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COVID-19 Pandemic

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$1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Covid-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Look Who's Back: Popular Restaurant In Region Reopens Look Who's Back: Popular Restaurant In Region Reopens
Look Who's Back: Popular Restaurant In Region Reopens Big food news in the region with the reopening of a favorite restaurant that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lorenzo's Bistro, located in Sullivan County in Jeffersonville, reopened its doors on Monday, April 1, at 5002 Route 52 in the old Sal's Pizzeria building. Fans of the former Lorenzo's are already packing the restaurant.  Many of the "old favorites," such as the Cubano sandwich and Philly cheese steak, are back on the menu, as well as a lineup of everything from bagels and breakfast sandwiches to lunch and dinner entrees, including new Tex-Mex dishes. Resident Jason Dole …

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
'Pretty Good Run': Restaurant In Capital Region Closes After 3 Decades In Business 'Pretty Good Run': Restaurant In Capital Region Closes After 3 Decades In Business
'Pretty Good Run': Restaurant In Capital Region Closes After 3 Decades In Business A popular restaurant in the region has closed after 31 years in business. Columbia County eatery Blue Plate Restaurant – located in Chatham at 1 Kinderhook Street – informed customers in a Facebook post on Monday, March 4. “A pretty good run of 31 years (minus a few breaks),” owner David Grunberg said. The landmark, three-story building has also been home to Hess’s Market, the Inn Between, Hail Columbia, and others over the years. Opened in 1993, Blue Plate kept longtime diners coming back with dishes like edamame gnocchi and grilled Moroccan shrimp, and appetizers like fried calamari an…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children Across NY: Health Dept. Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children Across NY: Health Dept.
Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children Across NY: Health Dept. A New York midwife was found to have faked over 12,000 vaccines for children on Long Island and as far away as Erie County. Jeanette Breen, a licensed midwife who ran Baldwin Midwifery, located in Baldwin, Nassau County, was issued what the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) dubbed an “unprecedented” fine of $300,000 for her scheme. Starting at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, Breen began supplying patients with a series of oral pellets called the "Real Immunity Homeoprophylaxis Program." These fake pills are marketed as an alternative to vaccination by an out-of-stat…

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
Eatery In Region Announces Closure 'With Heavy Heart' Eatery In Region Announces Closure 'With Heavy Heart'
Eatery In Region Announces Closure 'With Heavy Heart' After eight years of good food and drinks, a beloved Hudson Valley pub and beer garden is closing its doors. Located in Ulster County, Schatzi's New Paltz will serve its last pierogi and cold beer on Sunday, Dec. 31. The owner, Jeremy Phillips, who announced on Facebook the closure, said it was with a "heavy heart" that he is closing the business. "New Paltz being my home town has and will always hold a special place in my heart," Phillips said. "I love this town and the people of this town." He added that many factors contributed to his decision to close the door including the pandemic,…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' New York Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his background and is facing nearly two dozen federal criminal charges, is claiming victory after an effort to expel him from Congress failed. The freshman Republican lawmaker from Long Island, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, easily survived a resolution brought by his fellow New York Republicans to oust Santos from the House on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The resolution failed with 179 members voting in favor and 213 voting against. Nineteen members voted “present.” Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
‘Time To Say Farewell’: Popular Restaurant In Voorheesville Closing ‘Time To Say Farewell’: Popular Restaurant In Voorheesville Closing
‘Time To Say Farewell’: Popular Restaurant In Voorheesville Closing In the half decade since opening her restaurant in the region, Grace Thompson has met plenty of strangers - as well as a regular cast of “characters” - who have stopped in for a bite to eat over the years. Her Albany County eatery Gracie’s Kitchen, located in Voorheesville at 39 Voorheesville Avenue, will say goodbye to those characters on Sunday, Oct. 8, when the restaurant permanently closes. “Since the pandemic, the restaurant industry has tackled historic inflation, a virtually empty labor pool, a volatile supply chain, and incredible disruption that has made it impossible for many res…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed After more than a month, the question of who backed the half-million-dollar bond to free embattled New York Congressman George Santos from custody while his federal criminal case plays out has finally been answered. Documents unsealed in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Thursday, June 22, show that Santos’ father, Gercino dos Santos, and his aunt, Elma Preven, are the co-signers on his $500,000 bond. Santos' lawyer had argued that publicizing his relatives' identities could subject them to harassment from news organizations, but the judge rejected the plea. The 34-…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37 ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37
ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37 ABC News "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" executive producer Dax Tejera died suddenly on Friday, Dec. 23. He was 37 years old. Tejera died of a heart attack, Mediaite reports, citing ABC News president Kim Godwin. He is survived by his wife, Veronica, and their daughters, Sofia and Ella. "As EP of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Dax’s energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News, and you, shined every Sunday morning," Godwin said in a note to network staff obtained by adweek.com. "That same love was extended to his precious girls." View this post on I…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 The New York State Department of Labor is on track to pay out more than $110 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced. A department investigation revealed that insurance fraud accounted for more than $11 million in benefits payments in August 2022 alone. The benefits were paid out almost exclusively to those who were already working while also collecting unemployment insurance payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s office said. Hochul said the state plans to go after those who received fraudulent benefits payments and…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment A log of alleged harassment by their teacher dubbed the “Pedo Database” that was created by eight middle school boys in New England is now part of an official investigation into the teacher, The Boston Globe reports.  The Rhode Island teacher, who works at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, has been placed on administrative leave amid a probe into numerous claims of inappropriate behavior, including that he made female students dance for him, the outlet reports. One of the former students, now a 15-year-old high school student, told The Boston Globe that he and several other male…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce
Trio Nabbed In $701K Fraud Scheme, Feds In Capital District Announce Three men are facing federal charges for allegedly using other people’s identities to defraud the New York Labor Department out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Errol Murray, age 21, of Yonkers; Taliek Lanier, age 22, of Albany; and Thomas Brace, age 61, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, formerly of Albany, were all arrested on federal charges of mail and wire fraud, plus identity theft. Federal prosecutors said the trio conspired with a 36-year-old Albany woman, Jamie Johnson, and provided her with the personal identifying information of other people. Jonson pleaded guilty in February 2022 of…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: Rensselaer Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Rensselaer Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Rensselaer Man Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud A Capital District man who admitted to taking advantage of COVID-19 relief programs is heading to federal prison. Rensselaer County resident Hector Sanchez, age 30, of Rensselaer, was sentenced to 70 months - or just under six years - behind bars Monday, July 25, in federal court in Albany. It followed his prior guilty plea in March 2022 to charges of defrauding pandemic-related unemployment insurance and small business loan programs. Federal prosecutors said Sanchez raked in more than $131,000 by submitting false unemployment insurance claims to the New York State Department of Labor usin…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud A woman from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 67, of Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The loans were issued to Hackstadt herself, various friends and relatives, and several companies that she controlled, prosecutors said. In all, investigators said she received more than $1.6 million between April 2020 and June 2021 through two separat…

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by Michael Mashburn