Janet Babin

A new study from the Pew Research Center found that less than a quarter of university presidents use Twitter.

How much is a backyard worth to you? If you've been longing for some green space to call your own, at least for a little while, then there is a place on the Lower East Side that can help — for a price.

New York —

Despite low consumer confidence and wild swings on Wall Street, retail giant Nordstrom opened a new concept store under a new name – Treasure and Bond – in Soho last week that will donate all profits to charity.

When Bank of America decided to buy troubled mortgage lender Countrywide Financial during the financial crisis of 2008, it many have underestimated the foreclosure costs that would come along with it.

News late Friday that Standard and Poors had downgraded US debt from its AAA credit rating came at the end of a tumultuous week for the markets. But it wasn't a surprise to many New Yorkers who work with the markets and credit ratings everyday for financial clients.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is expected to reintroduce a budget to the Newark City Council Wednesday morning. Last month, his $772 million budget proposal was turned down. The sticking point for most Council members was a 7 percent increase to Newark's property tax.

Southpoint Park reopened on Roosevelt Island Tuesday. The park surrounds the abandoned smallpox hospital on the island.

Forget about all those landlord concessions like a month's free rent or a gratis gym membership to go with that one-year lease —  they're so last summer. New Yorkers looking to rent in the five boroughs are facing steep competition for available space, and they're paying more for it.