UPDATE: New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and US Senator Chuck Schumer are joining a press conference at Google today to announce that Google will soon provide free Wifi for the Chelsea neighborhood in New York.

TechCrunch reports.

This is not as exciting as what we had hoped Google was announcing, which you can read about below.

EARLIER: Google is hosting a 10:30 AM EST press conference today in New York.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office says he will be there.

What's the news?

Nothing has been announced.

But Twitter user Rafael Rivera has an interesting theory: Perhaps Google is about to announce that it's bringing its super fast Internet access + cable TV product, Google Fiber, to New York.

Rivera notes that Google is hiring a "Sales Representative" for Google Fiber located in New York.

The text reads:

This position is based in New York, NY.

The area: Google Access

At Google, we're always trying to provide our users with the fastest services possible. The Google Access program works to go the very last mile, providing fiber-optic Internet connections directly to users' homes. We're building one of the fastest networks in America so that users can experience the future of broadband because we know that your Internet connection can never be too fast.

The role: Sales Representative, Google Fiber

The Google Fiber Sales Representative be a part of a team to evangelizes Google Fiber services to small and medium business and multi unit dwellings. As a Fiber Sales Representative you will support plan for our approach in the market including multi unit dwellings, small business, restaurants, and hotels. You'll reach out proactively to both small businesses, while articulating how Google Fiber Solutions can help make their work more productive. (And then, you seal the deal!) You excel at product pitching, cultivating a strong base of new clients and working with fellow technical Googlers to devise solutions and support for your clients.

If Rivera's hunch is right, then New York residents and businesses are in for a lucky treat. Google Fiber isn't just Internet access, it's also a cable TV killer.

The product starts at a pretty nice price point: free, for Internet-only.

Here's a quick run down of the paid version's features, via Google's website:

• Up to one gigabit upload & download speed
• Full channel TV lineup
• 2 year contract
• No data caps
• Nexus 7 tablet
• 1 TV Box
• Storage Box
• Network Box
• 1TB Google Drive
• $120/mo
• taxes and fees

 Google Fiber is currently only available in Kansas City. A site called BestTechie noticed the job posting yesterday, and read it as a sign that Google plans to expand Google Fiber across the country.

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HowAboutWe, an online dating site that matches people based on their date preferences, recently unveiled an interactive map detailing how America's singles date offline. 

Based on more than one million dates posted on the website, the map broke down dating behavior based on cities and activity. And as it turns out, the number one date spot in New York City based on the HowAboutWe data was Manhattan's High Line.

Also making an appearances on the list were Central Park, the Met, the Brooklyn Brewery, and Brooklyn Bowl. 

The first section of the High Line opened back in 2009, and has become a huge hit with locals and tourists alike for its smart design, gorgeous flora and the slew of restaurants and bars that have opened nearby. The final section of the park, which runs from 30th to 34th Streets along the city's far west side, is slated to open in spring 2014.

It's a little chilly to visit the raised park now (although it is open daily from 7:30 to 5), but if you're feeling ambitious, grab a hot chocolate in nearby Chelsea Market and head to the park for a stroll. Or wait to make a date there until spring.

We visited the park during the warm weather; click through to take a tour for some romantic inspiration.

The main High Line Park entrance is at Gansevoort St. and Washington St. in the trendy Meatpacking District.

A view of the park from Gansevoort Plaza.

Entrance at Gansevoort.

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At the beginning of the year we thumbed our noses at New Year's resolutions that involved dieting by showing you a week's worth of decadent meals at the Four Seasons Chicago to start 2013 on a more interesting note.

Well, now we guess we better get on the detox bandwagon, as this ditty from W Hotels just came in our mailbox, making us wonder if there's been rumors of our "festive" ways.

