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New York is a little bit greener today -- or at least more aware -- with the launch of the world's first real-time carbon counter. The almost 70-foot high billboard outside of Madison Square Garden shows the running total of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The current number displayed on ...

Say hello to a greener Port Authority. The bus terminal near Times Square opened its first green market today, offering fresh produce and baked goods to the more than 200,000 daily commuters who pass through. Florida native Laura Zequeira was on her way to upstate New York when she picked ...

President Barack Obama unveiled a financial system overhaul Wednesday afternoon, including a new consumer protection agency, in what he described as a necessary effort to avert future economic crises.

Excerpts from Obama's address:

'Today, my ...

The city budget comes in early…the state’s at a standstill…in Washington, they’re bringing their blackberries to the beach… and Bob Hennelly does his pirate imitation. Andrea, Bob, and Brian chew it all over in this week’s “Digesting Politics.”

'Digesting ...

Bloomsday performers outside Davy Byrne\'s pub, Dublin, Bloomsday 2003.

The Leonard Lopate Show commemorates the 40th anniversary of Stonewall by talking about representations of LGBT life and politics on film, part of the Projections film series. In this segment, Leonard discusses "Parting Glances" (1986) with film critic Nathan Lee and professor of Cinema Studies at CUNY David Gerstner.

A judge is again delaying action on the state Senate's power struggle. State Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara ordered Democrats and Republicans to return to court at one o'clock this afternoon, after an hour-long meeting this morning fell apart.

Republican and Democratic senators so far have failed ...

New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-13) decided to re-defect back to the Democratic caucus. Hear about what changed his mind and how he expects the Senate to proceed with an even 31-31 split.

More coverage of the Senate power struggle >>

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on health care reform at the annual meeting of the American Medical ...

Monday\'s outpouring for Mousavi swelled as ...

In Albany, it's still unclear who's in control. Lawmakers continue to await a court decision on whether last week's Republican takeover of the Senate chamber was legal. Today, Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate switched his allegiance back to fellow Democrats, making an even 31 to 31 vote split in the chamber.

Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen is asking listeners to redesign the gay flag for the 21st century. The design firm Worldstudio is also taking on the assignment and will present its ...

Photo by Harvey Wang

This documentary from Sound Portraits, broadcast on the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, is the first documentary - in any medium ...

An appellate court judge has granted State Senate Democrats an injunction that partially blocks the new coalition leadership from taking control. The order blocks Pedro Espada, the dissident Democrat elected Senate president on Monday, from being in line to succeed the governor if he's out of state, or if the ...

The Decemberists joined Soundcheck to perform songs from their latest album, an hour-long, 17-track rock opera, The Hazards of Love. This story of star-crossed lovers and a shape-shifting beast is set to a score that recalls 1960s British folk-pop and bombastic '70s-style prog rock. Led by songwriter Colin Meloy, the quintet is joined today by vocalists Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond.

“Won’t Want for Love (Margaret In The Taiga)”

“The Hazards of Love 2: Wager All”

Reporter Karen DeWitt reports that it was a near riot in the State Senate chamber in Albany today when Senators Pedro Espada and Dean Skelos finally reconvened under the new Senate leadership. Dewitt says protesters with Citizen Action and ...

Uncertainty continues to reign in Albany.Doors to the state Senate chamber in Albany were still locked three hours after the Republicans said they would hold their first Senate session. New York Daily News political columnist and blogger Liz Benjamin was there and she joined Amy Eddings to discuss the debacle.

"Hundreds of reporters, lobbyists, onlookers, a crowd of 200-300 people have been gathered outside the main Senate door for over an hour now, waiting for Senator Espada and Senator Skelos to show up as promised. People are getting very restless. The air is bad. People are threatening to faint. It just seems like the government is disintegrating, because no one will tell give us an answer of where they are or what is going on."

Earlier, Senator Malcolm Smith of Queens -- who is still calling himself the senate majority leader -- said he is seeking a court injunction to prevent Republicans from taking power.

Governor Paterson is asking his fellow Democrats to unlock the doors to the Senate chamber, and for senators to hold another vote to decide who will be their leader, Republican Dean Skelos, or Democrat Malcolm Smith.

"I am urging them all to go back to the chamber. They can simply go in and elect the majority leader, and I will work with whomever it is."

Paterson says a do-over is needed because it is unclear whether Monday's vote to restore the GOP to power happened during the session, or after it was gaveled to a close.

Bronx and Queens constituents are being hit with a wave of robocalls criticizing State Senators Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. for their role in the Republican coup.

In a call, an anonymous young woman says that Monserrate betrayed voters in his district. The 13th District - which he represents - is overwhelmingly Democratic.

Our Digesting Politics trio plumbs the why and what for of the coup in Albany.

A sample of the conversation:

Brian Lehrer: I'm still trying to figure out what this means. To the best of my ability to discern, this ...