Knicks Morning News (2018.08.27)

  • [NYDN] Michael Cohen was a lousy landlord, records show
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 3:00:00 AM)

    Add shady construction permits to Michael Cohen’s laundry list of legal troubles.

    Besides cheating on his taxes, lying to banks and violating campaign finance laws while working for President Trump, public records show that Cohen’s partners in three apartment buildings submitted documents falsely…

  • [NYDN] EXCLUSIVE: NYCHA orders entire staff at Throggs Neck development in Bronx to turn in keys and get out
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 3:00:00 AM)

    A top-to-bottom house cleaning is unfolding at a Bronx public housing development where NYCHA discovered pervasive lead paint, with the entire staff ordered to hand in their keys and exit the property.

    The clean sweep took place Friday at the Throggs Neck Houses and was ordered up by NYCHA General…

  • [NYDN] Retired NYPD sergeant says former supervisor in Mayor de Blasio’s security detail drunkenly assaulted him during fight at Gracie Mansion
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 3:00:00 AM)

    A retired NYPD sergeant says his former supervisor in Mayor de Blasio’s troubled security detail drunkenly assaulted him during a fight at Gracie Mansion — and that the shocking incident was swept under the rug.

    Retired Sgt. Roland Jerome detailed his alleged fracas with Lt. Karl Pfeffer, the second…

  • [NYDN] The overdose crisis, beyond opioids: Stimulants remain a huge and growing problem to smartly confront
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 2:00:00 AM)

    Although opioids dominate the headlines, stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine never went away.

    In fact, more Americans use illegal stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine than use all opioids combined, and recent data suggests they’re contributing to our skyrocketing drug overdose…

  • [NYDN] Close this loophole now: New York law will tie prosecutors’ hands, and let Trump associates get off scot free, in the event of a presidential pardon
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 2:00:00 AM)

    On June 4, President Trump tweeted, “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON” — his caps, of course — “myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?”

    The idea that the President of the United States would muse aloud about exercising his…

  • [NYDN] Give scooters a spin: Open New York’s streets to this new ride — slowly
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 1:10:00 AM)

    They’ve descended upon Cleveland, Louisville, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Baltimore: Dozens of American cities are seeing motorized scooters go where only bikes have dared to roam.

    In some places, the ride’s been smooth. Elsewhere, the backlash has been stiff.

    New York should give…

  • [NYDN] Supremely rushed: Let the National Archives screen Brett Kavanaugh’s papers before judiciary hearings begin
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 1:05:00 AM)

    A lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land is serious business: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee must subject Supreme Court nominees to tough vetting, having first reviewed all relevant evidence of a nominee’s conduct. In the case of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, we’d like that to…

  • [NYDN] What it takes: We finally know what the Fast Forward subway overhaul will cost; now comes the hard part
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    Back in May, when Transit Authority chief Andy Byford released his subway transformation plan, Gov. Cuomo and MTA boss Joe Lhota played coy with the price tag.

    A couple of dollar figures leaked: $43 billion, $19 billion. But by the time of the announcement, the numbers vanished. Classic cowardice.

  • [NYDN] Cuomo, Nixon gear up for only Democratic primary debate
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    ALBANY — New York’s political circles will be focused Wednesday on the one and only debate between Gov. Cuomo and his Democratic primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon.

    For Nixon, the debate likely represents her best chance to close the polls that show her trailing by 30 points.

    Sources close to her…

  • [NYDN] LOVETT: Former state party chairwoman raising money for Hochul calls lieutenant governor’s primary foe Williams a ‘charismatic young black man’
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 1:00:00 AM)

    ALBANY — A former chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, in an email raising money for Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, referred to her primary foe as a “charismatic young black man”

    Judith Hope in the Aug. 8 email sought to portray Hochul as imminently more qualified for the job than City Councilman…

  • [NYDN] PBA continues trolling campaign against de Blasio with letter to DNC members
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 12:55:00 AM)

    ALBANY — The union representing rank-and-file city cops is continuing to troll Mayor de Blasio outside New York.

    Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch on Monday is set to send a letter to members of the Democratic National Committee trashing de Blasio and potential national…

  • [NYDN] Insurgent Democratic state Senate candidate Ramos backs Teachout for attorney general
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 12:55:00 AM)

    The following is an expanded version of the second item from my “Albany Insider” column from Monday’s print editions:

    ALBANY —Fordham Law Prof. Zephyr Teachout, in a four-way race in the Sept. 13 state attorney general Democratic primary, is being endorsed Monday by insurgent state Senate candidate…

  • [NYDN] Wofford staffs up AG campaign team with GOP operatives, including some who worked for Trump campaign
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 12:50:00 AM)

    ALBANY — Republican attorney general candidate Keith Wofford, a corporate lawyer and first-time candidate, is staffing up with a team of veteran national and state GOP operatives — including some who worked for President Trump.