W hotels in New York has teamed up with Cooler Cleanse, a cold pressed juice and raw food cleanse co-founded by Juice Generation’s Eric Helms and enthusiast Salma Hayek, to create a Detox to Retox package. Available at any of the four W hotels in New York, guests will receive the newly launched Juice for a Day program, which features a six-pack of juices designed to bump up energy, decrease calories, and revitalizing the mind and body. There's also a customized Raw Cooler system containing a mix of juices and raw-food items that will be delivered to one's room upon check-in.

You can decide whether to start their diet off with a liquid-only program or a combo of raw foods and juices.

The Detox to Retox package, which starts at $289 per night, includes:

• Two Night Stay in a room at a W Hotels of New York property: W New YorkW New York Times SquareW New York Union SquareW New York Downtown
• Late checkout
• A Customized Detox & Cooler Cleanse Juice for a Day six-pack                                    

Available for stays from January 14 – February 28, 2013, the package can be booked at http://www.whotelsnewyork.com/detox two days in advance of arrival.

DON'T MISS:  Health Guru Names His 8 Favorite Restaurants In NYC

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Flu season is bad this year.

Just how bad? 

Forty-one states have reported widespread flu activity, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu surveillance report, which tracked the week of December 23 to 29. 

This season is unusually severe for a couple of reasons. First, this year's strain of flu, called H3N2, has re-emerged after laying low for around nine years. H3N2 is associated with particularly lethal flu seasons in the past, and because it hasn't been seen in a while, people have not produced antibodies for it. Flu also changes constantly, so we are never really immune to it — even if you've had the same strain of flu in the past.

But there's something else. 

Two other flu-like illnesses are circulating, which when they infect you can look like this severe strain — making it look even more severe. It's like a perfect sickness storm.  

The New York Times reports: 

The country is in the grip of three emerging flu or flulike epidemics: an early start to the annual flu season with an unusually aggressive virus, a surge in a new type of norovirus, and the worst whooping cough outbreak in 60 years. And these are all developing amid the normal winter highs for the many viruses that cause symptoms on the “colds and flu” spectrum.

Fortunately this year's flu shot contains a vaccine for the H3N2 strain and Tamiflu is still effective for battling flu symptoms.  

Check out this map from the CDC for a weekly view of flu activity in the United States. 

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New York's subway stations see more than five million passengers every weekday alone, so when a death happens within a station, the body needs to be removed immediately — even if that means stashing it in a closet, according to The New York Daily News.

In 2012, 139 people were hit by New York City trains and 54 died. Two high profile pushing cases last month have put a spotlight on murder by incoming train, what many New Yorkers consider to be their worst transit nightmare.

But every minute that the trains are delayed by a dead body, tens of thousands of NYC commuters are left stranded. A transit official explained to the Daily News that, “Unnecessary interruption of train service can inconvenience thousands of passengers and endanger public welfare. In addition, unnecessary interruption can increase temperatures significantly in trains and stations, and may cause panic on crowded trains stopped in tunnels.”

And so because of the danger it may cause other commuters, the bodies are removed as quickly as possible. When a person is killed by an incoming train, the passengers are removed from the subway cars, the platform is cleared, and witnesses are interviewed by the police. If no crime has been committed, firefighters or the police Emergency Service Unit officers will remove the deceased from the tracks to a room on the upper level of the station. An officer is then posted outside the door until a medical examiner can come to remove the body, which means oftentimes train service has already resumed before the deceased has even left the station.

Something to think about the next time your train is delayed.

DON'T MISS: The 20 North American Cities With The Worst Traffic

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The New York Senate on Monday passed the first sweeping new gun measures since the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn., last month. The bill will be taken up by the New York assembly this morning and is expected to pass easily into law.

The bill includes a strict assault weapons ban and will also entail additional restrictions on ammunition and gun sales. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the proposal on Monday after weeks of negotiations with lawmakers, and waived the typical three-day waiting period to get the bill passed immediately.

The beefed-up assault weapons ban will expand the definition of what is considered an assault weapon. As it stands, assault weapons are defined as rifles with at least two "military rifle features." That threshold will be reduced to one, and the features will also include pistol grips. 

