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Dominican Republic

Reading Triple Homicide: Mom Shot, Baby Drowned, Dad Killed Ends With Guilty Plea Reading Triple Homicide: Mom Shot, Baby Drowned, Dad Killed Ends With Guilty Plea
Reading Triple Homicide: Mom Shot, Baby Drowned, Dad Killed Ends With Guilty Plea A Pennsylvania man who was charged in the deaths of a husband, mother, and her 1-year-old son has now admitted to killing the entire family and will spend the rest of his life in prison. Jose Rodriguez, 61, of Reading, Pennsylvania, entered a negotiated guilty plea for the murders of Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, 31, her husband Junior Cabrera-Colon, 31, and their son, Jeyden Junior Peguero, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. He was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo was found shot dead in a grassy area off East Huller Lane on Friday…
Family Mourning Sudden Loss Of Boy, 10, In Yonkers — Here's How To Help Them Family Mourning Sudden Loss Of Boy, 10, In Yonkers — Here's How To Help Them
Family Mourning Sudden Loss Of Boy, 10, In Yonkers — Here's How To Help Them A Westchester County family is grieving the sudden loss of a 10-year-old boy whose death has left loved ones heartbroken. Jhostin De La Rosa died on Monday, March 17, according to his family, who described his death as "sudden and unimaginable."  “On March 17, our family lost a piece of our hearts. My little brother, Jhostin, passed away at only 10 years old,” his brother, Geovanny De La Rosa, wrote. More information about his death was not made public.  His family said the loss has been overwhelming. "Our family is struggling to come to terms with a loss that no words can truly…
Tropical Storm Melissa Forms, Poses Hurricane Threat As Track Comes Into Focus Tropical Storm Melissa Forms, Poses Hurricane Threat As Track Comes Into Focus
Tropical Storm Melissa Forms, Poses Hurricane Threat As Track Comes Into Focus A brewing Caribbean system is poised to spin up fast, and it may not stop at a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center said late Tuesday morning, Oct. 21, that Tropical Storm Melissa formed over the central Caribbean Sea. Residents in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba are being urged to monitor for heavy rain, flooding, strong winds and rough surf later this week. AccuWeather says Melissa is expected to track northwest toward the Greater Antilles, then slow down and begin a northward turn late this week in an environment favorable for strengthening to a hurricane. Foreca…
New Hurricane Could Form In Atlantic: Here's Week-Long Projected Path New Hurricane Could Form In Atlantic: Here's Week-Long Projected Path
New Hurricane Could Form In Atlantic: Here's Week-Long Projected Path The Atlantic is heating up again, with a new potential hurricane poised to form and another close behind. It's a one‑two punch that could steer rough seas toward Bermuda and the East Coast. As of Wednesday, Sept. 24, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said a tropical system that formed late Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the central Atlantic is organizing and could become a named storm soon, and possibly reach hurricane strength near Bermuda early next week.  A second tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles is expected to move toward the Bahamas and could also become a named system later this w…
Bad Bunny Refuses Mainland US Shows Over Immigration Raids: 'ICE Could Be Outside' Bad Bunny Refuses Mainland US Shows Over Immigration Raids: 'ICE Could Be Outside'
Bad Bunny Refuses Mainland US Shows Over Immigration Raids: 'ICE Could Be Outside' One of the world's biggest music stars says he's skipping the continental US because of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids under President Donald Trump. Superstar rapper Bad Bunny made the comments to British magazine i-D in an interview published on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Puerto Rican superstar, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, told Variety in June that it was "unnecessary" to bring his Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos) world tour to the mainland US. Bad Bunny confirmed to i-D that he left the 50 states off the t…
Boar’s Head Plant In VA Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Will Reopen With Federal Oversight Boar’s Head Plant In VA Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Will Reopen With Federal Oversight
Boar’s Head Plant In VA Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Will Reopen With Federal Oversight The Boar's Head deli meat plant in Virginia, linked to a listeria outbreak that killed 10 people and sickened dozens more, is set to reopen with direct oversight from federal inspectors, according to reports. In September 2024, millions of pounds of deli meat were subject to recall after a listeria outbreak was reported at the facility in Jarratt, Virginia, where liverwurst samples tested positive for the bacteria.  The outbreak sickened at least 60 people in more than a dozen states, according to federal officials. The facility was shut down in September, leaving nearly 200 workers wi…
Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz
Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz A Spirit Airlines flight from Philadelphia has drawn attention after it appeared to fly over Hurricane Erin while it was a Category 4 storm. Spirit's flight NK2298 from Philly to San Juan, Puerto Rico, seemingly crossed Hurricane Erin's path on Monday, Aug. 18. Flightradar24's tracker showed the Airbus A320 going over the powerful storm north of the Dominican Republic. In a Facebook post, Flightradar24 jokingly asked if the Spirit flight was collecting crucial data for meteorologists. "Has Spirit Airlines taken on the Hurricane Hunter mission?" Flightradar24 posted. Has Spir…
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents $5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents The phone rings in the middle of the night. It’s a family member, and they’re in trouble. A misunderstanding or mistake has put them in a serious bind, and they need thousands of dollars — immediately — or they're in big trouble.  Hundreds of people have received calls like that, but they were fake. Federal investigators call it the “grandparent scam.” The scheme allegedly targeted hundreds of older Americans — including at least 50 in Massachusetts — and stole more than $5 million, according to the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Federal prosecutors say they’ve charged 13 people who “r…
Virginia Boar’s Head Plant Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Set To Reopen: Reports Virginia Boar’s Head Plant Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Set To Reopen: Reports
Virginia Boar’s Head Plant Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Set To Reopen: Reports The Boar's Head deli meat plant in Virginia, linked to a listeria outbreak that killed 10 people and sickened dozens more, is set to reopen, according to reports. In September 2024, millions of pounds of deli meat were subject to recall after a listeria outbreak was reported at the facility in Jarratt, Virginia, where liverwurst samples tested positive for the bacteria.  The outbreak sickened at least 60 people in more than a dozen states, according to federal officials. The facility was shut down in September, leaving nearly 200 workers without a job. “It pains us to impact the livel…
Elizabeth Man Killed In Newark Double Shooting: Police Elizabeth Man Killed In Newark Double Shooting: Police
Elizabeth Man Killed In Newark Double Shooting: Police A 33-year-old Elizabeth man was fatally shot in Newark double shooting late Saturday evening, Aug. 2, authorities said. At 11:55 p.m., Newark police responded to 312-316 Bloomfield Ave. and found two people struck by gunfire, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II and Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said. Alvis Jottanael Perez-Liriano was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead the next morning, authorities said. The other victim is in stable condition, authorities said. Visitation for Perez-Liriano will be held Saturday, Aug. 9 at 4 p.m. at …
Massive Butter Recall Hits US Massive Butter Recall Hits US
Massive Butter Recall Hits US One of the country’s biggest butter distributors has recalled more than 64,000 pounds of product due to an undisclosed milk allergen, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. Bunge North America, based in Missouri, voluntarily recalled 1,800 cases of its European Style Butter Blend after discovering the ingredient label failed to list milk — one of the nine major food allergens. Each case contains 36 one-pound blocks of butter packaged in white paperboard. The affected product can be identified by code 5023937, UPC 1 00 78684 73961 2, and lot code 5064036503. On Wednesday, July 30…
Yonkers Mom Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash Came To U.S. Seeking Better Life Yonkers Mom Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash Came To U.S. Seeking Better Life
Yonkers Mom Killed In NJ Turnpike Crash Came To U.S. Seeking Better Life A Yonkers woman killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike had come to the U.S. in search of a better life, her sister said. Vanessa Diaz Pichardo, 37, died after her Hyundai left the road and overturned before slamming into a tractor-trailer in Fort Lee just after 2 a.m. Monday, July 28, New Jersey State Police said. Her sister, Rosanna Diaz, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help return Vanessa’s body to the Dominican Republic so she can be buried with family. As of Tuesday, July 29, the campaign had raised $4,500. “I am Rosanna Diaz, sister of Vanessa Diaz,” she wrote. “It is very p…
US Warns Americans Not To Travel To This Nearby Caribbean Island US Warns Americans Not To Travel To This Nearby Caribbean Island
