foot-7 sophomore on every touch and making sure he couldn’t beat them on his own, as he did during the...
Michigan State relieved at NCAA tournament invite
TAMPA — Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament usually is not a stressful affair for Michigan State. When you have Michigan State’s tradition, and when you’ve been to the last...
St. John's reclaims glory after ’04 sex scandal
DENVER — How long does it take to repair a bloodied basketball soul, to restore a beating basketball heart? In this case, it will have taken 2,139 days. In this...
Busy time — off court, too — for St. John's assistants
This March Madness insanity seems like the biggest, most important, completely overwhelming event in a coach’s year. But it’s not. While the Red Storm has been living the dream, assistant...
What’s going on: scary science 101
The following questions and answers were created from interviews with experts on radiation poisoning, nuclear-reactor design and past nuclear accidents: Q: What sorts of radioactive materials are we talking about,...
Mets' Beltran could start season on disabled list
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Time for the Mets to accept the fact Carlos Beltran might start the season on the disabled list. General manager Sandy Alderson dropped a significant hint...
Mets' Beltran 'kneeds' Opening Day boost
PORT ST. LUCIE — The baseball card sits in the top left corner of his locker. When Carlos Beltran is at his lowest, when the frustration of being sidelined because...
The Butler Did It: The CHSAA czar has spoken
Could I have been a parking lot attendant? Could I have been a millionaire in Bel Air? Could I have been lost somewhere in Paris? Could I have been your...
Defensive woes do in Bryant in loss to Curtis
Bryant never seized the momentum when it had the chance. “I feel like we could have kept it up and then we came back on defense and just blew it...
With Kruger case lurking, it’s still business as usual at Brooklyn Community Board 18
Brooklyn Community Board 18 District Manager Dorothy Turano last night was greeted with flowers – and it wasn’t for a political funeral. In the board’s first meeting since its unofficial...
Perfect 10: Underseeded Curtis makes 'A' championship game
Curtis has had the odds stacked against it from the beginning of these playoffs. The Warriors’ first-round matchup was with West 50th Street Campus, a team that would have been...
Senior stars send Wings past Pirates into PSAL 'A' final
Wings has had a one track mind all season after falling in the PSAL Class A title game last year: Get back and win. The Lady Wings can thank their...
At long last, FDA III avenges semifinal ghosts, moves on to 'B' final
Moussa Kone was never so unhappy to stay close to home. The Frederick Douglass Academy III forward was downright angry when he found out Wednesday night’s PSAL Class B semifinal...
Tots take solace in stellar season after loss to Wings
Tottenville hung around for a long time. The Pirates were down just three points near the end of the third quarter. They trailed by only five midway through the fourth....
Drama mama
It's St. Patrick's Day, and Mama can't resist the stereoty pical Irish portrayals, which means she's saluting the men in blue on this day of green beer: * "Detroit 1-8-7"...
RNC may sell debates
The Republican National Committee is considering sanctioning its own GOP primary debates and selling the TV rights to the highest bidder, according to CNN. The proposal was made last week...
No more 'Wives'?
Has the "Real Housewives" empire finally stopped expanding? The answer might be "yes" if you believe Andy Cohen, the face of the network. When asked about the possibility of expanding...
Gala's got fashion but not much sense
The Martha Graham Dance Company kicked off its 85th anniversary season gala with a revival of "Snow on the Mesa," Robert Wilson's 1995 homage to Graham. Set to evocative, gamelan-inflected...
Costumes fit for a 'Queen'
Five-hundred cos tumes, 200 hats, 150 pairs of shoes, 72 wigs . . . Broadway's "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" doesn't travel light. Everything about this disco-driven, drag-queen odyssey from...
'Idol' Stefano arrested for drunk driving
Stefano Langone wowed the judges on "American Idol," getting the rare judges' save to get into the Top 13. He also tugged on heartstrings with a story about relearning to...
