Sometimes, Anna, standing far left, gets to take a break from writing and do things like judge a chicken eating contest with her news colleagues (and one politician) in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Rapid Growth features
Reshaping gentrification: How community engagement can make development more equitable
A place to call home: How refugees are rebuilding lives in West Michigan
Embracing Michigan’s long history of refugee resettlement, Grand Rapids opens arms to newcomers
The search for affordable housing in Grand Rapids
Tackling sexism, racism and classism in Grand Rapids
With eyes on reform & empathy, GR educators call for change to standardized tests for ELL students
Escaping a world of fast food: Grand Rapids schools tackle hunger, food security with gardens
After shootings, Grand Rapids Police Department, community work to reform law enforcement
Sí, se puede! Grand Rapidians march to support immigrants, farm workers in West Michigan
Politics
Boro pols slam new district lines
Technicalities strangle man’s bid for 27th Assembly District
In South Queens, new districts deliver fear
As Spitzer and Weiner land limelight, other candidates jump to be heard
After few challenges, Queens district attorney may face serious opponent in upcoming election
Councilman Ruben Wills arrested, charged with corruption
News
At city’s airports, fighting a life of poverty: Hundreds protest companies’ low wages, no benefits
Before fire, neighbors pleaded with landlord to fix electrical problems for years
Queens assistant principal becomes city’s first swine flu fatality
Hurricane Sandy
From Build It Back center’s sea of gray, residents wonder when the hopelessness will wash away
As bank-owned homes rot after Sandy, neighbors say their health is rapidly deteriorating
‘We’re about to be homeless’: Hurricane victims describe the nightmare life has become post-Sandy
At Build It Back City Hall hearing, unleashing wave of anger and frustration
Seventeen months after Sandy, victims struggling to stay afloat say city lends no hand
Hurricane victims, pols say fraudulent contractors are major blight on recovery efforts
After hurricane, fire reduce Breezy Point to rubble, a homecoming is on the horizon
An ‘avoidable travesty,’ — Breezy Point residents sue LIPA, National Grid over Hurricane Sandy fires
Healthcare
Hospital crisis: Queens reacts to St. Vincent’s shaky future
Autopsies differ on hospitals’ cause of death
Education
With ‘dangerous’ and ‘decaying’ trailers looming, pleas to keep Richmond HS students in annex
Citing years of ‘insufficient’ funding, calls to keep John Adams HS open
Amidst cries of educational foul, city votes to shutter seven schools
Features
In South Queens, seeing ‘the face of hunger’ change
For thousands of undocumented students, dreams deferred
Along Jamaica Bay, lessons in cultural understanding
For murdered South Ozone Park teen who died in father’s arms, life was about family and friends
From the depths of Richmond Hill Library, residents see chance to create a cultural hub
In exploration of Queens’ diversity, navigating social issues on a basketball court
After funding slashed, senior center that gives residents ‘reason to live’ forced to close doors
One year after woman dies in NYPD custody, family push for investigation
On Liberty Avenue, a struggle to survive; shop owners say city is unfairly doling out tickets
Courts/Crime
Seminerio gets 6-year sentence for corruption
Seminerio corruption hearing reveals links to LIRR, Plaza College
A daughter searches for her father’s killer
Family of man trampled to death on Black Friday sues Wal-Mart
Ozone Park holds vigil for pizzeria owner’s slain son
86-year-old grandmother recovering after attack; vows to help troubled youth
Attorney calls Sheehan’s sentence ‘horrifying;’ mother receives five years in prison
Hundreds attend vigil for woman accused of shooting & killing husband after decades of abuse
The Arts
The stunning Kings Theatre returns: Thousands attend historic venue’s sold-out Diana Ross show
With eyes on democratizing publishing, writers aim to help aspiring authors find homes for words
Words across borders: In Queens, a translation of everything
Howard Beach native stars in indie thriller: ‘Profile of a Killer’ set to make its New York debut
At JFK Airport, Beatles fans celebrate 50th anniversary of British invasion
Food
Ready for beef & beers: O’Neill’s prepares to open its Maspeth doors after fire
A place synonymous with community, O’Neill’s reopens to a jubilant crowd
Bridge & Tunnel Brewery is keeping the stories of Queens alive
Editorials
Time for the city to prove it’s not worthless
Hurricane victims deserve to win lawsuit against National Grid, LIPA
After failing miserably, it’s time for the city to give us a reason not to give up
‘It could become a ghost town.’
Anna Gustafson 