newyorkpost--2020-01-08--What basketball would look like if Lakers legend had played in NY

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and Knicks both got damaged ...

LOS ANGELES — He towers over Star Plaza at Staples Center, this 16-foot, 1,500-pound bronze version of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is shooting a sky hook, of course, and it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to believe that if set free, this frozen version would roll the ball softly off his fingertips, swishing into an unseen bronze basket.
It was always Kareem’s fate in this city to be revered, but not in the same way others have been. Magic Johnson, for instance. Wilt Chamberlain. Kobe Bryant. Even Shaquille O’Neal, nowhere near the player, was larger-than-life in his early L.A. days, and even he leaves a deeper impression.
It is easy to wonder — it is almost essential to wonder — what basketball in our time and in our town might look like if this statue sat 3,000 miles away, in a place of prominence near the marquee at Madison Square Garden. Basketball New York, of course, is experiencing this season merely the latest humbling by Los Angeles.
Before this year, you may recall, the Lakers were every bit as pitiful as the Knicks across six solid years, they were 163-329 — exactly the same record as the Knicks. Even last year, with LeBron James on the roster, they were a league-wide punchline, an epic failure.
It’s hard to remember that now, with the Lakers cruising in the West at 30-7 after Tuesday night’s 117-87 stomping of the Knicks. They are cruising to another deep playoff run. Across the past 47 years — dating to the last time they faced each other in the Finals — the Lakers have had their potholes and their downswings. But they have always managed to find a way out. This time, it’s James and Anthony Davis.
Once upon a time it was Kareem.
“I wanted this to be in New York,” he said a few years ago, when he was at the Garden to watch the Knicks. “But life is pretty funny sometimes.”
Think about the way the NBA looked on the morning of June 16, 1975. The teams that had met three times the prior five years for the championship, representing either coast, were graying and groaning.
The Knicks went 40-42, then exited the playoffs meekly in a 2-1 miniseries loss to Houston. Willis Reed and Dave DeBusschere were long gone. Clyde and Pearl had lost a step, and Bill Bradley was a year away from retirement. The Lakers? They were 30-52, second-worst record in the 18-team league. Wilt was on the beach. Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were long gone.
At that precise moment — sunrise on June 16 — the Knicks had two world championships to their credit, the Lakers one. And they believed they were on the doorstep of making the kind of seismic move that would alter their history — and the league’s history — forever. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had announced he wanted out of Milwaukee.
“I have no family here,” he said then. “I have few friends here. I don’t want to be here.”
Where he wanted to go was home, and that meant New York, where he’d been a high school star at Power Memorial, where he’d grown up in the Dyckman Street projects. Knicks president Mike Burke and GM Eddie Donovan understood what an opportunity this was. The knew Kareem’s intentions. They flew to Milwaukee, offered up any two players on the Knicks’ roster, and produced a check for $1 million.
“They tried to bully us with money,” Bucks GM Wayne Embry said years later.
But the Bucks wouldn’t be bullied. They weren’t going to just give Kareem away — and while a million bucks is nice, in the NBA, draft picks are better. And the Knicks were already starting to fritter away picks, losing their No. 1 in 1975 for trying to poach George McGinniss from the ABA. And the Bucks knew something else.
Kareem may have preferred New York, where he was born.
But he also loved L.A., where he had become a superstar in college at UCLA. The Lakers had draft picks to spare. They had a player the Bucks coveted — Brian Winters, ironically a product of Archbishop Molloy in Queens. And on June 16, 1975, the deal was done. Kareem was a Laker.
On that morning, the Knicks had two championships in New York, the Lakers one in Los Angeles. The count is now 11-2 the other way. And the left side of the hyphen sure seems more likely to grow than the right side. Life is pretty funny sometimes.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Kenny Atkinson: Nets are on same page with Kyrie Irving

Pick a shot , any shot , and the undermanned Nets have ...

Kenny Atkinson initially denied last week that Kyrie Irving is suffering from bursitis in his shoulder, but the Nets’ coach insists the organization and the injured All-Star guard are on the same page after he confirmed that diagnosis and revealed that he might require surgery while speaking to reporters on Saturday.
The Nets had maintained since Irving was injured Nov. 14 in Denver that he was suffering from a shoulder impingement.
“Yeah, I mean, yes, problem is, I’m not a medical expert. That’s one of the issues,” Atkinson said before the Nets’ 111-103 overtime loss to the Thunder. “Bursitis and impingement, all that, I need to get my medical book out. My mom used to have one in the living room, I forget what it was called, but you know, yeah, we’re on the same page.
“I’m glad he was open, honest, and spoke with you guys and was transparent. I think we’re good with that as an organization.”
Irving has appeared in 11 games since signing a four-year contract worth $141 million in free agency to team up with injured star Kevin Durant, who isn’t expected to play this season following Achilles surgery.
Atkinson said he’s still “getting to know” recent signings Justin Anderson (10-day contract) and Chris Chiozza (two-way), but he remains unsure when they will see any game action.
“There’s always a little bit of a feeling out process in the beginning, but that being said, I hope we can find some moments where we can see those guys in an NBA game,” Atkinson said. “It’s just figuring that out with the games on our schedule, lineups and all that. I’d love to get a chance to get a look.”
Nets forward Rodions Kurucs is scheduled to appear in Kings County Criminal court Wednesday for a fourth hearing in the domestic violence case in which he was accused of choking his girlfriend during an argument at the couple’s apartment last summer.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Vandals wanted for scrawling swastikas on Brooklyn restaurant

Two vandals scrawled swastikas on a restaurant in Brooklyn amid a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the city , police @ @ @ @ @ stopped in front of the Acapulco Restaurant & Deli on Manhattan Avenue near Clay Street @ @ @ @ @ drew the hate symbols , cops said .
They also wrote , “ f—k this @ @ @ @ @ this city , ” a police source said .
The suspects ran off after tagging @ @ @ @ @ been caught .
The hateful tagging came amid a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the @ @ @ @ @ including a number of assaults in Brooklyn .

Two vandals scrawled swastikas on a restaurant in Brooklyn amid a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the city, police said Wednesday.
The suspects stopped in front of the Acapulco Restaurant & Deli on Manhattan Avenue near Clay Street on Sunday Dec. 22 and drew the hate symbols, cops said.
They also wrote, “f—k this place” and “f—k this city,” a police source said.
The suspects ran off after tagging the building and have not been caught.
The hateful tagging came amid a string of anti-Semitic incidents in the New York City area, including a number of assaults in Brooklyn.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Ukrainian embassy says engine failure caused deadly plane crash in Iran

The Ukrainian embassy to Iran said on Wednesday that the plane crash in Tehran that killed at least 170 people was due to engine failure .
The embassy released a statement addressing the crash of a Boeing 737 after taking off from Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday .
The plane was carrying 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , 4 Afghanis , 3 Germans , and 3 Britons , officials said .
The statement also said that they dispatched planes to Iran to transport the bodies back to Ukraine .
Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane suffered a mechanical failure before the crash .
“ After taking off from Imam Khomeini international airport it crashed between Parand and Shahriar , ” civil aviation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh said .
“ An investigation team from the national aviation department was dispatched to the location after the news was announced.
” The plane was bound for Kiev , according to state-run IRNA news agency .
A photo from IRNA showed rescue workers in a farm field alongside what appeared to pieces of the plane .
The crash occurred just hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US troops stationed at two air bases in Iraq .

The Ukrainian embassy to Iran said on Wednesday that the plane crash in Tehran that killed at least 170 people was due to engine failure.
The embassy released a statement addressing the crash of a Boeing 737 after taking off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Wednesday.
The plane was carrying 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, 4 Afghanis, 3 Germans, and 3 Britons, officials said.
The statement also said that they dispatched planes to Iran to transport the bodies back to Ukraine.
Iranian officials said earlier on Tuesday night that the plane suffered a mechanical failure before the crash.
“After taking off from Imam Khomeini international airport it crashed between Parand and Shahriar,” civil aviation spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh said.
“An investigation team from the national aviation department was dispatched to the location after the news was announced.”
The plane was bound for Kiev, according to state-run IRNA news agency. A photo from IRNA showed rescue workers in a farm field alongside what appeared to pieces of the plane.
The crash occurred just hours after Iran launched a missile attack on US troops stationed at two air bases in Iraq.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Teacher struck by hit-and-run driver after leaving her baby shower, unborn child killed

A 24-year-old Mississippi teacher lost her unborn baby eight months into her pregnancy after she was hit by a driver with a history of DUIs while driving home from her baby shower , and the driver promptly fled the scene and left the woman “ fighting for her life , ” according to police .
Mashayla Harper was found lying along the side of a roadway after her Honda Accord was struck head-on by a 2005 Nissan Titan just before 6 p.m. Saturday .
She was transported to a hospital in critical condition , Sgt .
J.D .
Carter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Harper , a fourth-grade teacher , had been celebrating the upcoming arrival of her first child with family and friends in Soso , Mississippi , on Saturday when her car was struck by the vehicle .
The driver , 33-year-old James Gilbert , fled the scene on foot , according to The Laurel Leader-Call .
Gilbert was charged with leaving the scene of an accident that caused death or injuries and is being detained on a $ 100,000 bond .
The charge could increase after the results of an impending blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buckley said .
Gilbert admitted he had been drinking and a small amount of marijuana was found inside the vehicle .
“ I was scared , ” Gilbert , himself a father of two , told the Leader-Call when asked why he fled the scene .
“ I ’ m very sorry .
I ’ m so sorry.
” Gilbert was arrested hours after the accident when the newly elected sheriff , Joe Berlin , called Gilbert ’ s wife and convinced her to contact him and urge him to “ do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , the Leader-Call reported .
“ I ’ m glad he came clean about it , ” Carter told the publication .
Gilbert has at least three DUI convictions since 2008 and was convicted of felony DUI and possession of methamphetamine in 2015 .
“ This one is more egregious because the suspect knew he struck someone and caused life-threatening injuries , ” Buckley said .
“ [ Gilbert ] truly fled.
” When the affidavit was read in court explaining that Harper “ lost her unborn child , ” Gilbert and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gilbert told the judge he and his wife have two daughters and that he works in construction .
Harper was transferred to another hospital where she underwent emergency surgery .
Doctors officially upgraded her condition from critical to stable .
“ To see our baby go from this being the happiest day of her life to I.C.U .
in a matter of minutes was a complete tragedy .
That idiot hit her head-on and left her out there on that road to die , ” Harper ’ s father , Maurice Pruitt Sr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to everyone that ’ s praying and has called to check on the status of Mashayla… She ’ s a very strong woman and she continues to fight for her life.
” “ I have looked at this picture 1,000 times praying that it wouldn ’ t be anything more than a beautiful picture of us , ” another family member , Alondria Hampton , posted to Instagram , along with a photo of herself , Harper and another guest .
“ We were supposed to be talking about the baby shower right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

