Schumer has long called for the extradition of al-Megrahi, after the convicted terrorists was issued a compassionate release from a Scottish prison in 2009, on the premise that he only had a few months to live. Earlier this year, Schumer  suggested extraditing al-Megrahi would be a good way for the rebels to prove their goodwill to the rest of the world -- a call he reiterated last week, as rebels were just beginning to take control of Tripoli.

The transitional government has resisted that call. "We will not give any Libyan citizen to the West," NTC Justice Minister Mohammed al-Alagi told CNN in a report posted last night. An accompanying video appears to show al-Megrahi in a coma, breathing through a tube.

But Schumer has his doubts.

"This wouldn’t be the first time that Libyan officials claimed al-Megrahi was on his death bed," Schumer said in a statement this afternoon. "We’re going to need a lot more verification than the word of local Libyan officials. There is no justifiable basis for the rebels’ decision to shield this convicted terrorist."

Update: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has also called for al-Megrahi's extradition, said she's asked the State Department to verify his condition, in the hopes of holding him accountable.

"The release of Al-Megrahi was a total miscarriage of justice. If we’re ever going to win the fight against international terrorism, the rule of law must hold strong," Gillibrand said in a statement. "I have asked the State Department to obtain verified information about Al-Megrahi’s condition. Now that there has been a change of government in Libya, we must get all the information we can learn about the Lockerbie bombing and hold all those responsible accountable."

The CNN video:

Irene: Free transit in the mandatory evacuation zones. [Reuters]

Irene: Cuomo said to stay out of the mountains too. [WSJ]

Irene: Gillibrand's Twitter list of resources. [Twitter]

Irene: Dispatch from Fire Island. [Daily Intel]

Not 2012: Pataki says Obama is "stealing from our children's future." [ABC News]

Not 2012: Pataki didn't offer an explanation for not running. [NY Times]

2012: What's wrong with a moderate Republican? [Capital NY]

2012: Romney canceled some fundraisers on Long Island. [Politico]

NY-9: Schneiderman for Weprin. [Yeshiva News]

Tolls: Truckers push Cuomo to re-think. [Today's Trucking]

Suffrage: Gillibrand in favor, more to do. [HuffPo]

It's being billed as a special appearance -- even amid a busy slate of local events for the president -- because the first lady will be joining him.

And now -- it seems -- so will Alicia Keys.

An updated copy of the invitation was just sent out by Suffolk County legislator -- and prominent Long Island fundraiser -- Jon Cooper announcing that Keys will be a featured performer at the gala dinner.

Tickets start at $2,500, and $100,000 will get you on the host committee.

Keys was in attendance, but didn't perform, at a star-studded fundraiser for the president a few weeks ago at Harvey Weinstein's house.

The seven-minute segment included a cartoon of DiNapoli being orbited by some cash, along with a few checks to individual crew members who had claims, and one big check for $43,725, which is the total amount they found for ABC team.

One ABC employee who wasn't included: anchor Chris Cuomo, who happens to be the brother of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Chris Cuomo would seem to be due some funds -- there is an entry for a Christopher C. Cuomo who works for the Walt Disney Company in the comptroller's database for "OUTSTANDING CHECKS ISSUED TO VENDORS," which a spokesman for the comptroller said usually refers to an unclaimed paycheck, though she could not provide the amount of the claim.

The comptroller's office said it hadn't excluded Cuomo, and that he wasn't on a list of several hundred employees the station asked them to search.

The governor and the comptroller have a strained relationship, with the New York Post reporting recently that some on the second floor refer to DiNapoli with a pejorative that references chipmunk anatomy.

“I’m on Long Island but I didn’t feel anything," Cuomo told reporters on a conference call a few hours later. “People who were with me said they felt it, but I didn’t feel anything.”

Cuomo was joined on the call by his Director of State Operations, Howard Glaser, who said, in essence, that everything is fine.

Glaser said the subways were running, but there would be more inspections on underground tunnels tonight. He said there was no visual damage to bridges. There were minor disruptions at the J.F.K. and Newark airports, but they re-opened quickly, and LaGuardia had no interruptions. He said one state building in Albany had a damaged wall, but that it wasn't serious and would be open for business tomorrow.

And, perhaps most importantly, there were no reports of any damage to the Indian Point nuclear facility.

Asked if there had been any discussion of taking the facility offline, Cuomo said: “There was never any report of any issue whatsoever, so it never came up, because they reported no problems, no damage.”

Cuomo said the quake won't do anything to affect his views on Indian Point, which he has long lobbied to have closed.

“My opinion on Indian Point has been long-held and has nothing to do with today’s events,” he said.

Reports about the quake came in immediately, from a number of sources.

"Of course, Isaac called to gossip about the earthquake," a colleague said just now.