'Teen Mom' assault
There seems to be more drama off-screen than on- screen when it comes to "Teen Mom 2." Jenelle Evans, one of the stars of MTV's hit show, was in a...
Green with melody
'We do this show most every night, and we're totally relaxed, and then I think, 'We're going to be in New York, at Radio City Music Hall on St. Patrick's...
Star harassed
Star Jones is getting lippy with former "Celebrity Apprentice" rival Lisa Rinna. Jones says Rinna, who was booted off the show this past Sunday after they clashed repeatedly, has been...
Starr report
Several months back I wrote a column item on the April 19 DVD release of "The Ernie Kovacs Collection," a very comprehensive collection of the late Kovacs' trailblazing TV work....
My Irish New York
This St. Patrick’s Day, you could go to the usual barleycorn pub on the corner . . . or you could honor the holiday like the experts do. The Post...
Fukushima's nuclear plant workers walking into certain death by radiation
Dead men walking. They're known as the "Fukushima 50," and they're Japan's only hope of avoiding a Chernobyl-like catastrophe. The men, unidentified technicians and emergency workers, are desperately battling to...
Gimme a bunga bunga - with sausage
WARSAW, Poland -- Silvio Berlusconi has inspired a restaurant in Poland to create a "bunga bunga" pizza -- a concoction as spicy and wild as the Italian leader's alleged sex...
Counting living among the dead
Japan raised its dead-and-missing toll to more than 13,000 yesterday -- as the US prepared a mass evacuation of Americans. Despite the official casualty figure, the Red Cross said it's...
Andrea's anti-animal arrogance
The "dead rat with fuzzy fur" that Andrea Peyser refers to was someone's loving pet, no matter how small or inconsequential ("Prosecutors' 'Pet' Peeves," March 14). Just because it's not...
Our dithering prez: He's in over his head
John Podhoretz asks, "Where is the president?" ("Obama the Invisible," PostOpinion, March 16). The answer is obvious: He is hiding. He has no clue what he has to do, so...
Swimming dragon
NEWPORT, RI Scholars at the Naval War College here probably nodded in vigorous agree ment with a recent lecture delivered at another military institution 130 miles away. Speaking at West...
Stop telling us where to die
Hospice care isn't only a beneficial service for dying patients. It's also a $4.5 billion industry flexing its muscle in state capitals -- including Albany, where a state senator faces...
Voters go cold on Mike
The snow is long gone, but Mayor Bloomberg is still in the deep freeze with voters -- who have just handed him his lowest poll numbers in eight years. Just...
'Wiseguy' gets a 'break'
A retired NYPD officer facing 20 years in prison on mob-related extortion charges has received permission to take a Caribbean vacation. Dominic Caramanica -- who allegedly found a new profession...
They're NY kids porn & raised
Holy pornography! There's naked ladies in that window. The intersection be tween art and smut, where nudity devolves into in-your-face, nihilistic commercialism, has been located. It sits on the Lower...
I'm too old for that much sex, says Silvio
ROME -- Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has sat down with the enemy -- telling an opposition newspaper that he is too old to have had all the sexual encounters he...
Hill: I'm out after one term
WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday insisted she is quitting her globetrotting position when President Obama's current term ends in 2013. Not only does she not want...
Guinness is an Apple ale-star
Erin go brew. Much Guinness will flow today, but even when it's not St. Patrick's Day, the storied Irish stout is New York's second most popular beer, a study has...
NYPD Daily Blotter
Bronx Police are investigating the death of a 44-year-old man whose body was found yesterday on the Cross Bronx Expressway in Morris Heights at 9:50 a.m., police said. The victim's...
Apple shares felled by analyst report
Apple Inc. shares fell the most since June after an analyst downgraded the stock, citing risks related to its Chinese manufacturing partner. Alex Gauna, an analyst at JMP Securities LLC,...
Levy $$ OK
The trustee liquidating Bernard Madoff's firm said his $220 million settlement with investor Norman Levy's heirs was "fair and equitable and should not be disturbed." New facts about Levy's investment...
