Financed partly with the billionaire mayor's own money, the three-year, $127 million Young Men's Initiative is intended to lower poverty, crime, unemployment and dropout rates among black and Latino males between 16 and 24.

New York City's Board of Health opened up a new, experimental front in the war on obesity Thursday, passing a rule banning sales of big sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, concession stands, and other eateries.

Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and other diet groups said Tuesday they are supporting the city's proposed crackdown on super-sized, sugary drinks, adding prominent weight loss groups' influence to the campaign ahead of a vote next week.

Striking Verizon landline workers have harassed and even fired a BB gun at those still on the job, blocked trucks from getting to Verizon facilities and kept work from being completed, the telecommunications company said Wednesday as it pursued legal action in five states to limit picketing and stop what...