Photograph of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pausing during testimony last week by Dennis Cook/AP After an ugly Monday in global financial markets while the U.S. markets were closed and Asian stock markets plunging today, the Federal Reserve lowered the interest rate by 0.75% in an "emergency move for the first time since 2001." From the Fed's press release:The Committee took this action in view of a weakening of the economic outlook and increasing......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: Is there a bank robber hitting up multiple banks on the Upper West Side? There were robberies at 2438 Broadway and 59 West 86th St; there were also two separate police vehicle MVAs in The Bronx and Brooklyn; and a fatality under a train in Jackson Heights (it says A, but we'll assume it's the E). If any Wall Street types you know were depressed yesterday after the Dow......

Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 300 points by mid-day as worldwide financial markets worry about the U.S. credit market. The Dow Jones, as well as the Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq, have lost 10% since July, and a strategist at Absolute Strategy Research tells the Times, "The psychology is shifting notably today. When a market drops by 10 percent, people start to feel it in their portfolios. People are used to......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: A murder-suicide on East 176th Street in the Bronx, a confined space rescue at 680 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and a sexual assault at Victory Blvd & Bay St. in Staten Island Breaking: The city and families of September 11 victims have worked out a compromise for this year's anniversary events; the city will allow families to enter the pit at Ground Zero. The Dow dropped 387 points today......

- The Dow goes up 200 points today - watch out for celebrating business types tonight! - Strange and sad story about two friendly families and the body of one family's son found in the backyard of the other - Ladies think the Yankees are generally cuter than the Mets - The two Duke students arrested in the dancer's rape case are from the area - Four teens are still being held in the......

- The Staten Island Ferry assistant captain who piloted the ferry that crashed into the pier, killing 11 and injuring over 70, was sentenced to 18 months - West Village darling couple - they rode their bikes everywhere! they cuddled while walking around Soho! - Hillary Swank and Chad Lowe are splitting up - The Politicker looks at how the Mayor is re-organizing his team - The ASPCA nails its first person of 2006 for......