Lethal Hurricane Matthew, its 140 mph winds and pounding rain already blamed for 114 deaths, plowed Thursday toward Florida’s Atlantic Coast amid dire predictions of destruction. “This is a dangerous storm,” warned Florida Gov. Rick Scott as the strengthening storm blew north. “The storm has already killed people. We should expect the same impact in Florida.” President Obama, after a Thursday morning briefing, declared a state of emergency in Florida as the U.S. National Hurricane Center classified Matthew as a Category 4 storm — the “extremely dangerous,” highest level of hurricane. Sustained winds of 140 mph were reported at 2 p.m. by the center.(Nydailynews.com)…[+]

A Bronx mom blamed for a fire that killed her two young daughters appeared with a newborn Thursday in court where she turned down a no-jail plea deal, her lawyer said.

Haya Konte, 26, has been charged with two counts of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child for leaving her two girls in an apartment with burning incense at the Butler Houses in Claremont in April while she was across the street washing laundry.Konte’s kids, Jainabu Jabbie, 2, and Adama Jabbie, 18 months, perished in the blaze after incense sparked the fire and flames quickly filled the third-floor apartment. Witnesses said at the time that the visibly pregnant Konte collapsed on the sidewalk — shouting “My babies!” — as emergency responders carried the burned bodies out of the building.(nydailynews.com)…[+]

A 86-year-old woman plummeted to her death from an Upper East Side building about a block from Gracie Mansion Thursday morning, officials said. The woman plunged from the 20-story building on E. 86th St. near York Ave. just after 9 a.m., officials said. Cops believe that she jumped and no criminality is suspected, sources said. She died at the scene.(nydailynews.com)…[+]