US Warns Americans Not To Travel To This Nearby Caribbean Island The US State Department is warning Americans not to travel to a neighboring nation. Rampant kidnappings, gang-controlled roadways and gunfire outside the country’s main airport, has just prompted the agency to raises its “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti to Level 4, the same category reserved for active war zones.  In so doing, the agency is bluntly telling Americans to stay away or risk becoming hostages — or worse. The notice paints a country in free-fall. Armed gangs now dominate or contest large stretches of Port-au-Prince, where sporadic gunfights have erupted just outside …
Avelo Slashes Flight Routes As ICE Deportation Flights Fuel Boycott Avelo Slashes Flight Routes As ICE Deportation Flights Fuel Boycott
Avelo Slashes Flight Routes As ICE Deportation Flights Fuel Boycott Avelo Airlines is shutting down its West Coast commercial flights as the carrier doubles down on East Coast operations and faces growing criticism over its deportation flights. An Avelo spokesperson confirmed the end of its Western operations to the Daily Voice on Tuesday, July 15. The Houston-based budget airline will close its hub outside of Los Angeles in Burbank, California, by December. Avelo, which has a hub in New Haven, Connecticut, said Northeast service won't be impacted by the West Coast shutdown. "Avelo’s West Coast closure has no effect on our Connecticut or East Coa…
Southwest Adding Popular Caribbean Island, Airline's First New Destination In Years Southwest Adding Popular Caribbean Island, Airline's First New Destination In Years
Southwest Adding Popular Caribbean Island, Airline's First New Destination In Years Southwest Airlines is planning to begin flights to a popular Caribbean destination as the carrier expands its network for the first time in about five years. Southwest is looking to fly to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for the first time, the airline said in a news release on Monday, July 14. Service to Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) in Charlotte Amalie is expected to begin in "early 2026," pending government approval. St. Thomas would be Southwest's first new destination since 2021. "Today marks an exciting milestone for the US Virgin Islands and our growing tou…
State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries
State Department Urges 'Increased Caution' If Traveling To These 3 Countries The State Department is urging travelers to stay alert if heading to any of three international destinations now under expanded advisories. The new Level 2 travel advisories for the Dominican Republic, India, and Mozambique warn American citizens to exercise increased caution when visiting these countries due to risks ranging from crime to terrorism. Travel advisories from the US government are issued on a four-level scale, with Level 1 urging normal precautions and Level 4 indicating a "do not travel" recommendation.  The latest Level 2 alerts reflect safety concerns that, while not …
New Airline Begins Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights At Newark Airport New Airline Begins Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights At Newark Airport
New Airline Begins Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights At Newark Airport An airline from the Dominican Republic has officially started flying in the New York City area, offering budget-friendly flights to the Caribbean nation. Arajet began its service at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Monday, June 16, the airline announced in a news release. Newark is Arajet's second mainland US destination after flights launched at Miami International Airport in April. Arajet's CEO Victor Pacheco and the Dominican Republic's tourism director were among the 185 passengers who arrived at EWR on the inaugural flight from Las Américas Internationa…
Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe
Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe A Braintree man is heading to prison after federal investigators uncovered his role as the leader of a major drug trafficking ring that brought opioids into Massachusetts from Latin America. Jonathan Melendez Decatro, also known as “Jacha,” was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation. Officials say he was the head of a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Brockton area. Authorities said Melendez Decatro was getting his drugs from Colombia, Mexico, and the…
Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police
Fake ICE Agent Yells ‘Immigration,’ Zip-Ties Woman In Philly Robbery: Police A man dressed as an ICE agent yelled “Immigration!” before zip-tying a woman for two hours and robbing her of $1,000 at a Philadelphia business, authorities announced on Tuesday, June 10. The 50-year-old victim was working alone inside a repair shop on the 6400 block of Harbison Avenue around 2:11 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, when the impersonator walked in wearing a black tactical vest marked “Security Enforcement Agent,” Philadelphia police said. He claimed to be with law enforcement, then forced the woman into a corner and tied her hands using zip ties, investigators detailed. According to po…
