NTSB says pilot error caused fatal 2011 East River helicopter crash

Pilot error caused an October 2011 East River helicopter crash that killed three overseas visitors, the National Transportation Safety Board said today.Probers found that the Bell Ranger chopper was as much as 261 pounds too heavy when it lifted off from the East 34th Street Heliport, and say pilot Paul Dudley underestimated his passengers’ weights.Dudley’s...

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan longshot as oddsmakers peg favorites to replace Pope Benedict XVI

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is a longshot at the holy book to become Catholicism’s new world leader and first American pope.Offshore oddsmakers have pegged Peter Turkson and Angelo Scola as slight favorites in a wide-open race to replace Pope Benedict XVI, who retired today in the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years.Ghanaian Cardinal Turkson...

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Bernanke defends Fed's low-interest-rate policies

WASHINGTON — Facing criticism from Republican lawmakers, Chairman Ben Bernanke stood behind the Federal Reserve's low-interest-rate policies Wednesday and sought to reassure members of Congress that the central bank has a handle on the risks.In his second day of testimony on Capitol Hill, Bernanke told members of the House Financial Services Committee that...

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Carrie Fisher hospitalized after strange cruise performance: report

Carrie Fisher was hospitalized briefly after a strange, off-key performance she delivered aboard a Caribbean cruise, according to published reports today.Fisher was treated for her bipolar condition, according to celebrity Web site TMZ.com, citing the actress' publicist."There was a medical incident related to Carrie Fisher’s bipolar disorder,” the rep...

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Facebook agrees to remove some Newtown pages

HARTFORD, Conn. — Facebook has agreed to remove some so-called tribute pages related to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting over concerns they're being used to exploit the tragedy, US Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Monday.Echoing complaints already brought by some Sandy Hook families, Blumenthal and fellow Connecticut Democrats US Sen. Chris Murphy...

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Man commits suicide by leaping in front of Manhattan subway train

A suicidal man died after jumping in front of a subway train in Manhattan this morning, police said.The unidentified victim was near the edge of the platform at Eighth Avenue and West 23rd Street in Chelsea around 9:30 a.m. as the E train neared the station, sources said. He stepped back about 10 feet before taking a running leap just before the train arrived,...

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Most charges dismissed against ex-Blackwater execs

RALEIGH, NC — The federal prosecution of five former employees of the private security firm Blackwater has crumbled after the defendants said they were acting at the behest of the CIA in giving an assault rifle, a shotgun and three pistols to King Abdullah II of Jordan.Federal prosecutors indicted former Blackwater president Gary Jackson and four others...

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Former NY governor David Paterson to teach at Harlem medical school

Former New York governor David Paterson has a new post: teaching medical students about health care policy.Touro College says Paterson is joining the faculty at its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dean Dr. Robert Goldberg said Thursday that Paterson's insight on the health care system and public policy will help students "be prepared to advocate for their...

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Postal Service to launch 'Rain Heat & Snow' clothing line

On the heels of announcing the end of Saturday mail delivery, the US Postal Service said Tuesday it plans to launch a new line of clothing and accessories next year.The cash-strapped agency has signed a license agreement with Wahconah Group, a Cleveland-based fashion apparel company, to support its new "Rain Heat & Snow" brand, Postal Service corporate...

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Blade runner nearly shot friend days before attack on stunner girlfriend

Gun-loving “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius nearly shot a friend two weeks before allegedly blowing away his gorgeous gal pal, according to published reports today.Pistorius, in jail since the Valentine Day’s slaying of stunner Reeva Steenkamp, accidentally shot one round at the foot of boxer Kevin Lerena, while they dined with friends at a swanky Johannesburg...

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Obama golfing with Tiger Woods in Florida

WASHINGTON – President Obama was working on his golf game today, playing with none other than the sport's most famous player, Tiger Woods.The two played at the Floridian Golf and Yacht Club in Palm City, Fla., where Obama was spending a President's Day weekend vacation, according to Golf World writer Tim Rosaforte. "The President is arriving at The Floridian...

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Woman wounded by stray bullet in the Bronx

A woman was wounded by a stray bullet in the Bronx, authorities said.An unknown gunman shot the victim, 51, in the right side of her stomach about 9:40 p.m. in front of the Soundview Houses on Seward Avenue near Noble Avenue, cops said.Investigators do not believe she was the intended target.EMS rushed her to Jacobi Hospital, where she is expected to survive,...

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Chapman out of Herbalife

Robert Chapman, one of the first and most vociferous Herbalife bulls, has exited his entire stake in the embattled weight-loss and nutritional supplements company, he said today.The Los Angeles hedgie told The Post he has either sold or hedged out of his entire position.The investor said he still believes in Herbalife but thinks the shares — which have...

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Grand jury refuses to indict NYPD cop who gunned down National Guardsman during traffic stop

Seth GottfriedThe traffic stop in October that left National Guardsman Noel Polanco dead.A Queens grand jury today declined to indict a NYPD cop who gunned down an unarmed National Guardsman last year, The Post has learned.The jury returned a no true bill in the case against ESU cop Hassan Hamdy, who shot Noel Polanco in October during a traffic stop on...

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Alleged Baldwin 'stalker' mulling plea deal in harassment case

Steven HirschGenevieve Sabourin at Manhattan Criminal Court today.He's having a baby, and maybe losing a stalker.A plea deal is on the table for the shapely French Canadian blonde accused of sending creepy emails and texts to Alec Baldwin after a one-night-stand dinner date in 2010.Genevieve Sabourin breezed in and out of Manhattan Criminal Court today...

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Brooklyn teen shot by cops was firing blanks at friend

The teenage gunman shot by police in Brooklyn yesterday was firing blanks, police said.Gino Mercado, 16, and his cohort James Capeles, 22, were both arrested on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and attempted assault on a police officer after they were nabbed yesterday for shooting a gun loaded with blank cartridges, police said.“Mercado is the...

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Medal of Honor bestowed upon Army Afghanistan hero

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has bestowed the Medal of Honor upon an Army veteran for his courageous leadership during a daylong firefight in Afghanistan.Obama presented the medal to former Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha on Monday in a White House ceremony attended by the military's top leaders and former Medal of Honor recipients.Obama recounted in detail the dramatic 2009 battle at an outpost...

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State of Union to focus on economy

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will focus his State of the Union address on boosting job creation and economic growth at a time of high unemployment, underscoring the degree to which the economy could threaten his ability to pursue second-term priorities such as gun control, immigration policy and climate change.Obama also may use Tuesday's prime-time...

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Brooklyn teacher's aide pleads guilty to producing child porn

A teacher’s aide pleaded guilty today to producing a homemade child porn film inside a New York City grammar school.Taleek Brooks, who worked at PS 243 in Crown Heights, admitted that he had produced a video of a student entrusted to his care while the child was engaged in explicit sexual activity."I was responsible for the filming of a minor masturbating,"...

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Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano charged with illegal solicitation and expenditure of campaign funds

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano's political opposition has submitted a criminal complaint to the state Attorney General and the Board of Elections - charging Mangano with illegal solicitation and expenditure of campaign funds.Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs filed the complaint saying Mangano's campaign collected more than $70,000 in corporate...

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