    Wofford has named long-time GOP consultant O’Brien Murray, who worked…

  • [NYDN] Readers sound off on Jim Brown, illegal immigrants and the Catholic Church
    (Monday, August 27, 2018 12:00:00 AM)

    Damn right Jim Brown’s still a role model

    Franklin, Ind.: Carron Philips is a prime example of what’s wrong with the liberal media (“Jim Brown, once a hero, maybe never should have been one,” column, Aug. 24). Who is Phillips to say that Brown should or shouldn’t be a role model to the black community?…

  • [NYDN] Ackert: Luis Severino has to grind out 17th win of the season, but he’s slowly returning to form of Yankees’ ace
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 9:20:00 PM)

    Luis Severino got himself back into the conversation. The Yankees’ ace hadn’t really pitched like one his last seven starts. The 24-year-old had sputtered since just before the All-Star break, pitching to a plus-7.00 ERA.

    But Sunday night was Severino’s second straight start where he showed he…

  • [NYDN] Daily Horoscope — August 27, 2018
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 9:00:00 PM)

    Via Tarot Astrologers

    General Horoscope for August 27, 2018

    Warrior Mars turns direct today, ending its two-month retrograde period and its siege on progress. The Pisces Moon may cloud our view, but we’ll probably feel different right away, even if it’s a few days before we start seeing measurable…

  • [NYDN] Ackert: Yankees are making this a race with Red Sox again in AL East after four-game sweep of Orioles
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 8:35:00 PM)

    Just last week, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez called them lazy and lacking the energy of a winning team. The Yankees universe seemed resigned to just trying to clinch a spot in the wild card. While the former Red Sox ace was likely rubbing a little salt in a wounded lineup that had just played 20…

  • [NYDN] Lethal injection or gas? Alabama’s death row gets to choose
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 8:25:00 PM)

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Some say inhaling nitrogen gas would be like dying on a plane that depressurizes in flight, swiftly killing all aboard. Now more than a quarter of Alabama’s death row inmates have signed statements saying they would prefer that gas over lethal injection or the electric chair…

  • [NYDN] Tim Tebow, Dwyane Wade, other athletes react to deadly shooting at Madden tournament in Jacksonville
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 8:20:00 PM)

    Athletes from the Florida area and across the country reacted to the deadly shooting at a Madden tournament in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday afternoon that left two dead and wounded 12 others.

    The alleged gunman, identified by Jacksonville police as gamer David Katz, died from a self-inflicted…

  • [NYDN] 11 former staffers at prestigious New Hampshire prep school accused of abuse
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 8:00:00 PM)

    CONCORD, N.H. — Eleven former staffers at a prominent New Hampshire prep school have been accused of fondling, forced kissing and other sexual misconduct with students over several decades, according to two reports released on Friday.

    The reports released by Phillips Exeter Academy also found that…

  • [NYDN] President Trump tweets about incorrect approval ratings, ignores Jacksonville mass shooting
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 6:35:00 PM)

    President Trump took time out of his busy schedule Sunday for golf and self-praise, but failed to publicly mention a mass shooting at a Jacksonville video game tournament that left three dead, including the gunman.

    Trump tweeted twice after news of the shooting broke around 2 p.m., once quoting…

  • [NYDN] Ackert: Justus Sheffield may need more time getting used to bullpen before Yankees call-up. Here’s what scouts are saying
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 6:25:00 PM)

    Justus Sheffield is going to need a little more time to get used to his new role.

    At least that is the observation of one scout who was watching the Yankees top pitching prospect’s game Saturday.

    Sheffield, a projected starter who is transitioning to the bullpen for an anticipated major league…

  • [NYDN] Cops arrest 13th suspect in machete killing of Bronx teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 6:20:00 PM)

    Police have arrested a 13th suspect in the brutal gang-related killing of an innocent Bronx teenager.

    Ronald Urena, 29, was busted at 6:15 p.m. Sunday on murder charges in the June 20 killing of 15-year-old Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz.

    When he was walked out of the 48th Precinct stationhouse…

  • [NYDN] Slain Mollie Tibbetts laid to rest in Iowa funeral
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 5:50:00 PM)

    Mollie Tibbetts’ father eulogized his daughter in front of 1,200 people in the Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School gymnasium Sunday afternoon, steps away from her family home.

    The 20-year-old Iowa woman was found dead in a cornfield last week, almost a month after she went missing during an evening…

  • [NYDN] Trump voted against releasing a statement calling John McCain a ‘hero,’ according to a new report
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 5:25:00 PM)

    The President shot down aides’ suggestion that he put out a statement honoring John McCain in favor of tweeting a short message to the senator’s family, according to a Washington Post report.

    The statement, which was reportedly edited by White House staffers including White House Press Secretary…

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks Gaming wins inaugural 2K League championship
    (Sunday, August 26, 2018 5:47:33 PM)

    Knicks Gaming topped Heat Check Gaming twice on Saturday to win the inaugural 2K League championship.