A 24-year-old Mississippi teacher lost her unborn baby eight months into her pregnancy after she was hit by a driver with a history of DUIs while driving home from her baby shower, and the driver promptly fled the scene and left the woman “fighting for her life,” according to police.
Mashayla Harper was found lying along the side of a roadway after her Honda Accord was struck head-on by a 2005 Nissan Titan just before 6 p.m. Saturday. She was transported to a hospital in critical condition, Sgt. J.D. Carter of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department said.
Harper, a fourth-grade teacher, had been celebrating the upcoming arrival of her first child with family and friends in Soso, Mississippi, on Saturday when her car was struck by the vehicle. The driver, 33-year-old James Gilbert, fled the scene on foot, according to The Laurel Leader-Call.
Gilbert was charged with leaving the scene of an accident that caused death or injuries and is being detained on a $100,000 bond. The charge could increase after the results of an impending blood test are released, District Attorney Tony Buckley said.
Gilbert admitted he had been drinking and a small amount of marijuana was found inside the vehicle.
“I was scared,” Gilbert, himself a father of two, told the Leader-Call when asked why he fled the scene. “I’m very sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Gilbert was arrested hours after the accident when the newly elected sheriff, Joe Berlin, called Gilbert’s wife and convinced her to contact him and urge him to “do the right thing,” and turn himself in, the Leader-Call reported.
“I’m glad he came clean about it,” Carter told the publication.
Gilbert has at least three DUI convictions since 2008 and was convicted of felony DUI and possession of methamphetamine in 2015.
“This one is more egregious because the suspect knew he struck someone and caused life-threatening injuries,” Buckley said. “[Gilbert] truly fled.”
When the affidavit was read in court explaining that Harper “lost her unborn child,” Gilbert and his family members began to cry.
Gilbert told the judge he and his wife have two daughters and that he works in construction.
Harper was transferred to another hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. Doctors officially upgraded her condition from critical to stable.
“To see our baby go from this being the happiest day of her life to I.C.U. in a matter of minutes was a complete tragedy. That idiot hit her head-on and left her out there on that road to die,” Harper’s father, Maurice Pruitt Sr., posted to Facebook. “Thanks to everyone that’s praying and has called to check on the status of Mashayla… She’s a very strong woman and she continues to fight for her life.”
“I have looked at this picture 1,000 times praying that it wouldn’t be anything more than a beautiful picture of us,” another family member, Alondria Hampton, posted to Instagram, along with a photo of herself, Harper and another guest. “We were supposed to be talking about the baby shower right now not visiting you in ICU.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Rome bans souvenir stands from Colosseum, other tourist sites

Looks like we ’ ll have to go trinket-shopping elsewhere .
Roman leaders have officially banned souvenir stands and snack bars at historic attractions , including the Colosseum , Pantheon , Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps .
The small , mobile shops have been forbidden from operating directly at the iconic sites , in hopes of easing congestion and better protecting the monuments , The Telegraph reports .
The new regulations went into effect Jan. 1 , according to Lonely Planet .
“ For years , the monuments of the city have been tarnished by vendors who sell drinks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s architectural jewels .
This is no longer tolerable , ” Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi said of the news .
According to Raggi , the vendors were poised to “ ruin the image of Rome.
” Seventeen stalls at the Pantheon , Trevi Fountain , Spanish Steps , Piazza Navona and Trident are said to have been shut down , though eight of the bunch have been given permission to permanently relocate and operate further away from the monuments , per a recent government statement .
Snack vans that previously sold food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to get the boot from the local council soon as well , Lonely Planet reports .
In related headlines , Raggi ’ s government has also banned people from sitting on the Spanish Steps , splashing in fountains , eating in front of the legendary monuments and walking around bare-chested , among other measures , according to the outlet .

Looks like we’ll have to go trinket-shopping elsewhere.
Roman leaders have officially banned souvenir stands and snack bars at historic attractions, including the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. The small, mobile shops have been forbidden from operating directly at the iconic sites, in hopes of easing congestion and better protecting the monuments, The Telegraph reports.
The new regulations went into effect Jan. 1, according to Lonely Planet.
“For years, the monuments of the city have been tarnished by vendors who sell drinks, panini and trinkets in front of Rome’s architectural jewels. This is no longer tolerable,” Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi said of the news.
According to Raggi, the vendors were poised to “ruin the image of Rome.”
Seventeen stalls at the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and Trident are said to have been shut down, though eight of the bunch have been given permission to permanently relocate and operate further away from the monuments, per a recent government statement. Snack vans that previously sold food near the Colosseum and Circus Maximus are due to get the boot from the local council soon as well, Lonely Planet reports.
In related headlines, Raggi’s government has also banned people from sitting on the Spanish Steps, splashing in fountains, eating in front of the legendary monuments and walking around bare-chested, among other measures, according to the outlet.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--World Series champ Aubrey Huff slammed over ‘joke’ about kidnapping Iranian women

World Series champion Aubrey Huff got into a war of words on social media Tuesday over his “ joke ” about kidnapping Iranian women and making them “ fan [ … ] and feed ” Americans , “ amongst other things.
” Huff — a former third baseman who has been previously criticized for tweets about preparing for a civil war if Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , wins the election over President Trump , and telling those protesting and clogging up airports to get a job — was responding to a tweet that talked about invading Iran and kidnapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Let ’ s get a flight over and kidnap about 10 each .
We can bring them back here as they fan us and feed us grapes , amongst other things… ” Huff tweeted in response to the initial tweet , which was later deleted .
Huff later explained his tweet , calling it a joke and asking whether anyone has a sense of humor .
“ Does nobody have a sense of humor anymore !
?
” he said .
“ The way Iranian women are treated over there I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d go there [ to ] rescue them & bring them back [ to ] the states .
And they would be so thankful [ to ] escape that hell that they ’ d fan me & feed me grapes .
Never said rape !
” He added : “ In light of today ’ s post about rescuing Iranian women from that s–t hole .
This is what I would imagine grateful Iranian women would do to show their appreciation to any man who saved them from the a–holes that beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long tunic & scarf in 110 degree heat.
” Huff played 13 seasons in the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays , Baltimore Orioles , Houston Astros , Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants .
He won two World Series titles with the Giants before retiring after the 2012 season .

World Series champion Aubrey Huff got into a war of words on social media Tuesday over his “joke” about kidnapping Iranian women and making them “fan […] and feed” Americans, “amongst other things.”
Huff — a former third baseman who has been previously criticized for tweets about preparing for a civil war if Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wins the election over President Trump, and telling those protesting and clogging up airports to get a job — was responding to a tweet that talked about invading Iran and kidnapping their women in less than delicate terms.
“Let’s get a flight over and kidnap about 10 each. We can bring them back here as they fan us and feed us grapes, amongst other things…” Huff tweeted in response to the initial tweet, which was later deleted.
Huff later explained his tweet, calling it a joke and asking whether anyone has a sense of humor.
“Does nobody have a sense of humor anymore!?” he said. “The way Iranian women are treated over there I simply wanted [to] say I’d go there [to] rescue them & bring them back [to] the states. And they would be so thankful [to] escape that hell that they’d fan me & feed me grapes. Never said rape!”
He added: “In light of today’s post about rescuing Iranian women from that s–t hole. This is what I would imagine grateful Iranian women would do to show their appreciation to any man who saved them from the a–holes that beat them, & make them wear a long tunic & scarf in 110 degree heat.”
Huff’s tweets were slammed across social media.
Huff played 13 seasons in the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. He won two World Series titles with the Giants before retiring after the 2012 season.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Hillary Clinton to attend premiere of ‘Hillary’ docuseries at Sundance

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Hillary Clinton will attend the premiere of a documentary series about her life at the Sundance Film Festival later this month .
The former first lady will participate in a Q & A along with the director of the docuseries “ Hillary ” on January 25 in Park City , Utah , according to the film festival .
The four-part series examines Clinton ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature unpublished footage of the former Democratic nominee as well as interviews with her husband and former president Bill Clinton .
Academy Award nominee director Nanette Burstein was given “ free rein to pose even the most difficult questions to Clinton.
” “ It ’ s a more nuanced and much more personal [ project ] , getting to know somebody as a person as much as their political life , ” Sundance director John Cooper told The Hollywood Reporter .
“ I was a Hillary supporter , but I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much as I did watching this film .
Her strength and intelligence .
Seeing the struggle of her trying to [ run for president ] in a changing world .
All the rules were changing .
Things that were happening that would kick a candidate [ like Donald Trump ] out were making him stronger .
It ’ s just fascinating to watch.
” The production company of President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama will also be screening a film .
But it was unclear if the Obamas would attend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Hulu in March .

