Latest news with #Halloween
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Sex fiend Peter Braunstein, who posed as firefighter to brutally rape NYC magazine co-worker in 2005, up for parole hearing
One of the Big Apple's most infamous sex predators could be released from prison in a matter of weeks, The Post has learned. Former fashion magazine writer-turned-sexual torturer Peter Braunstein will have his first hearing before the state Parole Board during the week of Aug. 18, according to a corrections official who said an exact date has not been set. The 61-year-old onetime 'Women's Wear Daily' journo sexually brutalized a co-worker he'd grown obsessed with. He set a fire outside the victim's Chelsea apartment on Halloween night in 2005, and gained access to her home by posing as a responding fireman. Advertisement 8 Peter Braunstein has spent the last 18 years behind prison bars. AP Braunstein then chloroformed the 36-year-old woman, drugged her, stripped her naked, bound her, and sexually assaulted her over more than 13 hellish hours. Her name is being withheld by The Post. He scrawled a mocking note on her mirror, 'Bye — Hope things turn around for U soon.' Advertisement 8 Braunstein bought this fireman's raincoat from eBay. Steven Hirsch Braunstein — who was on probation at the time for menacing his ex-girlfriend, the late fashion editor Jane Larkworthy — videotaped the savage sexual abuse. Braunstein went on the run after the vicious rape, becoming the most wanted man in America. The NYPD launched a nationwide manhunt, with daily headlines tracking the creep's movements from upstate New York to Ohio. After two months, on Dec. 16, he was spotted strolling across the University of Memphis campus. Advertisement 8 The story was covered extensiveky by The Post. New York Post 'I'm the guy you're looking for,' he shouted at university cops as they closed in. He then stabbed himself in the neck more than a dozen times with a 3-inch blade. '[He] stated that he cannot believe that he missed [killing himself], because he did research and studied the carotid artery,' cops revealed in a statement follwing his arrest. Advertisement Weeks before the start of his sensational monthlong trial, Braunstein feebly tried hanging himself inside Rikers Island. Prosecutors argued in court Braunstein was self-harming to delay the criminal proceedings. 8 Braunstein spent two months on the run. Shannon DeCelle His lawyers contended he suffered from depression, and claimed he attempted suicide in late 2004 – when he worked for W magazine — by carving into his own chest with a knife. However, he told police Larkworthy had attacked him. 'He was incredibly charming,' Larkworthy — who died of cancer earlier this month — testified in court at his 2007 trial. 'He was incredibly intelligent. And flirtatious. And very intriguing. And very funny. I loved him.' Braunstein was convicted of kidnapping, sexual abuse, robbery and burglary on May 23, 2007. 8 The Post covered Braunstein's every move while he was on the lam. New York Post In sentencing Braunstein to 18 years to life in prison, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Thomas Farber scolded him for displaying 'true apathy for the victims in this case.' After his conviction, his late mother said she wanted him to kill himself while he was behind bars, believing he'd be unable to adapt to prison life. Advertisement During a jailhouse interview with The Post at Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate Dannemora six months after his sentencing, Braunstein confessed, 'It's a good thing that I'm locked up, because I've been having violent fantasies. I don't know what I'm capable of.' He was unrepentant and even called Larkworthy, his first victim, 'evil incarnate.' 8 Braunstein left a taunting message for his victim on a mirror. William Miller Braunstein made headlines again in 2013 when prison guards swiped his copy of kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard's 2011 autobiography, 'A Stolen Life.' Prison administrators had had banned the book, because Dugard described being sexually assaulted in it. Advertisement Braunstein was also barred in 2013 from reading 'Dark Dreams,' a 2001 book by profiler Roy Hazelwood that explores the minds of sexual predators. In 2014, he sued officials at Dannemora prison for denying him access to 'Cellar of Horror: The Story of Gary Heidnik,' a serial murderer and rapist. He was also barred access to alt-porn website Burning Angel. 8 The multi-state manhunt was front-page news for weeks. New York Post After his 2007 trial, Braunstein also lost a bid seeking the return of bondage pornography investigators had seized from his home. Today, he's being held at Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum secuirty prison in Alden, N.Y. Advertisement Braunstein's bid for freedom comes at a time when New York's Parole Board is under heavy scrutiny for springing 43 cop killers in the past eight years. 8 During his trial, Braunstein expressed no remorse for the vicious attack. NYP Critics say the panel is filled with lefty political has-beens adhering to new rules that now weigh the supposed rehabilitation of criminals in prison more heavily than the heinous nature of their crimes. Advertisement The 16-member board, largely appointed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, includes the wife of a convicted killer who served more than 30 years behind bars. Victim rights advocates said Braunstein should stay locked up for good. 'This rapist's crimes were exceptionally vicious,' said Jane Manning, director of the group Women's Equal Justice and a former sex crimes prosecutor with the Queens district attorney's office. 'He vowed to reoffend if given a chance. He should never be released.' Additional reporting by Tina Moore
