Bronx News Roundup, Wednesday, May 4

First off, thanks to Adi for his light sleeping habits and nimble early-morning camera work. Now let's get to more Bronx news out there on the webosphere.

Weather: As you can probably tell by looking out your window right now, it's raining and it's expected to continue until the late afternoon. It will cool tonight, with temperatures dropping into the mid-40s. More rain tomorrow.

Story of the Day: Judge Upholds Guilty Verdict for Riverdale Bomb Plotters
In her ruling yesterday, federal judge Colleen McMahon said it was "troubling" how doggedly a government  agent worked to engage the four would-be terrorists who were found guilty in October of plotting to bomb two Riverdale synagogues (and shooting down military transport planes at Stewart International Airport), but said they still deserved to go to prison. These men couldn't hold Osama bin Laden's tunic, the judge implied. According to the NY Times, McMahon wrote that convicted plotter "[James] Cromitie is not a particularly intelligent man, but it defies reason to think that he was unaware” of what was going on. For more bomb plot background , check out the Riverdale Press' Adam Wisnieski's work.

Quick Hits: 
Police are investigating the 17-year-old baby-sitter of a nine-month-old baby who died Tuesday morning after being found unconscious in a Marble Hill apartment. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the teenager admitted to punching the baby in the stomach.

Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein and his independent caucus want to ban doctors and other health care professionals from wearing neckties, jewelry or other fashion accessories that might carry carry yucky germs.

Bronx Pastor Suzan Johnson Cook, who grew up in Wakefield and founded the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, was tapped by the Obama administration to be the nation's Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, which just may be the coolest title of any government post.

Residents hope a new Van Nest property owner delivers on his promise to clean up what they say is a drug den.

More on the sparkling new $65.5 million homeless intake center on East 151st Street.

Erika Marte, a senior at Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, was one of 17 New Yorkers to win the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. Marte, who lives in Van Nest, will attend Hamilton College in the fall and wants to be a teacher when she's done with her own schooling.