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Mike Spano

Obituaries
Yonkers Police Sergeant Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love' Yonkers Police Sergeant Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love'
Yonkers Police Sergeant Dies At 41: 'Brought Immense Joy, Love' A Westchester community is mourning the loss of a beloved police sergeant and son of a city leader who leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and dedication.  Patrick Breen, a Sergeant with the Yonkers Police Department and the son of Yonkers City Councilman Mike Breen, died at the age of 41 on Sunday, Dec. 15.  In an emotional post on Instagram, Mike Breen shared his family’s heartbreak, saying Patrick “brought immense joy and love into the lives of everyone who knew him” and would be “profoundly missed.”  “Being Patrick’s father has been the greatest honor of my life, an…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Yonkers Man's Late-Night Act Of Kindness Helps Cancer Patient Continue Treatment Yonkers Man's Late-Night Act Of Kindness Helps Cancer Patient Continue Treatment
Yonkers Man's Late-Night Act Of Kindness Helps Cancer Patient Continue Treatment A Westchester businessman is being recognized by city officials after providing his services to a young woman undergoing chemotherapy at her most desperate hour.  The heartwarming story began when a father from Maryland was desperately searching for dry ice to ease the side effects of his 20-year-old daughter Lily's cancer treatment. The dry ice was urgently needed for her cold cap therapy, which helps minimize hair loss during chemotherapy.  When the father contacted Chilly Willy & Cool Carl's Premium Ice Service in Yonkers in the evening, owner Willy D’Ariano answered the ca…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Hit Shows Turn Yonkers City Hall, Train Station Into TV Sets Hit Shows Turn Yonkers City Hall, Train Station Into TV Sets
Hit Shows Turn Yonkers City Hall, Train Station Into TV Sets Two popular television shows stopped by a city in Westchester to film scenes for upcoming episodes. Both Yonkers City Hall and the city's train station were turned into film sets for CBS's "FBI: Most Wanted" and Max's "The Gilded Age" over, respectively.  Scenes for both shows were filmed over the weekend of Saturday, Dec. 7, as well as Monday, Dec. 9, according to city officials, who posted pictures from the film sets on social media.  Who else managed to sneak a peek at Max's 'The Gilded Age' shoot this weekend in Downtown Yonkers? Our own Yonkers Train Station transformed i…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Yonkers Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Yonkers
Overpass Bridge Where Fallen Officer Was Killed Renamed In His Honor In Yonkers Nearly two years after the death of a beloved police officer, the Westchester County bridge where he was fatally struck in a head-on crash is now forever named in his memory.  In a ceremony held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the renaming of the Tuckahoe Road Bridge over the Sprain Brook Parkway in Yonkers after Yonkers Police Detective Sergeant Frank Gualdino, who was killed in a crash in December 2022 at the age of 53. On Dec. 1, 2022, Gualdino, a Putnam County resident who lived in Mahopac, was driving on Tuckahoe Road while on duty when a speed…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools
This City In Westchester To Put $5.8M Toward Air Conditioning In 39 Schools A city in Westchester is committing millions of dollars toward putting air conditioning in all of its school buildings to help students deal with rising temperatures.  In an announcement on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Superintendent Aníbal Soler, Jr. revealed that $5.8 million in capital funding would be spent on air-conditioning in the city's 39 public school buildings over the next three years.  The initiative is part of an effort to improve all aspects of the school experience for the city's students, Spano and Soler said.  "Investing in the…

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by Ben Crnic
News
385 Families Left Without Hot Water, Cooking Gas After Leak At Yonkers Apartment Complex 385 Families Left Without Hot Water, Cooking Gas After Leak At Yonkers Apartment Complex
385 Families Left Without Hot Water, Cooking Gas After Leak At Yonkers Apartment Complex Officials, housing authority staff, and business owners will be handing emergency supplies to hundreds of residents of a Westchester apartment complex left without cooking gas and hot water as a result of a leak.  The gas leaks were discovered by Con Edison on Wednesday, Aug. 28 in systems servicing the Palisade Towers apartment complex in Yonkers on Schroeder Street, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said on Thursday, Aug. 29.  As a result of the discovery, Con Edison cut gas service to the complex's 415 units as a precaution, forcing residents to lose cooking gas and hot water …

