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Lifestyle
‘Eras Tour’ Vibes: Taylor Swift Laser Show Coming To Westchester Planetarium ‘Eras Tour’ Vibes: Taylor Swift Laser Show Coming To Westchester Planetarium
‘Eras Tour’ Vibes: Taylor Swift Laser Show Coming To Westchester Planetarium Although Taylor Swift has ended her globe-spanning Eras Tour, a Hudson Valley planetarium is filling this Blank Space with a light show that will feature plenty of the pop icon's hits.  The Planetarium at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers will be holding its "Laser Taylor Swift" show through the end of December, combining Swift's best-known songs with a "dazzling laser light show," according to the museum's website.  The 55-minute show will feature hits such as "Anti-Hero," "Love Story," and "...Ready for It?"  In a post on social media, Yonkers city officials raved about t…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Big Lots To Begin 'Going Out Of Business' Sales At Nearly 1,000 Remaining Stores Big Lots To Begin 'Going Out Of Business' Sales At Nearly 1,000 Remaining Stores
Big Lots To Begin 'Going Out Of Business' Sales At Nearly 1,000 Remaining Stores Big Lots has announced plans to close all of its remaining 963 stores, initiating "going out of business" sales following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September. The company says it's started the process of closing stores in 48 states and liquidating inventory under its court-supervised Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.  The decision comes as the retailer seeks to maximize value for stakeholders while exploring potential going-concern sale opportunities. "We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale," Big Lots' President and Chie…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
DJ Nabbed After Loud Early Morning Airbnb Party Disrupts Hudson Valley Neighborhood DJ Nabbed After Loud Early Morning Airbnb Party Disrupts Hudson Valley Neighborhood
DJ Nabbed After Loud Early Morning Airbnb Party Disrupts Hudson Valley Neighborhood A DJ is facing consequences after playing music too loudly at a Hudson Valley residence being used as an Airbnb, authorities announced.  The incident happened on Monday, Dec. 16, when Putnam County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a residence on Lake Drive in Putnam Valley around 7:45 a.m. after receiving reports of loud music, according to the Sheriff's Office.  Upon arrival, deputies found a large group of people inside the home and loud music coming from the basement, where a DJ was playing music. The residence had been rented out as an Airbnb, authorities said.  Thi…

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by Ben Crnic
Traffic
Bridge Replacement Mostly Finished In Westchester: Ribbon-Cutting To Cause Road Closure Bridge Replacement Mostly Finished In Westchester: Ribbon-Cutting To Cause Road Closure
Bridge Replacement Mostly Finished In Westchester: Ribbon-Cutting To Cause Road Closure A bridge in Westchester that was closed for about a year during a reconstruction project will be shut down for a bit longer as officials celebrate its substantial completion.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the "substantial completion" of the Waverly Avenue bridge replacement in Mamaroneck will be held on Friday, Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m., Town of Mamaroneck officials announced. During the ceremony, the bridge will close to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Motorists in the area are asked to plan around the closure during this time.  The bridge replacement project …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Dump Truck Hits 5 Crashed Vehicles On I-84 In Hudson Valley, Causes Closures Dump Truck Hits 5 Crashed Vehicles On I-84 In Hudson Valley, Causes Closures
Dump Truck Hits 5 Crashed Vehicles On I-84 In Hudson Valley, Causes Closures A multi-vehicle crash involving five cars and a dump truck caused lane closures on Interstate 84 and sent three people to the hospital in the Hudson Valley, police said.  The incident happened around 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18 on Interstate 84 westbound in the Putnam County town of Kent, New York State Police announced on Thursday, Dec. 19.  According to investigators, traffic was slowing for an unknown reason when a driver failed to reduce speed in time, triggering a chain-reaction rear-end crash involving five vehicles. They all came to rest in the lanes of travel, blocking…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Fake Deeds, Stolen Homes: Westchester City Employees Charged In Property Scheme Fake Deeds, Stolen Homes: Westchester City Employees Charged In Property Scheme
Fake Deeds, Stolen Homes: Westchester City Employees Charged In Property Scheme Two people who worked as city building employees in Westchester are accused of taking part in a scheme to steal property and submitting fake deeds signed by deceased homeowners, officials said.  Both Charlene Humphreys, a former Code Enforcement Officer for the Mount Vernon Department of Buildings, and Damon Davis, a current city Code Enforcement Officer, were arrested on Thursday, Dec. 19 in connection with the scheme, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.  According to felony complaints submitted to White Plains City Court, Humphreys…

