Bronx News Network Re-Launches as ‘Bronx Bureau’ Tonight

Remember the Bronx News Network? The network, created by the staff of the Norwood News and its nonprofit publisher, Mosholu Preservation Corporation, back in 2006, included two bilingual monthly newspapers, the Tremont Tribune and Mt. Hope Monitor, as well as a humming blog and website and a successful youth journalism program.

Editorial: Armory Celebration Time!

The story of the “long vacant” Kingsbridge Armory stretches back into the early years of the Norwood News. We began publishing in 1988. The military left the main building in 1993. We’ve been writing about its emptiness and the efforts to fill that emptiness ever since. Now it’s time to celebrate what a new ice sports complex and free after-school youth program will do for an area badly in need of a shot in the armory.

Out & About: Patti Labelle Plays the Bronx Saturday Night

Lehman Center on Saturday night, with Xavier Lewis and Whiskey Peach opening up. Before the show, which starts at 8 p.m., there will be a gala benefiting Lehman Center and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Bronx Notes: Free Melanoma and Skin Cancer Screenings on Saturday

The Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care and Montefiore Medical Center’s Division of Dermatology are offering free melanoma/skin cancer screenings for people of all ages on Saturday, May 11, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, 1521 Jarret Place.

Business Beat: With Changes Coming, Affinity CEO Urges Collaboration

Bert Scott, the new president and CEO of Bronx-based Affinity Health Plan, says changes in the health care market will pose greater challenges for consumers, health plans and providers, and make effective collaboration essential among all stakeholders.

Judge Rules Bronx Political Hopeful Tapia Must Pay Severe Campaign Finance Penalties; City Campaign Funding Unaccounted For

Yudelka Tapia’s path to becoming an elected official hit a roadblock this week when a judge upheld the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s decision to hold her accountable for more than $100,000 in penalties and reimbursement payments, stemming from an unsuccessful City Council campaign in 2009.

Speaker Wants to Raise Smoking Age to 21

Joined by health and anti-smoking advocates, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced last week that the Council would introduce legislation that ups the minimum age requirement on tobacco purchases from 18 to 21. If passed, New York City will become the first major city in the United States to hold a 21 years of age minimum.

Video: Bronx Group POTS on 60 Minutes

In case you missed it Sunday night, here’s the 60 Minutes piece on the Robin Hood Foundation, a deep-pocketed anti-poverty group. The piece features a profile of one of the foundation’s grantees, Part of the Solution, or POTS, a soup kitchen and multi-service organization on Webster Avenue in the Bronx that aims to get struggling people back on their feet. They opened up a beautiful brand new facility last year, thanks in part to Robin Hood.

Bronx Pols Start Picking Sides in Mayoral Race

With the crowded race for mayor beginning to pick up steam this spring, Bronx elected officials are starting to divide into separate Democratic camps. So far, mayoral hopefuls Christine Quinn, Bill de Blasio and Bill Thompson have each received public support from Bronx politicians.