Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Homework - Money Stolen From A Catholic School

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


The Bronx (11/28/2010) - Police say a burglary Sunday at a Catholic school in the Bronx may be connected to a string of similar crimes at churches over the past month.


In total, three churches and two Catholic schools have been hit, the most recent Sunday night.


Police say the burglar broke in through a gymnasium window at Our Lady of Refuge School in Bedford Park before 7:30 p.m.


In addition to two laptops, a scanner, and a digital video camera, more than a thousand dollars in cash was stolen -- a portion of which was going to be used to take kindergartners to see a musical at Lehman College.


The principal of the school says she feels violated.


"It's very difficult because when you steal from the school you're really stealing from the children and a lot of the children are on scholarship and so they really can't afford too much and so whatever extra money I have is to purchase things for them. A pair of shoes, a coat, pair of glasses, and that's who gonna go to," said Our Lady of Refuge School Principal Marivel Colon.


Police suspect two burglars were involved.


The other incidents all took place between November 6th and Thanksgiving.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What was stolen?
4. What was the school going to do with the money?
5. How many churches have been hit?
6. What was the name of the school involved?


Info from NY1

Monday, November 29, 2010

Homework - Apartments burn on Bronx

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
The Bronx (11/28/2010) - A man is dead and seven others injured after a fire ripped through a Bronx apartment building Saturday night.


Fire officials say flames broke out around 9:45 p.m. in a five story building at 31 East 169th Street in Mount Eden.


When police entered the building, they found a 46-year-old man unconscious in a stairwell.


He was later pronounced dead at the scene.


The seven people injured in the fire were taken to Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center.


Five are in serious condition.


The Red Cross has opened a shelter at PS 64 where they are taking care of about 30 people.


Residents were told they cannot return permanently to their homes until at least Monday or Tuesday.


They are being allowed back in temporarily to get identification and medication.


The cause of the fire is under investigation.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What time did the fire start?
4. How old was the man that was found dead?
5. How many people were injured?
6. Where did the Red Cross open the shelter?
7. When will the people be allowed back into their homes?


Info from ny1

Monday, November 22, 2010

homework - Libraries Closing

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video. 


Story:
New York City (11/19/2010) - Most libraries across the five boroughs will be forced to close their doors an additional day each week as the city’s library system faces a $20 million budget cut. 


Eighth-grader Alexis Simmons is a frequent visitor to the Bedford-Stuyvesant library.


“I get better grades when I do my work here because there are accessories here that I don't have at home, like a dictionaries and encyclopedias,” she said.


Simons said she also uses the library's computers because she and her sister, Diamond, don't have Internet access at home. They come to the library every day it's open.


“It feels cozy and happy,” said Diamond Simmons.


The library is already closed Mondays and Sundays, and there is no big book store nearby.


There are about 240 libraries in the three independent library systems – the New York Public Library, which covers Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx; the Brooklyn Public Library; and the Queens Borough Public Library.


Elizabeth Lewis runs the literacy program for the Brooklyn libraries.


“During tough economic times, we see more people who are trying to find jobs, get help, learning how to read and write, and with English speaking skills,” said Lewis.


City Councilman Vincent Gentile of Brooklyn chairs a library subcommittee and says everyone has to share in the pain of closing the city's $3.3 billion budget gap.


“We are not suggesting that this cut not be part of the overall system. We, as a city, have to work with the libraries to minimize the impact that these cuts will have,” the councilman said.


Gentile says the council might be able to allow one library in each area to stay open the additional day the other libraries will have to be closed.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How many libraries are there in NYC?
4. How do libraries help students to get their work done?
5. Why will the libraries now have to close their doors an additional day a week?
6. How much was the budget cut?


Info from NY1

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Homework - Don't eat at the mall





Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions. 


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
NYC (11/18/2010) - Have you ever eaten at the mall? The Today Show did a 3 month investigation into the restaurants in the mall food court and found a lot of problems that could be dangerous for our health. They investigated 3 malls in 3 different states. One of the malls was South Street Seaport which is in downtown Manhattan. 


The investigation found that all the malls had serious violations of the health code. In the South Street Seaport 83% of the restaurants in the mall had serious violations. The first violation was keeping food at the wrong temperature, like leaving raw food out of the fridge. This could cause bacteria to grow on the food and make people sick. The second violation was vermin like roaches and mice. These animals cannot be around food safely because they spread germs like salmonella. The third violation was employees not washing their hands before they touch the food.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How long was the Today Show investigation?
4. What is the name of the mall in NYC that was investigated?
5. Name the 2 violations that were found in the investigation.
6. Why do think people should wash their hands before touching food?

Info from The Today Show

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Homework - The next NYC Taxi

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:


NYC (11/15/2010) - On Monday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the top three contenders for the "Taxi of Tomorrow," a search that started three years ago.