David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi' David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi'
David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi' "Big Papi" is taking a big swing with a new spirit that has deep roots in his native Dominican Republic. Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz officially launched Ozama Rum, according to a news release on Wednesday, May 28. The Baseball Hall-of-Famer also hosted pre-launch parties with distributors and influencers in Boston, Miami, New York City, and Santo Domingo. The premium liquor is made entirely in the Dominican Republic using 100% local sugarcane. The rum is aged for at least one year in oak barrels before being bottled locally and labeled with the official "Ron Dominicano" label. The th…
Ex-NY Rep. Charles Rangel, Who Spent 4 Decades In Congress, Dies Ex-NY Rep. Charles Rangel, Who Spent 4 Decades In Congress, Dies
Ex-NY Rep. Charles Rangel, Who Spent 4 Decades In Congress, Dies Former Congressman Charles "Charlie" Rangel, who represented five districts in New York City over 46 years, has died. He was 94. A cause of death was not given. A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rangel, a native of Harlem who went on to serve that section of upper Manhattan in the House of Representatives, was the first African American chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.  "Rep. Charlie Rangel was a phenomenal patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent & champion for justice," House Democratic Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffri…
Former Family Services Caseworker, Kearny Resident, Who Possessed Child Porn Learns Fate: Feds Former Family Services Caseworker, Kearny Resident, Who Possessed Child Porn Learns Fate: Feds
Former Family Services Caseworker, Kearny Resident, Who Possessed Child Porn Learns Fate: Feds A 58-year-old Kearny resident was sentenced to more than nine years in prison on Thursday, May 22, after pleading guilty to possessing and transporting child pornography, authorities said. Trent Collier previously worked as a caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. In September 2021, Collier arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from the Dominican Republic, Habba said. Upon arrival, law enforcement searched Collier’s cellular phone and identified at least two images …
New Airline Offering Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights To Boston New Airline Offering Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights To Boston
New Airline Offering Nonstop Dominican Republic Flights To Boston A Dominican Republic airline will soon debut in New England, offering low-cost flights to the Caribbean nation. Arajet will launch service from Boston Logan International Airport to Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, the company said in a news release on Wednesday, May 7. The Dominican Republic's national airline will start flights on Thursday, Nov. 20. The airline will fly the route four times a week: Wednesdays through Fridays, as well as Sundays. "The Boston area is home to one of the largest Dominican communities in the US and serves as a key hub for education, b…
JetBlue Cancels New Boston Flights As Trump's Economic Moves Hurt Travel Demand JetBlue Cancels New Boston Flights As Trump's Economic Moves Hurt Travel Demand
JetBlue Cancels New Boston Flights As Trump's Economic Moves Hurt Travel Demand JetBlue has scrapped two new routes from Boston, including one to Long Island, as the airline industry grapples with lower travel demand sparked by several of President Donald Trump's policies. The airline has canceled its planned summer route between Boston Logan International Airport and Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York. A JetBlue spokesperson confirmed the cancellation to the Daily Voice on Wednesday, April 30. JetBlue said the route's ticket sales were underwhelming. "While we were excited to launch summer seasonal service between Islip and Boston, we are cancellin…
Family Killed In Newington Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together Family Killed In Newington Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together
Family Killed In Newington Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together A mother, her teenage daughter, and her sister who were killed in a crash on Saturday, April 19 in Connecticut will be laid to rest together this weekend. Services for Florinda Antonia Tineo, 50, her daughter Gabriela Johailiz Difo, 17, and her sister Jeannette Tineo, 48, will be held Friday, April 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 626 Willard Ave., with burial at West Meadow Cemetery. Maritza Smith, 56, of New Britain also died in the cra…
