Thursday News

• Patient safety bill would publicize doctors' names

  Gov. David A. Paterson introduced a wide-ranging patient safety bill yesterday that would give the state more authority in health investigations and, for the first time, make public names of doctors under scrutiny.

• Suffolk seeks snitches to enforce worker-status bill

  Suffolk will enforce its worker-status bill in much the same way cops sometimes catch crooks: It'll use snitches.

• Big Brown's owners plan equine facility near Belmont

  Richard Schiavo was clearly kidding when he said that he was a little ticked at the attention his thoroughbred Big Brown has gotten since he won the Kentucky Derby almost two weeks ago.

• Edwards' long-sought endorsement goes to Obama

  WASHINGTON - Former presidential hopeful John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama yesterday, giving him a boost with blue-collar voters - and delivering what Obama hopes will be a coup de grace to Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.

• HMO linked to business formerly under Suffolk probe

  A firm with the same top executives as the company chosen to buy Suffolk County's health maintenance organization was dropped as the county's Medicaid enroller in 2002 after an investigation, officials said yesterday.

• Woman pleads guilty in Spitzer call girl probe

  She was the booker for the hookers.

• IRS: Some stimulus checks sent to wrong accounts

  Through the wonders of modern technology, some of those federal economic stimulus checks are being deposited directly into recipients' bank accounts.

• China rescuers strained as quake toll nears 15,000

  HANWANG, China - Soldiers rushed to shore up a dam cracked by this week's powerful earthquake, and rescuers came by helicopter and ship yesterday into the isolated epicenter but still were forced to dig for survivors with their bare hands.

• Some illegal immigrants fear raids by federal agents

  On the streets of some Latino communities on Long Island yesterday, news of Suffolk County's bill targeting undocumented workers set off a wave of wild rumors that federal immigration agents were about to crack down on illegal immigrants.

• Cops: Woman said husband's slaying was in defense

  When the first police officer arrived at Kelly Forbes' Merrick home last November, she was standing at the top of the stairway sobbing, the officer testified yesterday.

• WORLD & NATION: AT HOME

  The nation's first openly gay governor tried to convince a divorce judge yesterday that he is too poor to pay alimony to his estranged wife, saying his resignation and high-profile divorce ruined his potential to earn a living. James McGreevey testified in Elizabeth, N.J., that he has limited income, few assets and significant debts. He said he is all but unemployable because of the gay sex scandal that toppled his administration and forced him to resign as governor and the publicity in his messy divorce. McGreevey, 50, stepped down 13 months before his first term was to end, announcing in a nationally televised speech that he was "a gay American." He will be back on the stand today for more cross-examination. Now an Episcopal seminary student, McGreevey said he owes a prior divorce lawyer at least $116,000 and has not paid his first ex-wife any child support this year. He said he relies on boyfriend Mark O'Donnell to pay legal bills and lifestyle expenses. He lives in a house owned by O'Donnell and said he owes him money.

• WORLD & NATION: ABROAD

  The Lebanese government rescinded two decisions yesterday that had targeted Hezbollah and ignited the worst internal fighting since the end of the 15-year civil war. Jubilatory gunfire reverberated as the Shia Muslim group's followers celebrated what they saw as a defeat for the U.S.-backed government. An 18- month political struggle has paralyzed the country, effectively closing parliament. Last week, the cabinet announced a probe into a telecommunications network set up by Hezbollah and reassigned the head of security at the Beirut airport, who is considered close to the movement. Hezbollah's leader said the two decisions constituted a declaration of war, and the following day, its militiamen and allied fighters briefly occupied predominantly Muslim West Beirut, routing government-allied militiamen.

• East End parks now official migratory bird havens

  To boost the nesting success of birds such as piping plovers and ospreys, 2,140 acres of state parkland on Long Island's East End were designated as New York State's 50th bird conservation area.

• Charter helicopter service to Hamptons takes off

  Jill Zarin found a summer travel bargain she couldn't pass up: 10 helicopter trips to the Hamptons for $28,000.