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by Ben Crnic
News
FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs
FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs Officials in a Westchester County city are expressing frustration after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied it over $5 million in funds needed to repair damage caused by a devastating hurricane.  In an announcement on Monday, July 29, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano revealed that FEMA denied the city over $5.2 million requested to stabilize three slopes along the Hudson River damaged by Hurricane Ida in September 2021.  According to Spano, the hurricane caused excess runoff to be channeled through a culvert under the Old Croton Aqueduct, causing "substantial damage" to th…

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by Ben Crnic
Real Estate
New Development With Over 100 Affordable Apartments Completed In Westchester New Development With Over 100 Affordable Apartments Completed In Westchester
New Development With Over 100 Affordable Apartments Completed In Westchester Construction of an all-new six-story apartment building in Westchester with more than 100 affordable units has been completed with help from New York state officials.  The grand opening of Summit on Hudson, located in Yonkers just a half-mile from the city's Metro-North train station, was celebrated by city and state officials on Tuesday, July 16.  The new building, developed by Wethab and built as part of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan to create and preserve 100,000 affordable homes throughout the state, contains 113 affordable apartments…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Over 18K School Bus Passing Violations Caught On Camera In This Westchester City: 'Staggering' Over 18K School Bus Passing Violations Caught On Camera In This Westchester City: 'Staggering'
Over 18K School Bus Passing Violations Caught On Camera In This Westchester City: 'Staggering' Over the course of a school year, a Westchester County city's school bus stop arm camera program meant to capture illegal vehicle passings has caught more than 18,000 violations, officials announced.  Since partnering with Verra Mobility to launch their enforcement campaign in November 2023 and catch drivers who illegally pass school buses while the stop arm is extended, the city of Yonkers has captured 18,132 violations, officials announced on Thursday, June 27.  Earlier Report - School Bus Safety: Yonkers To Deploy Massive Stop-Arm Enforcement Program The month of May had…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Nabbed After Starting Several Fires Around City In Westchester, Police Say Man Nabbed After Starting Several Fires Around City In Westchester, Police Say
Man Nabbed After Starting Several Fires Around City In Westchester, Police Say A 34-year-old man faces a felony arson charge after allegedly starting multiple fires across a city in Westchester, damaging a car in the process, police announced.  Yonkers resident Edwin Polanco was arrested on Monday, June 3, following several incidents that began around 1 a.m., Yonkers Police announced on Tuesday, June 4.  According to the department, Polanco allegedly set several piles of garbage on fire at that time, damaging a vehicle parked next to trash cans in one of the locations.  Soon after the fires were set, officers and detectives found Polanco and …