Hillary Clinton will attend the premiere of a documentary series about her life at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.
The former first lady will participate in a Q&A along with the director of the docuseries “Hillary” on January 25 in Park City, Utah, according to the film festival.
The four-part series examines Clinton’s unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign — and will feature unpublished footage of the former Democratic nominee as well as interviews with her husband and former president Bill Clinton.
Academy Award nominee director Nanette Burstein was given “free rein to pose even the most difficult questions to Clinton.”
“It’s a more nuanced and much more personal [project], getting to know somebody as a person as much as their political life,” Sundance director John Cooper told The Hollywood Reporter.
“I was a Hillary supporter, but I don’t know if I ever loved her as much as I did watching this film. Her strength and intelligence. Seeing the struggle of her trying to [run for president] in a changing world. All the rules were changing. Things that were happening that would kick a candidate [like Donald Trump] out were making him stronger. It’s just fascinating to watch.”
The production company of President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama will also be screening a film. But it was unclear if the Obamas would attend.
The “Hillary” docuseries will premiere on Hulu in March.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Knicks completely destroyed by Lakers, who lose Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis was forced to exit the Lakers ’ 117-87 win ...

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and Knicks both got damaged Tuesday at Staples Center.
The Lakers won in a 117-87 rout, but the Knicks delivered the purple and gold a physical pounding on Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Lakers superstar contested a Julius Randle layup with 2:45 left in the third quarter and fell violently on his back. Davis stayed down for several minutes while teammates huddled around the fallen big man.
X-rays were negative, and the Lakers termed the injury “a sacral contusion.” He is expected to have an MRI exam and will not make the Lakers’ upcoming two-game road trip.
“Health is first,” LeBron James said. “If he has to miss some time, it’s next man up.”
When he got to his feet, Davis gingerly hobbled off the court on his own to the locker room area, where a gurney was waiting.
The violence was witnessed by longtime Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson, who rarely shows up anymore and whose presence shows the franchise is back.
Randle is a former lottery pick by the Lakers and the franchise decided not to re-sign him in 2018 to keep cap flexibility for 2019 that helped net Davis.
Randle was not made available for comment after the game because of what team officials called “personal reasons.” He was hurried into a private room and when he emerged, he looked upset. It is unclear if he was to take the flight to Utah, where the Knicks play Wednesday night.
Davis’ injury wasn’t the lone calamity that afflicted the Lakers, who were led by James’ 31 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Knicks big man Bobby Portis got a well-deserved ejection in the second quarter for a Flagrant Foul 2 — something the Knicks couldn’t afford because of Marcus Morris’ absence.
Portis took a wild swing at the head of a driving Caldwell-Pope, who was driving for an easy layup. If Portis was going for the ball, he missed by a mile, and James was furious, jabbering at Portis. Rajon Rondo did as well.
Afterward, Portis vehemently denied it was intentional and Knicks interim coach Mike Miller backed him up.
“I tried to block the ball, missed the ball, hit him in the head,’’ Portis said. “My apologies and I was happy to see him come back into the game. My intention was never to hit him in the head. I made a basketball play on the ball. My intent is to play hard. That’s my MO. I accidentally hit him in the head.’’
Portis hit the showers and could be barred from the Knicks’ next game against Utah on Wednesday as the NBA reviews all Flagrant 2’s.
“I think it was not intentional,’’ Miller said. “I think he really was going for the ball.’’
Pope did not take his free throws and went to the locker room after spending time on the floor, wincing and touching his temples. He was examined for a concussion, but later cleared.
James was certifiably stoked. Despite being “under the weather” and missing the morning shootaround, he was a machine at night, firing sharp-angled passes, draining 3s and rambling to the hole like a freight train.
But now James must wonder how long Davis may have to miss with this injury for the Lakers (30-7), who are now 21-0 against sub-.500 teams.
As for the Knicks, they fell to 10-27 — 6-9 under Miller. They were led by RJ Barrett (19 points) and Randle (15 points).
The Lakers started the game with an easy alley-oop connection — Danny Green to Javale McGee. But the Knicks hung tough and were down just 26-21 after one quarter.
It was just a matter of time before the Lakers’ fast-paced game wore them out. The Lakers scored 21 fast-break points in the half and 30 in the game. Miller said that was the difference, though the Knicks shot just 38 percent.
With Morris out with a neck injury after scoring 38 points in this arena Sunday against the Clippers, Reggie Bullock, rather than Kevin Knox, started in his place and was just 1-of-5 from the 3-point line and finished with seven points. Knox continued to disintegrate, going 1-for-7 from the field.
Before the Davis fall, it got chippy in the third quarter when Bullock dragged down McGee, who had a layup attempt underneath. Bullock was charged with a Flagrant 1 after an angry McGee asked for a video review. Against the Clippers, the Knicks were flagged for four technical fouls.
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Man fatally struck by bus in Midtown hit-and-run

A man was fatally struck by a bus driver in a Midtown hit-and-run collision Tuesday evening — the third city @ @ @ @ @ 12 hours , police said .
The man , 51 , was crossing Fifth Avenue @ @ @ @ @ p.m. when he was struck and killed by the bus driver traveling south on Fifth @ @ @ @ @ .
The man suffered severe body trauma and was rushed to Weill Cornell Hospital , @ @ @ @ @ .
Police are searching for the driver .
It was not immediately clear who had @ @ @ @ @ the intersection .
Earlier on Tuesday morning , a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed @ @ @ @ @ in Corona , Queens .
Later on Tuesday , a 68-year-old woman was killed in @ @ @ @ @ by a cement truck while crossing a street in Borough Park .

A man was struck by a bus driver in a Midtown hit-and-run collision Tuesday evening, police said.
The man, 51, was crossing Fifth Avenue at 59th Street around 5:50 p.m. when he was hit by the bus driver traveling south on Fifth Avenue, according to police.
The man suffered severe body trauma and was rushed to Weill Cornell Hospital.
Police are searching for the driver. It was not immediately clear who had the right of way at the intersection.
The hit came on the same day two people were killed by vehicles.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed by a city sanitation truck in Corona, Queens.
Later, a 68-year-old woman was killed in Brooklyn when she was hit by a cement truck while crossing a street in Borough Park.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Man accused of killing, eating ex deemed not mentally fit for trial

An Indiana man accused of killing , mutilating and then eating parts of his ex-girlfriend ’ s body was found not mentally fit to stand trial , a report said .
Joseph Oberhansley , 38 , will be transported to a state hospital after two evaluations by psychiatrists were filed in December .
His defense attorneys and prosecutors then reached a deal to have placed in a hospital , the News and Tribune reported .
Oberhansley is accused of killing Tammy Jo Blanton in September 2014 in a house in Jeffersonville , north of Louisville , Kentucky .
Oberhansley allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it , according to the report .
His first trial in August was declared a mistrial after a witness introduced testimony that was deemed inadmissible .
The prosecutor in the case said he agreed to have Oberhansley hospitalized in an effort to expedite his trial .
The attorney , Jeremy Mull , said he still believes the case will go to trial and Oberhansley will be convicted .
Oberhansley ’ s attorney , Jeremy Mull , said the hospitalization was the right move .
“ From the nature of the case itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s behavior both in and out of court , there really is no question that he is incompetent .
He can ’ t assist in his defense nor does he really have an understanding of the procedures , ” he said .

An Indiana man accused of killing, mutilating and then eating parts of his ex-girlfriend’s body was found not mentally fit to stand trial, a report said.
Joseph Oberhansley, 38, will be transported to a state hospital after two evaluations by psychiatrists were filed in December. His defense attorneys and prosecutors then reached a deal to have placed in a hospital, the News and Tribune reported.
Oberhansley is accused of killing Tammy Jo Blanton in September 2014 in a house in Jeffersonville, north of Louisville, Kentucky.
Oberhansley allegedly then mutilated her body and ate parts of it, according to the report.
His first trial in August was declared a mistrial after a witness introduced testimony that was deemed inadmissible.
The prosecutor in the case said he agreed to have Oberhansley hospitalized in an effort to expedite his trial. The attorney, Jeremy Mull, said he still believes the case will go to trial and Oberhansley will be convicted.
Oberhansley’s attorney, Jeremy Mull, said the hospitalization was the right move.
“From the nature of the case itself — the accusations — and just Joseph’s behavior both in and out of court, there really is no question that he is incompetent. He can’t assist in his defense nor does he really have an understanding of the procedures,” he said.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Lakers star Anthony Davis exits game with back injury

Anthony Davis was forced to exit the Lakers ’ 117-87 win over the Knicks on Tuesday night after injuring his @ @ @ @ @ .
The Lakers superstar suffered a lower back injury after he contested a Julius Randle @ @ @ @ @ the third quarter and fell violently on his back .
He was able to walk @ @ @ @ @ into the locker room .
X-Rays were negative and the Lakers termed the injury “ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to have an MRI exam and miss at least the next two games @ @ @ @ @ are legit title contenders , only can hope this isn ’ t a long-term injury @ @ @ @ @ a four-year , $ 146 million max extension , according to Yahoo Sports , as @ @ @ @ @ a larger contract with the Lakers by becoming a free agent .
For more on @ @ @ @ @ the latest episode of the “ Big Apple Buckets ” podcast :

Anthony Davis was forced to exit the Lakers’ 117-87 win over the Knicks on Tuesday night after injuring his back in the third quarter.
The Lakers superstar suffered a lower back injury after he contested a Julius Randle layup with 2:45 left in the third quarter and fell violently on his back. He was able to walk gingerly off the court and into the locker room.
X-Rays were negative and the Lakers termed the injury “a sacral contusion.” He is expected to have an MRI exam and miss at least the next two games.
The Lakers, who are legit title contenders, only can hope this isn’t a long-term injury.
Earlier, Davis rejected a four-year, $146 million max extension, according to Yahoo Sports, as he would be eligible for a larger contract with the Lakers by becoming a free agent.
— additional reporting by Marc Berman
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Storms bring relief to Australia, but lightning sparks fears of more wildfires