Sentences will be increased for gun crimes that include the shooting of a first responder — called the Webster provision — following the killing of two firefighters responding to a call in the New York town of Webster on Christmas Eve. 

Here are some of the other features of the bill:

• A therapist who believes a patient made a credible threat to use a gun illegally will be required to report it to a mental health director, who must tell that information to the state. 
• Private sales of an assault weapon to someone not in the immediate family are now subject to a background check.
• Internet sales of assault weapons are banned.
• Ammunition magazines will be restricted to seven bullets, and current owners of high capacity magazines have one year to sell them out of state. 
• Failing to safely store a weapon will be subject to a misdemeanor charge. 

The bill passed the Senate 43-18, and the New York Assembly is expected to pass it this morning after taking up the issue. Governor Cuomo is widely expected to sign it following a fiery State of the State speech and a distinct public push for new measures.

Cuomo issued a statement after the bill passed in the Senate, saying the lawmakers "made a bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation."

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2013 is a banner year for a number of different governors.

Some are trying to position themselves for a run at higher office.

Others are winding down their terms and trying to cram as much of their agenda in as possible. 

Still others are looking at tough re-election fights coming through the pipeline and are trying to get ready for a referendum.

Ten governors specifically have exciting years ahead. 

Here are the ones you've got to watch. 

Bobby Jindal (R-La.)

Believed to be a top contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 — at least according to Karl Rove — Jindal's got conservative credibility and brings an element of diversity to the GOP as it struggles to shed it's all-white reputation.

This year, Jindal is pushing a highly controversial tax reform package, setting Louisiana up as one of the first states to experiment with removing income taxes in favor of consumption taxes.  

Martin O'Malley (D-Md.)

O'Malley, who is term limited, is working to position himself as a leading progressive in the Democratic Party in the lead-up before he leaves office in 2014. 

O'Malley oversaw the passage of Maryland's version of the DREAM Act, which allows undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition. His state was the first to uphold same-sex marriage on a ballot measure. Now, he's preparing a tough set of gun control laws.

With the clock ticking on his time in office, 2013 is a very important year for O'Malley.

Rick Snyder (R-Mich.)

Emboldened by his successful push to pass Michigan's new Right to Work legislation late last year, Snyder is looking to pursue an ambitious agenda in 2013.

So far, he has called for higher gas taxes and registration fees, online voter registration, and changes to Michigan's no-fault insurance system, setting himself up for some major political battles over the next 12 months. Snyder also has to contend with ongoing crises with the state's municipal government, including in Detroit, Michigan's largest city. 

If he can successfully complete a turnaround of Michigan's economy, Snyder could be a major dark horse contender for 2016. 

Source: Detroit Free Press, MSN, Politics Today

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Luxury real estate is making a comeback throughout the country, and some of the hottest markets have a lot more in common than solely an expensive price tag— from thriving and diverse economies to historical significance, a multitude of colleges and hot spots, and great weather (at least for part of the year).

Here’s a glimpse at some of top places to find the finest amenities homes have to offer.

New York City

Entire books could be (and have been) written about luxury real estate in the greater New York area. As the city grew — and grew, and grew — luxury markets sprung up outside the boroughs, as power brokers used their Manhattan paychecks to finance everything from “cottages” in the quintessential summer celebrity hangout of the Hamptons to bedroom communities filled with mini-mansions on former farmland in New Jersey and Connecticut.

When it comes to luxury in New York and the surrounding areas, it’s all about where you want to be and what you need in a home, because the options are endless.

For those looking to live right in the middle of the action, One57, under construction in midtown Manhattan, offers it all. Called “the global billionaire’s club” by the New York Times, the soaring, 1,004-foot tower overlooks Central Park and has nine full-floor apartments.

On a clear day, residents can see all the way to the Bronx. Amenities include all services of the attached Park Hyatt Hotel as well as a “discreet side entrance,” pet wash area, performance hall, private dining room, billiard room and a 24-foot aquarium.

