Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined President of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation David Emil and Community Board 1 Chair Julie Menin to reopen the reconstructed Pearl Street Playground in Lower Manhattan.

Those helicopters you have been hearing were involved in a search for a drowning victim.

Officials say that a group of nine men who were trying to cool off decided to go for a late-night swim off the City Island coast, but only eight returned to shore.

The U.S. Coast Guard spent the day yesterday searching for victim 26-year-old Brian Johnson after going for a swim with his other friends around 11 p.m. Wednesday. They fear Johnson may have drowned.

According to national forecasters, this heat wave is expected to end soon with welcomed rain. The National Weather Service has extended the Heat Advisory for New York City until 7:00 PM this evening, but it's already beginning to cool off.

In the meantime, avoid strenuous activity and anyone without air conditioning, especially older adults and people with chronic health conditions should know that they're at most risk. Cooling Centers are open today.

For locations, hours, and more information on avoiding heat illness and the Air Quality Index:

http://www.ready.gov/heat

TERROR INSIDE AFGHANISTAN RESORT. Killing Followed By Planned Bloody Taliban Attack.
Taliban militants shoot their way into a Kabul, Afghanistan resort and take hostages before security forces kill attackers.

SANDUSKY JURORS REQUEST REVIEW. Testimony From Doctor and Penn State Coach.
Jury resumes deliberations on comments Dr. Jonathan Dranov and Assistant Coach Mike McQueary made on the witness stand are expected to be the focal point in the child molestation case of the former Penn State assistant football coach.

MOODY'S BIG SQUEEZE. Lowering Banks Credit Ratings.

Two independent United Nations human rights experts today urged greater protection for media professionals, citing the unacceptably high number of attacks against those disseminating news, including arbitrary arrests, torture and killings, to sexual violence against female journalists.

“Attacks against journalists are attacks against democracy,” stressed the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, in a joint news release.

The National Weather Service has extended the Heat Advisory for New York City until 7:00 PM Friday evening.

Additionally, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory, which is effective until 11:00 PM tonight. These conditions are dangerous to health.

Avoid strenuous activity. People without air conditioning, older adults and people with chronic health conditions are most at risk. Cooling Centers are open today and will be open tomorrow.