It began calmly enough. But as the Aug. 8 meeting of the Bronx Democratic County Committee progressed, a rift between members became apparent. more

The last time we met, we began our discussion of the various techniques used to shape and modify trees with a brief discussion of pruning and grafting. Things are about to get more interesting! more

It seems like an ever-repeating pattern: A mass shooting happens. Talk of gun reform is ubiquitous. Politicians make grand speeches about legislation to either limit gun access or to strengthen Second Amendment rights. Bills are written that die in committees, and the issue is untouched until the next tragedy. more

Mental illness is not the cause of mass shootings. Period. more

It’s finally settled. The intractable rumor that Councilman Andrew Cohen would be nominated for a supreme court judgeship this year has been resolved. He won’t be trading his spot in city hall for a black robe and gavel. At least, not yet. more

Nothing says “tough dude with an attitude” quite like picking a fight with a fast food worker, flashing a knife, and riding off into the sunset on two wheels. more

Say it’s a sweltering August afternoon and the sidewalk is hot enough to sear a New York strip. You walk by a parked cop car, and are startled by a deep bark emanating from behind the heavily tinted windows. There’s a police dog in the vehicle. And although it’s a highly trained dog, it’s still a dog, and still susceptible to the same heat exhaustion any other animal — or person — would experience if left in a hot car. more

A crew with backhoes showed up at a scrap of dirt off West 251st Street separating Post Road from Broadway last month to address a road that’s not been treated with the respect due a 400-year-old landmark. more

The gears of government turn at a glacial pace, as a Manhattan College official has learned. Last year, Rob Walsh approached the Kingsbridge Business Improvement District board with an idea: Extend its boundaries two blocks north to cover West 238th Street and Broadway. More of the area could benefit from the BID’s daily trash pickup and cleaning, beautification and small business development services. more

Two years after the deaths of two toddlers at Amalgamated Houses, police last week arrested their mother, Jade Spencer, on two counts of manslaughter and one count of second-degree assault. more