August 30, 2014

Aww, rats! Residents near Central Park complain about rodents

Central Park is getting ratty, with residents of well-heeled neighborhoods around it calling in 4,691 vermin complaints in the past four years. The Upper West Side continues to hold the...

Magnitude 5.4 earthquake rattles Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Alaska Earthquake Center says a magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit 43 miles northwest of Fairbanks on Saturday night. The center says no reports of damage have been...

Rikers fails to lock down its 4.5-star rating on Yelp

The cons are outweighing the pros. Rikers Island — once a darling of the review site Yelp — is slipping in the ultra-competitive world of penitentiary ratings since The Post...

Ruben Tejada knows his time as a Met likely at an end

Ruben Tejada grabbed his glove and his cap and headed for infield practice before Saturday’s game at Citi Field, trying to keep his spirits up when his future with the...

Thugs attack off-duty cop in Bronx bodega

Three goons jumped an off-duty cop in a Bronx bodega Saturday morning, and one managed to briefly escape with the officer’s gun, authorities said. The cop was headed to work...

Mystery mail causes burning sensation scare at hospital

Someone sent a letter containing a mystery substance to a Union Square doctor’s office, causing a secretary there to suffer a burning sensation on her hand, cops said. Firefighters briefly...

Mets can't meet 90-win goal after ugly loss to Phillies

Whether it represented a goal, a challenge, a standard for which to strive or just an utter illusion, the Mets’ hope for 90 victories is no longer feasible. Hey, relax....

Daily Blotter

Brooklyn ■ Cops are looking for a suspect who exposed himself on a train at the Pacific Street subway station in Prospect Heights, police said. Cops say the suspect boarded...

Woman fights off attempted rapist

A violent pervert tried to rape a 20-year-old woman on a Brooklyn street early Friday - but she bravely fought him off.. The victim was walking on Saint Marks Avenue...

Serena Williams keeps rolling through US Open draw

The other top women’s seeds have fallen by the wayside at the U.S. Open, as have all of the various American flavors of the month. But none of them include...

Hanging slider in first inning costly for Michael Pineda

TORONTO — One mistake by Michael Pineda was all it took to absorb a 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday at Rogers Centre. A 0-2 slider to Jose...

Hondo's laboring

Hondo’s deficit continued to seek its own level Saturday as it grew to 1,550 gilliams as a result of his setback with the Reds in Pittsburgh. Sunday: Mr. Aitch will...

Inversion will put a tax on US economy

A rising tide of US companies is expected to flood foreign shores in the next 12 months, shifting their legal domicile overseas to save billions in punitive US taxes, according...

Apple to give iTunes Radio some fresh attention

Phones and watches may not be all Apple will discuss on Sept. 9. The Cupertino-based consumer giant is giving iTunes Radio some fresh attention. Sources tell On The Money that...

Silicon Valley continues to blindly funnel money into Snapchat

Has the smart money in Silicon Valley lost its mind? Last week, the highly regarded venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins invested an additional $20 million into Snapchat, which raised its valuation...

Dear John: Hey, scholarship kids! Play or pay

Dear John: With regard to the college sports scholarship issue, the athlete should be made to sign a contract and agree to play for the time of his eligibility. One...

Behold: The hottest suit of the summer

http://instagram.com/p/ruHJyfMUX2/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=photo&modal=true If you’re tired of the solid color two-pieces, soak up the last of the summer sunshine in a Kiini. The colorful itsy-bitsy bikini brand is a favorite of fashion...

Man arrested for 'anti-white' Central Park pellet attacks

The first suspect has been arrested in a pair of racially-motivated pellet-gun shootings earlier this month in Central Park. Edward Fall, 20, of Morningside Heights, was charged late Saturday with...

Once again, Ellsbury's injury history comes under spotlight

TORONTO — The way he hobbled around the Yankees’ clubhouse Saturday, Jacoby Ellsbury looked more likely to watch “SpongeBob SquarePants” reruns from a hospital bed Sunday than take part in...

8 things to watch this week

1. The Knick Friday, 10 p.m., Cinemax Dr. Algernon Edwards (Andre Holland) forces Thackery’s (Clive Owen) hand during surgery, angering Eleanor (Maya Kazan). Still in recovery after her uncomfortable skin...

Who's the bigger Turkey?

Remember the hue and outcry when the news broke that the National Security Agency had been monitoring the cell phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel? For weeks, official Germany wallowed...

