December 26, 2018
Wrestling team will no longer compete in matches with 'haircut' ref
A New Jersey school district said Wednesday that it will no longer compete in matches officiated by a referee who ordered one of their students to cut his dreadlocks. The...
American man first to trek solo across Antarctica unaided
An Oregon man became the first person to traverse Antarctica alone without any assistance on Wednesday, trekking across the polar continent in an epic 54-day journey that was previously deemed...
Queens apartment blaze kills teen, injures mom and neighbor
A teenager was killed and her mother injured after a fire tore through their Queens apartment building on Wednesday night, cops said. Lamonies Smith, 16, was at her home on...
Nets escape in double overtime after wild and crazy finish
The Nets are chasing the Hornets for a playoff spot, so the home-and-home that started Wednesday night was a golden opportunity. And the Nets cashed in on it, getting up...
Behind the biggest holiday sales increase in years
Traders on Wall Street were full of doom and gloom this holiday season. Shoppers on Main Street, meanwhile, were busy buying stuff. Retailers delivered their biggest holiday sales increases in...
Knicks on brink of NBA's worst record with upcoming road trip
The best thing Knicks first-year coach David Fizdale had going for him is keeping up team spirit. That may be challenging as this season could spin out of control out...
Texas tent city holding migrant teens will remain open
The Trump administration said Wednesday it will keep open through early 2019 a tent city in Texas that now holds more than 2,000 migrant teenagers, and also will increase the...
Neither Alabama nor Oklahoma QB expected to be 100 percent
The Orange Bowl features the two best quarterbacks in the country, but neither may be at full strength in time for Saturday night’s kickoff. Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa estimated Wednesday...
Clemson preparing to face Notre Dame without defensive beast
Clemson is preparing to play without Dexter Lawrence, the hulking defensive tackle and highly regarded NFL prospect who failed a drug test. “For us, it’s like an injury, and I’ve...
South Korean beauty brand leases Herald Square space
A beauty brand focusing on natural ingredients has leased a space in Herald Square. Seoul-based Innisfree will soon open a shop in the base of the Herald Center at 1293...
Why I keep warning you about the stock market bubble
By now, everyone should understand why I’ve been warning readers about the stock market bubble. And I didn’t warn you just once. I’ve been doing it repeatedly. The Dow Jones...
Disney-Verizon Fios spat could keep football fans from seeing playoff games
Disney and Verizon Fios went public with a dispute over programming fees that, if not resolved within days, could deprive millions of football fans nationwide access to big playoff games....
Versace becomes the latest company to ditch Fifth Ave.
Yet another high-profile retail casualty is looming on Fifth Avenue. The Versace flagship store at 647 Fifth Ave. is being offered for a five-year sublease by James Downey and Eric...
Prison psychologist was fired after complaining about inmate abuse: suit
A psychologist for inmates at a Westchester state prison says she was wrongfully fired after complaining that other employees had ridiculed, discriminated against and mistreated prisoners, according to her new...
City corrections officer reinstated after bagels cost him job
His bagel defense survived a schmear campaign. A city correction officer won back his job after a yearlong struggle that all started when he chowed down on some poppy-seed bagels...
A thrilled Sam Darnold opens up on the Jets' future
Earlier this week, Sam Darnold’s father reminded him where he was a year ago at this time. Darnold was in Texas, preparing for the Cotton Bowl with his USC teammates....
New biopic captures fine mesh of classic duo Laurel and Hardy
In 1957, Oliver Hardy’s heart finally gave out, and he slipped away, dead at the age of 65. The rotund comedian had been one-half of arguably the greatest comedy duo...
Two vagrants arrested for attacking cop on subway platform
Police arrested two of the vagrants who were caught on video trying to attack an NYPD cop in a wild melee in a Chinatown subway station, authorities said. Eliseo Alvarez, 36,...
Cowboys will take it easy on their players in meaningless finale
The Cowboys do not need to win anymore in the regular season, making Sunday’s game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium an opportunity to rest any player who could benefit...
