Morning Brief: December 15

New York magazine released its annual “Reasons to Love New York” list.  It includes serious reasons like “We Protest Passionately and Peacefully” and “Craig Spencer Risked his Life to Safe Others,” and more fun ones like, “We were All Taylor Swift Once,” and “New York Rap Is So Awesomely Weird.”  One list entry getting some more press is the story of Mohammed Islam, a 17 year-old Stuyvesant High School student who’s made a rumored $72 million on the stock market. What do they call him? “The Teen Wolf of Wall Street!”

NEED TO KNOW

Hostages Held in Sydney Café [CNN].

Senate Affirms Ambassador for Freedom of Religion [NY Times].

At Rikers, a Roadblock to Reform [NY Times].

Exclusive: Mold Still a Growing Problem for Hundreds of NYCHA Tenants a Year After Promise of Fixes [NY Daily News].

PBA President Supports Ban of Mayor, City Council Speaker at NYPD Funerals [NY1].

SPORTS

Giants get a strong win over rival Washington, 24-13

And Jets get a rare win over Tennessee 16-11

On the hardwood, Knicks fall to Toronto 95-90

Rangers top Edmonton, 2-0

Tonight

Islanders host the Devils on Long Island, 7PM

Rangers at Calgary, 7PM

WEATHER

Beautiful winter day, mostly sunny, high of 43/37 [full forecast].

ON STAGE TONIGHT

• The Tinsley Ellis Band and Mike Zito @ Iridium

• Winterpills @ Rockwood Music Hall

• Angela McCluskey And Paul Cantelon @ Rockwood Music Hall

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1939, Gone with the Wind receives its premiere at Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

WFUV's Morning Brief is published each weekday morning at 5 a.m. Do you have an event or news item that should be included? Email JColtin@wfuvnews.org or leave a comment below.