Downtown: A dedicated team of prosecutors will now investigate hate crimes in Kings County, following a recent uptick in bigoted attacks against Brooklynites, the district attorney said. Comment

Kensington: Cops arrested an out-of-state truck driver for hitting and killing a senior in Kensington while behind the wheel of his big rig with a suspended license. Comments (4)

Sunset Park: These windows are something to look at! Comments (1)

Coney Island: Coney Island civic gurus cheered a developer’s plans to restore the exterior of the landmarked Shore Theater to its former glory — even though the builder will completely gut the inside of the nearly century-old site as part of the job to transform it into a hotel and spa. Comment

Bay Ridge: Read on for our chat with Democrat Max Rose, who will now represent a swath of Southern Brooklyn — and all of bucolic Staten Island — after ousting New York City’s lone Congressional Republican, Rep. Dan Donovan, in an Election Day upset. Comments (4)

Changing Brooklyn: Locals with deep pockets can soon rent dozens of newly built waterfront apartments in Brooklyn Bridge Park, now that the developers of Pier 6’s two controversial towers are putting the finishing touches on their shorter high-rise, new renderings of which they released on Wednesday. Comment

Editor’s Picks: This week we’ve got a beloved ballet, a wacky wizard show, a skating Santa, and much more! Brooklyn is the place to be! Comment

Brooklyn Heights: It’s a beloved holiday tradition — while it lasts! Comments (1)

Sheepshead Bay: Hail to the Deputy Chief! Comment

Park Slope: The curtain is about to go up! Comments (1)

Brighton Beach: They jingle-bell rocked! Comment

Park Slope: These kids are ready to hang! Comments (1)

Event: There is no need to subject yourself to the misery of trekking to the distant isle of Manhattan to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve — whether you prefer a fireworks display, an all-night dance party, a beer bash, or a candlelit yoga class, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the auld lang syne right here in Kings County. Comment

Party Line: These pols are stirring the pot! Comment

Page 1: The Paper, always hip to the latest trends, is now sharing its signature brand of hyper-local news on the ever-popular social network. So if you love keeping up with the Paper in print, online, on Twitter, and on Facebook, chances are you’ll “like” what you see if you follow the Paper — @brooklynpaper — on Instagram, too. So keep smashing that like button, and keep hustlin’, Brooklyn! Read more…

Fearless Parenting: This week, our Fearless Parent — confronting the reality that is her college-age kids about to leave the nest — debuts a reimagined column, called Fearless Living, in which she will expand the brand of straightforward parenting that she’s promoted all these years to the more encompassing terrain of living life in general. Comments (1)