Back to NBCU
Blackstone Group wants to sell NBC Universal its 50 percent share of Universal Orlando, the theme park featuring a popular new Harry Potter attraction.
Morton's stake is on the menu
Morton's Restaurant Group Inc., the Chicago-based upscale steakhouse chain, said it's exploring strategic alternatives to boost shareholders' value, including a potential sale of the company. Morton's, created in 1978 by...
US & Japan's central banks do what they have to
So what now? It's not like the world financial markets needed another problem. The sputtering economy in most parts of the globe, unrest in the Middle East and sovereign debt...
The gifts of the Italians
Today marks the 150th anniversary of Italy's Risorgimento -- the rebirth of a polity that first came into existence more than 200 years before Christ. Italians have been celebrating all...
Michael Douglas' ex-wife claims she went after 'Wall Street' cash because of Madoff and Starr losses
Michael Douglas' ex-wife says she went after a bigger piece of his fortune only because fraudsters Bernie Madoff and Kenneth Starr stole hers. Diandra Douglas -- who got a reported...
13 yrs. for burn horror
The crazed Queens man who repeatedly burned the face of his children’s mother with a hot clothing iron admitted today that what he did was "inexcusable" as a judge sentenced...
A 'Madness' market in hot tips & tip-offs
Despite the Knicks' three-game losing streak, Carmelo Anthony's stock is rising. Literally. Thanks to a Massachusetts-based tech start-up, hoops fans can "invest" in a virtual Melo and rack up profits...
Cuomo probing Indian Point
ALBANY -- Gov. Cuomo has ordered a safety review of the Indian Point nuclear plant that lies near a seismic fault line 35 miles north of Manhattan. Cuomo said yesterday...
OTB benefits still cost city
Nearly three months after OTB was shut down, the city is still paying $500,000 a month for former employee health benefits because of a temporary restraining order issued in a...
Pols probe SEC Madoff flub
WASHINGTON -- The House Oversight Committee yesterday probed deeper into Securities and Exchange Commission foul ups in handling the Bernie Madoff swindle. The committee subpoenaed Madoff trustee Irving Picard's records...
Language barrier in n-word trial
So how do you say the n-word in Sinhalese? The misdemeanor assault trial of ex-TV reporter Vince DeMentri is on hold at least until Tuesday, because the alleged victim is...
Time to end the spending shell game
Fifty-four House Republi cans bucked their leadership Tuesday, voting against a farce -- the farce of passing "continuing resolutions" to fund the government in stages in the hopes of forcing...
Brooklyn heirs burned in cremation flap
A Brooklyn family is suing their late patriarch's fourth wife, saying she was never legally married to him and had him cremated against his wishes, court papers reveal. But an...
'L.A.' Reid jumps to Fox show
Universal Music label boss Antonio "L.A." Reid is hip-hopping to TV. The chairman of Universal's Island Def Jam will leave to become a judge on Simon Cowell's upcoming Fox TV...
Break for weather gal
The skies may clear by early May for out-in-the-cold TV meteorologist Heidi Jones. The WABC/Channel 7 weather gal is negotiating with Manhattan prosecutors in hopes of resolving charges she filed...
4 busted in ATM-card $kim scam
Four scam artists have been busted on charges of skimming debit-card info at a pair of Queens banks -- and putting the data on Starbucks and Century 21 gift cards...
NY pubs hoppin' with St. Patrick's Day and St. John's basketball
It's a perfect Red (and green) Storm! Irish pubs across town are bracing for today's double whammy: St. Patrick's Day and St. John's University's return to the NCAA tournament --...
'Under cover' buyers
Not even a driving rainstorm could keep a crew of Asian black-marketeers from trying to take a bite out of the iPad 2 biz. The operation swung into full gear...
