Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 26

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Yup, more snow. A winter storm warning is in effect today until 6 p.m., so bundle up; the weather folks are saying four to eight inches.President Obama gave his second State of the Union Address last night, one that called for a bipartisan effort to fix the nation’s economy and a proposed 5-year spending freeze. Salon.com has named Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel number three on a list of Congress’ “top five biggest aisle hogs”-politicians who stake out an aisle seat before a big speech in hopes of getting a handshake and a few words from the President. Check out this video of the worst offenders through the years:The family of a 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, one of four victims believed to have been murdered by a serial killer on Long Island, say they received taunting phone calls on the woman’s cell phone in the days after she disappeared. Police are searching for a group of ten men who shot up a Melrose street last night, killing a 21-year-old man.A Bronx woman pleaded not guilty yesterday to manslaughter charges for hitting and killing a woman with her car in Manhattan in November.A Lehman College student stuck in Chile during protests there this month became the unofficial spokesman for about 1500 other stranded tourists, and earned himself a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. State Department.

Bronx News Network

Tropical Color In the Bronx

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Yesterday after a 30 minute walk in the snow the Caribbean Garden exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden was a great place to spend a couple of hours observing the play between light and plants. If you want a dose of warm weather and tropical color, head on over to the Caribbean Garden exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden. Please click here for details.

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, Jan 25

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As I’m sure you can see, this never-ending winter has blessed us with more snow this morning. The weather means delays on the 2 line in the Bronx, according to the MTA’s website, so give yourself a little extra travel time today if you’re taking the train.Speaking of snow: the City Council held its fifth public blizzard response hearing at Hostos Community College last night, where Residents and Borough President Diaz blasted the city and the Sanitation Department for the slow snow cleanup.A fire broke out early this morning at three multi-family homes on Arthur Avenue in Tremont, with one tenant taken to St. Barnabas Hospital after going into cardiac arrest.An NYPD car mix-up resulted in one Norwood resident’s arrest-for stealing his own vehicle, the Daily News reports.

Bronx News Network

Bronx Crime Watch: Police Seek Shooting Suspects

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Police are still searching for two suspects involved in the post-Christmas shooting of a 16-year-old boy. The unnamed victim, a Hispanic male, was shot once in the upper leg during a dispute with two other young men at the corner of Bainbridge Avenue and E. 212th Street, in the early morning hours of Dec. 26. The injured boy was removed to Montefiore

Bronx News Network

Bronx Youth Journalism Program-Deadline Extended!

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The Bronx News Network, in collaboration with College Now, is running a free journalism program for Bronx high school students. We’ve extended our deadline to this Friday, Jan. 28, and we’re looking for a few more eager applicants.Applications can be downloaded here. On a separate piece of paper, please also tell us about yourself, your academic and extra-curricular interests, and why you are applying to this program. Your essay should be at least 400 words long and must be typed.

Bronx News Network

Bronx News Roundup, Jan. 24

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An NYPD officer accidentally shot the elderly father of a suspected drug dealer during a raid on his home in Soundview early Saturday morning. The injured man, 76-year-old Jose Colon, was shot in the stomach after Detrective Andrew McCormack mistakenly fired his gun; he’s in stable condition and expected to survive. His son, Alberto Colon, is in police custody for drug possession.The Times takes a look at the family of McCormack, the officer in the incident, whose police officer father was killed in the line of duty during a standoff with a mentally disturbed man in Pelham Bay back in 1983. A 16-year-old Bronx girl who was shot in the head last year during a gang shootout on her way to school says she feels a connection to Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from a similar injury. Today, Mayor Bloomberg held a press conference at City Hall with dozens of gun violence victims to push for background checks for gun purchases.The Arizona shooting has also sparked a local response, as Borough President Diaz and Bronx residents who’ve witnessed gun violence firsthand say that weapon laws need to be stricter.

Bronx News Network

Bronx Events: Blizzard Response Hearing

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(File photo by Lenny Shutterman)Finally, an official outlet for all of your snow rage! The City Council is holding a series of hearings in every borough this month to get public feedback on the city’s response to the big post-Christmas blizzard. The Bronx hearing will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at Hostos Community College, Savoy Building D, at 120 East 149th Street. Similar hearings held already in the other boroughs have been tense and emotional, as speakers told stories of unplowed streets trapping ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Check out this and other Bronx events in our community calendar, below.Editor’s note: What did we miss?

Bronx News Network

Bronx Crime Watch: D.A. Busts 22 Alleged Drug Dealers at River Park Towers

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Last week, a grand jury indicted 22 alleged drug dealers from River Park Towers, a complex of high-rise apartment buildings at Richmond Plaza, on the Major Deegan Expressway in Morris Heights. The defendants are charged with multiple counts of selling and possessing cocaine, heroin and marijuana, according to press release from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office sent out last week.The arrests were the result of an undercover investigation launched last June in response to an increase in shootings and other violent incidents at the Towers. The 22 people being charged, who range in age from 23-years-old to 51-years-old, sold drugs to undercover detectives more than 120 times. The deals primarily took place in a public courtyard shared by several of the apartment buildings, which investigators described as a “drug bazaar.”[Editor’s Note:] Just a reminder to our readers that the Bronx News Network is in the middle of our annual fundraising appeal. If you value quality local journalism, please consider donating so we can continue to bring you news and features, like our daily news roundup or our borough events calendar.

Bronx News Network

Local Street Takes Late Reverend’s Name

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Daisy Staggers, widow of the late Rev. James B. Staggers, with the new street sign. (Photo by F.G. Pinto) By FAUSTO GIOVANNY PINTO[Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the latest issue of the Tremont Tribune, which is on the streets now] On the Anniversary of Martin Luther King JR’s Birthday, a packed congregation came together to honor another great Reverend, the late James B. Staggers, with a street renaming ceremony. “Rev. James B. Staggers Place” was unveiled by Council Member Joel Rivera and Rev. Staggers’ wife on East 181st Street between Vyse Avenue and Bryant Avenue in front of New Tabernacle Baptist Church. The choir led by Staggers’ daughter started the ceremony by bringing down the house and everyone to their feet.Fellow reverends, family and friends, and Council Members including Helen Foster and Joel Rivera then spoke on his many achievements, calling him a loving and caring man.“I am so proud and happy to see honor restored to my late husband,” said a choked up Daisy Staggers. “He would do anything he could for anyone that needed his help.”Staggers (December 11, 1925 – September 18, 2008) served as pastor of New Tabernacle Baptist Church for 38 years.