News & Politics | WFUV Radio

No Backpacks, Bags Allowed at NYC Bike Tour

4.27.13 at 1:49pm by Associated Press

An annual bike tour across New York City's five boroughs that draws tens of thousands of riders is beefing up security after this month's Boston Marathon bombings.

TD Five Boro Bike Tour officials said Friday backpacks, saddlebags, panniers and hydration packs will not be permitted at this year's tour on May 5.

Organizers said checkpoints along the route will be set up to ensure compliance with the new rules. Confiscated items won't be returned.

Organizers say water bottles, fanny packs and small bike frame bags will be permitted.

New Jersey Plans to Ramp Up Marathon Security

4.26.13 at 3:59pm by Associated Press

Organizers of the New Jersey Marathon say they plan to beef up security because of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Connecticut Senators Push to Resurrect Gun Control Bill

4.26.13 at 3:54pm by Associated Press

Connecticut's two U.S. senators say they still think there's a chance to pass gun control legislation this year following its recent Senate defeat.

Volunteers to Sweep Through Jersey Beaches

4.26.13 at 3:51pm by Veronica Volk

An ocean advocacy group in New Jersey is holding its biannual beach-sweep Saturday morning. Volunteers will gather up and down the coast to collect, tally, and safely dispose of debris. Clean Ocean Action has been organizing clean-ups like this for 28 years. They use the information collected by volunteers to appeal to politicians and inform the public about ocean pollution.

South Street Seaport Six Months After Sandy

4.26.13 at 7:20am by Matt Gillis

A recent report by the Downtown Alliance says that over 90 percent of businesses are reopen in district one of Manhattan. But for some businesses at the South Street Seaport, such a claim doesn’t represent their reality.

NJ Residents Still in Limbo 6 Months After Sandy

4.26.13 at 6:00am by Veronica Volk

Six months after Sandy, residents of Ocean County, New Jersey are still living in limbo. Last December, FEMA introduced maps advising people to raise their homes to certain heights based on flood risk, but the maps are controversial. Many residents with bay or lagoon front property are frustrated because these maps hold them to the same costly construction standard as ocean front homes.

Before Bike-Share Launch, Watchful Eyes Deployed to Busy Intersections

4.26.13 at 3:40am by Connor Ryan

New York City's Department of Transportation has stationed city employees around the most crowded intersections and areas of Manhattan in an effort to encourage safety among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. This added security move comes less than one month before city officials have said Citi Bike will launch. The bike-share program is set to make 6,000 bikes available to commuters and tourists.

Boston Bombing Suspect: Times Square Was Next

4.25.13 at 2:42pm by Connor Ryan

The Boston Marathon bombing suspects planned on detonating their remaining explosives in Times Square, New York City officials revealed Thursday.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said during a press briefing that the two suspects had a pressure cooker bomb and five pipe bombs they wanted to set off in New York City.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, told Boston investigators from his hospital bed that he and his brother had agreed on going to New York to detonate their remaining explosives.

NYC Offers Other Cities Immigrant Outreach Ideas

4.25.13 at 7:01am by Associated Press

New York City is hoping its long history as a hub for immigrants and efforts to support immigrant communities can be useful to other cities around the country.

Democrats in Mayor Race Spar Over Issues of Public Safety

4.25.13 at 6:00am by Connor Ryan

Following the bombings in Boston last week, which killed three and injured more than 150, anti-terrorism efforts and procedures to thwart potential attacks in New York City have been pushed to the forefront of conversation.