"We have never before worked with the auto industry to design a taxicab especially for New York City. That is until now," Bloomberg said.


The finalists were designed by Ford, Nissan, and Karsan, a Turkish company. All three are higher and boxier than current taxis. Each has more leg room and trunk space than what's available now, although the Nissan has more than the others and is also designed to one day run on electricity.


The mayor thinks that NYC needs a special kind of taxi because regular cabs do not last long enough in the city.


All of the finalists are fuel efficient. The city is also requiring the manufacturers to keep the cost comparable to the price of the cabs you see on the streets now. 


New Yorkers can go online to nyc.gov and answer a quick survey. If you give your opinion you will be entered in a contest to  win free cab rides for a year.


The mayors' office says it hopes to pick the winner early next year.


The new taxis are expected to hit the streets in the fall of 2014.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. Name the three companies that are competing to make the Taxi's for NYC.
4. Why does the mayor think we need a special type of taxi?
5. What do you get if you enter the contest?
6. When will the Mayor's office pick the winner?
7. When will the new taxi's hit the streets?


Info from NY1

Monday, November 15, 2010

Homework - Texting while driving the train

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


New York City (11/12/2010) - A subway driver caught on cell phone video texting while driving a train has confessed to transit officials.
A passenger shot video of the motorman last Friday morning while riding a Manhattan-bound 7 train.


In the video, the driver appears to be to be oblivious to what's coming up on the track ahead of his train, until he looks back and sees he is being recorded.


The head of subway operations says he wants a zero-tolerance attitude on worker safety.


The incident is under investigation, although no word yet on what disciplinary action the motorman faces.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What was the subway driver caught doing?
4. On what train did this take place?
5. What do you think should happen to the this train driver?


Info from NY1

Friday, November 12, 2010

Homework - Heroin Drug Bust on 43rd Street!





Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Manhattan (11/10/10) - Four people have been arrested in connection with an alleged heroin ring in the Theater District.
Local and federal agents Wednesday seized an estimated 30 pounds of heroin worth $6.5 million from an apartment on 43rd Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues.


The four suspects have been charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance.


Authorities say it is the biggest heroin mill broken up in Manhattan in more than a decade.


The suspects, who were followed by the DEA for a long time, had only moved into the apartment about 10 days ago. They did not have any furniture and covered the windows with dark cloth.


Brennan said agents set up surveillance at 417 West 43rd Street, and when an agent approached a suspect who was carrying a carrying a garbage bag of small glassine envelopes, the suspect ran off.


The suspect was caught and then members of the federal Drug and Alcohol Enforcement Agency and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force used a battering ram to break through the apartment door. The apartment was raided and the other suspects were taken into custody.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How many people were arrested?
4. How many pounds of heroin was seized?
5. What were the people charged with?
6. What street was the drug operation set up on?
7. How much was the heroin worth?


Info from NY1

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Homework - No more toys in Happy Meals


Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
San Francisco,California (11/9/2010) - Tuesday night, San Francisco became the first major city to ban toys in children's meals that don't meet nutritional guidelines.

Starting in December 2011, toys would only be allowed in fast-food children's meals with less than 640 milligrams of salt,  and less than 600 caloriess from fat. Fruits or vegetables would be required.

The fast-food industry argues there's no evidence San Francisco's ban would have any effect on childhood obesity. Fast-food restaurants spent $161 million advertising to children under 12 and an estimated $360 million on toys distributed with their meals in 2006, The Associated Press reported.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. If MacDonalds wants to put a toy in a Happy Meal, how much salt is the meal allowed to have?
4. If MacDonalds wants to put a toy in a Happy Meal, how many calories from fat is the meal allowed to have?
5. How much money did fast food restaurants spend on toys?
6. Why do you think the fast food restaurants put toys in the meal?


Info from NY1, syracuse.com and AP

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Homework - Man returns bag stuffed with money



Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Ringwood, New Jersey (11/8/2010) - Joe Monto was driving when he saw a blue backpack on the side of the road. He pulled over and picked up the bag. When he opened it, there was lots of money and jewelry in  it. He then took the bag home and looked for a phone number. 


Joe then called the phone number he found in the bag. He met the lady who had lost the bag and gave it back to her. There was a total of $23,000 in the bag. Joe Monto returned every penny. The lady gave him $1000 as a reward for being honest.


Joe Monto said that he felt that the jewelry might have been special to the lady's family and that it was good to do nice things for people.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the guy who returned the money?
4. How much money was in the bag?
5. How much did he get as a reward?
6. Would you have returned the money? Why or why not?


Info from MSNBC. Pic from merinews.com

Monday, November 8, 2010

Homework - Marathon!

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click HERE to watch the video.

New York City (11/7/2010) - After months of training, thousands of runners who traveled from across the globe made their way through the five boroughs Sunday as they took part in the 2010 ING New York City Marathon.

