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A record-number of minorities took this year’s revamped firefighter entrance exam thanks to recruiting efforts aimed at minorities, according to the FDNY.

A New York City fire lieutenant who died fighting a Brooklyn blaze is being laid to rest on Long Island.

A day after Lt. Rich Nappi was killed battling a three-alarm blaze in Brooklyn, the 47-year-old father of two was remembered by his fellow firefighters as a "tireless worker" and a "family man."

Hundreds of area firefighters were deployed to fight fast-burning blazes that erupted in the New York region this week – using wildfire-fighting skills not often used in an urban environment.

Brooklyn firefighter Robert Wiedmann is finally home after being badly injured in a Crown Heights blaze three months ago.

A federal judge in New York has ruled that the FDNY could owe up to $128 million in back-pay and compensation to black and Latino firefighters who took two entrance exams deemed discriminatory.

New York City says a judge overseeing a discrimination case against the fire department abandoned his neutral role and was preoccupied with press coverage of the proceedings.

A federal monitor overseeing the FDNY’s hiring process is allowing the Vulcan Society, a group of black firefighters, to follow up directly with black candidates who haven’t completed their paperwork for an upcoming entrance exam by making home visits.

Two firefighters who were badly burned at a Brooklyn apartment fire are in serious but stable condition.

A federal judge is appointing a former prosecutor as an independent monitor to oversee the efforts of the city's fire department to hire minorities.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said dozens of firefighters went to Zuccotti Park Friday morning to remove fire hazards from the anti-Wall Street encampment in Lower Manhattan.

Representatives for the city and a group charging the FDNY with discrimination are due back in court Thursday. The Center for Constitutional Rights is expected to deliver a list of potential candidates for a court-appointed monitor to oversee the department's hiring practices.

A federal judge in New York wants an independent monitor to oversee the FDNY's hiring and recruiting practices.

This week, the New York City Council got an update on how much progress the Bloomberg administration has make in resolving three of the main first responder communications problems identified during the attacks on. But others argue there are still improvements that need to be made.

Since the September 11 attack, New York City has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade its 911 call system and its emergency radio communications to try and correct the inadequacies documented by the 911 Commission and other expert reviews.
A City Council panel Tuesday examined how far the Bloomberg administration had actually gotten on the effort,which has run into time delays and major cost overruns.

The FDNY said nearly half of the applicants for its new exam are minorities as the department continues its efforts to recruit and attract a more diverse force.

New York City firefighters said they're disappointed the city isn't making room for them at this Sunday's ceremony honoring the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The mayor's office said due to space constraints at the newly-opened Memorial Plaza, the priority is to accommodate victims' families, and that first responders can gather in neighboring Zuccotti Park.

Jerry Sullivan addresses the press with Chief Dolan, left, and a supporter at today's protest. (Arun Venugopal / WNYC)

Late yesterday morning I received this in an email about a protest today.

FURIOUS NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTERS AND OFFICERS  AND 9/11 FAMILY MEMBERS WILL DEMAND THAT NO TAXPAYER MONEY GO IN TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF GROUND ZERO MOSQUE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 22ND  AT 12 NOON OUTSIDE ST. PAUL'S  CHURCH YARD AT THE CORNER  OF CHURCH AND VESEY  STREETS IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN.

The funds in question were part of a $17 million Federal block grant the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation received. Last September LMDC announced it was accepting applications from "not-for-profit and government organizations engaged in cultural or community programs or projects that benefit the residents, workers, and communities of Lower Manhattan."

In November 2010, Park51 announced it was applying for a portion of the funds on its website:

Park51 has applied for a Lower Manhattan Development Corporation grant which would in part fund social service programs for all the residents of Lower Manhattan such as domestic violence prevention, Arabic and other foreign language classes, programs and services for homeless veterans, two multi-cultural art exhibits and immigration services.

There were a few notes in the press at the time. As LMDC has not official announced who will be receiving the funds, there isn't any specific, recent event that might trigger renewed interest in the subject. Except. of course, for Republican Bob Turner's congressional race out in Queens.

FDNY commissioner Salvatore Cassano defended the department's hiring practices against claims of discrimination on Tuesday when he testified for more than two hours in Federal Court in Brooklyn.  

A Brooklyn federal judge is set to begin hearing evidence Monday to decide what steps the city should take to recruit more black firefighters.