July 28: Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. On Wednesday, we launched a new column on cycling in Little Neck. Check out the first installment . 

2. Demonstrators from  gathered in front of Rep. Gary Ackerman's office on Tuesday to protest proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits as a means of negotiating the debt ceiling. We've got some photos from the protest , and the full story . 

3. Early polls conducted by Quinnipiac University indicate that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is the frontrunner to succeed Michael Bloomberg as the Mayor of New York City in 2013, the Huffington Post reports. 

4. It's Thursday, so come back at 10 a.m. for our weekend planner. 

5. Con Edison reports that customers consumed a trillion watt hours of electricity during last week's heat wave. Today though, the temperature is only expected to hit 90 degrees, which still feels like a relief after Friday's 100 degree mayhem.