Lawyers for both the defense and prosecution subpoenaed Tom Robbins Tuesday night after the Voice published his story that questions key testimony of a star witness against Lindley DeVecchio, a former FBI agent accused of helping the mob commit murder, the Voice reports. Robbins reported to court this morning with his notes and his lawyer. In 1997, he interviewed Linda Schiro, the former companion of Greg "the Grim Reaper" Scarpa. In those interviews, Schiro contradicted testimony she's given in this trial, when she said DeVecchio had a hand in four mob murders. "The story that Linda Schiro told us in three of four of the murders is diametrically opposed to the testimony she is giving in court," Robbins tells the Daily News. "She's lying to somebody."

Continue ReadingVillage Voice Staff Writer Subpoenaed in Mob Trial

A few weeks ago, the Press published a cover story claiming that the author of the New York Times Magazine's "Questions For" column had repeatedly broken the paper's code of ethics by reshuffling her Q&As and even making up questions. The story was batted around the internet, and ultimately Times public editor Clark Hoyt argued in his weekly column that Deborah Solomon's column should come with a disclaimer. Now Gawker reports that Solomon told students at Columbia University last week that the column will indeed come with a disclaimer, though the Times has not yet announced such a move and the column was disclaimer-less this past weekend.

Continue ReadingNew York Press Story Leads to Disclaimer on NYT Magazine Column

Representatives from Alltel, Tyson Foods, and Stephens Inc. have joined the American Civil Liberties Union, activists, and the Times (which also publishes El Latino, a Spanish-language weekly) in a coalition aimed at stopping any state or local legislation targeting illegal immigration, Forbes reports. The members of the Arkansas Friendship Coalition were inspired to act by a few developments: a handful of local police agencies partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law; a failed effort in the state legislature that would have criminalized harboring or transportating illegal immigrants; and Gov. Mike Beebe's request that Arkansas State Police pursue an agreement with the federal government that would allow troopers to enforce immigration law. Times publisher Alan Leveritt helped lay the groundwork for the group's formation with an August cover story on Little Rock's immigrant community.

Continue ReadingArkansas Times Organizes Coaltion to Fight Immigration Measures