Pricey Big Apple purchase of 2012: Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev spent $88 million on a penthouse for his 22-year-old daughter.

Los Angeles

Second only in size to New York, Los Angeles is a city built on the California dreams of its many residents who move there in pursuit of fortune and fame.

Like its starry-eyed population, the homes that make up L.A.’s luxury market are as different as can be, from tiny bungalows that sit on some of the country’s most expensive land to massive modern glass-covered marvels overlooking the Hollywood hills. Spectacular suburban luxury living can also be found in Los Angeles County in areas such as Pasadena.

In L.A., a valuable feature for its famous luxury residents is the ability to keep the paparazzi at bay with high hedges, fences, security systems and long driveways. An early 2000s ordinance prohibits hedges over 6 feet high, making homes with existing high hedges quite the commodity among celebrities, who now trade these homes like deeds in a Monopoly game.

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco is known for real estate prices as steep as its legendary hills, so more or less everyone pays luxury prices. Residents will tell you the pricey real estate is well worth it for the quality of life in this quirky, inclusive and truly charming area of the country.

Tony Bennett’s not the only person who left his heart in San Francisco: Almost everyone who has visited or lives there feels the same way.

Famous for its turn-of-the century Painted Ladies, or Victorian-style homes — many of which have been lovingly cared for, restored and modernized over time — San Francisco offers luxury in the old as well as in new condos that have recently popped up in the Financial District and South Beach (yes, in San Francisco) neighborhoods.

In San Francisco, two of the priciest neighborhoods offer location-based luxuries — Presidio Heights and Sea Cliff. Presidio Heights is made up of mainly two-level single family homes with coveted yards at the front, back and sometimes sides of the properties.

Sea Cliff, as the name implies, is situated directly on the Pacific Ocean and features stunning views of sunsets so breathtaking, you wouldn’t believe they are real. Sometimes luxury comes solely in the form of an impeccable location.

Miami

With waterfront and oceanfront property abounding, every part of Miami has its own distinct flavor of luxury property, from celebrity-owned mega-mansions to soaring condos offering the ultimate in style and amenities.

Miami began as an escape from the cold North, and while it remains a haven for snowbirds and a great investment for overseas buyers, it now has its own thriving year-round sense of culture and community. With sunny days and a sizzling nightlife, Miami takes luxurious living to a whole other level.

One example of Miami’s glamour is the home of a name synonymous with luxury: Versace. Gianni Versace’s Casa Casuarina mansion has 10 bedrooms directly on Ocean Drive and a 24-karat gold inlaid pool.

Washington, DC

Our nation’s capital is more than just a hub of politics. It’s a cultural powerhouse where independently spirited artists, writers and musicians create alongside government workers and contractors living out the 9-to-5 lifestyle.

It’s a true melting pot of cultures, cuisines and viewpoints with history around every corner. Like other luxury hot spots, there is something for everyone, from the old classic residences on Capitol Hill and Georgetown to new luxury construction throughout the district and in the bedroom communities of Northern Virginia and Maryland.

Georgetown is home to many of the most luxurious homes in the District of Columbia, with gorgeous views of the National Cathedral. Many of these beauties, some dating to the 1800s, have other luxe features including staff quarters, private saunas, koi ponds and room to throw little “get-togethers” for up to 150 guests.

Can’t decide which of these luxury markets you love the most? Why not buy in each? If you can afford it, these cities have a lot to do, see, eat and experience, making every day a new adventure.

SEE ALSO: 15 gorgeous vacation homes for $500,000 or less >

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New York's Grand Central Terminal turns 100 today. A vast complex of marbled halls, museums, boutiques and restaurants, it's more than just a train station, says Douglas Rogers.

Happy Birthday Grand Central.

