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Police & Fire
Discovery Of Mortar Shell Prompts Evacuation At Hudson Valley Construction Site Discovery Of Mortar Shell Prompts Evacuation At Hudson Valley Construction Site
Discovery Of Mortar Shell Prompts Evacuation At Hudson Valley Construction Site A hazardous device team was called to a Hudson Valley property after a mortar shell was found during excavation work.  The incident happened in Putnam County on Monday, June 17, when a caller performing excavation work at a Philipstown property on Juniper Hill Road reported the discovery of an unexploded mortar shell under some rocks, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Wednesday, June 19. A responding sheriff's deputy then removed all workers from the area and called for the Westchester County Police Hazardous Devices Unit to help remove the mortar.  Eventually, the …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Building Partially Collapses In Westchester With People Inside, Causes Road Closures Building Partially Collapses In Westchester With People Inside, Causes Road Closures
Building Partially Collapses In Westchester With People Inside, Causes Road Closures This story has been updated. Two people were taken to a hospital after being evacuated from a Westchester building that partially collapsed.  The incident happened on Friday, June 21 just before 11 a.m. at 9 North Broadway in Yonkers, Yonkers Police announced around 11:40 a.m.  Arriving first responders found that a floor and wall on the building's first floor had collapsed into the basement below.  Officers then secured the area while members of the city's fire department evacuated two people from a third-floor apartment. The two residents were then taken to a nearby hospi…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why
NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why A New York county is training armed residents who could be deputized during emergencies and natural disasters. With the state's second-largest police force of 2,600 sworn officers, Nassau County posted a notice in March in local newspapers and other news outlets for a team of provisional emergency special deputy sheriffs "for the protection of human life and property during an emergency," said County Executive Bruce Blakeman in coordination with Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco. In the advertisement, Blakeman said the "special deputies" will have no police powers unless …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Heat Wave: These Westchester Beaches, Pools To Open On Weekdays Heat Wave: These Westchester Beaches, Pools To Open On Weekdays
Heat Wave: These Westchester Beaches, Pools To Open On Weekdays To help residents cool off during a week of sweltering temperatures, several county-owned beaches and pools in Westchester will be open. During the heatwave, which is predicted to begin on Tuesday, June 18, and continue through Saturday, June 22, temperatures in the 90s and high humidity are expected, according to weather officials. Related Report - Hot Stuff: Here's When To Expect Heat Index To Be Highest During Scorching Stretch Because of this, Westchester Parks announced that the following beaches and pools would be open during the week: Croton Point Beach in Croton-on-Hudson, w…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Gordon Ramsay 'Lucky To Be Here' After New England Accident Leaves Him Hospitalized Gordon Ramsay 'Lucky To Be Here' After New England Accident Leaves Him Hospitalized
Gordon Ramsay 'Lucky To Be Here' After New England Accident Leaves Him Hospitalized Gordon Ramsay has a message for bicyclists who may be considering forgoing their helmet: don’t. The world-renowned celebrity chef, restaurateur, and reality TV star took to social media Saturday, June 15, to issue a public service announcement after suffering a “really bad” bicycle accident during a recent ride in Connecticut. “It really shook me and honestly, I’m lucky to be here,” the 57-year-old Ramsay said in a video shared on his official TikTok and Instagram accounts. On Instagram, he included a post-crash photo showing his torn jacket and visibly damaged helmet. The notoriously fie…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester
Commercial Building Catches On Fire In Westchester Thanks to quick action from firefighters, a blaze at a commercial building in Westchester was stopped from being worse than it could have been. The fire happened on Tuesday, June 11 around 5:15 p.m., when firefighters found light smoke coming from the roof of 11 Prospect Ave. in Mount Vernon, which contains several storefronts. According to Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, firefighters soon reported the incident as a working fire and quickly extinguished it.  No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported following the blaze, Patterson-Howard said.  "The …

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by Ben Crnic
News
New Update: Hudson River Swimming Advisory Lifted After Main Break Fixed In Ossining New Update: Hudson River Swimming Advisory Lifted After Main Break Fixed In Ossining
