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New York State

LIRR Strike Over — But Tuesday Morning Commute Still A Traffic Disaster LIRR Strike Over — But Tuesday Morning Commute Still A Traffic Disaster
Lirr Strike Over — But Tuesday Morning Commute Still A Traffic Disaster Long Island Rail Road service was set to resume at 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, after a deal to end the LIRR workers' strike was reached Monday night, May 18, officials said. Because negotiations stretched so late into the night, the LIRR remained closed for Tuesday morning rush hour, MTA boss Janno Lieber said at a press conference broadcast on WCBS. “There are people who are reporting to work in this hour and in the hours to come to resume service,” Lieber said early Tuesday. Service will resume first on the Babylon, Huntington, Ronkonkoma, and Port Washington branches before restarting on a…
Fatal Albany Barbershop Shooting That Killed Worker, Injured Child Leads To Teen Guilty Plea Fatal Albany Barbershop Shooting That Killed Worker, Injured Child Leads To Teen Guilty Plea
Fatal Albany Barbershop Shooting That Killed Worker, Injured Child Leads To Teen Guilty Plea A deadly burst of gunfire inside a neighborhood barbershop left a worker dead and two others wounded — including a child — in a shooting that shook Albany. Now, nearly two years later, one of the teens involved has admitted his role in the attack. An 18-year-old Albany man, who was 15 at the time and is not being named due to his status as a juvenile offender, pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree in connection to the May 13, 2023 shooting at Village Barber & Beauty on Second Avenue, according to the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Police said multip…
Demo Manager Ordered To Repay $81K After Shorting Workers On Nassau School Projects Demo Manager Ordered To Repay $81K After Shorting Workers On Nassau School Projects
Demo Manager Ordered To Repay $81K After Shorting Workers On Nassau School Projects A Long Island demolition company manager has been sentenced after prosecutors said he underpaid dozens of workers on public school construction projects, cheating them out of more than $80,000 in legally required wages. Joseph Demasco, 67, of North Babylon, was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 20, to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $81,592 in restitution for failing to pay prevailing wages on public works projects in Nassau County. Demasco underpaid more than 40 employees who worked on asbestos removal and demolition projects at schools in the Merrick and Oceanside Union Free School Distric…
825K NY Drivers’ License Numbers Exposed In Insurance Hacks; Companies To Pay $14.2M 825K NY Drivers’ License Numbers Exposed In Insurance Hacks; Companies To Pay $14.2M
825K NY Drivers’ License Numbers Exposed In Insurance Hacks; Companies To Pay $14.2M More than 825,000 New Yorkers had their personal information exposed in data breaches at major car insurance companies, Attorney General Letitia James announced. The breaches, which targeted online quoting tools at eight auto insurers, allowed hackers to steal driver’s license numbers and dates of birth, according to settlements announced Tuesday, Oct. 14. Some of the stolen data was later used to file fraudulent unemployment claims during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General and the New York State Department of Financial Services fou…
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus
Cornell Students Skin 120-Pound Black Bear In Dorm Kitchen After Killing It Off Campus Two students skinned and butchered a legally hunted black bear in a campus dorm kitchen at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, prompting outcry but no charges. On Thursday, Sept. 11, university and state officials confirmed the hunt and the on-campus processing but said no laws were broken. NBC News reported the pair killed the 120-pound black bear over the weekend and brought the carcass into a residence hall to process it on Saturday, Sept. 6.  The students held valid New York State hunting licenses, a Cornell spokesperson said, adding that a police report was filed after a comp…
Westchester County Airport Lands $15M In Federal Funding For Major Upgrades Westchester County Airport Lands $15M In Federal Funding For Major Upgrades
Westchester County Airport Lands $15M In Federal Funding For Major Upgrades Westchester County Airport is set to undergo significant improvements thanks to more than $15 million in new federal funding announced this week.  The funding, part of a $66.7 million package awarded to 22 airports across New York State, comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program and Airport Infrastructure Grant Program, US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Tuesday, Aug. 26.  Westchester County Airport, a key travel hub for the Hudson Valley and New York City suburbs, will receive $12.29 million for runway expansio…
Bacteria From Heavy Rain Forces Closures At These Westchester Beaches Bacteria From Heavy Rain Forces Closures At These Westchester Beaches