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Yonkers' Cross County Center Celebrates 70th Anniversary Yonkers' Cross County Center Celebrates 70th Anniversary
Yonkers' Cross County Center Celebrates 70th Anniversary A bustling shopping center in Westchester marked the beginning of its seventh decade in business with a celebration attended by local and state officials.  In a grand kick-off event held on Saturday, May 18, the Cross County Center in Yonkers celebrated its 70th anniversary as a major site of commerce in Westchester.  The event was attended by elected officials such as Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and New York State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, as well as Senior Property Manager Carl Calabro, who all celebrated the center's longevity. "Growing up in Yonkers, we always knew it wa…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
'Hollywood On Hudson': Filming For CBS's 'Blue Bloods' Takes Place In Westchester 'Hollywood On Hudson': Filming For CBS's 'Blue Bloods' Takes Place In Westchester
'Hollywood On Hudson': Filming For CBS's 'Blue Bloods' Takes Place In Westchester A city hall in Westchester was transformed into a film set for the popular television show "Blue Bloods."  Filming for the hit CBS show took place at Yonkers City Hall, which was portrayed as the "New York Supreme Court," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said on Tuesday, April 16.  The scenes filmed at city hall will be used in the seventh episode of the show's 14th season, which will air on CBS on Friday, April 26 at 10 p.m.  "Yonkers is truly Hollywood on Hudson and I'm thrilled to welcome productions to our city," Spano said of the filming, adding, "I couldn't help but watch some…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Officer Put On Restricted Duty After Investigation Into Use Of Force In Westchester: Police Officer Put On Restricted Duty After Investigation Into Use Of Force In Westchester: Police
Officer Put On Restricted Duty After Investigation Into Use Of Force In Westchester: Police A police officer in Westchester was put on restricted duty following an investigation into his use of force while apprehending a suspect who led authorities on a pursuit.  In an announcement on Friday, March 29, the Yonkers Police Department revealed that one of their officers was placed on restricted duty in connection with their conduct during an incident on Thursday, March 14. According to the department, just after 9:45 p.m. on the day of the incident, a victim went up to Yonkers officers in the area of McLean and Van Cortlandt Park Avenues and told them his vehicle had just b…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
New Eatery To Hold Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Place Where Everyone Is Satisfied' New Eatery To Hold Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Place Where Everyone Is Satisfied'
New Eatery To Hold Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Place Where Everyone Is Satisfied' An all-new establishment in Westchester promising to be your next favorite spot to watch sports and comedy acts will soon hold its grand opening. Yonkers Social Lounge, located at 143 Lake Ave., will officially open on Friday, March 15 at 2 p.m., when it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony that will be attended by Yonkers city officials such as Mayor Mike Spano. An opening event for the public will then take place at 8 p.m. later that night.  The establishment, owned by Dwayne Cloud and Habbari Cleveland, will offer several delicious menu items such as cheeseburgers, buffalo wings, st…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Popular Westchester Pizzeria Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Under New Owners Popular Westchester Pizzeria Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Under New Owners
Popular Westchester Pizzeria Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Under New Owners A well-liked pizzeria in Westchester celebrated its grand reopening after being taken over by new owners.  Bella Rosa Pizzeria, located in Yonkers at 1455 Nepperhan Ave., celebrated its grand reopening between Thursday, Feb. 1, and Sunday, Feb. 4 after being purchased by new owners Danielle and Manuel Peppers.  The celebrations included a ribbon-cutting ceremony joined by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano in addition to several specials.  The pizzeria, which prides itself as "Hastings & Yonkers' Best Kept Secret" on its website, uses locally sourced ingredients for…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line
Officials In Westchester Call For Direct Access To Penn Station Via Hudson Line Officials in the Hudson Valley are calling on the MTA to undertake a study on the feasibility of providing direct access to Penn Station from the Hudson Line.  In a letter addressed to MTA Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber, Westchester County Executive George Latimer called on the transportation agency to conduct a study on having direct one-seat access to Manhattan's Penn Station from the Hudson Line, Latimer announced on Wednesday, Jan. 17.  "The advantages of such a connection are abundant," Latimer wrote in the latter, adding, "Improved transportation links would …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Coach, Player Dismissed After Antisemitic Remarks Made At HS Basketball Game In Westchester Coach, Player Dismissed After Antisemitic Remarks Made At HS Basketball Game In Westchester
Coach, Player Dismissed After Antisemitic Remarks Made At HS Basketball Game In Westchester A high school basketball coach and a player have both been disciplined following an incident during a game in Westchester in which antisemitic remarks were hurled at a team, officials said. The incident happened during a basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 4 between girls' varsity teams from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers and The Leffell School, a private Jewish school located in Hartsdale, Yonkers city officials said.  During the third quarter of the game, which took place at Roosevelt High School, members of the Leffell School's team were injured by an alleged physical style of …