America’s most famous train station, the sprawling Beaux-Arts masterpiece that takes up two blocks of Manhattan, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The terminus, which took 10 years to build at a cost equivalent to $2 billion (£1.26bn) today, began its first service at a minute past midnight on February 2, 1913. A star-studded ceremony yesterday, at which red carpets were unfurled and shops and restaurants put some prices down to 1913 rates - 10c shoe shines!; 19c cheesecake! - marked the start of a series of events that will take place throughout 2013.

Grand Central is so much more than a train terminus. A vast complex of marbled halls, museums, tunnels, ramps, boutiques, bars and restaurants, it’s almost a city in itself. Hard to believe that in the late Seventies it was crumbling, covered in soot, and slated for demolition. A campaign led by Jackie Kennedy Onassis helped save it, and over the past 15 years it has had a spectacular overhaul.

The focal point remains the Main Concourse, its dramatic 125ft-high ceiling with a mural of a Mediterranean night-sky constellation is a destination in itself. When light streams through the towering windows onto the marble, it has the feeling of a cathedral. In the middle sits the four-faced Grand Central Clock, $20 million worth of brass and precious opal; probably the most iconic meeting point in the city.

You need not have been here to recognize it: the Concourse has featured in dozens of movies from The Godfather to Superman, and it was here that Cary Grant first went on the run from government agents at the start of Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. Indeed, amid such cultural and architectural splendor, it’s easy to forget the Concourse is, ultimately, a hub; an estimated three million people pass through it every day.

Adjacent to it is Vanderbilt Hall, the former passenger waiting room, now used for exhibitions and private events. Showing here, until March 16, is Grand by Design, the centerpiece of the centennial celebrations: a multi-media exhibit of wall-sized photographs and digital projections about the history of the building, its design, and how the station has shaped modern life in New York. This is to be followed on March 25-31 by a performance piece, Heard-NY, by artist Nick Cave, in which 30 colorful model 'horses’ take up residence in the hall and break out into choreographed dance. And rail enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Grand Centennial Parade of Trains Weekend (May 10-12), a rare display of historic train cars that have served the station over the years, including the celebrated 20th Century Limited (1902-1967), known to rail buffs at the time as The Greatest Train in the World.

If you miss these shows, the terminal has other permanent attractions. Accessed by stairs at the Vanderbilt Avenue entrance is The Campbell Apartment, a swanky (no trainers or jeans) cocktail lounge, that was once the office of 1920s tycoon John W. Campbell. The highlight though is the Food Concourse below ground that features dozens of stores and restaurants. The best of them is the timeless Oyster Bar & Restaurant, with its Rafael Guastavino-designed vaulted ceiling. The only business still going that was here the day the terminus opened in 1913, order a dozen Prince Edward Island oysters and a glass of Sancerre, and toast Happy Birthday. Just don’t expect the cheesecake to still cost 19c.

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New York Law School had the worst bar passage rates in the state in 2011, according to the New York Law Journal.

So, to fix that, the school is offering students $500 if they take a class to study for the exam, Above The Law reported Thursday.

The school's Jump Start bar prep program is a pre-study program for students to take before they begin their actual bar prep course.

So the school is essentially asking students to do twice the work.

Thankfully, they will be compensated for their hard work.

"I understand that you all have many demands on you from school and work, but I believe this program is so vital that I have arranged for every student who completes all five sessions to receive $500 in cash, which I hope you will put towards a bar prep program," NYLS Dean Anthony Crowell told students, according to ATL.

We think it's great a school is taking such an active interest in its students success, and we understand bar passage rates are an important part of a school's reputation.

But a school shouldn't have to resort to essentially bribing students to study for the test that will determine the rest of their lives.

DON'T MISS: Yale Law Student Explodes At His Classmates In The Most Public Way Possible >

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Grand Central Terminal is one of New York City's most iconic landmarks, and today it turns 100 years old.

The incredible feat of engineering originally debuted to the public as Grand Central Depot in October 1871, home to a massive steel and glass train shed that housed steam-driven trains. 

But after a fatal accident between two steam locomotives in 1902, the transportation hub was converted to a safer electric rail system.