The alarming lesson behind that video of vagrants attacking a cop
New Yorkers just got a valuable lesson on why their streets and subways have become so chaotic — and may grow worse. Asked why Manhattan DA Cy Vance initially declined...
In de Blasio's City Hall, no bad deed goes unrewarded
It’s another case of failing upward at Mayor Bill de Blasio’s City Hall: A former top Correction Department official caught up in that agency’s scandal over the misuse of city...
What Jets' parting gift to Todd Bowles should be
There is always a human element to these NFL death marches to the firing squad. You do everything you can to make sure there is no Blue Christmas Week with...
Why Hollywood just can’t get it right when it comes to women
Two-thousand and eighteen was the year of the female avenger in popular culture. In a year bookended by Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes exhortation for greater representation of female stories and...
For better or worse, Trump is now Trumpier than ever
Despite a midterm election that showed a significant decline in support for the GOP in America’s suburbs and no corresponding increase in support elsewhere, Donald Trump has chosen to let...
Store customers surround, pull guns on men trying to steal tools
MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Authorities say two men were surrounded by customers with guns while attempting to steal tools from a Washington store. The Daily Herald reports the men, ages 22...
Winter has come for the Rangers with a brutal post-break road trip
If what happened to the Rangers between Thanksgiving and Christmas was an expected dousing of cold water on tenuously held hopes of a surprising playoff run, it hardly gets any...
Chilling 1989 cold-case murder revisited in true-crime series
Investigation ID pays the bills with a 24/7 slate of true-crime programming — and “Who Killed Amy Mihaljevic?” won’t disappoint its audience. The three-hour special, premiering 9 p.m. Sunday on...
Week 17 is made to motivate Giants for next season
As of now, the Cowboys say they plan to play all their starters in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, though that may be more talk than...
I hit rock bottom — then 'guardian angel' NYPD officers inspired me to get sober
A binge-drinking Brooklyn woman hit rock bottom last Christmas when NYPD cops found her passed out drunk on the street. Now, a year later, she is stone sober — and...
Man accused of fatally stabbing wife, dumping body in trash
A Florida man is accused of fatally stabbing his wife then putting her outside in the trash to be picked up by the garbage truck, according to police. Joseph Edward...
Boy calls 911 after getting snow pants for Christmas
A 7-year-old boy in Canada "just got added to the naughty list" for Christmas next year, according to police. Cops say the child called 911 on Tuesday morning at around...
This NYC couple's rustic-chic upstate retreat comes with teepees
This week, Scott and Elizabeth Hague are entertaining relatives at their Catskills compound. With a main residence, a guest house, a teepee and a pond (complete with 300 trout!), the...
Taylor Swift’s former NYC rental finds a buyer
Taylor Swift’s former Greenwich Village pad — a 5,500-square-foot former carriage house at 23 Cornelia St. — is in contract to sell. While the new owner and final sale price...
Restaurateur Stratis Morfogen lists Brooklyn brownstone
Restaurateur Stratis Morfogen, managing partner at Brooklyn Chop House, and his wife, Filipa Fino, are listing their Bed-Stuy brownstone without a broker for $3.75 million. Fino bought the landmarked brownstone,...
Rent Zaha Hadid’s former Miami Beach home for $37K-per-month
A Miami Beach condo once owned — and redesigned — by the late starchitect Zaha Hadid is on the rental market asking $37,000 a month. Hadid, the first woman to...
Douglas Elliman broker lists her Southampton estate for $13.99M
A Southampton estate owned and listed by Douglas Elliman broker Michaela Keszler is on the market for $13.99 million. The traditional shingle-style home, at 104 Foster Crossing, was built in...
Condo in Marilyn Monroe’s former building asks $5.49M
A Sutton Place condo with old-time glamour is on the market for $5.49 million — with a star-studded history to match. The four-bedroom, 4½-bathroom unit is at 444 E. 57th...
