Bronx News Roundup, May 10

Weather: Another clear and sunny day, with temperatures hovering around the mid-60s. Enjoy.

Story of the Day: 46 Arrested in Tour Bus Crackdown
Yesterday, 46 people were arrested on felony charges after two months of investigation into the state's tour bus industry, following a March 12 bus crash in the Bronx that killed 15 passengers. Those arrested are drivers of tour buses, MTA city buses and taxis busted for holding commercial licenses while they had other suspended driving licenses under different names, found by running their photos with facial recognition technology.

Quick Hits:

The growing count of bodies found along a stretch of beaches on the south shore of Long Island may be the work of multiple killers, authorities said yesterday. Among the identified remains was Bronx resident Melissa Barthelmy, 24.

Relive your childhood by taking this tree-climbing class at the Botanical Garden. I totally want to sign up for this; video below.


A Bronx man pleaded guilty yesterday of pimping out underage girls who were staying at a homeless shelter. He faces up to 12 years in jail.

Ever wonder why the Bronx's Manhattan College is named after a different borough? A little history lesson for you.

A teacher at Bronx Prep Charter School chronicles the ups and downs of putting on a school play for Gotham Schools.

Metallica has promised to play their 90s metal tune "Enter Sandman," a fan-favorite, during their much anticipated Sept. 14 concert at Yankee Stadium. Is this good news? Sorry, but I hate that song.

Speaking of Yankee Stadium: three servers at the venue are suing the concession stand where they worked, saying they never got a portion of their tip money.

Jose the Beaver was on hand to congratulate 35 children, from 14 different countries, who took their citizenship oaths at the Bronx Zoo yesterday. 

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 9

Fordham University's basketball team beat out Manhattan College last night in the "Battle of the Bronx."

As BxNN reporter James Fergusson pointed out yesterday, Sen. Pedro Espada told supporters via Facebook in September that he'll "continue being a senator through December 31st," though he's been MIA in Albany the past few weeks (see here and here.)

A woman was convicted yesterday for killing a 91-year-old woman during a robbery in the Bronx in 2003. Nadine Panton, 34, also of the Bronx, faces 25 years to life in prison in a sentencing later this month.

A 48-year-old Bronx man was arrested and charged with carjacking and stealing $100,000 worth of merchandise from a jewelry store in Pelham Manor.

The city is trying to shut down a crackhouse on Hunts Point Avenue by suing under the public nuisance law. Neighbors and police say the building, near the Bruckner Expressway in Hunts Point, has been a problem drug spot for years.

Village Voice reporter Elizabeth Dwoskin eloquently recalls the worst bathroom she's ever seen in her years on the housing beat--one in a neglected apartment building on Lorillard Place.

More outrage over the DOE's plans to close 10 Bronx schools next fall.

Bronx residents, and those across the city, are having a cold winter--over the past two months there have been 71,000 complaint calls to 311 from tenants who have no heat in their buildings.

A Bronx driver accused of killing a pregnant woman when he lost control of his van in Manhattan last year will face jail time.

The Riverdale Press takes a closer look at Londell Byrd, the 18-year-old Riverdale teen who was shot and killed in Soundview this past weekend. Byrd was "well-liked" in the community and was going to Pace University in the fall.

Ed. note: Start a discussion about any of these stories, or anything else you want to talk about in our forum. Highlight problems in your neighborhood with our SeeClickFix feature. And find out what's happening in our constantly-updated events calendar.

Good Day for Dinowitz

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz is being honored tonight at Manhattan College for his work in passing legislation to combat human trafficking. The Norwood News wrote an editorial about Dinowitz's role in 2007.

Also, according to the Daily News, Dinowitz will soon be introducing legislation that would put Community Education Councils under the jurisdiction of borough presidents rather than the Department of Education and the Bloomberg administration (the story is not on-line yet but we'll post it when it is). The idea is to give the Councils more independence from the DOE so they can better hold the school system accountable.