New Update: Hudson River Swimming Advisory Lifted After Main Break Fixed In Ossining This story has been updated. Following the completed repairs of a sewer main break at a Northern Westchester pump station, county officials have lifted an advisory for recreational activities in the Hudson River.  In an announcement on Monday, June 10, Croton-on-Hudson village officials said that repairs to the force main break at the Crotonville Pump Station on Croton River Rd. in Ossining have been completed and that the Westchester County Department of Health has lifted its advisory for avoiding the Hudson River.  The break occurred on Thursday, June 6. As a result, …

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by Ben Crnic
Traffic
Bridge Repair Project To Cause Almost Year-Long Closure, Detours In Westchester Bridge Repair Project To Cause Almost Year-Long Closure, Detours In Westchester
Bridge Repair Project To Cause Almost Year-Long Closure, Detours In Westchester A bridge over a busy parkway in Westchester will close for nearly a year for a construction project. The Grant Avenue Bridge over the Central Westchester Parkway in White Plains closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, June 5 as part of a bridge rehabilitation project, White Plains Public Safety officials announced on Monday, June 10.  As a result, Grant Avenue is closed between Clinton and Beech streets. However, pedestrian traffic will be maintained until the end of June, officials said. The closure is expected to continue into the Spring of 2025. During this time, the northbound a…

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by Ben Crnic
News
67 Guns, 4 Assault Rifles Turned In At Hudson Valley Gun Buyback Event 67 Guns, 4 Assault Rifles Turned In At Hudson Valley Gun Buyback Event
67 Guns, 4 Assault Rifles Turned In At Hudson Valley Gun Buyback Event A Hudson Valley gun buyback event collected 67 guns, including four assault rifles. The annual event was held in Rockland County in Spring Valley on Thursday, June 6. During the event, sponsored by the Rockland County Sheriff's Office with the Spring Valley Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s, residents were given gift cards in exchange for guns.  Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco said the guns collected included: Four assault rifles 29 handguns 32 rifles and shotguns Two antique or non-working guns Individuals also turned…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Duo Caught With Ghost Gun After Chase At Shopping Center In Ossining Duo Caught With Ghost Gun After Chase At Shopping Center In Ossining
Duo Caught With Ghost Gun After Chase At Shopping Center In Ossining Two men were apprehended following a police pursuit that ended in the parking lot of a busy Northern Westchester shopping center. The incident began on Thursday afternoon, June 6 when two Ossining Police officers tried stopping a vehicle on Main Street.  Instead, the car kept going, leading police on a chase that ended up in the parking lot of the Arcadian Shopping Center, the department said on Friday, June 7.  Two men in the car, whose names have not been released, were then arrested. Soon after, officers also found a ghost gun pistol with no serial number, the department added…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester To Improve Safety Measures For Caseworkers After Woman Attacked In Peekskill Westchester To Improve Safety Measures For Caseworkers After Woman Attacked In Peekskill
Westchester To Improve Safety Measures For Caseworkers After Woman Attacked In Peekskill Following a brutal attack that left a Westchester caseworker with severe injuries, officials have announced more safety measures that will be implemented for the county's staff to keep them safe.  In an announcement on Thursday, June 6, Westchester County officials announced the Department of Social Services would offer enhanced security escorts for staff while they conduct community and home visits.  The increased safety measures follow the attack of caseworker Maria Coto on Tuesday, May 14, when she was assaulted by a suspect identified as Haseem Jenkins inside a Peekskill …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Force Main Break Sends Partially Treated Sewage Into Croton River Force Main Break Sends Partially Treated Sewage Into Croton River
Force Main Break Sends Partially Treated Sewage Into Croton River This story has been updated. Officials are advising residents to stay out of the Hudson River throughout most of Westchester for at least several days as crews work to repair a force main break sending partially treated sewage into the water. New, updated report - New Update: Force Main Break Repaired In Ossining, Swimming Advisory Remains The break occurred at the Crotonville Pump Station at 100 Croton River Rd. in Ossining on Thursday, June 6, Croton-on-Hudson village officials announced.  According to an update from officials on Friday morning, June 7, the repair process is t…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Bill Adding Fencing To Hudson Valley Bridges To Prevent People From Deadly Jumps Moves Forward Bill Adding Fencing To Hudson Valley Bridges To Prevent People From Deadly Jumps Moves Forward