• LONG ISLAND: Mildred Cantor, library founder

  Mildred Cantor, an early resident of Levittown and a founder of the community's public library, died of cancer Monday at her home in Philadelphia. She was 88.

• 2 LI attorneys to join suit to keep pensions

  Two Long Island private attorneys who had earned state pension credits will join a class-action lawsuit seeking to block Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli from stripping their state pensions, their attorney said yesterday.

• Suffolk PD presents awards for heroic service

  A veritable catalog of derring-do and heroic actions was heralded yesterday at the Suffolk County Police Department's annual awards ceremony - from dramatic fire rescues to tussles with armed criminals.

• Offender told cop he wanted to rest before returning

  Suffolk police wanted him in jail for allegedly fleeing Long Island and failing to register as a sex offender. But Sal Inghilleri only wanted to sleep.

• Nassau legislator again blocks Suozzi budget request

  The presiding officer of the Nassau Legislature refused again yesterday to act on Thomas Suozzi's request for one of his pet projects until he explained why he was not spending $950,000 allocated for youth services and other programs.

• Red Cross: Myanmar death toll as high as 128,000

  YANGON, Myanmar - The Red Cross estimated yesterday that the cyclone death toll could be as high as 128,000 - much higher than the government tally. The UN warned a second wave of deaths will follow unless the military regime lets in more aid quickly.

• Riders spout off at Jamaica Station's LIRR forum

  Long Island Rail Road riders got a chance to make a quick diversion on their evening commute through Jamaica station last night and spout off at agency President Helena Williams.

• Suffolk County GOP battles for Press pick

  Just as the smoke has cleared over one Long Island newspaper battle, another newspaper war has erupted, albeit a political one.

• Murray touts Roosevelt redevelopment efforts

  Onward and upward is how Supervisor Kate Murray described Roosevelt's future yesterday as she announced plans for a village center and upgraded business facades as part of continuing efforts to revitalize the community, which has struggled with blight.

• Bush's upbeat message on Israel marred by rocket fire

  JERUSALEM - President George W. Bush put an optimistic face on fading hopes for Mideast peace yesterday, declaring that Israel's 60-year triumph over war and tragedy shows democracy can succeed everywhere. But his upbeat message was marred by rocket fire from Gaza and threats of heavy retaliation by Israel.

• Huntington School Board candidates call for new start

  The school year began with the attempted ouster of the high school principal, a discrimination lawsuit filed by her against the district, the resignations of two school board members, and several dramatic board meetings. Now the Huntington School Board is poised for a fresh start.

• Nassau jury commissioner defends selection process

  In a case that could jeopardize hundreds of criminal indictments, the Nassau Commissioner of Jurors took the stand yesterday morning to defend the way he selects grand jurors for service.

• Southampton to preserve sacred Shinnecock land

  Southampton Town is getting ready to buy 9.3 acres of waterfront land in Water Mill for $5 million, land that includes the site of an ancient summer village and burial ground for the Shinnecock Tribe.

• Schumer aims to nearly double pretax commuter benefit

  In a program he says could save Long Island commuters more than $750 each year, Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing legislation that would nearly double the amount of pretax earnings workers can use to pay for public transportation.

• Fed NYPD role rejected

  Mayor Michael Bloomberg reminded a group of congressional representatives yesterday that the city's police department is his concern, not theirs, as the House Judiciary Committee considers nationwide policing reforms in response to the shooting death of Sean Bell.

• 'Brown' is delivering for all after Derby victory

  It seems so obvious it had to be part of a grand marketing plan. But it was not.

• Legal opinion cuts exit pay of ex-Suffolk executive

  The exit pay of Suffolk's former chief deputy county executive, Paul Sabatino, will be cut by $37,540 because the county attorney has found that a waiver that allowed him to carry over vacation time was not properly authorized.

• Two East End hospitals reach accord with Blue Cross

  Eastern Long Island and Southampton hospitals on the East End have agreed on a reimbursement schedule with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, ending uncertainty for patients who faced the prospect of longer trips for nonemergency medical care.

