... WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

* LOCATIONS... INTERIOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY... THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY OF SOUTHEAST NEW YORK... AND SOUTHWEST CONNECTICUT.
* HAZARD TYPES... SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS... 4 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW.
* WINDS... NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES... FROM THE MID TEENS TO LOWER 20S LATE TONIGHT... RISING TO THE UPPER 20S AND LOWER 30S SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* VISIBILITIES... FREQUENTLY ONE HALF MILE IN MODERATE SNOW SATURDAY MORNING.
* TIMING... LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS... SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL CAUSING VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

From 1:00 AM EST, Sat., Jan 21, 2012 until 4:00 PM EST, Sat., Jan 21, 2012

Issued by The National Weather Service/New York City, NY

Fri, Jan 20, 2012, 11:35 AM EST/ Updated Jan 20, 2012, 3:20pm EST

Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and officers from the New York Police Department arrested 5 men this morning in connection with a series of violent robberies in The Bronx And Westchester County including one robbery and assault on Pelham Road last fall.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Joseph Anarumo Jr., the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Raymond W. Kelly, the Commissioner of the Police Department for the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced charges today against Fahd Hussain, Jermaine Dore, Dwayne Barrett, Taijay Todd, and Tameshwar Singh – five members of a violent robbery crew that operated in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York.

According to an indictment handed down this morning, on October 11th, 2011, Fahd Hussain, Jermaine Dore and Taijay Todd robbed at knifepoint a person engaged in the business of selling telephone calling cards during which the victim was beaten and more than $6,000 in cash and another $6,000 worth of telephone calling cards was taken from the victim. Other violent robberies like to the five-man crew occurred in Mount Vernon and The Bronx in which one victim was shot and killed and two others in which victims were stabbed during the course of the robberies.

Frontline Investigates The Hazards And Benefits Of Nuclear Energy (video after the link)

Has the world lost faith in nuclear power?

Almost a year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, there’s an emerging consensus in Japan and Germany that the hazards of nuclear energy overshadow its benefits. In the United States and other countries, the question remains unresolved.

In Nuclear Aftershocks, airing Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at 10 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings), FRONTLINE correspondent Miles O’Brien travels to three continents to explore the revived debate about the safety of nuclear power, the options for alternative energy sources, and questions about whether a disaster like the one at Fukushima could happen in the United States.

Judith Huntington, right, President of The College of New Rochelle, recently met with U.S. Representative Nita Lowey at the Congresswoman’s office in White Plains. Ms. Huntington discussed with Congresswoman Lowey issues affecting higher education specifically funding for Pell Grants and other federal student financial aid programs. Each year, The College of New Rochelle awards $18.3 million of Pell Grants to students primarily in the School of New Resources, School of Arts & Sciences and School of Nursing. In total, 85% of CNR’s students receive some level of Pell funding on an annual basis.

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Richard Lipsky, a lobbyist, pled guilty today to two counts of bribing former New York State Senator Carl Kruger. Lipsky pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “As a lobbyist, Richard Lipsky was permitted to influence the legislative process on behalf of his clients with the power of his arguments, not the power of his checkbook. For too long and in too many ways, corruption has warped government in New York State and New York City. This Office will take every step necessary to root out that corruption and restore the public’s faith in its government and its leaders.”

According to the Indictment, the Complaint, and statements made at today’s plea proceeding in Manhattan federal court:

Philip Sherwell has a profile of Chelsea Clinton in the Sunday Telegraph, a major newspaper in the U.K.: Media-shy Chelsea Clinton explains her new role as television journalist for one of America's biggest networks

Sherwell interviewed me last week for the article based on our report that Democrats in Albany had approached Chelsea about running for Congress.

In a country where political dynasties are commonplace, it has not been lost on some Democrat strategists that there will be no Clinton holding public office for first time in three decades when, as expected, Hillary steps down as secretary of state next year.

Another intriguing scenario has been discussed by some Democrats in New York - that she might be persuaded to run for Congress.

County Executive Robert P. Astorino is reminding Westchester residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee that they have until Dec. 15 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for possible disaster assistance.

Registering with FEMA is necessary for homeowners and business owners who may be seeking FEMA grants or low-interest loans in connection with physical damages caused by the August hurricane and the tropical storm that arrived several weeks later in September.

“The deadline to apply for help is fast approaching. Registering by Dec. 15 is a necessary step to remain eligible for a variety of government assistance,” Astorino said.

FEMA officials noted that residents and business owners who have filed insurance claims should still register in case their private insurance does not cover all damages resulting from the storms.

“If your insurance coverage comes up short, or other damage appears later, you need to be registered for us to help,” FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Philip E. Parr said.