CANBERRA , Australia — Thunderstorms and showers brought some relief for firefighters battling deadly wildfires across Australia ’ s drought-parched east coast on Wednesday , but also raised concerns that lightning will spark more fires before dangerous hot and windy conditions return .
Around 2,300 firefighters in New South Wales state were making the most of relatively benign conditions by frantically consolidating containment lines around more than 110 blazes and patrolling for lightning strikes , state Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said .
“ Unfortunately with lightning strikes , it ’ s not always the next day they pop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broadcasting Corp. “ They can smolder around in trees and in root systems for a couple of days and pop up under drier , hotter conditions , so we are very mindful of that as we head into Friday , ” he added .
The unprecedented fire crisis in southeast Australia that has killed 25 people , destroyed 2,000 homes and shrouded major cities in smoke has focused many Australians on how the nation adapts to climate change .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has faced fierce criticism both domestically and internationally for downplaying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change , which experts say helps supercharge the blazes .
The center-left opposition Labor Party has made political capital from the crisis by promising more ambitious policies than the ruling conservative coalition to tackle climate change .
Opposition climate spokesman Mark Butler wants the government to allow a debate on climate change in Parliament when it returns in February .
“ Hopefully we could fashion a bipartisan position , ” Butler told ABC .
The two sides last held a bipartisan position on climate change in 2007 , and have remained bitterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making carbon polluters pay for their emissions .
Labor had pledged to reduce Australia ’ s greenhouse gas emissions by 45 % below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050 if it had won last year ’ s elections .
The coalition government has committed to reduce emissions by 26 % to 28 % by 2030 and warns that Labor ’ s more ambitious target would wreck the economy .
The government argues that Australia is responsible for only 1.3 % of global emissions and more ambitious targets would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows Australia ’ s hottest and driest year on record .
The unfolding disaster in Australia , which is likely to continue throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer , has galvanized calls for more global action on climate change .
Elton John and actor Chris Hemsworth are among the celebrities donating big bucks to help aid the firefighting efforts .
Hemsworth , an Australian who lives in the drought-affected New South Wales town of Byron Bay , wrote on Twitter that he was donating $ 1 million and asked his followers to show support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote .
John announced during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert in Sydney on Tuesday that he will also donate $ 1 million .
The singer said he wanted to bring attention to the devastation that wildfires have caused , saying it has reached a “ biblical scale.
” Hemsworth and John joins a growing list of celebrities , including Pink , Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban , who have pledged to donate toward relief efforts .
Prince Charles , who is next in line to become the British monarch and king @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message from Scotland that he and his wife Camilla had been in despair watching the infernos burn across Australia .
“ I fear this is a hopelessly inadequate way of trying to get a message to all of you that both my wife and myself are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances , ” the prince said .

CANBERRA, Australia — Thunderstorms and showers brought some relief for firefighters battling deadly wildfires across Australia’s drought-parched east coast on Wednesday, but also raised concerns that lightning will spark more fires before dangerous hot and windy conditions return.
Around 2,300 firefighters in New South Wales state were making the most of relatively benign conditions by frantically consolidating containment lines around more than 110 blazes and patrolling for lightning strikes, state Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
“Unfortunately with lightning strikes, it’s not always the next day they pop up,” Fitzsimmons told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“They can smolder around in trees and in root systems for a couple of days and pop up under drier, hotter conditions, so we are very mindful of that as we head into Friday,” he added.
The unprecedented fire crisis in southeast Australia that has killed 25 people, destroyed 2,000 homes and shrouded major cities in smoke has focused many Australians on how the nation adapts to climate change. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has faced fierce criticism both domestically and internationally for downplaying the need for his government to address climate change, which experts say helps supercharge the blazes.
The center-left opposition Labor Party has made political capital from the crisis by promising more ambitious policies than the ruling conservative coalition to tackle climate change. Opposition climate spokesman Mark Butler wants the government to allow a debate on climate change in Parliament when it returns in February.
“Hopefully we could fashion a bipartisan position,” Butler told ABC. The two sides last held a bipartisan position on climate change in 2007, and have remained bitterly divided ever since on issues such as making carbon polluters pay for their emissions.
Labor had pledged to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve zero emissions by 2050 if it had won last year’s elections.
The coalition government has committed to reduce emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030 and warns that Labor’s more ambitious target would wreck the economy. The government argues that Australia is responsible for only 1.3% of global emissions and more ambitious targets would not ease the current fire crisis, which follows Australia’s hottest and driest year on record.
The unfolding disaster in Australia, which is likely to continue throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer, has galvanized calls for more global action on climate change.
Elton John and actor Chris Hemsworth are among the celebrities donating big bucks to help aid the firefighting efforts. Hemsworth, an Australian who lives in the drought-affected New South Wales town of Byron Bay, wrote on Twitter that he was donating $1 million and asked his followers to show support. “Every penny counts,” he wrote.
John announced during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert in Sydney on Tuesday that he will also donate $1 million. The singer said he wanted to bring attention to the devastation that wildfires have caused, saying it has reached a “biblical scale.”
Hemsworth and John joins a growing list of celebrities, including Pink, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who have pledged to donate toward relief efforts.
Prince Charles, who is next in line to become the British monarch and king of Australia, said in a video message from Scotland that he and his wife Camilla had been in despair watching the infernos burn across Australia.
“I fear this is a hopelessly inadequate way of trying to get a message to all of you that both my wife and myself are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances,” the prince said.


newyorkpost--2020-01-07--Igor Shesterkin at long last makes grand Rangers entrance

After the years of waiting , Igor Shesterkin was welcomed to ...

I must have had homework to do. That had to be the reason I was not at the old Garden — the one on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets — on Dec. 9, 1967, for the most hyped pro sports debut in this town in, well, in all of time.
Bill Bradley was making his NBA debut for the Knicks after having spent the previous two years studying at Oxford following his graduation from Princeton, for which he played while nearly taking down Cazzie Russell and No. 1 Michigan in the 1964 Holiday Festival at the Garden.
If you want to get a feel for how hyped it was when Bradley first pulled on the Knicks No. 24, the pregame warmup session against the Pistons was announced on radio by Marv Albert.
No lie.
“And Bradley waits for the ball in the layup line,” the greatest play-by-play announcer of his era said, or at least close to it. “Takes a bounce pass from [Howard] Komives, and lays it in off the glass.”
You’d have heard an ovation in the background, the capacity crowd amped as if it were Game 7 of the 1970 Finals against the Lakers that was nearly three years away, and Marv describing Bradley “bending down to tie his right shoelace, flexing his knees, taking a jumper from 15 feet and, yes.”
You didn’t even have to be there, you could listen to it. The final score, 124-121 Pistons, and the final stats for Bradley, eight points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-6 from line with five rebounds and two assists, were almost immaterial.
It was the hype that would be remembered.
No one announced the Rangers’ warmups at the Garden on Tuesday. Don LaGreca in the broadcast booth did not call Igor Shesterkin’s work on the line rushes. It wasn’t quite that. But don’t let anyone tell you that the goaltender’s debut was not one of the most anticipated in franchise history.
The Knicks waited two-plus years for Bradley. The Rangers had waited five-plus years for Shesterkin since drafting the native Muscovite in the fourth round of the 2014 entry draft. The Rangers waited for Shesterkin as long as the Cowboys once waited for Roger Staubach.
The first time Shesterkin touched the puck, 1:58 into what became a 5-3 victory over the Avalanche, the fans roared as he turned a dump-in into a 100-foot headman pass onto Kaapo Kakko’s tape. The building groaned when the very first shot the 24-year-old faced was deflected past him at 4:44. And then again when the third got by him on a Nathan MacKinnon breakaway at 6:34.
One-for-three might win a batting title, but not the Vezina.
“It wasn’t ideally how I wanted it to go,” Shesterkin said through a translator. “But I wasn’t panicking. I laughed it off and gained confidence as the game went on. I’m very grateful for the support from my teammates and the fans.”
The Rangers were committed to keeping the puck away from the net at Shesterkin’s end and taking it to the one at the other end while cashing in opportunistically. The Blueshirts kept their errors to a manageable number and kept the league’s highest scoring team in check to break their three-game regulation losing streak.
As they did so, Shesterkin played with poise. Hours after his hands were shaking so badly on the way to the building that he couldn’t drink water — he told the story on himself — he was soaking in cheers every time he touched the puck.
It’s not that the fans have been waiting for someone to replace Henrik Lundqvist, not at all. It is that the fans had been waiting for the heir for five years while he recorded minuscule numbers in the KHL. It isn’t about what have you done for me lately, but what can you do for me next year and the one after that and the ones after that when, if the blueprint holds, the Rangers should contend for the Stanley Cup.
The fans knew about Lundqvist when he came onto the scene in 2005, also five years after he was drafted, but there was zero sense of anticipation. It took, however, only three starts for the legend to be born. It was Oct. 15, 2005, following a 5-1 victory over the Thrashers at the Garden when Lundqvist, announced as the first star, did a victory lap around the Garden, raising his stick and glove in salute to the crowd that chanted his name.
“I just wanted to show the fans the same respect they showed to me,” he said. “The fans chanted for me the last couple of years, but this is New York.”
The fans were chanting on Tuesday, too.
“Igor … Igor … Igor.”
They were chanting for Shesterkin.
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-07--Carmelo Anthony hits game-winning shot to lead Trail Blazers