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
When will New Hampshire get its first snow? What the Farmers' Almanac fall forecast says
It might seem early to start thinking about snow, but the northeast might see its first snow by mid to late October, the Farmers' Almanac predicts. In its extended fall forecast, the Farmers' Almanac called the upcoming season a "flirty, flurry fall." Snow will be a "regular visitor" across much of the north this fall, the Farmers' Almanac said. However, this fall is expected to bring "a little bit of everything," the almanac said, so New Englanders are encouraged to keep an eye on the weather. However, the northeast should be dry and cool when autumn begins on Sept. 22, the Farmers' Almanac said. The tail end of summer could be soggy, with thunderstorms threatening parts of New England, including New Hampshire, over Labor Day weekend, according to the almanac. It said October will bring "familiar" fall weather to the northeast, with locations at higher altitudes "flirting" with early snow. Around the end of October, those partaking in Halloween festivities might need to bundle up in jackets and scarves, according to the Farmers' Almanac. It said Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut could see fair skies and then showers on Oct. 31. As October rolls into November, parts of the northeast could experience some wet snow, the almanac said. Although light snow and rain could snarl holiday travel plans to and from the East Coast, the weather might clear up just in time for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, according to the almanac. The Farmers' Almanac, which is a distinct publication from the Old Farmer's Almanac, has been published annually since 1818. The almanac provides long-range weather predictions, gardening tips, holiday information, and a slew of different calendars for its readers. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Farmers' Almanac Fall 2025: When NH weather will cool, see snow
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
When will New Hampshire get its first snow? What the Farmers' Almanac fall forecast says
It might seem early to start thinking about snow, but the northeast might see its first snow by mid to late October, the Farmers' Almanac predicts. In its extended fall forecast, the Farmers' Almanac called the upcoming season a "flirty, flurry fall." Snow will be a "regular visitor" across much of the north this fall, the Farmers' Almanac said. However, this fall is expected to bring "a little bit of everything," the almanac said, so New Englanders are encouraged to keep an eye on the weather. However, the northeast should be dry and cool when autumn begins on Sept. 22, the Farmers' Almanac said. The tail end of summer could be soggy, with thunderstorms threatening parts of New England, including New Hampshire, over Labor Day weekend, according to the almanac. It said October will bring "familiar" fall weather to the northeast, with locations at higher altitudes "flirting" with early snow. Around the end of October, those partaking in Halloween festivities might need to bundle up in jackets and scarves, according to the Farmers' Almanac. It said Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut could see fair skies and then showers on Oct. 31. As October rolls into November, parts of the northeast could experience some wet snow, the almanac said. Although light snow and rain could snarl holiday travel plans to and from the East Coast, the weather might clear up just in time for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, according to the almanac. The Farmers' Almanac, which is a distinct publication from the Old Farmer's Almanac, has been published annually since 1818. The almanac provides long-range weather predictions, gardening tips, holiday information, and a slew of different calendars for its readers. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Farmers' Almanac Fall 2025: When NH weather will cool, see snow
Elle
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Inside a Glamorous, Art-Filled Wedding at the Iconic Rainbow Room