Jailhouse jungle

A little-known legislative change can be a positive addition to the rush to bring needed reforms to the most dangerous piece of real estate in New York City — Rikers...

Motorcyclist bragged to cops he hit 185 mph in chase

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire police say a motorcyclist clocked at 127 mph bragged after being arrested that he had reached 185 mph during the chase. State police say 31-year-old...

Man in NYPD death's last promise to daughter

He promised to bring her a Snickers bar and ginger ale, but he never came home. A daughter of Ronald Singleton, who died in police custody while high on PCP...

Female coaches 'had sex with students for years'

Two female basketball coaches turned a Catholic secondary school into Horndog High, bedding students for years under the watch of a skirt-chasing athletic director, according to an alleged victim and...

In my library: Annie Polland

Long before Twitter, the key social network in New York City was the soapbox. “People would get up on boxes in Union Square and in front of the old Jewish Forward newspaper building to talk about labor...

Jets give Dimitri Patterson his walking papers

The bizarre Dimitri Patterson saga with the Jets came to an end Saturday when the team released the veteran cornerback who went AWOL last week. Patterson was among the 21...

Giants WR Corey Washington survives final round of cuts

At the start of training camp, the chances of Corey Washington finding his way onto the Giants’ final roster were slightly better than none, but probably worse than slim. He...

How the 'Saved by the Bell' gang have changed over the years

“Saved by the Bell” is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new Lifetime movie. Here's a look at the cast and characters then and now: Zack Morris The show’s protagonist,...

Rams cut Michael Sam

Michael Sam’s bid for the history books was most likely delayed Saturday when the Rams released the rookie defensive end as part of the NFL’s final cutdown for the regular...

Qualifier Krunic stuns third-seeded Kvitova

When Petra Kvitova’s forehand sailed wide, Aleksandra Krunic fell flat on her back on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court, equal parts surprise and celebration. She wouldn’t let herself believe what...

Why Mitt Romney may again be the GOP’s next great hope

The most likely Republican presidential candidate for 2016 is . . . Mitt Romney? The former Massachusetts governor has run and lost two bids for the White House — in...

Without Ellsbury, Yankees get one-hit by Blue Jays in loss

TORONTO — Even with their best player performing like a MVP candidate across the last two weeks, the Yankees had a hard time getting acquainted with home plate. Now, they...

You can count on airwaves for useless stats

Dr. Jorge Ortiz, director of surgical transplantation at the University of Toledo Medical Center, writes to pass along a quote from a 20th Century philosopher, as per what Dr. Ortiz...

How and when to find fantasy football gems, busts

It’s every fantasy owner’s fantasy: nabbing that late-round sleeper. Sometimes it’s a pick meet with quizzical looks of, “Who?” And other times the pick is made to a chorus of...

Seahawks show Super success still starts on defensive side

It’s the hoariest cliche in football: Defense wins championships. But is it still true? Despite the NFL’s relentless efforts in the past decade to give offenses — especially the passing...

Tom Coughlin gives Victor Cruz a spot on Giants leadership council

There comes a time when a player turns an unseen corner, and that time has come for Victor Cruz. He begins his fifth season with the Giants sporting a brand...

How Reds react to second-half swoon will be major factor in offseason

The offseason is an annual stress test for 30 teams. Nevertheless, even with a month left in the regular season, we can begin to see which organizations will face extreme...

4 spots to sample Amsterdam's flourishing cocktail scene

So you want to get your buzz on in Amsterdam. Sure, you can drop by one of those notorious coffeeshops and request a weed menu, and there’s no shortage of...

Within Vienna's city limits, some serious wines are being made

Switch around a few letters and you can easily see that Wien (aka Vienna) goes hand-in-hand with wine. (And, hey, after a couple of glasses of wine, it’s extremely easy...

Serby’s Sunday Q&A with Victor Cruz

Before the Giants kick off the season on Monday in Detroit, Post columnist Steve Serby caught up with receiver Victor Cruz for some Q&A. Q: Would you like to rival...

Belle & Sebastian frontman gets behind the camera

If it wasn’t for Stuart Murdoch’s visit to a faith healer during the early ’90s, his band Belle & Sebastian may have never existed. The adored Scottish indie-pop outfit released...

Dog turns on stove, starts fire

LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Police say a New Jersey family's dog turned on the stove, which caught the laptop resting on the burner on fire and sent smoke through the...