TORONTO — With Damian Lillard double-teamed , Carmelo Anthony stepped up to sink the game-winning basket for the Portland Trail Blazers .
Anthony made a clutch shot with four seconds remaining and Portland rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 101-99 Tuesday night .
“ A guy with his type of ability , it ’ s just a matter of opportunity , ” Lillard said .
“ He had one guy guarding him and he got to his spot .
Once he got to his spot and I saw him raising up , I thought it was going in.
” Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hassan Whiteside added 14 points and 16 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double as the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak in Toronto and won for the second time in 10 meetings with the defending champion Raptors .
“ This is a big confidence booster for us , a big morale boost , ” Anthony said .
“ I was really proud of the way our team competed tonight , particularly in the fourth quarter , ” Stotts said .
“ At the end of the season , you look back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very well be a game that we look back on that turned the tide.
” Portland had lost six of seven overall .
The Blazers improved to 2-12 against opponents with winning records .
Anfernee Simons scored 12 points and C.J .
McCollum had 10 after sitting out Sunday ’ s loss in Miami because of an upper-respiratory infection .
The Blazers trailed 78-69 through three quarters , then fell behind 85-73 with 8:20 to go , but Lillard tied it at 99 on a 35-foot 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Toronto coach Nick Nurse was adamant that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had been the victim of an illegal screen by Whiteside on Lillard ’ s deep 3 .
“ It was clearly , clearly an offensive foul on Whiteside that wiped us out to tie the game , ” Nurse said .
Toronto ’ s Patrick McCaw turned it over with 13.6 seconds remaining , giving the Blazers a chance at a winning shot .
With Lillard under wraps , McCollum took the inbounds pass and got the ball to Anthony , who connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyle Lowry got one final chance for the Raptors , but his off-balance 3 bounced off the rim at the buzzer .
Portland connected on 12 of 19 attempts in the fourth , making six shots from long range .
Lowry had 24 points and 10 rebounds , and Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds as the injury-ravaged Raptors lost for just the second time in 16 games against opponents with losing records .
Toronto ’ s only other loss to a sub-.500 team came against Boston in the second game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 0-1 .
Oshae Brisett scored a career-high 12 points for Toronto and Chris Boucher also had 12 , including 10 straight Raptors points in the fourth .
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet sat out because of a strained right hamstring , joining a group of injured Toronto starters that includes Norman Powell ( left shoulder ) , Marc Gasol ( left hamstring ) and Pascal Siakam ( groin ) .
VanVleet limped off late in the fourth quarter of Saturday ’ s win at Brooklyn and did not practice Monday .
Nurse said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” before the team determined a timeline for VanVleet ’ s return .

TORONTO — With Damian Lillard double-teamed, Carmelo Anthony stepped up to sink the game-winning basket for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Anthony made a clutch shot with four seconds remaining and Portland rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 101-99 Tuesday night.
“A guy with his type of ability, it’s just a matter of opportunity,” Lillard said. “He had one guy guarding him and he got to his spot. Once he got to his spot and I saw him raising up, I thought it was going in.”
Anthony scored 28 points, Lillard had 20 and Hassan Whiteside added 14 points and 16 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double as the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak in Toronto and won for the second time in 10 meetings with the defending champion Raptors.
“This is a big confidence booster for us, a big morale boost,” Anthony said.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts agreed.
“I was really proud of the way our team competed tonight, particularly in the fourth quarter,” Stotts said. “At the end of the season, you look back on different games, and this could very well be a game that we look back on that turned the tide.”
Portland had lost six of seven overall. The Blazers improved to 2-12 against opponents with winning records.
Anfernee Simons scored 12 points and C.J. McCollum had 10 after sitting out Sunday’s loss in Miami because of an upper-respiratory infection.
The Blazers trailed 78-69 through three quarters, then fell behind 85-73 with 8:20 to go, but Lillard tied it at 99 on a 35-foot 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in the fourth, leading to a Raptors timeout.
Toronto coach Nick Nurse was adamant that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had been the victim of an illegal screen by Whiteside on Lillard’s deep 3.
“It was clearly, clearly an offensive foul on Whiteside that wiped us out to tie the game,” Nurse said.
Toronto’s Patrick McCaw turned it over with 13.6 seconds remaining, giving the Blazers a chance at a winning shot. With Lillard under wraps, McCollum took the inbounds pass and got the ball to Anthony, who connected from near the free throw line.
Kyle Lowry got one final chance for the Raptors, but his off-balance 3 bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
Portland connected on 12 of 19 attempts in the fourth, making six shots from long range.
Lowry had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds as the injury-ravaged Raptors lost for just the second time in 16 games against opponents with losing records. Toronto’s only other loss to a sub-.500 team came against Boston in the second game of the season, when the Celtics were 0-1.
Oshae Brisett scored a career-high 12 points for Toronto and Chris Boucher also had 12, including 10 straight Raptors points in the fourth.
Raptors guard Fred VanVleet sat out because of a strained right hamstring, joining a group of injured Toronto starters that includes Norman Powell (left shoulder), Marc Gasol (left hamstring) and Pascal Siakam (groin).
VanVleet limped off late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win at Brooklyn and did not practice Monday. Nurse said it would be “a little bit” before the team determined a timeline for VanVleet’s return.
Hollis-Jefferson started for VanVleet.


newyorkpost--2020-01-07--Cuomo announces 3-year ban for subway pervs

ALBANY— Gov .
Andrew Cuomo proposed a three-year ban for serial sex offenders who repeatedly violate riders on the city subway system Tuesday , as part of his 2020 State of the State address .
Cuomo doubled down his past promises to ban perverts from entering the MTA subway , bus and rail systems ahead of his annual SOS speech in Albany Wednesday .
“ MTA riders deserve to feel safe , and we have an obligation to ensure they will not be targeted by sex offenders , ” the governor said .
“ Enough is enough .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we need balance between someone ’ s right to access public transit and the riders ’ right to safety , which is why I am proposing a three-year ban from the MTA transit systems as a penalty for individuals who repeatedly engage in this abhorrent behavior.
” The legislation would let the MTA bar creeps that violate the agency ’ s code of conduct with sexual offenses and those who are Level Three , high risk sex offenders .
State Sen. Diane Savino ( D-Staten Island ) has repeatedly introduced legislation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but insists the state Assembly is to blame for failing to pass the bill .
Cuomo has also heavily backed the MTA ’ s hiring of over 500 new transit cops to tackle subway recidivism .
“ We embrace every effort to exclude from our subway system this small number of serious offenders who are doing a lot of damage .
They are repeat criminals who ride the trains to hunt for victims among the millions of New Yorkers who deserve safe , daily transportation , ” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea applauded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legal Aid Society , call the plan a “ wrongheaded ” approach .
“ It will further marginalize this group of New Yorkers — many of whom are New Yorkers of color — who are profiled by police when they use mass transit , ” the group said in a statement .
“ It will sever their access to jobs , critical services , educational opportunities , and treatment programs .
Albany should spend less time finding new ways to demonize our already over-policed clients and more time creating opportunities for treatment and @ @ @ @

ALBANY— Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a three-year ban for serial sex offenders who repeatedly violate riders on the city subway system Tuesday, as part of his 2020 State of the State address.
Cuomo doubled down his past promises to ban perverts from entering the MTA subway, bus and rail systems ahead of his annual SOS speech in Albany Wednesday.
“MTA riders deserve to feel safe, and we have an obligation to ensure they will not be targeted by sex offenders,” the governor said.
“Enough is enough. If we want our public transit system to improve, we need balance between someone’s right to access public transit and the riders’ right to safety, which is why I am proposing a three-year ban from the MTA transit systems as a penalty for individuals who repeatedly engage in this abhorrent behavior.”
The legislation would let the MTA bar creeps that violate the agency’s code of conduct with sexual offenses and those who are Level Three, high risk sex offenders.
State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) has repeatedly introduced legislation that would double down on subway predators, but insists the state Assembly is to blame for failing to pass the bill.
Cuomo has also heavily backed the MTA’s hiring of over 500 new transit cops to tackle subway recidivism.
“We embrace every effort to exclude from our subway system this small number of serious offenders who are doing a lot of damage. They are repeat criminals who ride the trains to hunt for victims among the millions of New Yorkers who deserve safe, daily transportation,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea applauded the announcement.
But critics, like the Legal Aid Society, call the plan a “wrongheaded” approach.
“It will further marginalize this group of New Yorkers — many of whom are New Yorkers of color — who are profiled by police when they use mass transit,” the group said in a statement.
“It will sever their access to jobs, critical services, educational opportunities, and treatment programs. Albany should spend less time finding new ways to demonize our already over-policed clients and more time creating opportunities for treatment and necessary services.”
Additional reporting by Tina Moore


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Brexit stirs old anxieties, fears in Northern Ireland