When planning their New York City wedding, Peter Kelly and Garth Greenan were excited by the opportunity, as a gay couple, to subvert some of the traditional wedding customs that didn't quite resonate with them. 'It was really about doing something that was unique to us as a couple, but also unique to our expectations of [what] a wedding [can be],' Garth says. 'Which, until fairly recently, wasn't even an option for us.' Even a quick Google search showed Peter just how much mainstream wedding planning focused on the bride. 'There are all these conventions set up and we don't really fit that exactly,' he says. 'We started to think about things like, What colors do we have to use? We don't necessarily have to use the black, white, pink, or whatever is more conventional, so why don't we do a mid-century palette? Why don't we do a lot of oranges and browns?' Chellise Michael Photography The wedding took place at the iconic Rainbow Room, a fitting choice for two grooms deeply rooted in the art world—Garth as the founder of Garth Greenan Gallery, and Peter as the founder of Kelly Art Advisory. Visuals played a central role in the celebration. 'I love seasonal realities, and that was a big part of why we chose the Rainbow Room. You look across the park, you see all the orange trees and everything, and it's like seasons are changing, time is moving,' Peter explains. Read on for details about the grooms' custom Bode tuxedoes, how they incorporated art into their ceremony, and why some might even call it a shotgun wedding. The Planning Chellise Michael Photography 'We're fairly traditional,' Garth says. 'The idea started that we were going to do something small. Then it became like, no, we really want to celebrate this and do something proper and big. I don't know that either of us [loves] the kind of attention a wedding brings, but it became this big thing.' The couple teamed up with wedding planner Jove Meyer and quickly landed on the Rainbow Room, a venue Garth had recently visited for an event. 'When we were touring basically every venue possible in the city in a day, it just called out to us as this is where you're supposed to get married,' he recalls. True to their personalities, Peter and Garth made decisions swiftly and confidently. 'The overarching theme for us as a couple and our wedding was that we're very, very, very into planning, and we're very decisive, so it all came together as fast as it possibly could. We never had 12 venues on hold or five chairs that we were looking at,' Garth says. The rehearsal dinner was held at Mel's, a Chelsea pizzeria that has since closed. 'You could see the fire inside [the pizza oven], so it was kind of glowing. We had chosen sort of fall-ish, '70s colors. It wasn't deliberately autumnal, it was just evocative of the era that we were most interested in,' Garth says. 'It was a beautiful evening,' Peter adds. 'We got married right after Halloween, and they still had the Halloween decorations up, which I felt like Garth would be annoyed at, but I thought was so cute.' The Looks Chellise Michael Photography Both grooms wore custom tuxedoes by Bode. 'Garth and I have both been pretty big fans of the brand for a while. We're both really into art, and especially American art. Bode is interested in providing all of these handmade crocheted fabrics, these American textile traditions,' Peter explains. The tuxedoes leaned classic but featured intricate embroidery and beadwork. 'We had this opportunity to be traditional, but to twist it a little bit and put our own spin on it and make it our own. Whatever a wedding means to us, that can be reflected in our tuxedos and our outfits.' The Ceremony Chellise Michael Photography The ceremony was officiated by Neal Ambrose-Smith, an artist the couple collaborates with. They took part in a meaningful ritual, being wrapped in a blanket created by the artist Howardena Pindell. Peter's brother read a Walt Whitman poem chosen by Garth, while Garth's brother shared an excerpt from the Book of Ruth selected by Peter. Chellise Michael Photography Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, an artist Peter has worked with (and Neal Ambrose-Smith's mother), created a beautiful register that was signed by the wedding guests. 'Jaune kept saying that the only reason you're married is because a group of people that care about you and matter to you recognize that you're married,' Garth shares. 'Having all of those people bear witness to that is super important.' The Cocktail Hour Chellise Michael Photography 'The most memorable moment was when Peter and I were alone right after we had actually gotten married—we were together in the wedding suite,' Garth says. 'It was the first moment that we had together where we were actually husbands alone. I couldn't really remember what happened, but I knew something really great had happened.' The Reception Chellise Michael Photography Garth and Peter did their first dance to Dusty Springfield's 'The Look of Love.' The music selection was thoughtfully curated, evolving through the decades as the night progressed. 'The DJ started off with disco, and then it progressed into the '80s and '90s and the 2000s and 2010s. The night went on and just kind of got a little more dancey and fun,' Garth says. The Morning After On Sunday morning, Garth's best man hosted a brunch catered by Electric Burrito in Chelsea, held at the West Village townhouse the couple had just purchased. 'It was nice to kind of say, 'Okay, now that everybody's leaving and we just had this wedding, this is where we're going to be setting up our life together,'' Peter reflects. The new home and the wedding marked monumental life moments happening back-to-back. And soon after, a baby arrived. 'You could say it was a shotgun wedding,' he laughs. Open Gallery Adrienne Gaffney Features Editor Adrienne Gaffney is a features editor at ELLE and previously worked at WSJ Magazine and Vanity Fair .