Business briefs
Heat on GE The crisis at a Japa nese nuclear plant that uses General Electric- built reactors has trimmed 5 percent from GE shares, which closed yesterday at $18.95. Joke's...
Kumar, Dowd get loud during cross
Raj Rajaratnam's lawyer challenged Anil Kumar, the former McKinsey & Co. partner testifying for the government, on his claims that he gave Rajaratnam inside tips including earnings information for Advanced...
'Cruz Missile' a dud
Zoe Cruz, the former high-flying Morgan Stanley executive who was in line to succeed CEO John Mack before the financial meltdown, is hitting rough waters with her new hedge fund,...
Crude lobby at schools
The city's Department of Education circulated petitions to parents and students at hundreds of public schools that advocate for state lawmakers to abolish seniority-based teacher layoffs -- a move the...
Bias attack 'self defense'
A Brooklyn man charged with bashing another over the head with a piece of wood was actually defending himself against a bias attack, a defense lawyer claimed in court yesterday....
Gov 'deals' with budget
ALBANY -- Let's make a deal. That was Gov. Cuomo's message to the leaders of the Legislature yesterday as he sought to reach a rare agreement on a new state...
Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol
A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours...
Court for mentally ill
Nonviolent, severely mentally ill defendants will now have their own courtroom in Manhattan -- one offering treatment rather than incarceration, officials announced today. The new Manhattan Mental Health Court, at...
Buffalo mayor charges at Mike
Another off-the-cuff remark has gotten Mayor Bloomberg into a jam, this time with the mayor of Buffalo, who was furious beyond words at Bloomberg's characterization of his city as a...
MTA signal rap is due
An MTA signal maintainer who was among more than 1,000 TWU Local 100 workers accused of dangerously falsifying safety records will be the first prosecuted in the fraud, The Post...
Dead tax walking
"I've said all along, and the governor has said all along, that the millionaire's tax -- whether it starts at $200,000 or $1 million -- it's a tax, and it...
A radioactive remark
Meanwhile, if ever there were a time when federal officials needed to speak with one voice regarding nuclear energy, this is it. US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, especially, needs to...
Powering New York
Enough with the populist pandering, please. Which is what Gov. Cuomo seemed to be doing yesterday when he reiterated his opposition to the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester, even...
Meet the priciest pooch in the world
Bow . . . Wow! This 11-month-old red Tibetan mastiff has become the world's most expensive dog after someone in China paid more than $1.5 million for him. While specifics...
TV app under fire
Cable networks want to pull the plug on Time Warner Cable's new iPad app for watching live TV. A number of cable content providers are crying foul over the just-released...
Fight to the finish
Consumer watchdog Elizabeth Warren looks like she's in the dogfight of her life. Republican lawmakers criticized the financial consumer advocate for overstepping her bounds yesterday while she staunchly defended her...
Quake takes bite out of Big Apple tourism
The Big Apple's tourism industry faces as much as a $1 billion shortfall this spring due to cancellations by Japanese tourists, the fourth-largest group of foreign visitors to the US....
US: We're # wine
Toast this news with a nice pinot noir -- the US overtook France last year as the world's top wine-consuming country. Americans bought nearly 330 million cases of vino in...
Japan woes wipe out US stock gains for year
The 30 days that shook the world's stock markets are starting to make Americans feel a lot poorer. Stocks plunged for the third straight session yesterday in the aftermath of...
TSA flunks another knife-and-death test
Oops, they did it again! Bungling TSA screeners allowed yet another security breach at a New York-area airport when a mom was able to breeze through security with a steak...
Radioactive fliers land in US
Two flights that originated in Tokyo and landed in Dallas and Chicago yesterday triggered radiation detectors when passengers passed through customs, The Post has learned. Tests on the jet that...
Gov rips 'Housewives' hubby
The show may be "Real," but his home, apparently, is not. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie yesterday suspended -- and demanded the resignation of -- the husband of one of...