• ON THE TRAIL

  Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday backed away from her comments about support among "white Americans," saying she agreed with a top New York Democrat who criticized her remarks. Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel said Saturday that Clinton's comments were "the dumbest thing" she could have said. "Well, he's probably right," Clinton said on CNN last night. "Obviously I have worked very hard to get the votes of everyone ... And I know Senator [Barack] Obama has worked hard to reach out to every community and constituency." Clinton said she was referring to an Associated Press story about the primaries when she made the comments a week ago to USA Today, saying she was winning the support of "hardworking Americans, white Americans."

• Nassau settles suit over killings in church

  Nassau County has tentatively settled a lawsuit charging the county and its medical center as culpable in the 2002 death of a 73-year-old parishioner killed at a Lynbrook Mass by a former psychiatric patient, who also killed the priest.

• House Republicans vow change after losing 3rd seat

  WASHINGTON - Stunned House Republicans vowed campaign changes yesterday and debated the wisdom of attacking Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama in congressional races after their third straight election defeat in once-friendly territory.

• "Idol's" final contest will be David versus David

  Down to the final two and is anyone surprised?

• Sex offenders required to register online screen names

  ALBANY - The 25,000 sex offenders registered in New York now will have to report their online identities to the state, in a new effort to safeguard children using social networking sites.

• NASSAU: Suozzi names Conservative judge

  Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat, has named a registered Conservative and former political opponent to a $122,700-a-year district court judgeship.

• CBS hopes comedies lighten up ratings in the fall

  CBS will bring two comedies to Wednesdays this fall, spreading jokes to a second night after confining its sitcoms to Mondays the past few years, The Associated Press reports.

• Michael Moore plans "Farenheit 9/11" follow-up

  Michael Moore is taking America's temperature again.

• Polar bears now 'threatened' due to warming climate

  WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne listed polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act yesterday, saying the loss of Arctic sea ice in a warming climate could drive them to the brink of extinction in less than four decades.

• Winehouse won't be charged over video, spokesman says

  Amy Winehouse will not face charges over video footage that allegedly shows her taking drugs, her spokesman said yesterday.

• THIS DATE IN HISTORY

  1918: U.S. airmail began service between Washington, Philadelphia

• Black accidentally confirms Jolie's expecting twins

  Angelina Jolie is indeed expecting twins, and it was Jack Black who let the news slip with a "Brady Bunch" crack, The Associated Press reports.

• ASPCA program matches pets' personalities with humans

  It happens to all of us. You fall in love with someone's looks ... but then he's not quite what you expected. Even, sometimes, if he's a cat.

• "Ten Commandments" movie tablets up for auction

  Thou shalt find the Ten Commandments up for bid this summer.

• MINEOLA: Cops: 2 tried to steal aluminum light poles

  Cops caught two men sawing up aluminum light poles from a Mineola Village storage yard, Nassau police said yesterday.

• "Crazy" ants invade Houston area

  DALLAS - In what sounds like a low-budget horror film, voracious swarming ants that apparently arrived in Texas aboard a cargo ship are invading homes and yards in the Houston area, shorting out electrical boxes and messing up computers.

• Diana Barnato Walker, pilot on supersonic jet, dies

  LONDON - Diana Barnato Walker, a World War II veteran and the first British woman to pilot an airplane at supersonic speed, has died. She was 90.

• WNBC says it's still standing behind Sue Simmons

  Sue stays.

• Obama apologizes for calling TV reporter 'sweetie'

  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama apologized yesterday to a television reporter for calling her "sweetie" during a campaign stop yesterday in Michigan.

• Pregnant woman rescued from rubble in China

  DUJIANGYAN, China - A woman, eight months pregnant, was pulled to safety yesterday after spending 50 hours trapped under earthquake rubble.

• GLEN COVE: Man arrested on child porn charges

  Nassau police arrested a Glen Cove man at his home on child pornography charges, seizing a laptop containing sexual images of children, officials said.

• Thursday, May. 15, 2008

  In an Act Two story Saturday, the name of the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview was stated incorrectly. Also, the name of one of the group's NORC programs, Project P.A.C.E., was given incorrectly.