The 26.2 mile -- which featured runners from over 100 countries -- kicked off on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Bridge.

Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia won the men's title.

It was his first try at the marathon.

Another Ethiopian man was the favorite, but world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie pulled out at the 16-mile mark with an apparent right knee injury.


Kenya's Edna Kiplagat won the women's race for her first major marathon championship.
Chilean miner Edison Pena and some NY1 staffers -- including Brooklyn Reporter Jeanine Ramirez, Bronx Reporter Dean Meminger, and Health Reporter Kafi Drexel -- were among the more than 43,000 runners competing.

Race organizers say this year's participants collected roughly $1 million per mile to benefit more than 190 different groups.

"There are so many people out here doing the same thing, running for charities all over the city, the country, all over the world and and it's New York at its best coming together," Drexel said.

"I've run two 13 miles, a 15 mile, a 16 mile, and a 20 mile. The 20 mile almost killed me but I said I'm not going to go the whole 26 until race day, but I think I'm ready for it," Meminger said.

The marathon course weaved its way through Brooklyn and Queens, crossed into Manhattan, turned around in the Bronx, and wrapped up in Central Park -- giving an estimated 2.5 million spectators plenty of chances to cheer along the way.

Questions:
1. Where did the story take place?
2. When did the story take place?
3. Who was the men's title?
4. Who won the women's title?
5. How many miles long was the race?
6. How much money did the runners raise?

Friday, November 5, 2010

Homework - Lead in the water!

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
New York City The city is advising New Yorkers to run their tap water for at least 30 seconds before using it, after the Department of Environmental Protection discovered elevated levels of lead in a recent tap water sampling. The problem was found mainly in older buildings where lead plumbing was commonly installed and is still in use.

"These types of service lines and fixtures were phased out nearly two decades ago, but they are still found in many homes and under certain conditions lead can leach from the pipes and fixtures into tap water," said DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway.

Those pipes and fixtures are often found in buildings built before 1961 and some plumbing lines installed between 1983 and 1986. DEP believes about 100,000 buildings are affected, including apartment buildings, individual homes and businesses.

High levels of lead can cause serious neurological problems, especially in young children and pregnant women. Yet health officials say the public should not be alarmed by this announcement, only aware.

"Run your tap. The water is healthy to drink. When you run your tap until it's cold, you're getting the New York City main water and that's very safe and healthy," said Dr. Thomas Farley, the city health commissioner.

DEP does lead testing every year as a federal requirement, and if results show a more than 10 percent elevated level, the public has to be alerted.

This latest round by DEP's tests showed a 14-percent elevation in samples taken from 126 homes, so the agency is launching a campaign to let people know.

"Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula, even after the tap has been run, because lead can dissolve into hot water more quickly," said DEP Commissioner Cas Holloway. "Never boil water to get lead out. Boiling actually can concentrate lead, which is not what you want to do. Clean your faucet screens."

New Yorkers who want to test their water can receive free kits from the city. Call 311 for more information.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is in the water that is bad for you?
4. How many seconds do you have to run the tap in order for the water to be safe to drink?
5. How many buildings are affected?
6. What number do you have to call if you want the free kit to test your water?

Info from NY1

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Homework - New Governor

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
New York (11/2/2010) - Democrat Andrew Cuomo cruised to victory in the New York State governor's race Tuesday night. Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Eric Schneiderman also came out on top for the Democrats.


Cuomo beat Republican  candidate Carl Paladino. Cuomo used to be the Attorney General of New York but he will give up that position now that he is the Governor.


Cuomo claimed victory in an address to supporters late Tuesday night at the Midtown Sheraton, where he called on New Yorkers to unite and move forward under his watch.

Paladino was disappointed that he did not win.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the new Governor?
4. What position did Cuomo used to hold?
5. What is the name of the guy that lost the race?
6 What political party does Cuomo represent?

Info from NY1

Monday, November 1, 2010

Homework - Pontiac Closes Down Forever





Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Detroit (10/31/2010) - Pontiac is out! The US carmaker will be closing down because of continued decline in sales. Pontiac was greatly affected by the current situation of its parent company, General Motors (GM), that is struggling.


Pontiac was a brand of car that started to be manufactured in 1926. They sold cars like the Bonneville, GTO and Firebird TransAm. These were very popular muscle cars. Most Pontiac cars are featured in Hollywood films in the 60′s and 70′s. The American car hit its highest record sales of one million units in 1968. However, during the 1980′s, Pontiac sales started to decline and ultimately got affected by GM‘s financial woes. GM announced in April 27, 2009, that it would phase out Pontiac by end of 2010.


Questions:
1. Where did the story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. Name a car that Pontiac sold.
4. When did Pontiac start making cars?
5. When did Pontiac sell the most cars?
6. Why is Pontiac being closed down?