Bill Adding Fencing To Hudson Valley Bridges To Prevent People From Deadly Jumps Moves Forward A bill aimed at stopping suicides by adding preventive fencing to five Hudson Valley bridges has passed the New York State Senate unanimously. Now, the bill introduced by State Sen. Pete Harckham (D, Mount Kisco), will move to the State Assembly, whose session ends on Friday, June 7, for consideration. The bill mandates that climb deterrent fencing be installed on all bridges under the New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) jurisdiction. The five Hudson Valley bridges are: Bear Mountain Bridge. Rip Van Winkle Bridge,  Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge,  Mid-Hudson Bridge,  Newbu…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Large Black Bear Spotted Near North County Trailway In Millwood Large Black Bear Spotted Near North County Trailway In Millwood
Large Black Bear Spotted Near North County Trailway In Millwood Authorities are warning residents to take precautions after a large black bear was seen near a popular trailway in Northern Westchester.  In an announcement on Monday, June 3, the New Castle Police Department said the bear was seen in the area of the North County Trailway in Millwood.  Despite the sighting, the bear will only be encouraged to leave the area if it creates a public disturbance, acts aggressively toward a human or pet, tries to enter a home, or is injured and cannot move to escape, according to New York State Environmental Conservation guidelines. Thus, if the bear …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
New Info Released After Fairfield County Teens In Car Being Pursued By Cops Caught After Crash New Info Released After Fairfield County Teens In Car Being Pursued By Cops Caught After Crash
New Info Released After Fairfield County Teens In Car Being Pursued By Cops Caught After Crash New information has been released regarding an incident in which two boys and two girls were apprehended by police after crashing in Fairfield County. At about 4:25 p.m. on Friday, May 27, a concerned citizen contacted the Wilton Police Department to report a young girl appeared to have been forced into a black Subaru station wagon with no plates by a male individual in the area of Ridgefield Road and Drum Hill Road. The vehicle had then left the area, heading towards Ridgefield, said Lieutenant Anna Tornello of the Wilton Police Department, who said that the&n…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Power Line Lands On Car, Causes It To Catch On Fire Near Westchester Homes Power Line Lands On Car, Causes It To Catch On Fire Near Westchester Homes
Power Line Lands On Car, Causes It To Catch On Fire Near Westchester Homes A downed power line caused a car to go up in flames while parked dangerously close to homes and other parked vehicles in Westchester, fire officials said. The incident happened on Wednesday, May 22 just after 1:30 p.m., when a power line fell on top of a parked car in the area of Magnolia Avenue and Prospect Avenue in Larchmont, the Larchmont Fire Department announced on Thursday, May 23.  Arriving fire crews found that the vehicle had gone up in flames, endangering another parked car and a home close by.  Because the blaze was caused by an active electrical line, firefighters ha…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Man Sets Westchester Apartment On Fire With Resident Still Inside: Here's His Sentence Man Sets Westchester Apartment On Fire With Resident Still Inside: Here's His Sentence
Man Sets Westchester Apartment On Fire With Resident Still Inside: Here's His Sentence A 51-year-old man will spend more than a decade in prison for lighting a Westchester apartment on fire while its resident was sleeping inside, officials announced.  Yonkers resident Angel Rivera was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for setting a Yonkers apartment on fire with a resident inside in June 2021, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday, May 23.  According to the DA's Office, on June 7, 2021, around 2 a.m., Rivera walked up to a Yonkers residential building on Elm Street, lit an object on fire, and threw it through the open …

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by Ben Crnic
News
New Update: Part Of Park Building Demolished After Fire, Asbestos Discovery In Westchester New Update: Part Of Park Building Demolished After Fire, Asbestos Discovery In Westchester
New Update: Part Of Park Building Demolished After Fire, Asbestos Discovery In Westchester A section of a Westchester County park bathhouse left unusable after a fire is being demolished following the discovery of asbestos inside the building, officials announced. Demolition of a portion of the bathhouse at Dobbs Ferry's Gould Park began on Monday morning, May 13 following a fire that damaged the building in late March, village officials said.  Earlier Report - Dobbs Ferry's Gould Park Pool To Open After Fire The fire, which happened on Saturday, March 30 around 8:15 p.m., prompted a response from the Westchester County Hazmat team after flames came dangerously cl…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
13-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized After Stabbing In Westchester: Young Suspect At Large 13-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized After Stabbing In Westchester: Young Suspect At Large