Bacteria From Heavy Rain Forces Closures At These Westchester Beaches Several beaches in Westchester have been shut down due to water contamination caused by heavy rainfall, health officials said. The Westchester County Health Department closed beaches in Rye, Mamaroneck, and New Rochelle on Tuesday, July 15, after 3.38 inches of rain fell in the 24 hours beforehand, leading to runoff and possible bacterial pollution near drainage outfalls.  Beaches affected include: New Rochelle – Hudson Park Beach, Davenport Beach Club, Greentree Country Club, Surf Club on the Sound; Mamaroneck – Harbor Island Park, Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck Be…
Survivors File Lawsuits Over Alleged Sexual Abuse At Pleasantville Youth Treatment Center Survivors File Lawsuits Over Alleged Sexual Abuse At Pleasantville Youth Treatment Center
Survivors File Lawsuits Over Alleged Sexual Abuse At Pleasantville Youth Treatment Center Seven people who say they were sexually abused as children at two Westchester residential treatment centers have filed lawsuits against the organizations behind the facilities.  The lawsuits, announced Monday, July 7, by the law firm Levy Konigsberg, allege abuse by staff members at the Jewish Child Care Association (JCAA)'s Edenwald Center and Pleasantville Cottage School in Pleasantville.  The plaintiffs, described as special needs children at the time, were placed in the facilities by New York City's Administration for Children’s Services, according to the filing. Attorneys Ma…
Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks
Measles Cases In US Approaches 25-Year High As CDC Confirms 27 Outbreaks America has reached another grim milestone as the number of confirmed cases of the measles hit a record high since the US declared the disease "under control" decades ago. A total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 38 states and jurisdictions — more than triple the number reported in all of 2024, according to the agency's latest report. At least 27 outbreaks (defined as three or more connected cases) have been reported so far this year, with 88 percent of cases (1,115 of 1,267) linked to outbreaks, health officials …
Residents File Petition To Dissolve Village Of Spring Valley, Report Says Residents File Petition To Dissolve Village Of Spring Valley, Report Says
Residents File Petition To Dissolve Village Of Spring Valley, Report Says A push to dissolve a Rockland County village's government is officially underway, and residents may get the final say at the ballot box this November.  According to a new report by The Monsey Scoop, a group of residents submitted petitions on Tuesday, July 1, seeking to eliminate the Spring Valley village government.  The Village Clerk will now review the petitions to verify that each signature meets legal requirements under New York State law, including confirming the signers are registered voters within the village, the outlet reported.  If approved, the village would be o…
NY Expands Cannabis Product Recall Over Illegal Sourcing, Pesticide Concerns NY Expands Cannabis Product Recall Over Illegal Sourcing, Pesticide Concerns
NY Expands Cannabis Product Recall Over Illegal Sourcing, Pesticide Concerns New York State cannabis regulators have expanded a product recall involving dozens of marijuana products sold at licensed dispensaries, citing health and safety concerns. The expanded recall, announced by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Friday, June 27, affects more than two dozen product lots manufactured by IndoGro LLC, following an earlier recall issued Tuesday, June 10. While no reports of adverse health effects have been received, consumers should immediately discontinue use of affected products and refer to the official recall page for instructions on safe disposal and full…
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Accused Of Pocketing Millions In Kickback Scheme In 2nd Indictment Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Accused Of Pocketing Millions In Kickback Scheme In 2nd Indictment
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Accused Of Pocketing Millions In Kickback Scheme In 2nd Indictment A former top New York State government official and her husband—already facing charges tied to acting as agents for China—are now accused in a multi-million-dollar kickback scheme tied to the COVID crisis. Linda Sun, 41, a former aide to Govs. Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, and her husband Chris Hu, 40, were indicted on additional charges including wire fraud and bribery by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn on Wednesday, June 25. According to a superseding indictment unsealed this week, Sun falsified information to steer lucrative PPE contracts to two vendors—one run by her cousin and the o…
Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues In Minisink Valley (UPDATE) Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues In Minisink Valley (UPDATE)
