An unhinged helicopter mom has taken fancy-pants Manhattan academy the Trinity School hostage. Her weapon of choice: Twitter.

Remember the "trailer park/artist community" in a Bushwick warehouse that got shut down last year? It started up again, only get shut down again, this time for fire code violations. Brooklyn just can't keep the little buggers out! Artists in trailers: The new bedbugs. [NYPost]

In just over a month, law enforcement agencies have busted two massive marijuana growing operations on Staten Island. Agents from the DEA — along with the NYPD and New York State Police — on Monday raided a "sophisticated hydroponic grow house" and found 450 mature pot plants. Two men were also arrested in connection with the operation, which authorities told the Staten Island Advance was raking in about $10 million a year. Damn.

Some people have a tendency to idealize the wild, anything-goes New York City of the 1970s. Here's some vintage footage from some sort of news program or documentary about public transportation during the era. The hilariously stereotypical voiceovers talk about dangerous subways, dirty buses, and horrific cabs. Nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be—but the retro soundtrack sure does rock. [via Animal NY]

NBC News hero Brian Williams made us laugh last year with a very funny takedown of the New York Times' constant trend reporting on magical bobo borough Brooklyn. Well, he's at it again, only he's skipping the Times stuff and aiming squarely at Brooklyn this time.

68-year-old retired computer consultant Joe Capp has set up a 24 hour UFO hotline and has received almost two dozen sightings so far. Unfortunately the New York Post article does not include the phone number! Must be 1-800-I-SAW-UFO.

As police try to unravel the case of a suspected serial killer in Long Island, they've found their work hampered by the killer's unusual savviness. The killer seems so well-versed in police techniques that some are wondering if he or she is in law enforcement.

Saturday gossip round up is here! Charlie Sheen's show takes a dive after some promising developments. Nicole Richie is sick of your pregnancy rumors. Gucci Mane is arrested for throwing a woman out of a car. Let's go.

The NYPD is prepared for Charlie Sheen this weekend. "We have a big police force, we're ready for him," New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly declared earlier today when asked about the actor who's in New York for two live shows at Radio City Music Hall this weekend. But like preventing terrorism or ending the spread of syphilis, we're going to need everyone's help to ensure the situation is contained. Yes, that's right, you're expected to do your part. The police can't handle all of the dangers inherent in Charlie Sheen's visit to the Big Apple. Here are some tips on what you can do to help.

Charlie Sheen arrived in New York City today on his "Torpedo of Truth" tour. So where's he going to stay considering no hotel in town would have him a few days ago? Donald J. Trump to the rescue!

We've seen countless time-lapse videos taken in New York, but still when we stumble upon a great one, we can't help but stare with rapt attention.

Inspired by San Francisco, a new bill before the New York City Council seeks to put dietary restrictions on meals that come with free toys. They better watch out. I'd hate to run into Ronald McDonald in a dark alley.

From the Products We Don't Need file comes Metro Mitt, a little plastic bag for you to put over your hands while holding the pole in the subway. It's supposed to make your commute more sanitary. God, this thing is stupid.

Animal rights group PETA has managed to find another stupid way to attract attention: They've asked the city of San Francisco to rename the Tenderloin neighborhood something more in line with the city's perceived eating habits. The group's suggestion? The Tempeh District, because "the city deserves a neighborhood named after a delicious cruelty-free food instead of the flesh of an abused animal," PETA VP Tracy Reiman wrote in a letter to San Francisco's mayor. Oh god. Too bad PETA got it wrong, though. "Tenderloin" was the term used for bribes given to cops in the area back when the neighborhood was still "gritty."

Cops in upstate New York seized $10 million in pot crops from a hydroponic grow house that supplied the metro area. Sixteen people—mostly illegal immigrants—were arrested. Illegal aliens distributing drugs? That's like Glenn Beck's biggest nightmare!

Mark Zuckerberg's dad, Edward, is a dentist in Dobbs Ferry, NY. We got some sense of the guy from the goofy letter he sent out to prospective patients claiming to be "literally the father of Facebook." But he's not so blatant about his Facebook connection any more.

Here's footage taken by an intrepid German tourist (and railroad enthusiast) of the 42nd Street Times Square subway stop back in 1986.

Cash-stripped Erie County Holding Center in upstate New York is generating some capital by advertising to detainees on television sets in their holding cells. They estimate they can make about $15,000 a year selling ads to their rather, um, captive audience.

32-year-old DJ Megatron, Corey McGriff, of BET's "106 & Park" was shot and killed outside his Staten Island home early Sunday morning. Before working at BET, McGriff was a DJ at New York's best radio station, Hot 97. He also played a small role in the movie Killa Season. No motive has been determined.

The Bronx Zoo was closed today after an adolescent Egyptian cobra went missing from an off-exhibit enclosure. Uh oh. "Deadly cobra" and "missing" are not two things you want to hear in the same news story.