Missing Bronx mom found dead in wooded area off highway
The bruised body of a Bronx mom of four who was the estranged wife of an abusive ex-NYPD cop was found yesterday in a wooded area off a Westchester highway,...
CIA Pak killer freed after $2M payoff
An American CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistanis was released from a Lahore prison yesterday after some $2 million was paid to the victims' relatives, ending a tense...
Cheers to that
Kelsey Grammer is leaving his Hamptons house, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s leaving the Hamptons. Grammer has found a buyer for his 7,500-square-foot home at 7 Morgan Hill Way...
High in FiDi
Tasked with finding a rental for a couple who had their Upper West Side co-op on the market for more than $6 million, Tal Alexander, president of Luxury Living, was...
The right Huff
Some of the best times WNBC meteorologist Janice Huff has had in her New Jersey home are the stormy nights when lightning is crackling through the sky. “This house is...
Just sold!
Manhattan BATTERY PARK CITY $520,000 200 Rector Place One-bedroom, one-bath condo, 665 square feet, with marble bath and balcony; building features doorman, garage, gym, pool and roof deck. Common charges...
Duke's Hill rips Michigan's Rose for 'Uncle Tom' jab
Former Duke star Grant Hill had some choice words for Jalen Rose, who said black former Duke basketball players in the early 1990s were "Uncle Toms." Rose, a former Michigan...
Sports shorts
BASEBALL: Salazar loses an eye Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar has lost an eye after he was struck in the face by a line drive while watching a...
Gulfstream analysis
Post time: 12:55 p.m. All horses appear in post position order FIRST-6 fur; $28,000; alw; 4up(f) SLEETCALLING drops in class after finishing second in last two starts. TEMPEST STORM finished...
Aqueduct Analysis
Today's analysis.1. 1m&70yds; $24,000; clm($14,000); 4upBLANK CHECK drops to lowest claiming level of career after tiring versus optional claimers as the favorite. TIMELESS CLASSIC defeated cheaper as the favorite and was...
Bill Smith At Yonkers
Post time: 7:10 p.m.Best Bet: Marion Miss Julie (6th)FIRST-1 1/16 ml pc; $6,000; conditional1DigitalZTam(PLachance)4-6-18-55Clos Pegase(C Manzi)1-2-13-13Newsam(B Holland)7-5-310-12SmokeyLonesomeN(SSmith)8-5-48-14RamblinBunny(JStratton)1-7-86-16Malmo Boy(D Dube)3-2-520-17King William(J Bartlett)5-2-110-18IncredibleBob(JGregory)2-8-830-1SECOND-1 1/16 ml tr; $10,000; cond3Wolf Creek Ted(D Dube)1-6-18-54BillboardKing(LStalbaum)5-4-68-11ZeroBoundaries(BHolland)6-1-98-12Risk Seeker(J...
Bill Smith At Meadowlands
Post time: 7:00 p.m.Best Bet: Sugar Queen Gabby (1st)FIRST-mile; trot; $10,000; conditional1SugarQueenGabby(TTetrck)1-1-42-16Waterloo Willie(P Berry)2-4-75-19WhateverItTakes(AMiller)3-5-14-12Wygant Pearl(D Miller)3-3-28-13I'mNotLeaving(JCampbell)4-4-310-14Mr Fenwick(J Meittinis)4-2-18-15HouseOnFire(RSchnittker)7-X-X15-17Puzzlement(Y Gingras)1-6-615-18ChineseCuisine(RPierce)3-6-610-110Fashion Giant(G Bowden)8-5-415-1SECOND-mile; trot; $9,000; claiming5Dingy's Party(E Goodell)1-2-15-24Colin Power(D Miller)6-3-68-19Tilly Bomb(T Tetrick)8-2-67-21Aviewtoakill(F...
Debbie Little Monticello grade
Post Time: 12:50 pm. Best Bet: Spice Trader (12th) FIRST-mile; pace; $3600; conditioned 4 T T Tiger (G Merton) 4-10-3 5-2 2 FoxValleyLogic (MMerton) 4-3-6 3-1 1 CamcrackerDynasty (MFrte) 4-5-5...
