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The actress Natasha Richardson, whose career highlights included the film 'Patty Hearst' and a Tony-winning performance in a stage revival of 'Cabaret,' has died.

A statement issued Wednesday evening by a publicist for Richardson's husband, the actor Liam Neeson, described Neeson ...

In his book, The Other Side of Desire, New York Times Magazine staff writer Daniel Bergner investigates different kinds of sexual desire through four case studies.

Listen to an entire interview here.

(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The fallout from Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme widened today, with the arrest of his longtime accountant on fraud charges. David Friehling is accused of helping the disgraced money manager ...

Former AIG insurance giant chief Maurice \'Hank\' Greenberg and then New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. (AFP/Getty Images)

Eliot Spitzer, columnist for Slate and former governor of New York, talks to WNYC's Brian Lehrer about AIG bonuses, CEO compensation, the NYS budget, and other matters of the day.

Brian Lehrer: What put AIG in your sights as New York attorney general?

Eliot Spitzer: We were approached by some sources who said that AIG, which was at the time guided by Hank Greenberg as CEO, was, to speak in street vernacular, juicing its books by creating false reinsurance contracts that would appear to add capital to its balance sheet. Now that sounds all very complicated but, what it really means is they were playing games with their accounting in order to look stronger than they were. Hank Greenberg, there are tapes that prove this, was very, very concerned with any, even minor, fluctuation in their stock evaluation.

These contracts, it was alleged, were designed to make them look better in the eyes of Wall Street. We investigated, brought a civil case to settlement of $1.4 billion. At the time, $1.4 billion seemed like a lot of money. It was the biggest financial settlement ever. The board removed Hank Greenberg because he invoked the Fifth Amendment, when he was asked about this. Four people were charged criminally and convicted for basically playing games. But it lead us to inquire and to probe into the inner workings of the company and what we saw was a mess.

(Kathleen Horan)

Everyone may be Irish today, but given the tough economic times some are wondering if its really a good time to be celebrating. Before setting out on the St. Patrick's Day parade route, Mayor Bloomberg said the answer was simple: yes, more than ever.
'People need a pick-me-up,' says Bloomberg. 'People need to know that we can get through this together. All we need to do is treat everybody today like their Irish, next time like their Italian, the other like they're Hindus.'

(Kathleen Horan)

It's a parade of firsts and lasts for St. Patrick's Day in New York. Warren Levinson reports.

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has ...

(Getty)

In an early meeting with journalists after her appointment, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand noted she was among the first members of Congress to post her schedule -- including meetings with lobbyists and so-called 'private meetings' -- on the internet. She's barely got a website up and running (spokesman Matt Canter says a more complete one is coming within the week). But we asked anyway, who has she met with? (We were curious if anyone was lobbying her on the stimulus funding, and our interest was piqued by the conspicuous presence of former Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who IS lobbying on stimulus funding, , at the press conference announcing Gillibrand's appointment.) Canter sent us over this list -- anything on it look interesting to you?

On March 16, 1985, Terry Anderson, an Associated Press bureau chief, was taken hostage in Beirut, Lebanon.

A water main break in lower Manhattan is causing subway and traffic disruptions. The break occurred on Varick Street about 12:20 p.m. and is causing delays on the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 subway lines. The Department of Environmental Protection says it has shut off water in the area. Two lanes have been closed to traffic while crews work on the problem.

On March 13, 1955, Tammany leader Carmine De Sapio spars with New York State Attorney General Jacob Javits on ethics in politics.

Despite the hype over shovel-ready projects, and a list 787 transit projects that are "ready-to-go within 90 days", it's going to take well over a year before the $8.4 billion that the federal stimulus bill allocates for mass transit is actually spent.

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration put out its regulations on spending that money (PDF). They stipulate that half of the money allocated to a particular state or transit agency must be "obligated" within the next six months, and the rest of it in the following six months.

But "obligate" means simply this: that the FTA agrees that the local transit agency is planning to spend the money in an appropriate way. It does not mean that the agency has to have put the project out to bid by that point, much less that it be put under contract.

Investors Dewitt Baker (R) and Judith Welling, who had invested with financier Bernard Madoff, outside Manahttan federal courthouse. (Getty)

Bernard Madoff was led ...

No tax on gym memberships either.

Governor Paterson says he’s rescinding 137 so-called 'nuisance taxes' in the state budget. They ranged from taxes on haircuts to iPods. Karen DeWitt has more from ...

Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner says he'll decide in June whether he will run for mayor. Weiner, who represents parts of Queens an
Brooklyn, said in a letter to supporters that the nation's economic crisis 'is a time for problem solving' in Washington. He said he'll decide during the Congressional summer break, quote, 'the best political course.' A potential Democratic rival -- City Comptroller Bill Thompson -- already has hired a campaign manager. Mayor Bloomberg also has hired staff for his re-election bid.

March 11, 1959 - The drama “A Raisin in the Sun” opens at New York's Ethel Barrymore Theater. 

From heist movies in the Great Depression to 1967's 'Bonnie and Clyde' to a new film about John Dillinger, Hollywood has had a longstanding love affair with bank robbers. Leonard Lopate looks at populist ideas in a few of these movies and why, even though they're criminals, many of us end up rooting for the robbers. Film critics David Thomson and Mark Harris join Leonard to talk about 'Dog Day Afternoon' (1975), 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967) and “The Bank Dick” (1940).

Anyone who has been commuting from the Bedford Avenue L stop for the past 10 years must have noticed something funny happening. Not only has the platform, once pretty civilized, has become become painfully crowded, but when the train comes, there's no room to squeeze on. The nonpartisan think tank ...

Senate Republicans were the first at the state capitol to release their alternative to Governor Paterson’s state budget, WNYC's Karen Dewitt reports from Albany.

The Senate Republicans, who are in the minority in that house by just one seat, rejected both Governor Paterson's dozens of new taxes and fees to raise revenues and a plan circulating in the legislature to raise taxes on wealthy. 'You can't tax your way out of this situation,' says Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos.

The 'iron curtain' speech.

March 4, 1933

This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.

So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.