Softball Coach Avoids Title IX Claims, But Investigation Continues In Minisink Valley (Update) A Hudson Valley high school softball coach removed from team activities last month remains under investigation, but the case has not risen to the level of a federal Title IX complaint, district officials confirmed.   Bruce Guyette, the longtime varsity softball coach at Minisink Valley High School and one of the most successful in New York State history, has been under review since early May following unspecified allegations, as Daily Voice previously reported.   In a statement to Daily Voice on Thursday, June 12, Minisink Valley Central School District communications di…
Walmart Fined For Shipping Illegal Realistic Toy Guns To NY Walmart Fined For Shipping Illegal Realistic Toy Guns To NY
Walmart Fined For Shipping Illegal Realistic Toy Guns To NY Walmart will pay a $16,000 penalty after New York State investigators found it shipped realistic-looking toy guns to multiple addresses across the state, the state attorney general’s office said. Following a settlement reached Tuesday, May 27, New York Attorney General Letitia James said the retail giant violated state laws that ban retailers from selling or shipping imitation guns that look too much like the real thing. The investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that third-party sellers on Walmart’s online store sold and shipped at least nine illegal toy guns to Ne…
Ryder Cup Takes Over Bethpage Black—Snag Your Tickets Before They’re Gone! Ryder Cup Takes Over Bethpage Black—Snag Your Tickets Before They’re Gone!
Ryder Cup Takes Over Bethpage Black—Snag Your Tickets Before They’re Gone! Ready to witness golf’s fiercest rivalry up close? The 2025 Ryder Cup is storming Long Island this fall and tickets won’t last. The world’s best golfers from the United States and Europe will compete at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale from Tuesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 28, 2025. Tickets are now available on Stubhub, Ticketmaster, and Vivid Seats. This marks the first time the Ryder Cup is being played at Bethpage Black—a course famed for its brutal difficulty and the iconic “Warning” sign at the first tee, cautioning only highly skilled golfers to play. Owne…
US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks
US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks America reached a grim milestone this week as the number of confirmed measles cases across the country has soared past 1,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 1,001 confirmed measles cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 31 states and jurisdictions — more than triple the number reported in all of 2024, according to the agency's latest report. At least 14 outbreaks (defined as three or more connected cases) have been reported so far this year, with 93 percent of cases (928 of 1,001) linked to outbreaks,…
Masked Burglars Flee After Homeowner Interrupts Yorktown Break-In, Police Say Masked Burglars Flee After Homeowner Interrupts Yorktown Break-In, Police Say
Masked Burglars Flee After Homeowner Interrupts Yorktown Break-In, Police Say Police are searching for three masked suspects who fled after a homeowner interrupted a forcible break-in at a Westchester residence Thursday evening, May 8.  The burglary happened between 7 and 7:30 p.m. on Briar Hill Street in Yorktown, the Yorktown Police Department said in an announcement on Friday, May 9. Investigators say one suspect remained at the front door while two others entered through the rear of the home, which was unoccupied at the time. The trio fled the scene moments later when the homeowner arrived unexpectedly.  Police described all three suspects as white men…
Trump Names Fox News Host, Former Judge Jeanine Pirro Interim US Attorney For DC Trump Names Fox News Host, Former Judge Jeanine Pirro Interim US Attorney For DC
Trump Names Fox News Host, Former Judge Jeanine Pirro Interim US Attorney For DC Former Westchester District Attorney Fox News host Jeanine Pirro has been named interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, May 8. “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!” Pirro, 73, was elected Westchester County Court judge in 1990 and district attorney in 1993, making her the first woman ever elected to either role. As DA, she launched…
124 Employees To Be Let Go At Mount Vernon School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say 124 Employees To Be Let Go At Mount Vernon School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say
124 Employees To Be Let Go At Mount Vernon School District Due To Budget Cuts, Officials Say Facing ongoing financial challenges, a Westchester County school district has announced it will lay off 124 employees at the end of the current school year.  Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith announced the upcoming layoffs on Wednesday, April 30, citing the district's current financial situation as the reason why. The layoffs will include: 84 certified staff members, such as teachers, teaching assistants, and administrators; 40 civil service employees. All layoffs will take effect at the end of the 2024–2025 school year.  "I am saddened…
Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says
Lindenhurst Man Voted Twice In 2024 Election, DA Says A Long Island man is facing felony charges after allegedly voting twice in the 2024 general election. Christopher Lindenberg, age 54, of Lindenhurst, is accused of requesting, completing, and submitting an early mail ballot in another person’s name — and then casting a second ballot himself. An investigation found that Lindenberg used the early mail ballot online application portal in October 2024 to request a ballot on behalf of another person without their knowledge, according to the Suffolk County DA’s office. The ballot was reportedly sent to Lindenberg’s home a few days later. He then…
Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better' Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better'
Outrage Over Squirrel Sensation's Euthanasia Prompts State Changes: 'We Can Do Better' New York State environmental officials are revamping their wildlife enforcement procedures in the wake of public outcry over the state-ordered euthanasia of a popular social media squirrel. Following an internal investigation, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is implementing new protocols to avoid similar incidents in the future, the agency announced Friday, March 28. The changes follow national backlash surrounding “Peanut,” a Chemung County squirrel with nearly one million followers on Instagram who was seized and later euthanized by the agency last fall, as Daily Voice …
Confederate Flags At Fire Station In Levittown Spark State Crackdown, $28K In Fines Confederate Flags At Fire Station In Levittown Spark State Crackdown, $28K In Fines
Confederate Flags At Fire Station In Levittown Spark State Crackdown, $28K In Fines Several Long Island fire departments reached state settlements after being accused of displaying Confederate flags and maintaining discriminatory membership policies. The settlements, announced by the NY Division of Human Rights on Monday, March 17, resolve five complaints originally filed in 2021 against the Brookhaven, Levittown, and Holbrook fire departments and districts. Those complaints alleged that the departments violated the New York State Human Rights Law by displaying Confederate imagery and enforcing membership application policies that included questions about national origin,…
Chipotle Opening New Location In Colonie Chipotle Opening New Location In Colonie
Chipotle Opening New Location In Colonie Capital Region residents will soon have a new spot to get their burrito fix. Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its newest location in Colonie on Monday, March 17, bringing its beloved burritos, bowls, and tacos to 1707 Central Avenue, according to a job posting on its corporate website. The popular restaurant chain is known for its made-to-order Mexican-inspired meals, where diners can customize everything—from protein choices like chicken, steak, carnitas, and barbacoa to free toppings including four types of salsa, fajita veggies, sour cream, cheese, and guac (for an extra charge, of cours…
Feds Suing NY State Officials Over 'Green Light' Immigration Law: 'We're Coming After You' Feds Suing NY State Officials Over 'Green Light' Immigration Law: 'We're Coming After You'
Feds Suing NY State Officials Over 'Green Light' Immigration Law: 'We're Coming After You' The US Justice Department is suing New York State officials–including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James–over alleged failures to enforce federal immigration law. A sweeping lawsuit accuses the Empire State of adhering to policies that protect undocumented immigrants at the expense of public safety, new US Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “This is a new DOJ, and we are taking steps to protect Americans,” Bondi said Wednesday, Feb. 12, standing alongside law enforcement officials and Tammy Nobles, an “angel mom" whose daughter was killed by an MS-13 gang member from El Salv…
Mayor Confirms ICE Activity In Peekskill, Agents Looking For Person With Criminal Record Mayor Confirms ICE Activity In Peekskill, Agents Looking For Person With Criminal Record
Mayor Confirms ICE Activity In Peekskill, Agents Looking For Person With Criminal Record Peekskill Mayor Vivian C. McKenzie has addressed an early-morning operation by federal immigration authorities, clarifying that the city's police department had no involvement and reaffirming Peekskill’s commitment to protecting all residents. According to McKenzie, Peekskill Police Chief Leo Dylewski was informed on Friday morning, Jan. 31, that federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), were operating in the city in search of an individual with a criminal record. However, local law enforcement was not involved in the operation.  "The Peekskill Police …
Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Dozens Of Chickens, Ducks At Ulster County Farm; 2nd In NY This Month Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Dozens Of Chickens, Ducks At Ulster County Farm; 2nd In NY This Month