Of course, Isaac is Isaac Weinberer, the NYC Dept. of Transportation Commissioner and consummate political chatter box.

"Did anyone else feel their office shake just now? Or just me?" Jesse Derris, a Senior V.P. at Sunshine Sachs, wrote on Facebook. "BUILDING WAS SHAKING" wrote Katharine Herrup, a Brooklyn resident (who once wrote for the New York Sun).

Capital New York reporter Dana Rubinstein Tweeted, calmly, "totally just felt my building shake."

A breaking news alert on the New York Times homepage says the epicenter is near Richmond, Virginia.

“I’m thrilled that he’s now reached a point in his career where he’s able to devote himself to hosting a nightly show," said MSNBC president Phil Griffin in a statement that called Sharpton one of the network's "most thoughtful and entertaining guests."

Sharpton has been standing in for the last few weeks, after the network's prime time line-up was shaken up by the departure of Keith Olbermann. Olbermann left the network shortly after he was disciplined for contributing to three congressional candidates, in violation of network policy.

A spokesman for MSNBC  said Sharpton would be bound by the same rules as every other host, and would not be allowed to endorse candidates or contribute to their campaigns.

That marks the end of a particular era in New York politics, in which Sharpton served as a polarizing figure who could help deliver black votes, but one that came with the possibility of turning off voters who saw him as divisive. Most recently, he figured heavily into the attorney general's race, after the future A.G., Eric Schneiderman, promised Sharpton an "annex in Albany" during an endorsement event.

Sharpton recently declined to participate in the anniversary of the Crown Heights riots, and admitted he "played to the extremists" and that he made "mistakes."

In his portion of today's announcement, Sharpton referenced his own personal evolution, and worked it into the network's "Lean Forward" catchphrase.

"We all learn from our pain and stand up from our stumbling and one must either learn to lean forward or fall backwards," Sharpton said. "I'm glad they have given me the opportunity to continue my forward lean."

"Two years after an incorrect medical prognosis prompted his release from prison, the Lockerbie bomber is not only alive and well, but seems to have even outlived the Qaddafi regime," Schumer said in the statement. "As a transitional government takes hold in Libya, it should seek to undo the injustice of al-Megrahi's release by returning him to the jail cell where he belongs. A new Libya can send a strong statement to the world by declaring it will no longer be a haven for this convicted terrorist."

When the rebel opposition first emerged in March, Schumer called on the group to prove its goodwill by agreeing to expedite al-Megrahi -- following a similar call he made last September, with New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, when he suggested the convicted terrorist might have been bartered by the British government in return for favorable oil deals.

Schumer's call comes amid a chaotic scene in Tripoli, where rebels are believed to be in control of most of the capital, but have yet to overtake the area around Qaddafi's compound.

Update: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand just released her own statement:

“The release of al-Megrahi was a total miscarriage of justice. Seeing him participate in good health at a pro-Qaddafi rally recently was another slap in the face not just for the families of the Lockerbie victims, but for all Americans and all nations of the world who are committed to bringing terrorists to justice. The transitional government should immediately seek justice and hold this terrorist accountable by sending him back to prison. If we’re ever going to win the fight against international terrorism, the rule of law must hold strong.”

“David Weprin is the right choice for voters because he will fight to protect Medicare and Social Security and work to get our economy back on track,” Gillibrand said in a statement.

“David understands that the key to protecting the middle class is to fight against the Republican efforts to privatize Medicare and Social Security. I'm proud to endorse David Weprin and I look forward to working with him on behalf of the working families and seniors who call Brooklyn and Queens home.”

Gillibrand's endorsement comes as national Democrats are taking a greater interest in the race, after a Siena poll showed Republican Bob Turner within six points in the heavily-Democratic district.

But the two senators wouldn't appear to be too concerned just yet. Both endorsements came by press release, with neither senator having appeared with Weprin so far. Earlier this year, in the special election in New York's 26th Congressional District, Schumer and Gillibrand each traveled to western New York to appear with Kathy Hochul, who eventually upset a heavy Republican favorite.

“You can’t be calling Bernanke a traitor and you can’t be questioning whether or not Barack Obama loves America, that type of thing,” said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and veteran Long Island incumbent. “I’ve been with Perry a few times, and I can see how he could project, again, if it’s done the right way. But no, if he continues this, he’ll have a tough time.”

In fact, King told me this afternoon, he was trying to express what a compelling candidate Perry could be.

“Perry, more than any Republican, has the chance to really capitalize on President Obama’s lack of leadership,” King said. “He really dominates a room when he walks in. He's one of those larger-than-life people. ... He is so different from President Obama in that way, in that he is really able to exude confidence and leadership. So it’s up to him.”