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) This week the world ’ s hate and horror centered on Iran .
This month its epicenter could become Northern Ireland .
Christmas I spent on the Emerald Isle .
Pubs jammed , beer flowed , everyone friendly .
But the 31st of this month brings Brexit .
And the what-might-happen question engenders ancient anxiety .
Christmas dinner ’ s huge banquet — 150 were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ porcelains , cloths , silver at 17th-century ’ s Castle Leslie .
In the family 400 years , the special 1,000-acre VIP estate is run by Samantha Leslie .
There are horses , animals , crackling log fires , Irish breakfasts , golf , spas — and just because — fully functional but kept almost to that era the ancient potty with pull chain .
Each bears the aulde brass plaque : “ Thunder Box made by Thomas Crapper Co. ” Castle Leslie ’ s original 1608 house has since housed all from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Churchill to where Sir Paul McCartney was twice married .
Its Donagh Old Graveyard was established by St. Patrick .
The Leslie family was granted the estate following a 1641 rebellion but lost its nearby village ownership in a 1750 card game .
And its John Luke , who painted the Belfast City Hall dome , lived in next-door Killylea .
The castle sits one mile from the border .
“ During the Troubles , ” as they say , the border village suffered as the official border crossing point .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ’ 60s , the Northern Ireland Catholic/Protestant savage ravage lasted 30 years .
Brexit is scheduled this month .
The subject was not mentioned openly to foreigners .
However , if not talked aloud , sides were drawn and being whispered about while I was in Ireland .
Back aways , Gabriel Byrne told ShowBiz Ireland : “ Political roles are top of my agenda .
I want to play the role of former Irish Taoiseach Charlie Haughey .
It ’ s about history , mortality , loyalty and politics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ An actor second .
I think of myself as an actor from Dublin who just happens to work in various places.
” Up for awards now is “ The Two Popes ” with Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce .
Screening this week is “ Three Christs ” with Richard Gere , Peter Dinklage , Julianna Margulies .
With entertainment getting ecumenical , The Carlebach Shul sent this over : “ Rabbi Weinstock , Ivanka Trump ’ s rabbi , telling the congregation about changes in morality , said : ‘ I , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife before marriage , did any of you ?
’ ” Second rabbi : “ What ’ s your wife ’ s maiden name ?
” Back now to the United States .
Fox News political strategist Donna Brazile , once Al Gore ’ s presidential campaign manager , author , once a CNN contributor , the only African-American woman to chair the DNC , and a serious card-carrying Democrat : “ Our party ’ s got to wake up .
This is about delegates .
Maybe by June , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re all elders .
They ’ re asleep.
” A page ripped from some calendar ’ s Jan. 4 insert is headed “ Wild Words From Wild Women.
” Imprinted underneath are the words : “ All right , so I spend money .
Can you name one other extravagance I have ?
” And it ’ s signed “ Cindy Adams , gossip girl.
” No idea who manufactures the calendar , but this is a quote my late husband included in his book “ Cindy and I.
” All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , kids , only in New York .

This week the world’s hate and horror centered on Iran. This month its epicenter could become Northern Ireland.
Christmas I spent on the Emerald Isle. Pubs jammed, beer flowed, everyone friendly. But the 31st of this month brings Brexit.
And the what-might-happen question engenders ancient anxiety. Christmas dinner’s huge banquet — 150 were in service — was laid with antique porcelains, cloths, silver at 17th-century’s Castle Leslie. In the family 400 years, the special 1,000-acre VIP estate is run by Samantha Leslie.
There are horses, animals, crackling log fires, Irish breakfasts, golf, spas — and just because — fully functional but kept almost to that era the ancient potty with pull chain. Each bears the aulde brass plaque: “Thunder Box made by Thomas Crapper Co.”
Castle Leslie’s original 1608 house has since housed all from the Duke of Wellington to Sir Winston Churchill to where Sir Paul McCartney was twice married. Its Donagh Old Graveyard was established by St. Patrick.
The Leslie family was granted the estate following a 1641 rebellion but lost its nearby village ownership in a 1750 card game. And its John Luke, who painted the Belfast City Hall dome, lived in next-door Killylea.
The castle sits one mile from the border. “During the Troubles,” as they say, the border village suffered as the official border crossing point. It was the British army security checkpoint. Begun in the ’60s, the Northern Ireland Catholic/Protestant savage ravage lasted 30 years.
Brexit is scheduled this month. The subject was not mentioned openly to foreigners. However, if not talked aloud, sides were drawn and being whispered about while I was in Ireland.
Irishman cometh
Back aways, Gabriel Byrne told ShowBiz Ireland: “Political roles are top of my agenda. I want to play the role of former Irish Taoiseach Charlie Haughey. It’s about history, mortality, loyalty and politics. I’m an Irishman first. An actor second. I think of myself as an actor from Dublin who just happens to work in various places.”
From popes to jokes
Up for awards now is “The Two Popes” with Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. Screening this week is “Three Christs” with Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Julianna Margulies.
With entertainment getting ecumenical, The Carlebach Shul sent this over: “Rabbi Weinstock, Ivanka Trump’s rabbi, telling the congregation about changes in morality, said: ‘I, of course, did not sleep with my wife before marriage, did any of you?’ ” Second rabbi: “What’s your wife’s maiden name?”
Back now to the United States.
Fox News political strategist Donna Brazile, once Al Gore’s presidential campaign manager, author, once a CNN contributor, the only African-American woman to chair the DNC, and a serious card-carrying Democrat: “Our party’s got to wake up. This is about delegates. Maybe by June, they’ll get around to making their plans. They’re all elders. They’re asleep.”
A page ripped from some calendar’s Jan. 4 insert is headed “Wild Words From Wild Women.” Imprinted underneath are the words: “All right, so I spend money. Can you name one other extravagance I have?” And it’s signed “Cindy Adams, gossip girl.”
No idea who manufactures the calendar, but this is a quote my late husband included in his book “Cindy and I.”
All I can say is: only in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to avoid British press with new media policy

The pair announced they were quitting the royal family in ...

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Along with abandoning their “senior” roles in the Royal Family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also leaving behind Britain’s mainstream media.
The couple shared their revised media policy on their website, which includes them stepping away a system called the “Royal Rota,” which gives pool reporters from various British news organizations exclusive coverage of the Royal Family.
Reporters who participate in the “Royal Rota” system cover an event solo, then share their reporting with journalists from other outlets involved.
The UK media organizations involved in the pool system, which began over 40 years ago, include: The Daily Express, The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, The Evening Standard, The Telegraph, The Times and The Sun.
The policy adjustment was borne out of the couple’s “wish to reshape and broaden access to their work,” according to their site.
In explaining the new policy, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were critical of the coverage by Britain’s royal correspondents.
“Britain’s Royal Correspondents are regarded internationally as credible sources of both the work of members of The Royal Family as well as of their private lives,” the couple’s website said.
“This misconception propels coverage that is often carried by other outlets around the world, amplifying frequent misreporting.”
Prince Harry has had a rocky relationship with Britain’s media, dating back to the death of mother, Princess Diana.
Harry brought up his distaste for the UK papers in a recent statement announcing Markle’s lawsuit against the owner of The Daily Mail for publishing a private letter she wrote to her dad.
“I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,” Harry, 35, wrote.
“I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”
Prince Harry and Megan Markle will adopt a new media approach in the spring of 2020, which focuses more on “grassroots media organizations and young, up-and-coming journalists,” their site read.
Earlier Wednesday, the couple shocked the world when they announced in a statement they wanted to take a “progressive new role” and leave their roles as “senior” royals.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Piers Morgan rips Meghan Markle for breaking up royal family

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Piers Morgan is one of many who believe Meghan Markle is the reason Prince Harry has distanced himself from his royal family , calling out the Duchess of Sussex on Twitter for ruining several relationships .
“ People say I ’ m too critical of Meghan Markle , ” the “ Good Morning Britain ” co-host began his tweet .
“ but she ditched her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of her old friends , split Harry from William & has now split him from the Royal Family .
I rest my case.
” Morgan sneered in another tweet , “ What Meghan wants.. Meghan gets.
” Piers went on to respond to defenders of Markle , replying to one who accused those blaming the former “ Suits ” actress for the ills of the Royal family racist .
“ Let ’ s call this what it is , ” responded one of Morgan ’ s followers .
“ Meghan is partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sections of British society can not handle this .
Large-scale dog-whistle racism has therefore followed .
They rightly have had enough .
Good for them .
The British press should hang their heads in shame.
” Morgan called the statement “ absolute bollocks , ” a British slang word that literally means testicles , but is often used to refer to something as nonsense .
He also called Markle and Prince Harry “ shameless spoiled brats ” after reading their new media policy .
“ Wow .
What a disgraceful way to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Shame on Harry & Meghan.
” The couple announced today that they will soon step down as “ senior members ” of the Royal family and work to become financially independent , a move that reportedly blindsided Buckingham Palace .

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Piers Morgan is one of many who believe Meghan Markle is the reason Prince Harry has distanced himself from his royal family, calling out the Duchess of Sussex on Twitter for ruining several relationships.
“People say I’m too critical of Meghan Markle,” the “Good Morning Britain” co-host began his tweet. “but she ditched her family, ditched her Dad, ditched most of her old friends, split Harry from William & has now split him from the Royal Family. I rest my case.”
Morgan sneered in another tweet, “What Meghan wants.. Meghan gets.”
Piers went on to respond to defenders of Markle, replying to one who accused those blaming the former “Suits” actress for the ills of the Royal family racist.
“Let’s call this what it is,” responded one of Morgan’s followers. “Meghan is partly black. The media and the ignorant sections of British society cannot handle this. Large-scale dog-whistle racism has therefore followed. They rightly have had enough. Good for them. The British press should hang their heads in shame.”
Morgan called the statement “absolute bollocks,” a British slang word that literally means testicles, but is often used to refer to something as nonsense. He also called Markle and Prince Harry “shameless spoiled brats” after reading their new media policy.
“Wow. What a disgraceful way to treat The Queen,” Morgan added. “Shame on Harry & Meghan.”
The couple announced today that they will soon step down as “senior members” of the Royal family and work to become financially independent, a move that reportedly blindsided Buckingham Palace.
For more on Harry and Meghan’s royal family drama, listen to this episode of the Page Six podcast, “We Hear“:


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--‘Like a Boss’ movie review: Another witless chick flick