DJs finally get hold of Afrika Bambaataa’s record collection

Most old-old-school hip-hop fans consider Afrika Bambaataa’s massive record collection to be the Holy Grail. The Bronx DJ’s huge hoard of beats and breaks meant he was known as “Master...

6 looks to have you back in school in style, with the new Batman in 'Gotham'

David Mazouz is one lucky boy. As the rest of the kids in the country head back to school, 13-year-old Mazouz is living large in New York, starring as Bruce...

Visual artist seeks a lady who can handle any subject matter

Eric, 35 Is ready to get serious with someone who isn’t afraid to be silly. Flexible schedule: Eric practices yoga at least once a week. Bonjour!: After college, Eric lived...

This week's couple: Baby talk

A man with a plan is universally accepted as being attractive. But if the plan is settling down and having children, it can be a pretty heavy conversation topic for...

5 sex classes in NYC to keep things steamy

The temperature is poised to drop, but New York City sexperts have plenty of suggestions for how to keep the heat rising in bed this fall — and the ideas...

Slice of cake from Princess Diana's wedding sells for $1,375

That’s a lot of dough for a piece of cake. A 33-year-old piece of cake from the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana sold for $1,375 at an online...

5 coffee cocktails that'll get you totally buzzed

When it comes to beverages, New Yorkers tend to geek out about two types in particular: artisan coffee and craft cocktails. Now, the city’s hottest bars and restaurants are bringing...

Meet the hard-working goats cleaning up Staten Island

As visitors gaze out from the overlook in Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth at the view of New York City’s harbor, they’re often greeted by an unexpected sight: a kind goat...

The improbable life of Elvis impersonator Blake Rayne

The secret to Blake Rayne’s success? “A lot of dumb luck. I fully admit that,” he tells The Post. The singer-actor’s story reads like something out of a movie. He...

Teens with red paint on their hands caught spraying graffiti

Two mischievous teens were caught red-handed—literally—after they vandalized two civil war landmarks on the Upper West Side, police said. Cops were on patrol Thursday night when they got a call...

Inside modern Iran, where porn and prostitution are rampant

To live in Tehran, writes British-Iranian journalist Ramita Navai in this collection of true stories, requires one essential skill: lying. “Morals don’t come into it,” Navai writes. “Lying in Tehran...

2 questioned in 'anti-white' shooting of jogger in Central Park

Cops are questioning two alleged ‘anti-white’ thugs who shot a woman in Central Park with a pellet gun and police sources said they have been linked to a few other...

Gang Green cut beleaguered WR Stephen Hill

It turns out the last drop of Stephen Hill’s Jets career was made by the team. The Jets dropped Hill on Saturday, waiving the wide receiver as they trimmed their...

Adam Duritz back with new songs after mental illness diagnosis

As the lead singer of alt-rockers Counting Crows, Adam Duritz has sold millions of albums over the last two decades, been nominated for a Grammy and had high-profile romances with...

Ukraine wants to join NATO as Putin compares Kiev to Nazis

Ukraine called on Friday for full membership in NATO, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in armored columns that have driven back its...

Man brain dead after masked men shoot up liquor store

Two masked men burst into a Brooklyn liquor store on Friday night and opened fire, leaving one man brain dead and injuring a woman, cops said. The 19-year-old victim, of...

The intensely personal stand-up comedy of Jen Kirkman

Though she first graced the stage in Boston in 1997, veteran comedian and “Chelsea Lately” regular Jen Kirkman developed much of her anecdotal style — where personal revelation meets tight...

Boston bombers' sisters made 'bomb' threats before: neighbors

New Jersey neighbors of the Boston Marathon terrorists’ sisters told The Post they heard the women threaten to “bomb” someone well before one of them was busted by the NYPD...

Rookie IndyCar driver hospitalized after huge crash

http://instagram.com/p/sTornECxfJ FONTANA, Calif. — Rookie IndyCar driver Mikhail Aleshin was hospitalized in serious but stable condition Friday night after a frightening crash in the final practice session for the series...

Christie’s legal tab for Bridgegate cost taxpayers $7.3M

The law firm Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hired to handle the George Washington Bridge scandal has cost taxpayers $7.3 million, a new report said Friday. Gibson Dunn billed the state...

Baby declared dead after being brought home from day care

A baby girl was pronounced dead Friday after her father retrieved her from a Queens daycare center — and the girl’s mother later charged that she was dead when he...