Grand Central Station was demolished, and Grand Central Terminal was raised in its place, opening to the public on February 1, 1913. 

To celebrate its 100th birthday, here's a look back at the birth, past, and present of one of the world's greatest train stations.

Designed by John B. Snook, Grand Central Depot opened in 1871 and served three separate rail lines, each independently operated.

Each rail line had its own waiting room.

By 1900, it was known as Grand Central Station.

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New research from Gallup  Polling has identified the ten most liberal states in the United States.

The research was carried out over all of 2012 and found that Americans have become more liberal compared to previous years. 

Still, some states stand out for their high proportion of self-identified liberals.

Here are the top ten states with the most people who identify as liberal. 

9. Hawaii (TIE) — 27.7 percent liberal

9. New York (TIE) — 27.7 percent liberal

7. Rhode Island (TIE) — 28.3 percent liberal

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In a decision that could fundamentally shake New York's auction market, the NY State Supreme Court is reconsidering the current law that protects anonymous sellers, according to Tom Mashburg of The New York Times.

Currently, most sellers in New York auctions are allowed to remain anonymous. The auction houses merely state that the work is from a "private collection" and leave it at that.

But in October, an appellate court unanimously ruled that buyers must be given the names of sellers in post-auction paperwork for the deal to be binding. The court cited current (virtually ignored) state law that already requires the buyer to know the name of the seller, and now the decision is being reviewed by New York's highest court.

The reason that disclosing the names of auction sellers could be such a game changer is because currently, a buyer is allowed to back out of any transaction where the seller's name is not provided. If the name was provided, it would be harder for buyers to sue an auction house for their money back if they changed their mind about the price or sale of any purchased item.

You'd think that would be in the auction house's favor, but most are uncomfortable with the decision because it could force sellers to seek auction houses in other states or countries that would protect anonymity. The law, if upheld, would be a step towards making sellers' names more public — something that could be damaging if there were family conflicts over inherited assets, an embarrassment of debt, or if institutions did not want to disclose that they were selling items from their collections.

DON'T MISS: The 10 Most Outrageous Items People Bought In January

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New York is bracing itself for a storm ("Nemo") this weekend, and under one estimate, showed earlier today on NBC New York, things could be a little crazy.

According to one RPM computer model, New York could see over 38 inches of snow. That is considerably more than the most snowfall on record, 26.9 inches.

Before we go further, we must say one thing: DON'T PANIC.

As NYMag's Daily Intel have pointed out, there are a number of wildly different predictions about the storm— most veering much lower in terms of snowfall.

The latest NBC New York report has a smaller estimate in the RPM model — 19.8 inches.

According to Accuweather, a history-making snowstorm will only be possible if two storms, one coming from the west and one coming from the south, merge.

"While this is a possibility, it would be difficult for a storm to do this without a blocking area of high pressure to the northeast," Winter Weather Expert Rob Miller told Accuweather.

Generally, it seems to be one to keep an eye on, but right now even the experts have little idea what will happen, though most expect New England to see snow.

The WSJ's Eric Holthaus points out that "the coming storm looks to be as close to a meteorologist’s worst nightmare as can be imagined," though he adds that 30+ inches of snow in New York City would be "virtually impossible."

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Forecasters are now up to 80 percent certain that a major winter storm will wallop the Northeast starting Friday through Saturday.  

Airlines have already canceled close to 1,000 flights ahead of the massive Nor'easter. 

Although New England will see the greatest impact, New York City is also in the line of fire. A blizzard warning was issued for Manhattan for tomorrow Friday, Feb 8 at 6:00 a.m. through Saturday, 1:00 p.m.

The National Weather Service has prepared a weather briefing as of noon, Thursday Feb. 7.