Sometimes Hollywood feels hopelessly out of touch , like a movie ’ s director and writers haven ’ t set foot outside the studio walls in years .
It ’ s rare , though , that you have characters inside a film pointing out its myopia .
Enter “ Like a Boss , ” a comedy about the world of cosmetics in which younger women illustrate how traditional makeup is kinda passé .
“ I drink lots of water , ” says one Gen Z character when asked what her regimen is .
“ Sunscreen and lip gloss , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haddish and Rose Byrne co-starring in a plot that turns on the success of a makeup company ?
You got me .
Thankfully , director Miguel Arteta ( “ Beatriz at Dinner ” ) gets a solid half-hour of funny out of this thing before clunkiness sets in .
Haddish , clearly enlisted to recapture her 2017 “ Girls Trip ” effervescence , handily delivers a tornado of dirty jokes , weed smoke and belligerent female empowerment .
She ’ s Mia , best friend of Mel ( Byrne ) since their teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for makeovers into a cute but faltering business with two employees , played with scene-stealing finesse by Jennifer Coolidge and Billy Porter .
Salma Hayek sashays in as a shark-like cosmetics honcho who wants to invest heavily in Mel and Mia ’ s business .
Predictably , she drives a wedge between the besties , who must choose between their friendship and the bottom line when they ’ re pitted against a rival upstart company .
This actually turns out to be the film ’ s funniest bit : It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” run by two bros ( Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang ) .
But “ Like a Boss ” doesn ’ t deliver on its own title .
Despite paying lip service ( so to speak ) to female friendship and unconventional women ( Mia and Mel are proudly unmarried , childless roommates in their 30s ) , it loses its bravado halfway through and falls back on the most witless of plot devices : Karaoke , girlfights and spewed bodily fluids .
In other words , welcome to January at @ @ @

Movie review Like a Boss Running time: 83 minutes. Rated R (profanity, sex, drug use).
Sometimes Hollywood feels hopelessly out of touch, like a movie’s director and writers haven’t set foot outside the studio walls in years. It’s rare, though, that you have characters inside a film pointing out its myopia. Enter “Like a Boss,” a comedy about the world of cosmetics in which younger women illustrate how traditional makeup is kinda passé.
“I drink lots of water,” says one Gen Z character when asked what her regimen is. “Sunscreen and lip gloss,” says another.
So why are Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne co-starring in a plot that turns on the success of a makeup company? You got me.
Thankfully, director Miguel Arteta (“Beatriz at Dinner”) gets a solid half-hour of funny out of this thing before clunkiness sets in. Haddish, clearly enlisted to recapture her 2017 “Girls Trip” effervescence, handily delivers a tornado of dirty jokes, weed smoke and belligerent female empowerment. She’s Mia, best friend of Mel (Byrne) since their teens. The two have parlayed their knack for makeovers into a cute but faltering business with two employees, played with scene-stealing finesse by Jennifer Coolidge and Billy Porter.
Salma Hayek sashays in as a shark-like cosmetics honcho who wants to invest heavily in Mel and Mia’s business. Predictably, she drives a wedge between the besties, who must choose between their friendship and the bottom line when they’re pitted against a rival upstart company. This actually turns out to be the film’s funniest bit: It’s a mansplainy makeup line called “Get Some,” run by two bros (Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang).
But “Like a Boss” doesn’t deliver on its own title. Despite paying lip service (so to speak) to female friendship and unconventional women (Mia and Mel are proudly unmarried, childless roommates in their 30s), it loses its bravado halfway through and falls back on the most witless of plot devices: Karaoke, girlfights and spewed bodily fluids. In other words, welcome to January at the movies!


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Meet the kissing cousins who could face prison for having a baby

Michael Lee and Angela Peang can hardly wait for the birth of their first child — even if it results in them spending time behind bars .
The husband and wife from Eagle Mountain , Utah , are first cousins : Peang ’ s father is the older brother of Lee ’ s mother .
Since the baby ’ s existence proves they had sex , they could face up to $ 10,000 in fines and five years in prison , because intercourse between cousins is illegal in their home state , due to the long-held fear of birth defects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University study , the chances of cousins having a genetic disorder is 4 to 7 % , compared to 3 to 4 % for non-related couples . )
But the 38-year-old parents-to-be , set to appear in an upcoming episode of the WeTV series “ Extreme Love , ” are confident that their little boy , due May 22 , will be delivered safely and in good health , following tests to rule out any disability .
“ We had to do our due diligence because everyone was saying to us , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ and ‘ It ’ s so risky and irresponsible , ' ” Peang , who ’ s five months pregnant , exclusively tells The Post .
“ So we did genetic testing and found out it was OK for us to parent together.
” The controversial couple stick to the “ mind your own business ” defense when it comes to their marriage — “ I feel the same about gay marriage , even though I ’ m not gay , ” says Peang .
They also point out that unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of US states , including New York , New Jersey , Connecticut , California and Colorado .
( Canada and Europe also allow first cousins to wed. ) They avoided problems in Utah by tying the knot on a day trip to Grand Junction , Colorado , last March .
“ We got married , not because we ’ re religious , but to protect ourselves legally , ” says Peang , a stay-at-home mom who has three children from her first marriage .
“ We also wanted to legitimize our relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping it would put them at ease.
” Indeed , it has been an uphill battle securing the approval of relatives .
Some have been suspicious of the bond between Lee and Peang since the cousins were fresh-faced second-graders .
The lovebirds didn ’ t meet until they were 7 .
Peang ’ s father , who worked for the State Department , was often stationed overseas , so she grew up in places as far afield as Pakistan and Japan .
Lee , meanwhile , lived close to Salt Lake City in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 1989 , when Lee ’ s family visited the Peangs at their home outside Washington , DC .
“ There was an instant connection between us , ” says Lee , a car salesman .
“ We were very much simpatico .
“ Angie was smart , adventurous and curious , ” he says .
“ While other kids were into video games , she was interested in making little things or playing little games that were very much unique and different from those of other children.
” Peang remembers their first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 years old , in a darkened closet .
“ We were slow-dancing together and I was kind of worried we ’ d get caught and be in trouble , ” she says .
“ But it just felt right.
” So much so that Lee told his mother that he was going to one day marry his crush .
“ My aunt said , ‘ No , you can ’ t marry Angie , ’ ” Peang says .
“ ‘ But you can be good friends . '
” The youngsters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spark reignited .
“ We were inseparable , ” Peang recalls of that family reunion in Oregon .
“ The adults wouldn ’ t say , ‘ Where is Michael ?
’ They ’ d say , ‘ Where are Michael and Angie ?
’ It felt like a soul connection — as if I could see myself reflected in him.
” The cousins went to separate colleges before marrying their respective first spouses .
Peang gave birth to two daughters , now 17 and 16 , and a son , 12 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ married for four years , had no children .
Social media drew them together after they each divorced , Peang in 2010 and Lee two years later .
In October 2018 , Peang , who had since settled in Utah , was delighted to find out on Facebook that Lee was living there , too .
She sent him a birthday greeting and they stayed in touch .
Soon , they were reunited at their grandma ’ s Christmas party .
“ I went simply to see Michael , ” admits Angie .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the personalities of that side of the family because they ’ re a lot more stubborn , conservative and abrasive .
“ But , as soon as I set eyes on him again , I knew I ’ d done the right thing.
” It was love at third sight .
The cousins couldn ’ t stop talking and , by the end of the party , were getting physical .
“ I put my arms around his waist and held them there for a little longer than you would with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My body language was signaling to him.
” At first , Michael proceeded with caution .
“ I didn ’ t want to set myself up for heartbreak , ” he explains .
Nonetheless , the cousins started dating and didn ’ t try to hide it from Peang ’ s children .
“ Instead of telling them , we let them observe what was going on by cuddling and holding hands , ” says Peang .
“ My younger girl was pretty upset and started crying — probably because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new person coming into the family — but now she is cool about our relationship.
” The couple ’ s parents gradually came around to the idea .
But last January , when the sweethearts posted a graphic photo on Facebook of themselves French kissing , a small but vocal number of family members labeled them “ disgusting.
” They include Cathy , a cousin in Wyoming who also appears on “ Extreme Love.
” On camera , despite their protestations of love , she disowns them .
“ I couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ People [ like Cathy ] should only get angry about things that actually affect them.
” Unabashed , the duo launched a petition to legalize marriage between cousins in Utah .
They ’ ve so far secured 1,500 signatures , but they need tens of thousands more to be taken seriously .
“ Our strongest argument is that Utah is in the minority with this law , ” says Peang , who , like her husband , was raised Mormon , in which a small fraction of adherents still practice polygamy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d want to be more mainstream and less strange , considering what they already do with polygamy.
” The newlyweds were delighted when blood tests confirmed it would be safe to conceive a child .
“ It was such a relief , ” says Peang .
“ Now we are planning for a wonderful future together.
” Meanwhile , she says , their sex life is smoking .
“ We have a strong attraction and it ’ s very mutually satisfying , ” concludes the mom-to-be .
“ You have the erotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family side and the spiritual connection .
The episode of “ Extreme Love ” featuring Peang and Lee airs Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. on WeTV .
All other “ Extreme Love ” Season 2 episodes will air Fridays 10/9c on WeTV .