13-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized After Stabbing In Westchester: Young Suspect At Large Authorities are searching for a 14-year-old suspect believed to have been involved in a stabbing that left a young boy hospitalized in Westchester. The incident happened on Tuesday, May 9, just before 4:40 p.m. in Mount Vernon, when a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in his left hip at 210 Gramatan Ave., city officials announced on Friday, May 10. The boy was soon taken to Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are now looking for the boy who they believe injured the victim. He has not yet been caught, city officials said. The incident comes…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Woman Stabs Herself In Chest In Westchester: Police Investigating Woman Stabs Herself In Chest In Westchester: Police Investigating
Woman Stabs Herself In Chest In Westchester: Police Investigating A 75-year-old woman was hospitalized after stabbing herself in the chest in Westchester, prompting a police investigation.  The incident happened on Tuesday, May 7 just before 1 a.m., when a woman stabbed herself in her abdominal area on Beechwood Avenue in Mount Vernon, according to the city's Director of Communications Timothy Allen.  Arriving police and first responders found the woman bleeding from her injuries and took her to Jacobi Medical Center for treatment.  Mount Vernon Police are now investigating the circumstances around the self-inflicted stabbing, Allen said.&…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
1 Injured After Car Slams Into Pole At Northern Westchester Intersection 1 Injured After Car Slams Into Pole At Northern Westchester Intersection
1 Injured After Car Slams Into Pole At Northern Westchester Intersection A person was injured after their vehicle was severely damaged in a Northern Westchester crash. The incident happened on Friday, May 3 just before 10 p.m., when a car struck a telephone pole at the intersection of Bayberry Lane and South Bedford Road (Route 172) in Bedford, the Bedford Fire Department said on Sunday, May 5. Arriving fire crews soon found a single car on the road with heavy damage. The road was then closed and an ambulance arrived at the scene, fire officials said.  The driver was later taken to a hospital for evaluation while crews cleaned debris and vehicle fluids fro…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Westchester County Police Officer Dies After Off-Duty Accident Westchester County Police Officer Dies After Off-Duty Accident
Westchester County Police Officer Dies After Off-Duty Accident The Westchester County Police Department is mourning the loss of an officer who died from injuries sustained in an off-duty accident. New, updated report - Support Pours In For Family Of Fallen Westchester Officer After Tragic Accident The death of Westchester County Police Officer Alfred R. Mosiello, Jr. was announced by the department on Friday, May 3.  According to the department, Mosiello, whose age was not detailed, succumbed to injuries sustained in a tractor accident at his home on Thursday, May 2.  Beginning his career with the Pelham Manor Police Dep…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester Man Caught With Trove Of Stockpiled Firearms, Bomb Materials, Feds Say Westchester Man Caught With Trove Of Stockpiled Firearms, Bomb Materials, Feds Say
Westchester Man Caught With Trove Of Stockpiled Firearms, Bomb Materials, Feds Say A 61-year-old Westchester man with a previous conviction once again faces charges after authorities discovered a trove of stockpiled firearms, ammunition, and explosives materials during a search of his home and storage units, federal officials said. James Neff, who resides in Dobbs Ferry, was taken into custody on charges related to weapons possession. The arrest was made on Thursday, May 2. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed that a search of his home and two storage units yielded a significant number of firearms and materials that could be used t…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Water Main Break Shuts Down Busy Westchester Intersection: Here's Where Water Main Break Shuts Down Busy Westchester Intersection: Here's Where
Water Main Break Shuts Down Busy Westchester Intersection: Here's Where A water main break has blocked traffic at a busy intersection in Westchester. The break happened on Wednesday morning, May 1, at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and First Street in Mount Vernon, according to city officials. As a result of the water main break, residents and motorists in the area are being warned of traffic disruptions in the area as the city works to make repairs. Motorists are asked to plan alternate routes to avoid the intersection.  "Your safety is our priority, and we appreciate your cooperation during this time," officials said. This is a developing story. Ch…

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by Ben Crnic
News
'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones 'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones
'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones A University at Albany student remains hospitalized with serious injuries after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver on a dirt bike. Long Island resident Alexa Kropf, age 18, of Floral Park, was hit at around midnight Saturday, April 27, while walking along Hudson Avenue, just blocks from the UAlbany campus. When officers arrived, they found the freshman lying in the roadway with a serious head injury and a broken leg, according to Albany Police. Witnesses told investigators that Kropf was struck by a man who was driving an illegal dirt bike at a high rate of speed while weaving and ou…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Bomb Squad Called After DPW Worker Finds WWII-Era Mortar In Westchester Bomb Squad Called After DPW Worker Finds WWII-Era Mortar In Westchester