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
New Update: 50 Cent Stops By Westchester Stew Leonard's, Meets With Fans, Officials New Update: 50 Cent Stops By Westchester Stew Leonard's, Meets With Fans, Officials
New Update: 50 Cent Stops By Westchester Stew Leonard's, Meets With Fans, Officials Elected officials, police, and fans had their chance to be star-struck when famous rapper 50 Cent made a stop at a Stew Leonard's location in Westchester to hold a signing event.  The 48-year-old acclaimed rapper stopped by Stew Leonard's Wines & Spirits of Yonkers, located at 1 Stew Leonard Dr., on Thursday night, Dec. 28 to promote his cognac brand, Branson, and his champagne, Le Chemin du Roi.  Earlier Report - 50 Cent Holds Signing Event At Stew Leonard's In Yonkers While there, 50 Cent met with Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Westchester County Legislator Jam…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
New Eatery Celebrates Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Quality Is Unbeatable' New Eatery Celebrates Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Quality Is Unbeatable'
New Eatery Celebrates Grand Opening In Westchester: 'Quality Is Unbeatable' A sushi restaurant in Westchester that has already become a hit among customers is celebrating its grand opening.  Enbu Japanese Asian Fusion, located in Yonkers at the Boyce Thompson Center located at 1086 North Broadway, held a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 13 complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. The eatery sells a variety of Asian Fusion cuisine including sushi rolls, poke bowls, hibachi, noodles and fried rice, and more. Local sushi lovers especially may want to check out the the restaurant, as it offers a special "Yonker…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us'
Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' The beloved mother of a Westchester County mayor and a former New York state senator is being remembered for her life-long dedication to her family.  Josephine Spano, the mother of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and former New York State Sen. Nicholas A. Spano, died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6 at the age of 89, according to an announcement by Mayor Spano's office.  In a statement, Spano said that his mother helped give him and his siblings the drive to succeed.  "We all just wanted to make her so proud," Spano said, adding, "She inspired us. She educated us. She dedicated he…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Election Day Results: These Mayoral Candidates Win Big In Westchester Election Day Results: These Mayoral Candidates Win Big In Westchester
Election Day Results: These Mayoral Candidates Win Big In Westchester Election Day 2023 in Westchester proved to be a mixed bag for mayoral candidates, as some incumbents managed to keep their positions while some found themselves passing on the torch to newcomers.  Hours after polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, several mayoral candidates in Westchester municipalities discovered whether their campaigns had succeeded. Some of these results included:  Yonkers: Incumbent Mayor Mike Spano, a Democrat, managed to beat Republican candidate Anthony Merante in order to secure a fourth term in office. Spano earned 61 percent of the votes, while Merante earned 36 perce…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
'Elegant' Eatery Opens Up New Location In Yonkers 'Elegant' Eatery Opens Up New Location In Yonkers
'Elegant' Eatery Opens Up New Location In Yonkers An Italian eatery that claims to serve some of the best pizzas in its area has reopened at a new location in Westchester.  Marcellino's Restaurant and Lounge celebrated its grand reopening inside the Royal Regency Hotel at 165 Tuckahoe Rd. in Yonkers with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Monday, Oct. 23.  The celebration was visited by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and other city officials, who said the new establishment boasts an "elegant dining area" and a patio for special occasions. Additionally, the ceremony was also attended by the 11-year-old son of the owners, who got to witness the op…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Stopped From Jumping Off Highway Overpass In Westchester: Police Man Stopped From Jumping Off Highway Overpass In Westchester: Police
Man Stopped From Jumping Off Highway Overpass In Westchester: Police Thanks to quick action from officers, a man in distress was prevented from jumping off a highway overpass in Westchester and brought to safety.  The incident happened on Thursday, Oct. 19 around 3:30 a.m., when Yonkers Police responded to a report of a man threatening to jump from the overpass over southbound Interstate 87 in the area of 521 Central Park Ave.  According to the department, arriving police found the man leaning against the overpass guardrail in apparent distress. Officers Michael Heath and Sandro Vazquez then tried talking with the man and urged him to step away from the edg…

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by Ben Crnic
News
'Our New Normal': Yonkers Officials Call For Federal State Of Emergency Declaration 'Our New Normal': Yonkers Officials Call For Federal State Of Emergency Declaration
'Our New Normal': Yonkers Officials Call For Federal State Of Emergency Declaration In the aftermath of a severe storm that brought several inches of rain and a spate of flash flooding, city officials in Westchester are calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency.  In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oct. 3, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano called on the US federal government to issue a state of emergency as a result of a storm system on Friday, Sept. 29 that brought devastation to the Hudson Valley.  Earlier Report - State Of Emergency: Flooding Closes Roads, Prompts Evacuations In Westchester "Friday’s storm resulted in flash flooding, travel …

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by Ben Crnic
News
School Bus Safety: City In Westchester To Deploy Massive Stop-Arm Enforcement Program School Bus Safety: City In Westchester To Deploy Massive Stop-Arm Enforcement Program
School Bus Safety: City In Westchester To Deploy Massive Stop-Arm Enforcement Program A city in Westchester will soon be launching the largest school bus safety program in the county in an effort to catch drivers who illegally pass the stopped vehicles.  The city of Yonkers will be partnering with Verra Mobility to implement technology on its school district's fleet of buses that will help catch drivers who illegally pass them, Mayor Mike Spano announced on Wednesday, Sept. 20.  To begin the program, 200 Yonkers school buses will be outfitted with the company's stop-arm enforcement solution, which will be used to issue warnings to offending registered vehicle …

