Grand Theft A.T.M.: A Bodega Crime Wave Hits New York

Common tools and a little muscle have fueled a crime wave that may have netted one burglary crew hundreds of thousands of dollars in a matter of months.

By Ed Shanahan

Combs’s Racketeering Acquittal Was a Rare Misfire for a Powerful Law

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act has been an effective cudgel in a variety of criminal cases. Some defense lawyers say prosecutors use it unfairly.

By Benjamin Weiser and Hurubie Meko

Big CITY

She Spent Nearly $600,000 on Her Council Race and Lost. Was It Worth It?

If nothing else, Elizabeth Lewinsohn’s failed bid for a New York City Council seat highlights two great needs: housing and idealistic candidates.

By Ginia Bellafante

At 91, an Idiosyncratic Judge Prepares for His Latest Big Case

Judge Frederic Block will oversee the prosecution of Rafael Caro Quintero, a Mexican drug lord, which could end in the death penalty. In the meantime, there’s stand-up comedy to keep him busy.

By Santul Nerkar

Routine

How Suzanne Vega Spends Her Day Off Tour

Ms. Vega, best known for her 1987 hit “Luka,” slips around New York City mostly unnoticed as she goes from Buddhist meetings to Central Park and cozy dinners with her husband.

By Tammy LaGorce

METROPOLITAN DIARY

‘It Took One Bounce Before My Brother Blocked It With His Stomach’

A trip to Yankee Stadium leaves a mark, a Second Avenue sneeze and more reader tales of New York City in this week’s Metropolitan Diary.