BAYSIDE — A robber took off with a pick−up truck Saturday in Bayside, police said. Comment.

Queens residents, doctors and legislators have a message for President−elect Barack Obama: In the midst of an economic collapse and two ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, do not forget about healthcare. Comment.

State Democrats and Republicans have remained notably quiet following the arrest of state Sen.−elect Hiram Monserrate (D−East Elmhurst) on assault charges last month, but friends and supporters of the embattled politician have rallied behind him. Comment.

City Councilman John Liu (D−Flushing) is hoping that an emergency sewer fix will stem the constant flooding in neighborhoods along the Whitestone Expressway, where plans for a broader storm drain project have been thwarted by a lack of funding. Comment.

2008 was a tough year. Hundreds of families lost their homes, thousands of people lost their jobs and thousands saw their retirement savings slashed by the Wall Street collapse. Comment.

Every once in a while, the little guy wins. Comment.

Two Brooklyn men were arraigned on burglary charges in Queens last week for allegedly turning Christmas Eve into a holiday horror for a Whitestone family, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Comment.

A Willets Point tenant business leader said he does not anticipate the city will  move out any of the businesses in the industrial business community until at least 2011. Comment.

Although U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) has a bleak outlook for the new year, he said New Yorkers will be able to get back on their feet with the help of well-crafted government policies. Comment.

After a three-year hiatus, the process that may bring an underground rail line into Maspeth has resumed under the guidance of a different government entity. Comment.

DOUGLASTON — More than $2,000 worth of items were stolen from a car parked outside Douglaston Mall Sunday evening, authorities said. Comment.

AUBURNDALE — Police said a man held up a woman at knife−point and robbed her of her handbag late Saturday night. Comment.

Principals and parents complained of cramped, poorly ventilated conditions at northeastern Queens schools last week during Community District Education Council 26’s monthly meeting. Comment.

Outspoken U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D−Bayside) said U.S. Senate hopeful Caroline Kennedy is being “Sarah Palinized” by her handlers and the daughter of late President John F. Kennedy will need more than her name to be successful if appointed to the post. Comment.

A Whitestone man was sentenced to eight years in prison last Thursday for tossing a Molotov cocktail on the steps of JHS 194 earlier this year, the Queens district attorney said. Comment.

Property owners are attempting to regroup following the City Council vote to approve the redevelopment of Willets Point last month, but while the fight goes on, legal options for opposition to the project are becoming few and far between. Comment.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D−Forest Hills) joined Gov. David Paterson and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D−Hauppauge) for a surprise visit to Iraq and Afghanistan this week, which the Queens congressman said made him feel more optimistic than ever before about the situation in the Arab nation but concerned about the escalating violence in Afghanistan. Comment.

We are baffled and disappointed by Councilman Tony Avella’s ongoing war against InSpa World in College Point. In his latest attack, he is asking that the spa be closed down because of minor FDNY violations. These violations need to be addressed, but there is no suggestion that InSpa is a firetrap. Comment.