Tomorrow's Aqueduct Entries
Post Time: 1:00 pm. All horses appear in post position orderFIRST1m; $18,000; cl($7,500); 4up; (f&m)PNHorse Wt.JockeyLast 3TrainerOdds1Special Jak(L),118W Thmpsn4-4-7Chin 10-12Starsilhouette(L),120D Cohen2-1-3Gallusco 9-53A Girl Named Maria(L),120JBlake-Bza1-7-9Figueroa 20-14Cranberry Queen(L),118C Lopez3-2-8Englehrt 2-15Decorated Court(L),113B...
Aqueduct Charts
Mar. 16, 2011 Cloudy And Muddy (sealed) ©2011 Equibase. All Rights ReservedFIRST6f; $23,000; clm; 3YO; (f)Off: 1:00. Good. 3w 1/4pl, ridden outTime: 23.25, 47.47, 1:00.27, 1:13.66.Trainer: Todd PletcherWinner: B F,...
Alderson: Mets' decisions about Perez, Castillo based on past, present
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- You can start over, but completely shunning the past isn't an option if your names are Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson...
Gulfstream Results
FIRST-6f; $16,200; clm; 3up; (f&m)7Stellar Vision (Jurado) 3.803.003.2010Moonwalk Beauty (Prado)4.403.206Dixie Ocean (Saez)5.00 Scr: High Dollar Escort. * Exacta (7-10) $17.20 * $1 Superfecta (7-10-6-3) $407.80 * $1 Trifecta (7-10-6) $83.90SECOND-6f;...
Giants great Taylor believes in Barber's comeback
Not long after Lawrence Taylor retired following the 1993 season, after playing 13 years with the Giants, he briefly and not very seriously entertained the thought of making a comeback...
Giants fans can wait to pay for tickets
Fans who own Giants season tickets should expect to receive in the mail next week an invoice for payment for their 2011 seats. But they don't need to fork over...
Nets coach sees Brooklyn in Williams' future
Avery Johnson is displaying a level of confidence the Nets aren't used to seeing. The coach, reiterating comments he made on the radio Tuesday, yesterday said he has "no doubt"...
'Melo wants Knicks to simplify defensive scheme
In another sign of Carmelo Anthony's struggle to learn coach Mike D'Antoni's defensive system, the Knicks' new superstar said he hopes the coaching staff will simplify the X's and O's...
Hits, kickoffs on NFL agenda
Stepping up its emphasis on player safety, the NFL's competition committee is proposing suspensions for hits on defenseless players and several dramatic changes to the kickoff process. The owners are...
DiPietro activated for Islanders' big finish
Oft-injured goalie Rick DiPietro was activated from the Islanders' injured list yesterday after being out of action since Feb. 1, when he suffered a facial fracture in a fight with...
Devils smell playoff spot
You have to be in it to get in. Finally, the Devils are legitimately in it. They're into it, too. The Undead Devils visit Ottawa tonight six points behind the...
Callahan's emergence key to Rangers' playoff push
He is the reigning two-time winner of the Steven McDonald Award and if you are a Ranger, there is no greater honor than to be recognized in the name of...
Burnett, Hughes linchpins in Yankees' rotation
TAMPA -- The battle for the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in the Yankees' rotation has a bit of election season about it. News trickles in daily from different precincts....
Opening Day in doubt for Joba because of oblique strain
TAMPA -- The beginning of the season is in jeopardy for Joba Chamberlain after an MRI exam revealed a strained left oblique. The reliever will play catch today, but there...
Six no-hit innings might help Nova land job as Yankees' No. 4 starter
TAMPA -- The Yankees' pitching competition this spring has been about two spots at the back end of their rotation. After last night, that may be down to one spot....