From mouth massage to acupuncture, the hottest new wrinkle-fighting facials
Old-school facials focus on deep cleaning the pores and preventing wrinkles, or erasing the ones you already have. But there’s a new kind of facial in town that aims to...
'Go back to where you came from': Racist customer shouts at Arabic-speaking employee
A pissed-off shopper was caught on video going on a racist tirade after a Texas Macy's employee started speaking Arabic. The man became irate when the Dallas employee started speaking...
Baby girl named after the highway she was born on
They can call her “ I-495” for short. A Queens woman gave birth to a 9-pound baby on the Long Island Expressway early Wednesday with the help of MTA officers...
2-year-old boy dead after botched circumcision at migrant center
A toddler has died after a botched circumcision at a refugee camp in Italy, according to the BBC. The 2-year-old son of a Nigerian migrant was undergoing the procedure when...
Manny Machado, Bryce Harper are staring at same money decision
This is the quiet time in baseball. In a sport that has become a 52-week-a-year endeavor, this is the one time when many offices go dark and executives try to...
Star college QB is leaving football for the seminary
Several football players leave college early every year to declare for the NFL draft, but here is one with an even higher calling. Old Dominion quarterback Blake LaRussa announced Wednesday...
Bettors not strong on the SEC trampling its bowl opponents
Here comes the SEC! Vanderbilt takes the field Thursday night, starting a run of 11 SEC bowl appearances the next six days. Though the league made big money for backers...
Would you pay twice as much for 'zero-waste' groceries?
A growing number of New Yorkers are willing to pay double for “zero-waste” groceries. It’s all part of the package(-free) deal for a new wave of eco-conscious consumers who would...
People are texting exes and buying stuff in their sleep
Andrew Watson, 26, was so good at coordinating international business deals that he did it in his sleep. “I’d fall asleep with my work phone next to my head, [then...
Inside the growing trend of rehab for 'tech addicts'
BELLEVUE, Wash. — We like to say we're addicted to our phones or an app or some new show on a streaming video service. But for some people, tech gets...
Jets are going silent after mystery Trumaine Johnson incident
Trumaine Johnson’s shaky first season with the Jets took a strange turn Wednesday. The high-priced cornerback did not practice for what coach Todd Bowles deemed “an in-house matter.” In Bowles-speak,...
Three vagrants who attacked cop will be arrested, NYPD says
The NYPD on Wednesday announced plans to arrest three vagrants in an attack on a lone cop inside a Manhattan subway station — and admitted it never told prosecutors about the...
How Nets and their overlooked leader have surprised each other
Ed Davis hadn’t been a Net before this season, doesn’t have a long-term contract and isn’t a starter. But he has still managed to not only help transform the team...
Teacher 'crushing pretty hard' sends X-rated photos to students: cops
A Wisconsin teacher allegedly told a 16-year-old student that he was "crushing pretty hard" on her and sent the girl more than 40 nudes on Snapchat, officials said. Kenneth Chu,...
Study shows disappointing demand for iPhone XR
A new study has confirmed fears of disappointing demand for Apple’s newest entry-level iPhone. The iPhone XR — this year’s cheapest model despite being priced at a stiff $749 —...
Cabbie suspended for refusing to drive gay man
A yellow cabbie refused to drive a man when he learned he was gay -- an infraction that got him a 10-day suspension and fine before he was allowed back...
6-year-old boy busted for cheating on homework with Alexa
Is your kid getting straight A's on homework lately? You might want to switch off Alexa. Last week, New Jersey mom Yerelyn Cueva, 24, posted a short clip on Twitter...
Queens teen dies during high school basketball practice
A Queens teenager mysteriously died in the middle of basketball practice Wednesday, sources said. Lenny Pierre, 16, collapsed inside John Bowne High School in Queens just after noon, according to...
College Bowl game lasts 10 minutes before stunning cancellation
The football teams and many fans of Boston College and Boise State spent the holidays in Dallas, but they didn’t even get to enjoy playing their final game of 2018....
