FEBRUARY 16, 1931

Full News Archive

• Headline: Jail Visitor Arrested with Dagger. Impact: If Mrs. Sainio hadn't brought that dagger, we might have seen a surge in prison visitation etiquette. Fancy a bouquet instead of a concealed weapon? Who knows how that would have revolutionized prison visits into something resembling a friendly family reunion.. Fact: The prison system actually had to implement a 'no daggers' policy shortly after this incident. Groundbreaking, right?.
• Headline: SEABURY WILL SCAN POLICE BANK RECORDS IN WIDE GRAFT HUNT; He Will Demand Financial Data of All in Manhattan and Bronx to Reach "Higher-Ups". PROMPTED BY KENNA CASE Levey, Stool-Pigeon, Who Says He Was Paid to Flee, Resumes His Testimony Today. NEW PLEA TO THE GOVERNOR 1,000 Sign Petition for Inquiry in Brooklyn and Queens--Acts of Eight Magistrates Are Cited. Levey a Witness Today. Detail of Kenna Deposits. SEABURY TO DEMAND BANK DATA OF POLICE ACT FOR WIDER INQUIRY. 1,000 Sign Plea to Governor--Eight Brooklyn Magistrates Named.. Impact: This investigation paved the way for future police accountability movements, where people learned that 'higher-ups' often means 'higher corruption.' Welcome to the club, America!. Fact: If only they had also demanded to see the doughnuts purchased by the officers, we'd be looking at a serious budget overhaul..
• Headline: TOPICS OF THE TIMES.. Impact: The sheer existence of this headline led to an endless chain of vague headlines that we still suffer through today. Thanks for that, past editors!. Fact: This was the first recorded instance of journalists having a collective existential crisis about what actually constitutes 'topics of the times.'.
• Headline: Today on the Radio. Impact: This innocuous headline foreshadowed the rise of talk radio and the subsequent decline of civilized discourse. Who knew people could rant for hours without any real point?. Fact: Engagement rings were once considered a radio show segment. Imagine tuning in to hear about someone else's proposal while you’re still single!.
• Headline: FIRE SWEEPS FREIGHT SHED; Astoria and Brooklyn Sends Aid to Fight Long Island City Blaze.. Impact: This fire incident led to the establishment of stricter fire safety regulations, proving once and for all that nothing motivates change quite like a good blaze.. Fact: The fire was so big it momentarily made the area famous for being the hottest spot in town—literally..