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First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure
First-Ever Acting County Executive Named In Westchester After Latimer's Departure Following George Latimer's resignation as he heads off to Congress, Westchester has appointed its first-ever Acting County Executive.  In a historic move, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi announced the appointment of Richard G. Wishnie, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, as Acting County Executive on Thursday, Jan. 2, following George Latimer’s resignation after seven years in the role. Wishnie’s appointment marks the first time in Westchester history that the role of Acting County Executive has been triggered. Th…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds In an era of 24/7 news cycles and social media saturation, most Americans are stepping back from political news to combat fatigue and information overload.
 According to a brand-new nationwide poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 65 percent of adults feel the need to limit their consumption of government and political news.
 This sentiment crosses party lines, but Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to feel overwhelmed (72 percent vs. 59 percent). Additionally, 50 percent of respondents cited the need to cut back on news about overseas conflicts.
 Around…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Polluters Pay Up: NY Law Forces Fossil Fuel Companies To Fund Climate Protections Polluters Pay Up: NY Law Forces Fossil Fuel Companies To Fund Climate Protections
Polluters Pay Up: NY Law Forces Fossil Fuel Companies To Fund Climate Protections New York is making polluters pay up. A landmark law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Dec. 26, created a “Climate Superfund” requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects aimed at protecting residents from severe weather impacts like flooding and extreme heat. The move is meant to shift the cost of climate resilience projects from New Yorkers to those most responsible for the pollution, Hochul’s office said. “With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and envir…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat
Latimer’s Exit: County Executive to Deliver Farewell Before Taking Congressional Seat As Westchester County Executive George Latimer prepares to be sworn in as a US Congressman representing New York’s 16th Congressional District, he has scheduled when he will say farewell to his current position.  Latimer, age 70, will give his farewell address on Monday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. The speech will be live-streamed on Facebook, according to county officials.  Following these remarks, Latimer’s resignation will take effect a few days later on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 12:01 p.m., he said during a public address in November.  Latimer will then transition to hi…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted NY Rep. Confesses Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted NY Rep. Confesses
Santos Spills: Viral Milkshake Attack Was Planned Publicity Stunt, Ousted NY Rep. Confesses Turns out this milkshake drama was all whipped up. A video appearing to show disgraced former New York congressman George Santos being doused in ice cream in Times Square went viral over the weekend. The clip, which had been viewed millions of times on X, shows the 36-year-old convicted felon being accosted by a man seemingly outraged that Santos has “the audacity to show his face.” Watch video of the incident below. After getting the ex-Long Island congressman’s attention, the man tosses a milkshake all over Santos' jacket and asks, “How do you like that?” “You are un-[expletive] believ…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
NY Assemblyman Makes Next Move: Declares Run For Westchester County Position NY Assemblyman Makes Next Move: Declares Run For Westchester County Position
NY Assemblyman Makes Next Move: Declares Run For Westchester County Position A prominent state assemblyman from Westchester is announcing a run for one of the county's top positions.  Yonkers Assemblyman Nader Sayegh, a Democrat who currently represents the state's 90th Assembly District, announced that he would be running for Westchester County Clerk on Friday, Dec. 13.  Sayegh, age 72, said he would bring a "unique skill set" to the role.  "I look forward to campaigning strong in every corner of our great county. The county clerk's office plays such a crucial role in providing services to the residents including legal records, passports, and land r…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
How Does $500 'Inflation Refund' Check Sound? Here's Who Qualifies Under Hochul's Proposal How Does $500 'Inflation Refund' Check Sound? Here's Who Qualifies Under Hochul's Proposal
How Does $500 'Inflation Refund' Check Sound? Here's Who Qualifies Under Hochul's Proposal New Yorkers could soon see some relief from rising costs. Around 8.6 million taxpayers statewide could stand to benefit from a historic $3 billion in “inflation refund” checks that were proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul during a speech in the Bronx on Monday, Dec. 9. If approved by lawmakers, the initiative would deliver $300 checks to single taxpayers earning up to $150,000 annually and $500 to joint filers with incomes up to $300,000. The refunds would be funded by surplus sales tax revenue generated during the recent period of high inflations. Hochul said the one-time payments would provide…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
NY Law Expands Workers’ Comp For Job-Related Mental Health Crises NY Law Expands Workers’ Comp For Job-Related Mental Health Crises
NY Law Expands Workers’ Comp For Job-Related Mental Health Crises New York is taking a major step toward supporting mental health in the workplace. A bill signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul Friday, Dec. 6, allows employees statewide to file for workers’ compensation for specific types of mental injury caused by extraordinary work-related stress. The crucial protections were previously limited to first responders. “New Yorkers work hard — and those who have experienced the unthinkable while on the job deserve to be treated fairly,” Hochul said. “The mental health crisis our country has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we need to do …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Trump Taps NY Native Kash Patel, Extreme Loyalist As FBI Director Trump Taps NY Native Kash Patel, Extreme Loyalist As FBI Director
Trump Taps NY Native Kash Patel, Extreme Loyalist As FBI Director President-elect Donald Trump announced that 44-year-old loyalist and New York native Kashyap “Kash” Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,  Trump described Patel as a "brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter, in an announcement shared to social media on Sunday, Dec. 1. He praised Patel’s career of “exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.” "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution," Trump sai…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles 'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles
'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles Robert Kennedy Jr. has nothing to hide — or at least he wasn’t willing to hide anything — as he got naked and took a shower while his wife filmed a video for her new line of candles. Actress Cheryl Hines posted the video to her Instagram Reels with the caption, "Oh Bobby." She was promoting Black Friday discounts on her new MAHA ("Make America Healthy Again") products for her lifestyle brand Hines+Young. Cheryl Hines posts video of RFK Jr in the shower to promote her line of “MAHA” branded candles, body sprays, and creams. pic.twitter.com/jd4DwQFOmL — PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) Nove…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
Trump Taps Another Vaccine Skeptic With NY Ties To Lead CDC Trump Taps Another Vaccine Skeptic With NY Ties To Lead CDC
Trump Taps Another Vaccine Skeptic With NY Ties To Lead CDC Another vaccine skeptic with New York ties could soon shape public health policy. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Florida congressman and physician Dave Weldon to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weldon was born on Long Island, in Amityville, and graduated from Stony Brook University in 1978 before earning his M.D. degree at the University of Buffalo in 1981. Earlier Report: Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services “In addition to being a medical doctor for 40 years, and an Ar…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections and administrative appointees were the targets threats the last two days, a spokesperson said, calling the acts "violent" and "un-American." According to a statement by the Trump-Vance Transition Team on Wednesday, Nov. 27, several individuals associated with the incoming administration were subjected to threats ranging from bomb scares to "swatting" incidents, in which false reports are made to dispatch emergency responders to someone's location. Law enforcement responded swiftly to ensure the safety of those targeted, the team s…

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by Joe Lombardi