Unsuspecting victim gives burglar car ride home: cops
WATERBORO, Maine — Authorities in Maine say a burglar had a bite to eat, watched TV and even got a car ride from his unsuspecting victim. The York County sheriff's...
Our unpopular — but vital — wars and other commentary
From the right: Our Unpopular Wars Are Worth It Those who want to end US involvement in Syria and Afghanistan, as President Trump is moving to do, “reflect a long-simmering...
Eli Manning doesn't know what happens next
This is not the first time around for Eli Manning, but it remains an uncomfortable conversation, one he was forced to engage in at this time last year. That was...
Song sparks 200-person brawl at Virginia skating rink
Everybody was kung-fu fighting! A brawl involving 200 people erupted at a Virginia roller skating rink around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, WDBJ reported. Witnesses told WFXR that a song ignited local...
The Lakers and world do a big LeBron James exhale
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — LeBron James got good news Wednesday on his injured groin. An MRI exam showed that the four-time NBA MVP merely strained his left groin in the...
'Hotel Earl' calls cops on black man for making phone call in lobby
A black guest at an Oregon hotel claims staff racially profiled and called the cops on him for simply making a phone call from the building’s lobby. Jermaine Massey, staying...
Dow surges over 1,000 points, biggest single-day gain in history
Santa Claus came a little late this year — but Wall Street is smiling anyway. The Dow Jones industrial average surged 1,086.25 points on Wednesday — its biggest single-day point...
'Rabid' foxes are attacking people in Arizona
Arizona residents were warned Sunday about potentially rabid foxes, at least two of which have reportedly attacked people. Flagstaff police announced in a Facebook post that a fox attacked a...
8-year-old girl shot by Coast Guardsman father dies
An 8-year-girl shot by her US Coast Guard serviceman father died on Christmas Day, more than a week after her mother and brother were also gunned down in the murder-suicide...
Acting attorney general falsely claimed to be an Academic All-American football player
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker falsely claimed on his resume and on government documents that he was named an Academic All-American when he played football at the University of Iowa,...
LaVar Ball explodes at LaMelo in brutal tirade: 'raggedy f--k'
LaVar Ball has cashed in on his sons for fame and fortune, but the basketball loudmouth recently screamed at one of his kids for “f--king up” his Big Baller brand....
FDNY says hoarding was factor in Brooklyn apartment fire
Three people were injured in a raging Brooklyn apartment fire that started in a clutter-filled unit occupied by hoarders, officials said. The blaze broke out around noon Wednesday on the...
Apollo 8 pilot: Sending astronauts to Mars is 'stupid'
One of the first astronauts to orbit the moon said Wednesday that it's "stupid" to plan human missions to Mars. Bill Anders, who was the lunar module pilot for NASA's...
Baker Mayfield finally tells truth about Hue Jackson stare down
So much for playing dumb. Speaking to the media Wednesday, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield addressed Sunday's stare down with his former coach, turned Bengals special assistant, Hue Jackson. "You're supposed...
Frank Ntilikina does not sound happy inside Knicks' doghouse
This has been a trying month for Frank Ntilikina, with his French hometown of Strasbourg making international headlines for all the wrong reasons. Ntilikina's mother, Jacqueline, flew to New York...
3 men charged in mass shooting at fake gender reveal party
CINCINNATI — Three men were charged Wednesday in a 2017 shooting that left one woman dead and eight wounded at a gender reveal party in Ohio, authorities said. A grand...
Police officer caught on camera saying: 'Go back to China'
“Go back to China,” a police officer was caught on camera saying to an Asian driver in Carlingford, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. This video, recorded by bystander Caleb Strik,...
Donald and Melania Trump make surprise visit to US troops in Iraq
President Trump, who has been criticized for not visiting US troops during the holidays, slipped off to an air base in Iraq on Wednesday. Trump, wearing a dark suit and...