Bird Flu Outbreak Kills Dozens Of Chickens, Ducks At Ulster County Farm; 2nd In NY This Month Health officials are working to contain an outbreak of bird flu at a Hudson Valley farm, the second such outbreak in New York this month. The disease – highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, or bird flu – was confirmed at a farm within Ulster County, the county health department confirmed to Daily Voice. Authorities did not name the impacted farm, but noted that around 48 of 50 ducks and chickens died from infection. Two others were euthanized. The farm’s owners and a veterinarian are the only people believed to have had contact with the infected birds, health officials said. News of th…
Child Sex Abuser With Over 100 Victims Dies In Coxsackie Prison Decades After Conviction Child Sex Abuser With Over 100 Victims Dies In Coxsackie Prison Decades After Conviction
Child Sex Abuser With Over 100 Victims Dies In Coxsackie Prison Decades After Conviction A man who confessed to sexually abusing over 100 children died in a New York State prison after nearly three decades behind bars. Louis VanWie, 82, died at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility on Tuesday, Jan. 14, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) confirmed to Daily Voice. An official cause of death will be determined by the Greene County Coroner’s Office. VanWie was serving a 30-year sentence that began in April 1997 after he pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and sodomy in Rensselaer County, records show. He admitted to molesting more than 100…
Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Mag Found In Peekskill Traffic Stop, 3 Nabbed: Police Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Mag Found In Peekskill Traffic Stop, 3 Nabbed: Police
Loaded Gun, High-Capacity Mag Found In Peekskill Traffic Stop, 3 Nabbed: Police A routine traffic stop in Northern Westchester led to the discovery of a loaded firearm and high-capacity magazine as well as the arrests of three individuals, authorities announced.  The incident occurred early Monday morning, Jan. 20, around 2:20 a.m., when a Peekskill Police Officer stopped a vehicle on the 700 block of North Division Street, according to the department. The driver, Daniel J. Gonzalez, was found to be operating the vehicle with a revoked license, a felony violation under New York State law, Lt. Adam Renwick said.  During an inventory search of the vehicle prio…
First Half Of Years-Long Bridge Repair Project Almost Done In Greenburgh First Half Of Years-Long Bridge Repair Project Almost Done In Greenburgh
First Half Of Years-Long Bridge Repair Project Almost Done In Greenburgh A small bridge over the Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh has taken longer to rebuild than it took to restore France’s Notre Dame Cathedral, according to the town's supervisor.  The Ardsley Road bridge, a New York State-owned structure that connects Ardsley to Edgemont and is undergoing a multi-year reconstruction project, is approaching the completion of its first half after over four years of work, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner said on Thursday, Jan. 16. According to an update from state officials received by Feiner, work on the second half of the bridge is expected to…
$100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Mount Vernon Traffic Stop $100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Mount Vernon Traffic Stop
$100K Marijuana Haul, $43K In Cash Found During Mount Vernon Traffic Stop A routine traffic stop in Westchester led to the discovery of a massive marijuana stash valued at over $100,000, police announced.  The incident happened on the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon when a Westchester County Police officer pulled over a Toyota Camry with Illinois plates for a cell phone violation, the department announced on Tuesday, Jan. 14.  As he approached the vehicle, the officer saw multiple bags of different sizes, shapes, and colors scattered throughout the car and suspected possible marijuana trafficking. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle’s …
School Sex Scandal, Record Flooding, Mystery Drones: These Stories Shaped Long Island In 2024 School Sex Scandal, Record Flooding, Mystery Drones: These Stories Shaped Long Island In 2024
School Sex Scandal, Record Flooding, Mystery Drones: These Stories Shaped Long Island In 2024 From record-breaking flooding and school sex scandals to celebrity legal drama and mysterious drones, Long Island had no shortage of headline-making news this year. Here’s a look back at the stories that had us talking in 2024. A small plane was forced to make an emergency landing on the Southern State Parkway in East Farmingdale on Tuesday morning, Feb. 20.  Breaking News Network/New York State Department of Transportation Update: Small Plane Crash Lands On NY Highway; Troopers Seeking Witness Video A small plane was forced to make a crash landing on the Southern State Parkwa…