Here's what New Yorkers can expect for rain, snow accumulation, flooding, and timing: 

Precipitation: Heavy snow with blizzard conditions possible, and/or sleet or freezing rain. Blizzard conditions mean blowing and drifting snow, making roads impassable and seriously impacting all modes of travel. Meteorologist Eric Holthaus predicts a minimum of one foot of snow for Manhattan.

Winds: Gusts of up to 50 mph, with higher gusts possible for eastern Long Island and southeast Connecticut. 

Coastal flooding: A new moon on Feb. 10 will result in higher than normal tides. The highest storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected Friday afternoon or evening, impacting shore roads and beaches. Widespread minor flooding is likely and moderate flooding is possible.

Timing:Precipitation is expected to develop after 1 p.m. on Friday, moving from the southwest to the northeast. 

Here is the latest predicted snowfall forecast for New York: 

SEE ALSO: Potentially Historic Nor'easter Is A Two-Pronged Monster

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Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon and other celebrities recently toured a fracking site in Pennsylvania.

They have been at the vanguard of an effort to keep fracking out of New York —  the practice has been banned since 2010.

But the urgency of the issue in New York is belied by a larger the truth about the environmental dangers of fracking: we pretty much know what they are, and know how to deal with them.

Quick recap: fracking involves pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of water and chemicals into rocks to fracture them and release their oil and gas.

Though the practice is not new, there's been an explosion of horizontal drilling all over the country as the full extent of shale resources trapped in places like south Texas and western Pennsylvania began to be known.  

But it remains controversial over fears about its environmental impact.

Last month, the New York Times' Danny Hakim got hold of an official New York health department document suggesting fracking could be performed safely.

It first enumerates all the potential dangers fracking could pose — evidence for each of which has been previously documented:

• Migration of fracking fluid particles into water tables (EPA Pavillion, Wyo. report, December 2011)
• Water supply discoloration — (Business Insider, Oct 22, 2012)
• Water supply depletion — (New York Times, September 5, 2012)
• Surface spills that could affect surface water or shallow drinking water aquifers (Cornell study, March 7, 2012)
• Well construction or operation failures that result in contaminated water (Bloomberg, Oct. 2, 2012)
• Blowouts (WNEP, June 20, 2011)
• Leakage from pits, pipes, trucks or tanks (Associated Press, September 26, 2012)

Hakim notes that the health department discusses how each of these issues can be tackled:

The Department proposes numerous controls, including but not limited to liners and secondary containment for storage of chemicals on the well pad, and increased standards for well construction, cementing and blowout prevention equipment.

Still, the report was dismissed by many — including the Health Department itself, who said the document was "out of date" and that a new version was being drawn up that would contain "substantial changes."

New Yorkers Against Fracking said the document "cavalierly [dismisses] the health impacts" of the practice.

Even Hakim took issue, questioning "how much original research the state has done on potential health impacts" of fracking. 

But there is also a lengthy 2011 study from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation — referenced in the document he reported — that includes a 154-page chapter called "Mitigation Measures."

Among those recommendations:

• No well pads would be approved within 500 feet of primary aquifers
• A site-specific environmental impact reviews and permits for any proposed well pad within 500 feet of a principal aquifer
• Baseline water quality testing of private wells within a specified distance of the proposed well
• Wellbore construction testing
• Strict surface casing requirements
• Require private water well testing
• Require removal of fluids within specified time frames
• Use of a pre-frack form to certify wellbore integrity prior to fracturing

That study adds at least 33 more pages of mitigation recommendations. 

It seems fracking can be performed safely. The practice has been around for decades, and outgoing Interior Secretary Ken Salazarhas said as much on at least one occasion.  

Number of pages is never a guarantee of anything, of course — everything hinges on regulators' execution.

And oil companies' continued insistence on denying outright the hazards linked to above, putting stumbling blocks in the way of further regulation and resisting transparency on disclosing chemicals has bred further mistrust.

If they've merely been trying to save a few bucks, it's safe to say this strategy has backfired, given the resistance with which fracking has been met not just on the Eastern Seaboard but all over Europe. 