Potential Giants quarterback target opts out of NFL draft
If the Giants plan to snare Eli Manning’s replacement in the 2019 draft -- already an arduous task considering the poorly perceived crop -- one prominent quarterback can be deleted...
Quit? New partner? Francesa's options after Michael Kay nail-biter
WFAN’s Mike Francesa remained atop New York sports radio ratings, hanging onto the fall book by a tenth of a point despite a mad rally by ESPN New York’s Michael...
Couple gets married hours after meeting in person for the first time
Two strangers married on Christmas Day after meeting for the first time at an airport in their wedding attire before boarding a plane to Las Vegas. Sarah Edwards, née Elliott,...
Couple who lost home to California wildfire receive pardons just weeks apart
A much-needed Christmas miracle came for one California woman who lost her home in the devastating Camp Fire. A full and unconditional pardon from Gov. Jerry Brown on Christmas Eve...
DA faults NYPD in call not to charge vagrants in subway platform melee
Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. on Wednesday said it's the NYPD's fault that his office cut loose the homeless men caught on camera attacking a cop in a Manhattan subway...
Early puberty in girls linked to beauty product chemicals: study
As if being a pre-teen girl isn’t hard enough. A new study says some common soaps, shampoos and other personal care products may be putting adolescent girls at a higher...
Meet the world's most prolific streaker, who's stripped down at over 500 sporting events
A British man who has streaked at more than 500 events around the world has only been arrested a handful of times and convicted of a crime at least three...
Federal employees are losing vacation time in government shutdown
WASHINGTON - Some federal workers aren't just losing their paychecks during the partial government shutdown, they're also losing their vacations. A wacky rule doesn’t allow federal workers to take paid...
Tom Brady has bad news for Jets and rest of NFL
Tom Brady might finally be showing his age, but the Patriots legend already is planning to return for a 20th NFL season next year — and then some. The five-time...
Golf star busted for poaching at tiger reserve
Golfers have been chasing Tiger for years, but this tale goes too far. Indian professional golfer Jyoti Randhawa was arrested Wednesday for poaching at a forest reserve, according to the...
Man breaks down in tears after meeting his parents for the first time
When he was just 2½ months old, Steve Stansfield was put up for adoption. His parents, who were only 16 years old when they gave him up, were finally able to meet...
Aaron Rodgers' family appears to celebrate Christmas without him
"Merry Christmas from our crazy family to yours," Aaron's brother, Luke, shared on Instagram.
Father, 82, killed son during Christmas Day dispute: deputies
An elderly Florida man fatally shot his son during an argument on Christmas Day, sheriff officials said. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a homicide investigation after...
Millions are watching Kevin Spacey's creepy Christmas video
Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey may have been hit with formal sexual assault charges — but apparently that doesn’t stop his audience. On Monday — the same day Spacey was charged...
We're suing for our right to tell Giants they 'f--king suck'
For any fan who believes paying for a ticket grants you the right to say whatever you want at a sporting event, this lawsuit is for you. Two Giants fans...
Cops release photos of suspect in horrific beating of Brooklyn granny
Cops released images of the brute who allegedly attacked a tough, 88-year-old woman in her apartment — as NYCHA workers finally fixed her building’s long-broken front door. “Help us spread...
Rescuers hunting for trapped Indian miners hoping for 'some miracle'
Rescuers were hoping for a miracle Wednesday as they tried to reach more than a dozen coal miners trapped for weeks in one of India's notoriously dangerous "rat hole" mines,...
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is out of hospital after cancer surgery
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been released from a New York City hospital after cancer surgery and is recuperating at home, a court spokeswoman said Wednesday. The 85-year-old...
Footage of Ndamukong Suh gouging Fitzgerald's eyes takes surprise turn
If this is how Ndamukong Suh expresses love, do not get on his bad side. After footage surfaced Tuesday of the star Rams defensive tackle putting his fingers through Larry Fitzgerald's...
Morgan Stanley fined $10M for anti-money laundering failures
Wall Street’s industry funded watchdog fined the brokerage unit of Morgan Stanley $10 million on Wednesday for compliance failures in the firm’s anti-money laundering program, the regulator said. The Financial...
