The Acrobatic Cat Caper, and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A Russian circus performer and his son are alleging in a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn court that their ex-managers stole methods for teaching cats to perform acrobatic tricks. Brooklyn Eagle

- The Academy Rubber Stamp Building on Atlantic between Smith and Hoyt has bitten the dust, and the DOB has approved plans for a new rental building in its place. Brownstoner

- More about the possible loss of Long Island College Hospital on the Pardon Me For Asking blog.

- Tomato panic grips New York. Gothamist

- Streetsblog will be offline Wednesday as they transition to a new design.

- Police on Long Island say a Brooklyn man has died after being shocked twice with an officer's Taser stun gun while trying to swallow a bag of drugs. 1010 WINS

- Nathan’s hot dog eating contest will drop from the traditional 12 minutes to just 10 this year. Brooklyn Paper