Today's Sports on Air
Baseball1 p.m.Marlins at CardinalsMLBN6 p.m.Nationals at BravesMLBN10 p.m.Rangers at PadresMLBNBasketball12:15 p.m.NCAA Tournament, second round:West Virginia vs. ClemsonCBS, ESPN (1050 AM)12:40 p.m.NCAA Tournament, second round:Butler vs. Old DominiontruTV1:40 p.m.NCAA Tournament, second...
The Post Line
NCAA BasketballSecond RoundTodayAt Tampa, Fla.FavoriteLine UnderdogWest Virginia2 (123½)ClemsonKentucky13½ (131)PrincetonFlorida13 (128)UC Santa BarbaraMichigan St.1½ (125)UCLAAt WashingtonConnecticut10½ (132)BucknellMissouriPick (137½)CincinnatiPittsburgh18 (135)UNC AshevilleOld Dominion2 (122½)ButlerAt DenverVanderbilt3 (135)RichmondLouisville9½ (131)Morehead St.BYU8½ (147)WoffordSt. John's1½ (135)GonzagaAt Tucson, Ariz.San...
Home Team Lineups
TODAYMar. 17FRIMar. 18SATMar. 19SUNMar. 20MONMar. 21TUEMar. 22WEDMar. 23KnicksMemphis7:30TV -- MSG NetworkRadio ESPN 1050 AMDet.7:30MSGESPNNOGAMEMilw.3:00MSGESPNBos.7:30MSGESPNNOGAMEOrl.8:00MSGESPNNets Chicago7:00TV -- YES NetworkRadio WBBR 1130 AMMilw.8:30YESWBBRNOGAMEWash.1:00YESWFANInd.7:00YESWFANNOGAMEClev.7:00YESWFANRangersNOGAMEMont.7:00MSG2WNYMNOGAMEPitt.12:30NBCESPNNOGAMEFla.7:00MSGESPNNOGAMEIslandersNOGAMECar.7:00MSG+2WRHUFla.7:00MSG+WRHUNOGAMENOGAMET.B.7:30MSG+2WRHUNOGAMEDevilsOttawa7:30TV - MSG Plus NetworkRadio WFAN 660...
Weird but true
Officials at Hickory Middle School in Virginia suspended a student after he was caught with a bag of dried oregano. The school declared it an "imitation controlled substance" because it...
VCU outmuscles bigger USC; Georgetown next
DAYTON, Ohio -- It might not have looked pretty to others. It was a masterpiece for Virginia Commonwealth. Jamie Skeen scored 16 points and VCU more than held its own...
Johnson's Tigers not same old Princeton
TAMPA -- These are not your father's Princeton Tigers. John Calipari is well aware of this. He knows exactly what his Kentucky Wildcats are up against in today's 2:45 p.m....
Chelsea boss says Ferguson's five-game touchline ban over the top
LONDON -- Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said Wednesday that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson's five-match touchline ban from the Football Association (FA) was too harsh. Ferguson was hit with the...
Fulham to erect statue of Michael Jackson outside stadium
LONDON -- English Premier League club Fulham confirmed Wednesday that it plans to build a commemorative statue of the late Michael Jackson at Craven Cottage at the behest of chairman...
Ochocinco considering switch to soccer with MLS tryout
KANSAS CITY -- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is considering a switch from one football league to another, as it was revealed Wednesday the six-time NFL Pro Bowler will...
Yankees' Nova throws 6 no-hit innings
TAMPA -- The battle for the Yankees' No. 4 starter's job may be over.Ivan Nova, the 24-year-old righty, pitched six no-hit innings against the Orioles on Wednesday night.After hitting the...
Scandal-plagued MTA signal maintainer to be arraigned
An MTA signal maintainer caught up in the massive scandal where more than 1,000 TWU Local 100 workers dangerously falsified countless safety records will be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court...
COMPLETE NCAA TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
The Post has all the March Madness covered coast-to-coast with the best college basketball writers in the game. Click here for the inside info on the top teams and best...