Painting looted during WWII found hanging in Connecticut home
A painting that was looted from a Ukrainian art museum during World War II and spent decades in a Connecticut home will be returned to the Eastern European nation, US...
Falling ice kills doctor on holiday hike
A doctor at Tufts Medical Center died after she was hit by falling ice while on a hike with her family, hospital officials and relatives said. Dr. Judith Pinsker —...
Putin oversees test of new hypersonic super rocket
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday presided over the testing of a new hypersonic rocket that would be able to evade anti-missile defense systems, calling it "an excellent New Year's...
Amazon Alexa took a day off on Christmas
Alexa took Christmas off. Thousands of people across Europe said they couldn't play yuletide songs, get cooking instructions or turn on their living room lights because Amazon's digital butler was...
Grilled rats, spit pitas and bad sausages: The grossest food moments of 2018
Sometimes you happen upon a story that leaves you asking, "What were they thinking?" And this year saw its fair share. A side of spit A Pita Pit employee in...
The moment parents realize stud MLB prospect paid off their debt
An MLB pitching prospect has given his parents a major league Christmas present. Brady Singer, a right-hander considered the Kansas City Royals’ top prospect, used his signing bonus to pay...
Walmart Santa charged after kids are found buried in his back yard
A Walmart Santa was busted in connection with the deaths of his two kids — who were recently discovered buried in his Georgia back yard. The remains of Elwyn Crocker...
Legendary WWE commentator escapes horrific car crash
WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo made a miracle escape after being involved in a horrific car crash. The NXT announcer was traveling on Christmas Eve when he was caught up in...
Pedialyte is targeting the adult booze hangover market
Pedialyte — it's not just for babies anymore. After years as a semi-underground hangover "cure," the parental staple for fighting infant dehydration is now being aggressively marketed for adults who...
No end in sight as government shutdown enters fifth day
The partial government shutdown entered its sixth day on Thursday as congressional Democrats and the White House remained at an impasse on President Trump’s demand for a border wall —...
Holiday shopping season sales the highest in six years: report
Sales during the holiday shopping season rose 5.1 percent, to over $850 billion, in 2018, the strongest in the past six years, according to a Mastercard report, as shoppers were...
Mom too distraught to attend funeral for girl who died in US custody
The mother of a 7-year-old girl who died while in US custody this month was too despondent to attend her daughter's funeral in an impoverished mountain village in Guatemala on...
Customs and Border Protection will start medical checks on all kids in custody
US Customs and Border Protection will perform medical checks on all children in its custody following the death of a second child from Guatemala in an immigration detention center this...
Japan brings back commercial whaling
TOKYO — Japan announced Wednesday that it is leaving the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial hunts for the animals for the first time in 30 years, but said it...
Man falls to his death from West Village building
An upstate man fell to his death from a West Village apartment early Wednesday — and his girlfriend made the gruesome discovery, police sources said. Saul Friedman, of Monsey, had...
Paulina Gretzky and Dustin Johnson get into holiday spirit
Tis the season for the Johnson-Gretzky family.
Four people, including a US Marine, killed in Garden State Parkway crash
Four young men — two brothers, a US Marine and an aspiring cop — were killed early Wednesday when their car slammed into a tanker truck on the Garden State...
The most insane animal attack videos of 2018
From rampaging bulls to angry leopards, the most intense animal attack videos of 2018 are proof that humans rank pretty low on the food chain. In some instances, people who...
Man tried to kill girlfriend on Christmas morning: police
LINCOLN, Del. — Authorities in Delaware say a Lincoln man shot his girlfriend in her torso on Christmas while two children were home. News outlets report state police say 40-year-old...
Missing girl's mom spends Christmas alone aching for daughter's return
The mother of Corinna Slusser — the missing Pennsylvania girl who was allegedly lured to the Big Apple last fall to become a prostitute — chose to spend another Christmas...