March 8: Fight Against Auto Insurance Fraud

Good morning, Little Neck. Yesterday, Council members Peter Vallone Jr., D-Astoria, and Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, announced an effort to combat "no-fault" insurance fraud, which they said costs Queens drivers hundreds of dollars every year in higher auto premiums. 

Speaking of insurance, Queens motorists pay about 167 percent more than the national average on their policies, according to Fraud Costs NY, a coalition of community groups, civic organizations and elected officials.

How much do you pay for auto insurance? And what do you think should be done to cut out abuse from the system?

Here are your 5 Things for today:

1. As the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches, one relic of the old World Trade Center will not be returning.

2. Here's a little wayback machine for the homebuyers and sellers out there: Check out this story from March 16, 2006, when one question remained unanswered: "Whither the housing market?" [Courtesy of Alejandro Lazo].

3. Speaking of that tricky housing market, there's word of a large-scale settlement of hundreds of lawsuits against banks regarding allegations of illegal foreclosure practices.

4. In case you missed it: Here's our live coverage of last night's .

5. And the weather in your 'Neck of the woods: Quiet and cold today, with 1 to 3 inches of rain forecast from the next storm expected to hit the region Wednesday night.