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by Ben Crnic
News
$1.3M Insurance Fraud Scheme: Westchester Man Accused Of Plotting His Own House Fire, DA Says $1.3M Insurance Fraud Scheme: Westchester Man Accused Of Plotting His Own House Fire, DA Says
$1.3M Insurance Fraud Scheme: Westchester Man Accused Of Plotting His Own House Fire, DA Says A Westchester man is facing charges for allegedly orchestrating an arson scheme to burn down his home and claim over $1.3 million in insurance money, officials announced. Yonkers resident Majid Haddad, also known as Peter Haddad, age 59, was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 17, by Yonkers Police and arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 18, on a six-count indictment, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said.  According to Rocah, Haddad allegedly conspired with a man to set fire to his single-family home on Odell Avenue in Yonkers between Feb. 20 and Feb. 28, 2021. Investigators said Haddad …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
'Runaway' Amazon Vehicle Backs Into Residence In Katonah, Causes Damage: Police 'Runaway' Amazon Vehicle Backs Into Residence In Katonah, Causes Damage: Police
'Runaway' Amazon Vehicle Backs Into Residence In Katonah, Causes Damage: Police A Northern Westchester home was damaged after an Amazon delivery driver accidentally backed into it, police said. The incident happened on Thursday morning, Dec. 19, when the delivery driver accidentally left their vehicle in reverse while exiting it at a residence on Pine Hill Drive in Katonah, according to Bedford Police Lieutenant Jeff Gulick. According to Gulick, the driver thought they left the vehicle in park. The "runaway" vehicle then went through a few yards, damaged a fence, and hit the home, he added.  After hitting the residence, the driver temporarily left the scene, but …

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Teamsters Union Launches Strike Against Amazon Teamsters Union Launches Strike Against Amazon
Teamsters Union Launches Strike Against Amazon As the holiday season peaks, the Teamsters Union has initiated a significant strike against Amazon, targeting facilities in four states. This action is described as the largest labor movement in the company’s history. On Thursday morning, December 19, union members began protests at a fulfillment center in Queens, New York, with additional strikes occurring in Atlanta, Southern California, and Skokie, Illinois. The union aims to highlight unacceptable working conditions and Amazon’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining.  Their demands include better wages, hours, and benefits fo…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now
Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now Flu activity is now widespread across New York State, prompting an advisory from authorities. Under this declaration by State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, healthcare workers who are not vaccinated against the flu must wear masks in certain settings to protect vulnerable patients. “The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against infection,” said Dr. McDonald. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated and ensure you don’t miss out on holiday celebrations.” Flu cases are surging across the state.  As of Saturday, Dec. 14, more than 23,000 cases have been r…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
CEO Murder: ABC To Air New 20/20 Special On Case - Here's When CEO Murder: ABC To Air New 20/20 Special On Case - Here's When
CEO Murder: ABC To Air New 20/20 Special On Case - Here's When A shocking crime that has captivated the nation is the focus of a new TV special. ABC News Studios primetime one-hour program, "Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder – A Special Edition of 20/20" premieres Thursday, Dec. 19, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST on ABC, with streaming available the following day on Hulu. The program examines the case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder on Wednesday, Dec. 4 in Manhattan, a story that sparked national attention and a surprising social media movement hailing suspect Luigi Mangione as a folk hero for some. Featuring a detailed breakdown…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Hudson Valley Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Hudson Valley
Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In Hudson Valley A backyard in New York became the site of a remarkable prehistoric discovery when a homeowner unearthed a complete and well-preserved jaw of a mastodon, an ancient relative of modern elephants. Alongside the jaw, researchers also uncovered a toe bone fragment and a piece of a rib. The discovery began in the Hudson Valley when the Orange County resident noticed two large teeth protruding from the soil beneath a plant near the home in Scotchtown, according to the New York State Museum in a social media post on Tuesday, Dec. 17. After further digging revealed additional teeth, experts from th…

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by Joe Lombardi