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police
Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police Officials in a Westchester County city are calling for bail reform following the quick release of a man who was arrested for sucker punching an officer in his face and breaking his nose, police said. Johnny McCray, age 39, was arrested on Wednesday night, Sept. 6 on assault charges after punching an officer in the face, according to Yonkers Police.  On the night of the incident, police responded to Yonkers Avenue in the area of Cypress Street on reports of a man lying down on the sidewalk. There, arriving officers found a man identified as McCray, who they confirmed was still breathing.  …

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Popular Eatery Opens New Location Across Street In Westchester: 'Little Neighborhood Gem' Popular Eatery Opens New Location Across Street In Westchester: 'Little Neighborhood Gem'
Popular Eatery Opens New Location Across Street In Westchester: 'Little Neighborhood Gem' A restaurant in Westchester that has already become a neighborhood hit is celebrating its success by expanding to a second location across the street.  Guerrero's Juice Bar, located in Yonkers at 434 South Broadway, has opened a new location just across the street at 435 South Broadway, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 30.  The new location, named Guerrero's Juice Bar II, specializes in fresh juices and desserts, compared to the original restaurant, which serves Mexican-inspired cuisine such as birria tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas.  Some of the delicious juices…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Uses Scissors To Injure 3 In Slashing Incident Outside Dunkin' In Westchester: Police Man Uses Scissors To Injure 3 In Slashing Incident Outside Dunkin' In Westchester: Police
Man Uses Scissors To Injure 3 In Slashing Incident Outside Dunkin' In Westchester: Police Three people were sent to the hospital after being injured in a slashing attack outside of a Dunkin' in Westchester, police said.  The incident happened on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 24 just after 4 p.m. when police responded to a reported slashing at the Dunkin' location at 1 Palisade Ave. in Yonkers, according to Yonkers Police Detective Sergeant Frank DiDomizio.  Arriving officers soon found two victims in the area with lacerations, including a 41-year-old man with a cut on the left side of his head and a 61-year-old man with a cut on the left side of his face and lip. Both…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
New Update: Underage Duo Charged In Fatal Shooting At Westchester Parking Garage New Update: Underage Duo Charged In Fatal Shooting At Westchester Parking Garage
New Update: Underage Duo Charged In Fatal Shooting At Westchester Parking Garage Two teenagers have been charged in a fatal shooting at a Westchester parking garage that left a 16-year-old victim dead, police said. The duo was arrested in connection with an incident that happened on Friday, July 28 at a parking garage in Yonkers at 73-83 Highland Ave., Yonkers Police announced on Monday, Aug. 14. Earlier Report - Fatal Shooting: Victim Found In Parking Garage In Yonkers, Suspect At Large According to the department, on the day of the shooting, around 6:30 p.m., an unconscious male victim was found lying on the ground inside the parking garage. First responders s…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Westchester County Legislator Resigns After Scandal: 'My Service Has Become Interference' Westchester County Legislator Resigns After Scandal: 'My Service Has Become Interference'
Westchester County Legislator Resigns After Scandal: 'My Service Has Become Interference' A Westchester County legislator has resigned from his position after he was found to have been subletting an affordable taxpayer-subsidized apartment while living elsewhere.  Westchester County Legislator Christopher Johnson, a Democrat who represents District 16 encompassing much of Yonkers, submitted a letter of resignation to County Clerk Tim Idoni which will become effective on Tuesday, Aug. 1.  In the letter, Johnson said his service has become an "interference on centering the improvement of this County."  "I know that stepping away will allow more time and e…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Well-Known Member Of Community ID'd As Woman Struck, Killed By Sedan In Westchester Well-Known Member Of Community ID'd As Woman Struck, Killed By Sedan In Westchester
Well-Known Member Of Community ID'd As Woman Struck, Killed By Sedan In Westchester A well-known community volunteer has been identified as the victim of a horrific car crash that ended in her death. Westchester County resident Christine Kenney O'Rourke, age 70, was killed on Sunday, June 11, while out for a walk when a sedan driven by a 54-year-old White Plains woman jumped the sidewalk on North Broadway (Route 9) in  Yonkers, killing O'Rourke and then slamming into a nearby home. Earlier report: Fatal Crash: Sedan Strikes Woman, Then Slams Into House In Yonkers Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said he was saddened to hear of the tragedy: "My heart goes out to the Kenney and O'…

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by Kathy Reakes