Edinburgh Reporter
a day ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Taser call after hourly assaults on police
A POLICE officer was assaulted almost every hour last year as attacks soared to an all-time high with over 7000 cops subjected to violence on duty. Police Scotland say there were 7159 assaults against officers in 2024/25 with 425 more frontline cops attacked compared to the previous year — an increase of 6.3%. It means that on an average 20 cops were attacked each day, with around a quarter suffering varying levels of injuries as a result and hundreds needing hospital treatment. The three most common types of assault against officers by members of the public are being kicked, punched and spat on. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPA), which represents rank and file officers, maintains all frontline officers should be armed with Tasers — non-lethal weapons used to temporarily stun people via a controlled electrical discharge. Police Scotland currently have around 2000 Specially Trained Officers (STOs) who can discharge the guns and are used to de-escalate potentially violent situations, protect officers and ensure the safety of the public. Mr Kennedy said: 'The rise in assaults is unacceptable and underscores the need for better protection for officers. 'Each assault is an officer simply doing their job and being attacked for it – often with lasting physical and mental impact. 'We need greater investment in officer safety, including wider roll-out of protective equipment like Tasers, to ensure colleagues can return safely to their families at the end of each shift.' He added: 'While it's impossible to eliminate all threats, the Scottish Police Federation advocates for comprehensive safety training for officers and we'd want every officer to be given a Taser.' Mr Kennedy said in one weekend officers in Glasgow and Edinburgh suffered injuries including broken finger, lacerated knee, head and facial injuries as well as being bitten. In another incident, a 33-year-old officer in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle during a routine patrol, while an officer was injured on Halloween after a brick was thrown through the window of her police vehicle in Edinburgh. Police Scotland say they are working to try to reduce assaults and injuries among officers, with additional training being trialed to see if safety can be improved. A force report says: 'Police Scotland continue to try and reduce assaults and injuries of officers/staff and the Operational Safety Training department have delivered a pilot to test if additional training dosage would make officers/staff safer.' The results of the pilot are currently being evaluated. While Police Scotland currently have no plans to issue Tasers to all frontline officers, Chief Constable Jo Farrell has hailed the belated deployment of body worn video cameras as a 'game changer' in terms of helping to improve officer safety. The cameras are regarded as a vital evidence-gathering tool and safeguard against assaults on officers and vexatious complaints. Police Scotland is the second largest force in the UK after the Met and was the only one not to have equipped officers with the vital equipment after a decade of successive delays. Around 750 officers in Tayside were among the first to be equipped with the 'essential' kit in March and within weeks had been used by frontline cops to make 12,796 recordings. Ms Farrell said ensuring officers have the best equipment for the job is 'essential'. She said: 'We are already hearing the cameras are helping to de-escalate incidents, provide an early resolution to police complaints and to record admissions made by an accused, that may have earlier been missed during an incident. 'As the roll out continues over coming months, every frontline uniformed police officer, including Special Constables, will be expected to wear a video camera on their uniform while on duty and to activate it when using police powers, whether conducting a stop and search, arresting a suspect, or executing a search warrant.' Like this: Like Related
