New York City briefs

Woman killed by subway in Manhattan

Authorities say a woman was struck and killed by a subway train on Manhattan's Upper West Side yesterday.

The MTA says the woman was lying on the tracks at the 79th Street and Broadway station. She was struck by a downtown No. 1 train around 10:30 a.m.

Some train service was suspended while authorities investigated. The agency says regular service resumed at 11:55 a.m.

Dec. 3 tree lighting

at Rockefeller Center

The 85-foot-tall Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit on Dec. 3 at 8:55 p.m.

The 45,000 energy efficient LED lights will be turned on for the first time this season during the 82nd annual ceremony. Co-hosted by Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales, the ceremony begins at 7 p.m.

NBC will broadcast the event live from Rockefeller Plaza.

Congressional cuts

lead to 'meal gap'

New York City's hunger problem took a big hit following federal cuts to food assistance programs last year, a report released yesterday said.

Nearly one in every five New Yorkers relies on these benefits for food, but after Congress reduced funding last November, those needy residents lost more than 56 million meals, according to the Food Bank for New York City.

The report broke down the "meal gap," which represents meals missing from the homes of people on food assistance, and found that Brooklyn had the highest annual gap with a shortfall of 88 million meals during the last year. The Bronx was second with a shortfall of 53 million. The neighborhoods with the highest gaps were in minority communities such as East New York and the South Bronx.

Although the Food Bank said the best solution would be for Congress to restore the funds, it said the state and city governments can help by making available federal waivers and options to lower barriers to access for food. The local elected officials can also contribute to outreach efforts.

Millions meant for minorities diverted

A New York City grand jury says more than $10 million that was supposed to go to minority- and women-owned contractors on government construction projects instead was diverted to other businesses over a decade.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. unveiled the findings yesterday. One contractor has been indicted on scheming to defraud and other charges so far, and the probe is continuing.

New York City and the state both set goals for minority- and women-owned businesses to get certain percentages of government contracting work.

But the grand jury found some contractors generated phony invoices and otherwise faked claims that they got services or supplies from minority and female businesses.

The report's recommendations include changing the scheming to defraud law to allow tougher penalties for bigger-dollar schemes.

Indictment for man

in subway pushing

A grand jury has indicted a 34-year-old man on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges for pushing a stranger in front of a moving New York City subway train, killing him.

Bronx prosecutors announced the indictment yesterday, shortly after suspect Kevin Darden made a brief court appearance. He had waived his right to appear before the grand jury.

Prosecutors say Wai Kuen Kwok, 61, was standing with his wife on a Bronx subway platform when Darden shoved him in front of an oncoming train on Nov. 16.

Police say Darden and Kwok didn't know each other.

Darden is being held without bail. His attorney didn't immediately return a message. He has previously asked that people remember suspects are presumed innocent.

Darden's next court date is Jan. 12.