NY Observer > Jonathan Diest http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/27357/feed Articles from Observer.com en The Morning Read: Thursday, January 25, 2007 http://www.observer.com/node/31255 WNBC's Jonathan Diest reports on the Jeanine Pirro probe.

"Sources familiar with the investigation say federal and state prosecutors want to know if Pirro improperly put resources available to her as Westchester District Attorney toward campaign work. One key question: whether Pirro or her staffers conducted background checks on campaign donors using computers and databases inside the District Attorney's office."

Pirro's lawyer said the checks were done on campaign computers.

California, Florida, Illinois and New Jersey might have earlier primaries than in past years.

Rudy Giuiliani, who had one of the first major fund-raisers in the 2008 race, doesn't have to disclose financial information because he's still not an official candidate. No explanation from his campaign.

Hillary Clinton will go to Iowa, where a poll shows her in fourth place.

Do blacks support Barack Obama?

Ceasar Borja, Jr. tells his own story.

High performing schools could get more money from the city if they accept kids who transfer there from failing schools. Opponents of the Atlantic Yards project are bringing out the race card and attacking the bank that won naming rights to the proposed stadium.

It's still unclear precisely how the legislature will vote for a new comptroller.

State workers may be cheated into paying higher insurance premiums.

And here is more on the passing of S.I. Assemblyman John Lavelle.

-- Azi Paybarah]]> http://www.observer.com/node/31255#comments Politics Hillary Clinton Jeanine Pirro Jonathan Diest Rudy Giuiliani Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:05:23 -0500 Observer Staff 31255 at http://www.observer.com