If oil companies want to tone down debate, they'll need to be more transparent to build trust.

But the knee-jerk terror fracking has prompted in some communities seems unwarranted. 

Fracking is not new. It's been going on for decades in Texas and the Mountain West. The only difference is now is that it's being proposed in places where it hasn't been done before.

Given the benefits that we know come with the practice, it seems communities should be demanding safe fracking, rather than turning it away. 

SEE ALSO: 36 Maps That Explain The World >

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A coalition of more than 135 left-leaning groups sent a message to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo about his possible 2016 ambitions Tuesday, taking out a full page anti-hydrofracking ad in Iowa's Des Moines Register.

The ad is also running in the Albany Times Union, but its placement in Iowa is significant, given that the state holds the nation's first presidential nominating contest. 

"Governor Cuomo, America is looking to you," the ad reads. "Stand up for people over pollution. Don't allow a single fracked shale gas well in New York. This is your chance to be a national leader on climate."

The ad closes with this message in big, bold font: "Your choice now will be remembered forever."

Cuomo is considering whether to lift a moratorium on fracking in New York, a decision he is expected to make by the end of the month. 

Here's the full ad:

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If you live in New York, are sick of the 30-something degree weather, and want free mac and cheese for lunch today, then Stouffer's has the Twitter campaign for you.

Until 3 p.m., people can use the hashtag #localwarming to explain to @Stouffers why they're "New York's coldest" for a chance to get the company's Mac N' Cheese truck to deliver said snack to their office for free. Stouffer's will reach out to particularly good tweeters via DM.

JWT is the agency behind the flash social media campaign  and encourages  doormen, dog walkers, meatlocker workers, and those who got dumped the day before Valentine's Day — "That's cold"— to participate.

Here's a retweet-worthy example:

(Stouffer's already announced that it's sending a truck over to Creativity's office.)

SEE ALSO: This Keira Knightley Chanel Ad Was Banned For Being 'Overtly Sexual'

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Soaring housing costs, declining income levels, and a job market yet to regain ground have hit New York City residents hard — especially its middle class.

To even be considered middle class in the city, residents need to bankroll between $45,000 and $134,000 per year, The New York Times recently reported. In other parts of the country, that drops to $33,000 - $100,000. 

"We need to make sure that the people who want to stay in our great city can afford to stay here," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said in a recent State of the City address.

One of the largest concerns among city leaders is securing more affordable housing (Manhattan apartments cost $3,973 a month on average ––  $2,800 more than the national average). Quinn is spearheading the construction of 40,000 new middle-income housing units over the next decade, a move she hopes will give the cash-strapped class room to breathe. 

Her office recently released a report on the state of the city's middle class community. We've pulled out the most compelling charts from the presentation. 

New York City is by far the most expensive city in the US.

Most residents spend nearly 30 percent of their income on housing.

In Manhattan, residents shell out more than 4x the national average for homes.

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In his State of the City address today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out with a full-throated endorsement of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to make a small marijuana infraction a violation rather than a misdemeanor, which would reduce the legal consequences for a common crime.

Bloomberg also announced another significant marijuana-related change that will be implemented immediately in New York City.

Instead of being held overnight in jail, those arrested for possessing small quantities of marijuana will instead receive only a desk appearance ticket for their court date.

Here's the relevant quote from his State of the City address:

“But we know that there’s more we can do to keep New Yorkers, particularly young men, from ending up with a criminal record. Commissioner Kelly and I support Governor Cuomo’s proposal to make possession of small amounts of marijuana a violation, rather than a misdemeanor and we’ll work to help him pass it this year. But we won’t wait for that to happen.

“Right now, those arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana are often held in custody overnight. We’re changing that. Effective next month, anyone presenting an ID and clearing a warrant check will be released directly from the precinct with a desk appearance ticket to return to court. It’s consistent with the law, it’s the right thing to do  and it will allow us to target police resources where they’re needed most.

Read the full State of the City address here >

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