Bronx News Roundup Jan. 6

A Bronx Marine has been killed by a landmine in Afghanistan.

Three men were in court yesterday to face charges relating to the death of two Bronx firefighters in January 2005. Firefighters Curtis Meyran and John Bellew were forced to jump to their deaths from the fourth floor of a Mount Hope building. The men on trial - a building manager and two tenants - are accused of illegally erecting walls inside their apartments so they could rent out the rooms - in the process creating a series of deathtraps. More here. And more background on the fire here.

The Grand Concourse's revival continues with the recent opening of the pedestrian (and skateboarder) friendly Lou Gehrig Plaza (pictured below). The plaza is opposite the Bronx County Courthouse at East 161st Street. Previously the area was used for parking. More here.


The Bronx Zoo could be hit by budget cuts.

Assemblyman Jose Rivera - the recently disposed Democratic party boss - still wields political clout thanks to a small band of loyalists (Baez, Seabrook, etc.), according to the Daily News' Bob Kappstatter in his weekly column.

The Times talks to a Bronx sanitary worker about his 22 years on the job.

An early morning house fire on City Island has left several people injured.

A determined 25-year-old has been given a second shot at an education courtesy of The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund and a South Bronx non-profit.

Perhaps new mom Ashlee Simpson wasn't being as original as she thought. A five-year old bull mastiff from Bristol, England, is also named after our fine borough. Bronx (the dog, not the kid) is in the news because he was drunk and depressed after his abusive - and soon to be out of pocket - owner feed him Stella Artois.

(Photo by J. Fergusson)