Julianne Welby

The U.S. Government is shutting down non-essential services for the first time in nearly two decades, and thousands of federal workers are being told to stay home. In the EPA’s Region II, which covers New York and New Jersey, just 36 out of 861 staff are being asked to report to work throughout the shutdown.

It's apple picking season, and growers say they're experiencing a much better crop this year.

The popular website Airbnb has had a victory in court that may make it easier for New Yorkers to rent out their apartments on a short term basis without breaking the law.

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Charles Schumer (D-New York) are calling on the Department of Energy to investigate the causes of an unexpected power failure that has caused frustration and havoc for tens of thousands of commuters in their two states.

There's a runoff election next Tuesday for Public Advocate, who's next in line if the mayor can't serve. In a televised debate, the two Democratic candidates were fighting hard — both to get out the vote, and against each other.

Brooklyn Assemblyman William F. Boyland, Jr., has decided not to seek a plea deal with prosecutors. If Boyland goes on trial, New York's public corruption problems are guaranteed to stay in the headlines.

The former head of a major New York City charity is facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing more than $5 million dollars from the group, and turning it into illegal campaign contributions.

New York Attorney General Eric Schndeiderman has settled cases with nineteen companies that tried to game online ratings on sites like Yelp, Citysearch, and Google. Schneiderman says in some instances “Astroturf” reputation managers sold reviews that were as fake as the “grass” in Met Life stadium.

President Obama is in town for the U.N. General Assembly, so expect plenty of street closures and traffic tie ups. Here's what you need to know to navigate the East Side.

Police barricades, gridlock alerts, more crowded sidewalks – those are the conditions in Midtown East that will be making some New Yorkers grumpier this week.

Catholics celebrating Mass Sunday at St. Patrick's Cathedral had a chance to reflect on comments made this week by Pope Francis that the church has become too focused on "small-minded rules" on hot-button issues like homosexuality, abortion and contraceptives.

Three sites in Brooklyn and one in Westchester County are being considered for designation as historic landmarks.

The election to decide the number two job in city government is a little more than a week away, and both candidates seem to be betting that an anti-Bloomberg message will resonate with voters.

UFT president Michael Mulgrew once said he'd make Bill Thompson mayor. As it turns out, he helped him bow out.

Republican mayoral hopeful Joe Lhota spent part of his day on Tuesday reaching out to constituencies not likely to support him. That included a private meeting with Reverend Al Sharpton in Harlem, who famously and regularly sparred with former Mayor Giuliani, Lhota's old boss. 

A state judge in Brooklyn has rejected the closure of Long Island College Hospital. Justice Johnny Baynes said the state health department's decision to allow the Cobble Hill facility, known as LICH, to close is invalid. He also called state health regulations "unconstitutionally vague" when it comes to authorizing hospital shutdowns.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office months after 9/11, a time he said when many wondered whether New York would remain a financial and economic powerhouse. Staring out at the vast construction site at the World Trade Center from the 10th floor of 7 World Trade Center on Thursday morning, he answered his own question during a speech before the Downtown Alliance.

“Today, I think it’s safe to say, together we succeeded beyond what anyone thought was possible."

President Obama was widely expected to make the case for a military strike against President Assad's regime in his speech this evening.