Comptroller: City Comptroller John Liu has embarked on an initiative to audit the city Department of Education’s annual school progress reports in the wake of the department’s January decision to close 19 low-performing city schools. Comment.

Queens: In a move that would surprise few who heard him on the campaign trail last fall, former City Council candidate and Woodside resident David Rosasco has renounced the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans. Comments (4).

Queens: State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), the state Legislature’s leading opponent on betting, took Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget to task for what he said contained a rise of gambling initiatives he said would harm New York in the long run. Comment.

The first hearing is out of the way, but the City Council Fire and Criminal Justice Committee, headed by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), is no closer to learning which engine companies the city has on the chopping block amid looming budget cuts. Comment.

Council District 39: The anti-gay-marriage candidate re-emerges at the scene of the assault of a gay man. Comment.

Queens: Queens legislators said they were impressed by Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s proposal to reform the state’s budget process, although they had their doubts about how many of his recommendations would see the light of day. Comments (4).

Brooklyn: The Independent Neighborhood Democrats club is hosting a forum for attorney general candidates tonight, so we took the chance to examine who the borough might fancy. Comment.

Queens: A group of Queens and Long Island residents associated with the national Tea Party movement protested outside U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman’s (D-Bayside) Northern Boulevard-based office last week, blasting his stance on health care. Comment.

Council District 39: A Carroll Gardens private school announced late on Friday that it had abandoned its controversial plan to build an annex on its courtyard — ending a bitter debate over whether building on such yards would destroy the very character of the neighborhood. Comment.

Queens: So long, Hiram. Comment.

Council District 20: The MTA is aiming to take out one of Flushing’s express buses, but commuters said they are being unfairly targeted. Comment.

Council District 39: An effort to preserve the history of Carroll Gardens is being criticized for actually hastening the neighborhood’s gentrification, said opponents of a controversial city initiative to widen the area’s historic district. Comment.