A state sentencing commission has issued a new report, a year after it was charged with looking at how to reform New York's Rockefeller drug laws. The commission recommends allowing judges more discretion in sentencing first and second-time non-violent drug offenders.

It also calls for more funding for drug treatment programs. ...

Six hundred thirty-nine Americans have died so far in the war in Afghanistan.

The most recent casualty was Marine Lance Cpl. Julian T. Brennan of Brooklyn.

WNYC's Kathleen Horan spoke with his family and joined Richard Hake with this memorial.

President Obama's economic stimulus bill passed a big hurdle last night. The $819 billion package cleared the house by a vote of 244 to 188. Here to tell us what's in it for New York is Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who represents parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

New York City could realize $3.4 billion dollars in Federal aid this year if Congress passes the Obama's Administration's $825 billion dollar Economic Recovery Plan. Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Schumer and Congressman Rangel outlined the details of the plan last night.

The bail-out details come the same week that Mayor Bloomberg is ...

After a tumultuous search process, New York City Opera has chosen their new artistic director and general manager.

The company's hovered near financial collapse and they were unceremoniously rejected by their first choice for the top job. Now, they've picked George Steel, who's known to some New Yorkers for running the ...

A dozen Broadway shows may be closing, but sixteen more shows open downtown in a theater festival that starts today. It’s the Under the Radar festival: it bring plays, musicals and performance pieces from all over the world for a 12-day theater extravaganza. Performance critic Claudia LaRocco spoke with Richard ...

It's not everyday we get a verdict, let alone a mistrial, in a police murder case. Yesterday, we got both. Former "Sopranos" actor Lillo Brancato was cleared of second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of off-duty police officer, Daniel Enchautegui.

A judge also declared a mistrial in the shooting death ...

The congressional session is drawing to a close, and so far, there's no resolution to the ethical issues raised by the conduct of Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel.

Last week, the House Ethics committee decided to expand its investigation into Rangel's finances, including whether he traded his support of a tax loophole ...

When a Brooklyn Rabbi and his wife were taken hostage during the Mumbai terrorist attacks 2 weeks ago, Rabbis with Chabad here in the United States went urgently looking for someone who could speak Urdu, English, Hebrew and Yiddish. The man they found is Pace University Professor P.V. Viswanath and ...

If you didn't see yesterday's New York Times, then you missed what is now the most e-mailed article from their New York section. The story starts with a leak in the city's complex water system that's turned into a 36 million gallon-a-day gusher.

To fix this problem 20 years after it ...

Twenty-seven construction workers have died on the job this year, and a slowing economy may not do a whole lot to solve this problem.

REPORTER: For the past nine months, WNYC reporters Cindy Rodriguez and Matthew Schuerman have been investigating the downside of the city’s building boom. Here's a look at ...

Sexy, scary and often naked. That’s what a career retrospective at the Brooklyn Academy of Music promises this Halloween Weekend. It’s a tribute to the Italian actress and director Asia Argento.

Joining us is Film Critic Nathan Lee. He's a regular blogger on wnyc.org and he’s written about Argento.

...

With the Election just 5 days, there's an intense battle underway and it's not just over the White House. Control of the New York State Senate also hangs in the balance.

Republicans have controlled the Chamber since 1965 but their majority has shrunk to only 2 seats. As the Republicans try ...

Are you ready for tonight's debate? Many are getting ready.

FEY: Oh and for those Joe Packs out there playing a drinking game at home, maverick!

That of course was Tina Fey doing her infamous impression of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

People really are playing drinking games and joining us are two ...

The New York Film Festival is a curated, boutique festival showing 28 films from 18 countries. Film critic Nathan Lee joined Richard Hake to discuss what's hot this year.

More from Nathan Lee on Art.Cult

More on the New York Film Fest

The GOP got off to a rocky start this week as Hurricane Gustav threatened to put a damper on the convention festivities. But now that the storm has passed, the Republicans are back on schedule and they're coming out swinging.

Tonight, Rudy Giuliani makes the keynote address. He's been on the ...

For years now we've heard about that controversy surrounding the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. One part of that controversy stems from concerns over the use of waterboarding, a technique that some have equated to torture that's allegedly used to gather information from detainees. It's the subject of a new ...

Imagine this scenario: you're sitting at home and there's a knock on the door. The person says they can help you save money on your energy costs. And with an economy like this, who doesn’t want to save money?

All you need to do is show them your bill and fill ...

The buck stops here. That's Governor Paterson's message to New Yorkers concerning the state's fiscal crisis.

Paterson's July 29 Budget Speech

Paterson's July 30 Budget Update

PATERSON: It is time for New York and other governments to cut up our credit cards. The era of ...

The musical Passing Strange will close at the Belasco Theater this Sunday, after a run of only 5 months. The filmmaker Spike Lee is making a film version. So what's it take to stay open on Broadway these days? Charles Isherwood is a theater critic for the New York Times ...