What happens in Vegas: Backman receives top manager honors

Wally Backman’s stock could be on the rise, after he led the Mets’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas to the Pacific Coast League playoffs for the second straight year. On...

Joe Girardi: Blocking-the-plate rule needs to be changed

TORONTO — Yankees manager Joe Girardi won’t stop campaigning for the new blocking of the plate rule by a catcher to be changed. Friday night, he believed Blue Jays catcher...

From top to bottom: Mets are accepting failure too easily

If there’s one thing on which we can all agree on when it comes to the Mets, it’s their need to add offense. So it really wasn’t much help at...

Henrik Lundqvist sees Roger Federer makes it look easy

Henrik Lundqvist was in attendance Friday night, three days after Michael Jordan sat in Roger Federer’s courtside box. Other than the presence of sports royalty in attendance, however, the second-seeded...

On a day of upsets, Maria Sharapova survives

Maria Sharapova didn’t perform at her best Friday night at the U.S. Open. Her serve was broken three times and the fifth seed committed 24 unforced errors in an up-and-down,...

Hondo's all Red

Unfortunately for Hondo, the Fish were foul against Los Bravos on Friday night, causing the accounts payable to grow to a smooth 1,500 purkeys. Saturday: Mr. Aitch will go with...

Electric Zoo's anti-drug push evident on Randall's Island

"Drugs are bad, mmmkay?" It's the mantra spoken by the famously buffoonish Mr. Mackey – the school counselor in "South Park" – but now also by organizers of Electric Zoo....

Pat LaFrieda's 6 secrets to creating the perfect burger

If you’ve heard the name Pat LaFrieda before, you know he’s the city’s foremost meat purveyor. His 100-year-old butcher business has provided some of the most lauded cuts of meat...

Lost $13K wedding ring found by man with metal detector

A Queens woman thought all hope was lost when her 1.3-carat engagement ring worth $13,600 went missing in the sands of Robert Moses State Park — and joked on Facebook...

Shooting victim identifies Gotti pal’s grandson as gunman

The grandson of a Teamsters boss who did dirty work for John Gotti Sr. allegedly pumped four bullets into a pal on Friday — but the victim was able to...

Labor Day weekend means fun in the sun

Labor Day weekend has arrived! Swimming was not allowed at area beaches due to powerful waves, but the weather is expected to clear up over the weekend giving beachgoers nothing...

Anti-tenure advocates' law firm withdraws from case

The powerhouse law firm that was supposed to represent parent advocates suing to overturn the state’s teacher tenure laws has withdrawn from the case, The Post has learned. One of...

The possible saving grace to Yankees' season: the schedule

TORONTO — Could September give the Yankees one last life preserver, from a most unlikely source? Joe Girardi’s crew picked up a most crucial victory Friday night, 6-3 over the...

Cuomo pushes 'progressive' record as Democratic primary nears

Now he’s Mr. Progressive. Gov. Cuomo is flooding the mailboxes of Democratic voters, boasting that he recast New York as the “Progressive Capital of the Country” as he tries to...

Days after allegedly shooting cousin, boxer primes for fight

Jermain Taylor was expected to arrive in Miami late Friday to begin training for his Oct. 8 fight in Biloxi, Miss., against Sam Soliman of Australia for the IBF middleweight...

Teachout refuses to take a stand on Israel

ALBANY — Zephyr Teachout, who accuses Gov. Cuomo of ducking her on debates, is doing some ducking of her own on Israel. The leftist Fordham Law professor, who is challenging...

Daily Blotter

Brooklyn ■ A robbery suspect picked the lock of an apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant and made off with thousands of dollars worth of items including jewelry and electronics, police said. The...

Teen killed in crash while driving friend’s Lamborghini

A Long Island teenager’s dream ride in a Lamborghini ended in horror when he crashed into a guardrail early Friday — causing the car to completely break apart, police said....

Passenger screams 'Terrorist!' on JFK-bound flight

Pandemonium erupted on a crowded Emirates jet bound for JFK Airport when a deranged passenger shouted, “Terrorist! Terrorist!” while pointing at others, sources said. The tense situation occurred several hours...

Cubs' freakish talent could save your fantasy team

Let’s start this week’s column with a few jokes at the expensive of the lowly Cubs: What’s the difference between dirt and the Cubs? Give up? Nothing, they’re both constantly...