Passaic Birthday Girl Feared Dead In Jet Set Club Collapse, Family Says Passaic Birthday Girl Feared Dead In Jet Set Club Collapse, Family Says
Passaic Birthday Girl Feared Dead In Jet Set Club Collapse, Family Says She went to celebrate her birthday. She never made it home. New Jersey's Jennifer Contreras was one of the victims killed Tuesday, April 8 when the roof of a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic came crashing down during a concert, according to her brother Anthony, of Passaic. “My beloved sister, Jennifer C. Contreras, was a victim of the tragedy from negligence at Jet Set Night Club in Santo Domingo,” Anthony Contreras wrote on a GoFundMe launched to help bring his sister’s body back to the U.S. Jennifer had flown to the island to celebrate both her birthday and that of a family fr…
Ex-Red Sox Star Pedro Martinez Says Family Members Still Buried In Rubble Of Nightclub Collapse Ex-Red Sox Star Pedro Martinez Says Family Members Still Buried In Rubble Of Nightclub Collapse
Ex-Red Sox Star Pedro Martinez Says Family Members Still Buried In Rubble Of Nightclub Collapse Family members of one of Major League Baseball's all-time greats are among those unaccounted for after a catastrophic roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic that has claimed the lives of at least 124. Click here for a new, related story - Restaurant Owner ID'd As First US Victim In Nightclub Collapse That Killed At Least 184 The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8 at Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo. Approximately 155 have been hospitalized. Pedro Martinez, whose lifetime pitching record of 219-100 puts him at No. 10 on the all-time winning percent…
Ex-Yankees, Mets Pitcher Among Dozens Killed In Caribbean Nightclub: Developing Ex-Yankees, Mets Pitcher Among Dozens Killed In Caribbean Nightclub: Developing
Ex-Yankees, Mets Pitcher Among Dozens Killed In Caribbean Nightclub: Developing A former Major League Baseball pitcher has died after being pulled from rubble in a catastrophic Caribbean nightclub roof collapse that killed dozens of people and injured more than 160 others, according to authorities. Click here for a new, updated story - Death Toll Rises In Caribbean Nightclub Collapse That Claimed Lives Of 2 Ex-MLB Players The incident occurred while a band performed onstage at the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, April 8. An undetermined number of people are missing. The collapse happened around 12:30 a.m. The player, Octavio D…
Parents Of Missing Loudoun County Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities Parents Of Missing Loudoun County Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities
Parents Of Missing Loudoun County Student Request Death Declaration From Dominican Authorities The parents of missing Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki are asking Dominican authorities to formally declare their daughter dead after an extensive international search yielded no signs of her, officials announced. Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Loudoun County, vanished while on vacation in Punta Cana earlier this month. Despite an aggressive search effort involving the Dominican Republic National Police, FBI, and other agencies, she has not been found. The search for Sudiksha Konanki is ongoing in the Dominican Republic. Policía Nacional Repúb…
FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Chantilly College Student In DR FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Chantilly College Student In DR
FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Chantilly College Student In DR The search for missing Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki has escalated into a major international investigation, with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) now assisting Dominican authorities, officials announced. The Dominican Republic Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it has assembled a high-level joint task force to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Chantilly who vanished in Punta Cana last week. Authorities say they are exploring all possibilities. "The prosecuting authority is conducting extens…
Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says
Freeport Tax Preparer Stole $2M Through False Returns, Covid-19 Relief Fraud, DOJ Says A Long Island tax preparer is facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a massive $12 million fraud scheme.  Damaris Beltre, 57, of Freeport, was indicted on wire fraud and related charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, March 12, after filing hundreds of false tax returns and stealing COVID-19 relief funds, prosecutors alleged. Beltre ran multiple tax preparation businesses where she falsely inflated tax refunds for clients, claiming fake dependents, fraudulent sick leave, and fuel tax credits, according to prosecutors. She allegedly charged a percentage of …