Michael Lee and Angela Peang can hardly wait for the birth of their first child — even if it results in them spending time behind bars.
The husband and wife from Eagle Mountain, Utah, are first cousins: Peang’s father is the older brother of Lee’s mother.
Since the baby’s existence proves they had sex, they could face up to $10,000 in fines and five years in prison, because intercourse between cousins is illegal in their home state, due to the long-held fear of birth defects. (According to a 2018 Columbia University study, the chances of cousins having a genetic disorder is 4 to 7%, compared to 3 to 4% for non-related couples.)
But the 38-year-old parents-to-be, set to appear in an upcoming episode of the WeTV series “Extreme Love,” are confident that their little boy, due May 22, will be delivered safely and in good health, following tests to rule out any disability.
“We had to do our due diligence because everyone was saying to us, ‘No, don’t do that,’ and ‘It’s so risky and irresponsible,'” Peang, who’s five months pregnant, exclusively tells The Post. “So we did genetic testing and found out it was OK for us to parent together.”
The controversial couple stick to the “Mind your own business” defense when it comes to their marriage — “I feel the same about gay marriage, even though I’m not gay,” says Peang. They also point out that unions between cousins are legal in more than half of US states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California and Colorado. (Canada and Europe also allow first cousins to wed.)
They avoided problems in Utah by tying the knot on a day trip to Grand Junction, Colorado, last March.
“We got married, not because we’re religious, but to protect ourselves legally,” says Peang, a stay-at-home mom who has three children from her first marriage. “We also wanted to legitimize our relationship to console members of our family, hoping it would put them at ease.”
Indeed, it has been an uphill battle securing the approval of relatives. Some have been suspicious of the bond between Lee and Peang since the cousins were fresh-faced second-graders.
The lovebirds didn’t meet until they were 7. Peang’s father, who worked for the State Department, was often stationed overseas, so she grew up in places as far afield as Pakistan and Japan. Lee, meanwhile, lived close to Salt Lake City in Utah.
That fateful first encounter happened around 1989, when Lee’s family visited the Peangs at their home outside Washington, DC.
“There was an instant connection between us,” says Lee, a car salesman. “We were very much simpatico.
“Angie was smart, adventurous and curious,” he says. “While other kids were into video games, she was interested in making little things or playing little games that were very much unique and different from those of other children.”
Peang remembers their first clandestine kiss and cuddle, at just 7 years old, in a darkened closet.
“We were slow-dancing together and I was kind of worried we’d get caught and be in trouble,” she says. “But it just felt right.”
So much so that Lee told his mother that he was going to one day marry his crush.
“My aunt said, ‘No, you can’t marry Angie,’ ” Peang says. “‘But you can be good friends.'”
The youngsters met again a year later and the spark reignited.
‘I was kind of worried we’d get caught and be in trouble. But it just felt right.’
“We were inseparable,” Peang recalls of that family reunion in Oregon. “The adults wouldn’t say, ‘Where is Michael?’ They’d say, ‘Where are Michael and Angie?’ It felt like a soul connection — as if I could see myself reflected in him.”
The cousins went to separate colleges before marrying their respective first spouses. Peang gave birth to two daughters, now 17 and 16, and a son, 12. Lee and his wife, who were married for four years, had no children.
Social media drew them together after they each divorced, Peang in 2010 and Lee two years later. In October 2018, Peang, who had since settled in Utah, was delighted to find out on Facebook that Lee was living there, too. She sent him a birthday greeting and they stayed in touch.
Soon, they were reunited at their grandma’s Christmas party.
“I went simply to see Michael,” admits Angie. “I don’t really mesh with the personalities of that side of the family because they’re a lot more stubborn, conservative and abrasive.
“But, as soon as I set eyes on him again, I knew I’d done the right thing.”
It was love at third sight. The cousins couldn’t stop talking and, by the end of the party, were getting physical.
“I put my arms around his waist and held them there for a little longer than you would with a typical family member,” says Angie. “My body language was signaling to him.”
At first, Michael proceeded with caution. “I didn’t want to set myself up for heartbreak,” he explains.
Nonetheless, the cousins started dating and didn’t try to hide it from Peang’s children. “Instead of telling them, we let them observe what was going on by cuddling and holding hands,” says Peang. “My younger girl was pretty upset and started crying — probably because she was going to have to adjust to a new person coming into the family — but now she is cool about our relationship.”
The couple’s parents gradually came around to the idea. But last January, when the sweethearts posted a graphic photo on Facebook of themselves French kissing, a small but vocal number of family members labeled them “disgusting.”
They include Cathy, a cousin in Wyoming who also appears on “Extreme Love.” On camera, despite their protestations of love, she disowns them.
“I couldn’t care less,” says Lee. “People [like Cathy] should only get angry about things that actually affect them.”
Unabashed, the duo launched a petition to legalize marriage between cousins in Utah. They’ve so far secured 1,500 signatures, but they need tens of thousands more to be taken seriously.
“Our strongest argument is that Utah is in the minority with this law,” says Peang, who, like her husband, was raised Mormon, in which a small fraction of adherents still practice polygamy. “You’d think they’d want to be more mainstream and less strange, considering what they already do with polygamy.”
The newlyweds were delighted when blood tests confirmed it would be safe to conceive a child. “It was such a relief,” says Peang. “Now we are planning for a wonderful future together.”
Meanwhile, she says, their sex life is smoking.
“We have a strong attraction and it’s very mutually satisfying,” concludes the mom-to-be. “You have the erotic side, the friendship side, the family side and the spiritual connection.
“It’s a supercharged relationship.”
The episode of “Extreme Love” featuring Peang and Lee airs Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. on WeTV. All other “Extreme Love” Season 2 episodes will air Fridays at 10/9c on WeTV.


newyorkpost--2020-01-08--Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are hypocrites — abdicate or stay!

How ’ s this for quitting your job : Abandon every aspect you hate , while continuing to reap all the benefits you love .
This , in effect , is what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done .
In a statement loaded with confusing double-speak , the couple wrote , in part , “ We intend to step back as ‘ senior ’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent , while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
” None other than Queen Elizabeth is confused .
According to BBC royal correspondent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire royal family , and they don ’ t know what this means either .
Will Harry and Meghan keep their royal titles ?
“ Work to ” become financially independent — how long is that going to take ?
Will they continue to get an allowance until that happens ?
Where will they live while in the UK ?
In Frogmore Cottage , the estate gifted to them by the Queen , which they spent another $ 3 million in taxpayer funds renovating ?
They say yes .
Can ’ t wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say about that .
This is all so smug and gross , considering British taxpayers already spent $ 3 million on Harry and Meghan ’ s wedding .
Since then , the couple has generated more headlines for feuding with William and Kate , for exorbitant spending ( half a million for Meghan ’ s wardrobe in 2018 alone ) , for seeking the company and approbation of Hollywood stars , for snubbing engagements both public — last month ’ s NATO reception at Buckingham Palace — and private , most recently the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Sandringham — than for any good works as royals .
Oh , and who can forget last year ’ s colossally tone-deaf documentary “ Harry and Meghan : An African Journey , ” in which the newly world-famous , unbelievably wealthy duchess , having met with children who suffer violence and deprivation , had the gall to tear up in sympathy for herself , for her plight as a new royal .
“ Not many people have asked if I ’ m OK , ” she said , eyes welling .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to be going through behind the scenes.
” Anyone who has watched “ The Crown ” knows what the historic trade-off of royalty is : Untold riches and a life of privilege , in exchange for ribbon-cutting , waving and scrutiny .
The latter might not always be easy , but seems a small price .
The hypocrisy here is Harry and Meghan announcing a “ step back ” rather than abdication .
To employ a cliché : They are having their cake and eating it , too .
Going forward , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own security , their own travel , their own staff , their own homes and upkeep and childcare .
As it is , they ’ ve made no secret of their plans to monetize and trade upon their status , from spending their six-week holiday “ break ” in a $ 14 million waterfront mansion in Vancouver — brokered by musician David Foster , who declined to say if the couple paid rent — to trademarking “ Sussex Royal , ” which will allow them to slap their brand on everything from clothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can think of , really .
It will be interesting to see how this plays out amid the Brexit crisis , the Prince Andrew disaster , and with a public that has long adored Harry for bravely suffering the loss of his mother , for his wartime service in Afghanistan , for his charity work with veterans and children , for his charisma and his common touch .
The latter , of course , now in question .

How’s this for quitting your job: Abandon every aspect you hate, while continuing to reap all the benefits you love.
This, in effect, is what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done. In a statement loaded with confusing double-speak, the couple wrote, in part, “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
None other than Queen Elizabeth is confused. According to BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond, the statement blindsided the entire royal family, and they don’t know what this means either.
Will Harry and Meghan keep their royal titles? “Work to” become financially independent — how long is that going to take? Will they continue to get an allowance until that happens? Where will they live while in the UK? In Frogmore Cottage, the estate gifted to them by the Queen, which they spent another $3 million in taxpayer funds renovating?
They say yes. Can’t wait to hear what the Queen has to say about that.
This is all so smug and gross, considering British taxpayers already spent $3 million on Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
Since then, the couple has generated more headlines for feuding with William and Kate, for exorbitant spending (half a million for Meghan’s wardrobe in 2018 alone), for seeking the company and approbation of Hollywood stars, for snubbing engagements — both public (last month’s NATO reception at Buckingham Palace) and private (most recently the Queen’s annual Christmas family gathering at Sandringham) — than for any good works as royals.
Oh, and who can forget last year’s colossally tone-deaf documentary “Harry and Meghan: An African Journey,” in which the newly world-famous, unbelievably wealthy duchess, having met with children who suffer violence and deprivation, had the gall to tear up in sympathy for herself, for her plight as a new royal.
“Not many people have asked if I’m OK,” she said, eyes welling. “But it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
Anyone who has watched “The Crown” knows what the historic trade-off of royalty is: Untold riches and a life of privilege, in exchange for ribbon-cutting, waving and scrutiny. The latter might not always be easy, but seems a small price.
The hypocrisy here is Harry and Meghan announcing a “step back” rather than abdication.
To employ a cliché: They are having their cake and eating it, too.
Going forward, they should have to pay for their own security, their own travel, their own staff, their own homes and upkeep and child care. As it is, they’ve made no secret of their plans to monetize and trade upon their status, from spending their six-week holiday “break” in a $14 million waterfront mansion in Vancouver — brokered by musician David Foster, who declined to say if the couple paid rent — to trademarking “Sussex Royal,” which will allow them to slap their brand on everything from clothing to books and magazines to anything you can think of, really.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out amid the Brexit crisis, the Prince Andrew disaster, and with a public that has long adored Harry for bravely suffering the loss of his mother, for his wartime service in Afghanistan, for his charity work with veterans and children, for his charisma and his common touch.
The latter, of course, now in question.