Bomb Squad Called After DPW Worker Finds Wwii-era Mortar In Westchester A bomb squad was called after a public works employee discovered a World War II-era mortar in his relative's belongings in Westchester, authorities said. The incident began on Monday, April 29, at around 11 a.m., when a Yonkers Department of Public Works employee contacted the city's police department and told them he had a mortar in his car, parked at the DPW Service Center at 1130 Nepperhan Ave. According to Yonkers Police Lieutenant Jamie Dumser, the employee had discovered the mortar while cleaning out a relative's belongings. He then brought it to the service center to find out how to …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
24-Year-Old Caught With Ghost Gun After Pursuit, Struggle In Westchester: Police 24-Year-Old Caught With Ghost Gun After Pursuit, Struggle In Westchester: Police
24-Year-Old Caught With Ghost Gun After Pursuit, Struggle In Westchester: Police A 24-year-old man was caught with a ghost gun following a brief chase that ended in a struggle with officers in Westchester, police said. The arrest resulted from an incident on Thursday, April 25 at around 4:30 p.m., when a 2021 Nissan Altima was pulled over on South Fourth Avenue in Mount Vernon after it was seen violating vehicle and traffic laws, New York State Police announced on Friday, April 26.   While talking with the driver, the passenger, 24-year-old Jarrod Harris of Mount Vernon, got out and ran away. He was soon taken into custody after a brief struggle that ende…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Update: Park Pool To Still Open On Time Despite Bathhouse Blaze In Westchester Update: Park Pool To Still Open On Time Despite Bathhouse Blaze In Westchester
Update: Park Pool To Still Open On Time Despite Bathhouse Blaze In Westchester A pool at a Westchester County park will open on schedule despite a fire that left the nearby bathhouse unusable, officials announced. The Gould Park Pool in Dobbs Ferry is scheduled to open on time during Memorial Day weekend for the 2024 season, the village's Recreation Department announced on Friday, April 26.  Earlier Report - Building Goes Up In Flames At Baseball Field In Dobbs Ferry The planned opening comes after a fire at the bathhouse on Saturday, March 30 around 8:15 p.m. that prompted a response from the Westchester County Hazmat team after flames came dangerousl…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Active Shooter Drill Held At Monastery In Hudson Valley Active Shooter Drill Held At Monastery In Hudson Valley
Active Shooter Drill Held At Monastery In Hudson Valley Although it looked like a real response, an influx of emergency agencies and police at a Hudson Valley monastery was only a drill to prepare for an active shooter scenario.  The exercise was held in Putnam County on Sunday, April 21 at the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel at 2020 Route 301, according to the Carmel Fire Department.  During the drill, which was hosted by the Kent Fire Department, several local, county, and regional agencies acted as if there were an active shooter with "victims" played by volunteers.  After the exercise was complete, the agencies then gathe…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Guardian Dogs Escape Westchester Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report Guardian Dogs Escape Westchester Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report
Guardian Dogs Escape Westchester Farm, Kill Poodle, Attack Owner: Report Two guardian dogs from a nonprofit farm in Westchester may be euthanized after escaping the property and attacking a woman and her leashed poodle on a trail, according to a New York Times report.  The attack happened on Tuesday, February 6, when two guardian dogs escaped the Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in Tarrytown at 630 Bedford Rd. and ran into a woman and her 10-pound miniature poodle on a public trail. They then attacked the woman and killed the poodle, according to a new report by The New York Times. The two dogs, a Great Pyrenees named Luna and an Akbash na…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street
Over $250K Raised For Families Of Deputy, Cop Killed In Shootout On Quiet Suburban NY Street More than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised to support the families of a police officer and sheriff's deputy killed in a shootout with a suspect who also died on a quiet suburban street in upstate New York earlier this week. The two officers were  Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock, age 37, and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, age 29. Hoosock is survived by his wife, Caitlin, and their three young children, ages 7, 5, and 3. As of Wednesday morning, April 17, a Fund the First drive for the families of the two has pulled in around $255,000 of a go…

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by Joe Lombardi