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Politics
Hochul Names Congressman From Region To Serve As Lieutenant Governor Hochul Names Congressman From Region To Serve As Lieutenant Governor
Hochul Names Congressman From Region To Serve As Lieutenant Governor New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has a new top lieutenant in Albany. Congressman Antonio Delgado, who represents parts of the Catskills and Hudson Valley, has been tabbed to replace Hochul’s former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who was arrested last month on bribery and fraud charges. Earlier story - Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme Delgado, an Afro-Latino, is the first person of color to represent Upstate New York in Congress and a member of both the Black and Hispanic Congressional caucuses, according to Hochul’s office. The 19th Congression…

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by Zak Failla
News
This Hudson Valley County Capping Sales Tax On Gasoline This Hudson Valley County Capping Sales Tax On Gasoline
This Hudson Valley County Capping Sales Tax On Gasoline Some financial relief is coming to Hudson Valley motorists as elected officials in one county announce a cap on gasoline sales tax in the region. Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. announced that local sales tax on gasoline will be capped at $2 per gallon amid the record spike in prices at the pump. According to officials, the change means sales tax will only be applied to the first $2 of a gasoline purchase, as opposed to the full gas price. The gasoline tax cap will begin on Wednesday, June 1, and be in effect through Feb. 28, 2023. Furth…

