An investigation prompted by Senator Carl Kruger into a security breach at the state’s child abuse hotline has resulted in a report by the inspector general calling for increased security measures to protect the identities of callers. Comment.

Dreidels spun out of control as nearly 50 seniors representing four of Metropolitan Jewish Health System’s facilities competed in the organization’s annual spin-to-win dreidel tournament at Metropolitan Jewish Adult Day Health Center in Borough Park. Comment.

Despite a decrease in overall felony crime, murders on the streets of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South jumped more than 35 percent in 2008, according to the unofficial year-end police statistics. Comment.

Reality may have blown holes in that aphorism about rising tides lifting all boats - but there’s no denying that high tides around Plumb Beach are having a corrosive effect on the bike and pedestrian path running alongside the Belt Parkway. Comment.

Twenty Brooklyn churches received an early holiday gift when representatives from Maimonides Medical Center presented them with grants to help defray the costs of their Christmas displays. Comment.

Four local educators were honored for their commitment to the Homecrest community during an awards dinner, presented by the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). Comment.

Year 2009 arrived with a bang for thrill seekers, who converged at Grand Army Plaza to welcome Father Time amid a dazzling display of fireworks. Comment.

Firefighters stretched their hoses to the limit Sunday night as they tried to extinguish a boat which had caught fire in the marina behind Kings Plaza. Officials said that the fire erupted inside the watercraft at 6:45 p.m. on January 4. No one was inside the boat at the time. Firefighters put out the raging all hands blaze in about 40 minutes, officials said. No injuries were reported. As this paper went to press, the fire was being treated as suspicious pending further investigation. Comment.

The following is a list of local community organizations that are meeting in the near future in your area. If you have any information that can update this listing, or any comments pertaining to organizations not yet covered, call this newspaper at 718-615-2500, ext. 332. Comment.

While prosecutors hammer out a new trial date for accused cop killer Lee Woods, cops from throughout the borough are still reeling from the heartache they suffered in a Kings County courtroom. Comment.

An eight-year NYPD veteran who has spent all of her years patrolling East Flatbush was awarded recently for plucking a very bad apple branching out to the detriment of the community tree. Comment.

Firefighters raced to Coney Island Avenue near Beverley Road in Kensington last week after a two-alarm fire erupted in a second-floor apartment over a storefront. No injuries were reported in the 11:15 a.m. blaze on January 5, which was brought under control within an hour. The cause of the blaze was still being investigated as this paper went to press. Comment.

Despite a decrease in overall felony crime, murders on the streets of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South jumped more than 35 percent in 2008, according to the unofficial year-end police statistics. Comment.

An infusion of rookie cops in Patrol Borough Brooklyn South will help the 70th Precinct breathe new life into a dwindling Impact Zone. Comment.

After years talking about needing one and a couple of false starts, the Church Avenue BID is now online with a brand new website, www.churchavenue.org, targeted toward shoppers, residents and businesses of Church Avenue. Comment.