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by Zak Failla
News
Storm Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley Storm Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley
Storm Knocks Out Power In Hudson Valley Thousands in the Hudson Valley are without power the morning after storms rolled through the region knocking down utility poles and downing trees. As of around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, utility companies throughout the region were still working around the clock to make repairs on hundreds of active outages that were impacting customers. According to Con Edison, there were still 26 outages that were impacting 677 of the company’s Westchester customers, with complete restoration scheduled by 3 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Outages were still being reported in: Port Chester: 373; Rye Broo…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5 Percent COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5 Percent
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees Spike In Cases As Infection Rate Nears 5 Percent The positive COVID-19 infection rate in the Hudson Valley rose slightly over the weekend as New York contends with the latest rise of new cases of the virus. The average seven-day average percentage of positive tests reported in the region rose from 4.23 percent on Friday, April 8, to 4.39 percent the following day before dipping slightly to 4.38 percent on Sunday, April 10. Statewide, the infection rate also continues to rise, from 3.73 percent to 4.17 percent over the same time span. Thirteen new virus-related deaths were reported in New York on Monday, April 11, according to the Departm…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Cases; Latest Data By County COVID-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Cases; Latest Data By County
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Sees New Increases In Infection Rate, Cases; Latest Data By County With Passover and Easter on the horizon, the Hudson Valley continues to see a rise in new COVID-19 cases as the region and state both saw the infection rate climb near 4 percent after plateauing earlier in 2022. The average seven-day COVID-19 positive infection rate in the Hudson Valley rose nearly .20 points, up to 3.78 percent of those tested on Wednesday, April 6, topping the statewide average of 3.39 percent. Ten new virus-related deaths were reported in New York, according to the Department of Health, including one each in Ulster and Westchester counties. Average seven-day Infection r…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Accused Of Helping His Wife Die By Suicide In Region Man Accused Of Helping His Wife Die By Suicide In Region
Man Accused Of Helping His Wife Die By Suicide In Region A man from the area has been arrested and charged with manslaughter for allegedly helping his wife commit suicide. Sullivan County resident Kenneth Alger III, age 38, of Liberty, was arrested in March after his wife's body was found in a cemetery in Liberty. Alger was indicted by a grand jury for manslaughter that alleged around Tuesday, Feb. 28, he intentionally "caused and aided Amanda Alger, age 31, his wife, to commit suicide," the indictment said. Her body was discovered by Village of Liberty Police officers on Wednesday, March 2, in a secluded area of the Liberty Cemetery on Cold Spr…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Two Sentenced For Scheming To Kidnap, Sexually Exploit Children From Region Two Sentenced For Scheming To Kidnap, Sexually Exploit Children From Region
Two Sentenced For Scheming To Kidnap, Sexually Exploit Children From Region Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a salacious scheme to kidnap area children from their mother and smuggle them across the border into Mexico to be a part of a sexual relationship in the region, federal authorities announced. Nachman Helbrans, age 40, and Mayer Rosner, age 45, US citizens from Guatemala, were convicted in January 2021 following a four-week jury trial of child sexual exploitation offenses and kidnapping in Sullivan County. Specifically, Helbrans and Rosner were convicted in November 2021 of: Conspiring to transport a minor with intent to engage in crimina…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
NYC Resident Accused Of Starting Wildfire In Region NYC Resident Accused Of Starting Wildfire In Region
NYC Resident Accused Of Starting Wildfire In Region A New York City resident allegedly violated the statewide brush burn ban which caused a wildland fire in the region.  On Tuesday, March 22 at 4:15 p.m., state forest rangers responded to an open burn in Sullivan County off Route 209 in the town of Mamakating, said the state Department of Environmental Conservation. A 41-year-old Manhattan resident was burning brush and had left the fire unattended, DEC officials said. Due to high winds and dry conditions, the fire spread to approximately 2.5 acres of land. Westbrookville Fire responded and had the fire under control by 4:45 p.m., the…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Massive Blaze Breaks Out At Garden Apartments In Region Massive Blaze Breaks Out At Garden Apartments In Region
Massive Blaze Breaks Out At Garden Apartments In Region A massive late-night two-alarm fire at an apartment complex in the region left at least one hospitalized and others injured. In Sullivan County, first responders responded to the Buckley Garden Apartments senior living center on North Main Street at approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, when a fast-moving fire tore through the five-story building. At least one resident reportedly suffered burns from the fire and was airlifted by paramedics to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of unknown injuries. One firefighter also issued a mayday call while battling the blaze and had to be …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Top-Prize Winning NY Lottery Take 5 Ticket Sold At Market In Region Top-Prize Winning NY Lottery Take 5 Ticket Sold At Market In Region
Top-Prize Winning NY Lottery Take 5 Ticket Sold At Market In Region A top-prize winning New York Lottery ticket worth nearly $20,000 that was sold at a market in the region could be burning a hole in one lucky player's pocket after the latest midday Take 5 draw. In Sullivan County, a jackpot-winning $19,565.50 Take 5 ticket was sold at the Liberty Quick Mart attached to the Sunoco station on North Main Street in the Village of Liberty. The winning numbers for the Take 5 midday drawing on Wednesday, March 9 were 11-27-32-34-36. In addition to the top prize, New York Lottery paid out 56 $506 prizes for players who matched four numbers, 2,245 $21.50 third-pla…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Ukraine Crisis: NY Lawmakers Push To Suspend Gas Tax Ukraine Crisis: NY Lawmakers Push To Suspend Gas Tax
Ukraine Crisis: NY Lawmakers Push To Suspend Gas Tax With gas prices at the pump surging to record highs, some New York lawmakers are proposing a temporary suspension of the statewide gas tax to provide some financial relief to motorists. Upstate New York Sen. Peter Oberacker and Sen. Senator Fred Akshar announced that they are jointly proposing the New York Gas Tax Relief Act to combat the increased costs that have spiked due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. If approved, the legislation would suspend the state gas tax through Thursday, Sept. 1, “in an effort to combat the increased costs that have burdened New Yorkers over the past two …

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by Zak Failla
News
Firefighter From Region Dies At 22 Firefighter From Region Dies At 22
Firefighter From Region Dies At 22 A volunteer firefighter from the area has died unexpectedly while at work. Sullivan County resident Aaron Michael Terpstra, age 22, of Kenoza Lake died on Wednesday, Feb. 23 while at work as a foreman for NG Gilbert, said his obituary. An Orange County native, Terpstra was born in 1999 in Middletown to Kim and Jim Terpstra Jr. and graduated from Sullivan West Central School in 2017. In addition to his work as a line foreman, Terpstra was a member of the White Lake Fire Company. Aaron Michael TerpstraWhite Lake Fire Company "This is a devastating loss to his family and to our firefight…

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by Kathy Reakes