A Few Clouds and Breezy 26°
Obituaries
NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant
NY Firefighter, Father Of 3 Killed In Blaze Remembered As 'Fearless, Dedicated' Public Servant A firefighter and father of three who was killed battling a blaze in upstate New York is being remembered for his dedication to the community. Binghamton Fire Department member John “JR” Gaudet, 40, was gravely injured when a wall collapsed during a firefight on the city’s Main Street on Wednesday night, Feb. 12, the agency confirmed. The 11-year veteran of the department later died at Wilson Hospital. Two other firefighters were hospitalized and listed in stable condition. Gaudet’s untimely loss sparked a flood of tributes, including from his brothers and sisters in uniform. “JR embodied…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
NY's Top Prosecutor Resigns After Orders To Drop Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams: Reports NY's Top Prosecutor Resigns After Orders To Drop Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams: Reports
NY's Top Prosecutor Resigns After Orders To Drop Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams: Reports Following orders to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon has decided to resign, according to reports.  Sassoon, who took the position in January following the resignation of Damian Williams, announced her resignation in a short statement to her colleagues, NBC News and The New York Times reported on Thursday, Feb. 13.  According to NBC, Sassoon, who resigned alongside two senior federal prosecutors in Washington, made the decision only three days after receiving a me…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Brandishes Loaded Gun At Victim, Endangers Child At Westchester Residence: Police Man Brandishes Loaded Gun At Victim, Endangers Child At Westchester Residence: Police
Man Brandishes Loaded Gun At Victim, Endangers Child At Westchester Residence: Police A 51-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly pointing a defaced firearm at another person during a physical altercation in Westchester that endangered a child, police said. Yorktown resident Antoine Michael Arnold was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 12 following a reported altercation involving a firearm at 250 Underhill Ave. in Yorktown, according to the town's police department.  According to police, officers responded to the residence at around 7:30 p.m. after receiving a report of menacing with a weapon. An investigation determined that Arnold had allegedly…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme
Luxury Watches & Lies: NY Real Estate Mogul Admits to $63M Investor Fraud Scheme A New York real estate mogul formally confessed to masterminding a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme. Elchonon Schwartz, 46, of New York City, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a Georgia federal courtroom on Wednesday, Feb. 13, admitting that he swindled hundreds of investors through a crowdfunding platform meant for commercial real estate investments. Beginning in May 2022, Schwartz solicited funds for a large commercial real estate complex in Atlanta, Georgia, using the website Crowdstreet Marketplace. He raised around $54 million from 654 investors, prosecutors said. Later that…

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by Michael Mashburn
Events
As SNL50 Approaches, Colin Jost Announces Arena Comedy Show With Castmates As SNL50 Approaches, Colin Jost Announces Arena Comedy Show With Castmates
As SNL50 Approaches, Colin Jost Announces Arena Comedy Show With Castmates Live from Mohegan, it's Saturday night! As "Saturday Night Live" prepares to celebrate 50 years of comedy genius and iconic cultural moments, three cast members have announced a live standup show at Mohegan Sun Arena. "Colin Jost and Friends" will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 26, the Uncasville casino said in a news release on Thursday, Feb. 13. The "Weekend Update" co-anchor since 2014 and husband of actress Scarlett Johannson will be joined by fellow SNL cast members Marcello Hernández and James Austin Johnson. Jost has been a key part of SNL since joining as a writer…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Vehicle Break-In Spree: Honda CRVs Targeted In New Rochelle, Police Say Vehicle Break-In Spree: Honda CRVs Targeted In New Rochelle, Police Say
Vehicle Break-In Spree: Honda CRVs Targeted In New Rochelle, Police Say Police are investigating a series of car break-ins early Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, that left multiple SUVs with broken windows and stolen airbags in Westchester. The break-ins, which targeted Honda CRVs, occurred in New Rochelle on Wednesday around 6:30 a.m., according to New Rochelle Police Captain J. Collins Coyne. Four vehicles were reported to have been broken into, with all of them having their passenger door windows shattered and driver-side airbags stolen. The break-ins were concentrated in the Drake Avenue area, with two incidents occurring near John Street, one farther sout…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties
Musicians Push Congress To Stop Corporate Radio From Dodging Royalties Hundreds of music legends and rising stars are calling on Congress to make major radio companies equitably pay artists when their songs are played on air. Popular 90s R&B group Boyz II Men met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act, a bill aiming to require corporate radio stations to compensate performers while protecting small, local broadcasters. The meeting happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 to coincide with World Radio Day. The Philadelphia-based singers of the hit song "End of the Road" spoke with three leaders in the House of Represent…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Drunk Driver Found Blocking Road With Damaged Jaguar In Westchester: Police Drunk Driver Found Blocking Road With Damaged Jaguar In Westchester: Police
Drunk Driver Found Blocking Road With Damaged Jaguar In Westchester: Police A 61-year-old man was caught driving while intoxicated after officers found his heavily damaged vehicle blocking a roadway in Westchester late Wednesday night, Feb. 12, police said. Rye Brook resident Lawrence Marks was arrested following reports of an erratic driver near Midland Avenue and Sylvan Place in Rye at approximately 10:45 p.m., the City of Rye Police Department announced on Thursday, Feb. 13.  When officers arrived, they discovered a 2019 Jaguar FPC facing northbound on Midland Avenue, allegedly blocking the roadway with significant front-end damage. It is unclear how t…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Over $7K, Guns, Narcotics Seized From Housing Authority Residential Site In New Rochelle: Cops Over $7K, Guns, Narcotics Seized From Housing Authority Residential Site In New Rochelle: Cops
Over $7K, Guns, Narcotics Seized From Housing Authority Residential Site In New Rochelle: Cops A search warrant executed at an apartment in Westchester resulted in the seizure of narcotics, cash, and weapons, along with the apprehension of two residents, police announced. The search was carried out at a New Rochelle apartment at the New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority residential site at 50 Sickles Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, New Rochelle Police Captain J. Collins Coyne said on Thursday, Feb. 13.  The operation uncovered illegal drugs, firearms, and thousands of dollars in suspected drug proceeds, Coyne said. During the search, detectives confiscated 124 glassine…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Denny's Closing 30 More Restaurants Than Planned: Here's Why Denny's Closing 30 More Restaurants Than Planned: Here's Why
Denny's Closing 30 More Restaurants Than Planned: Here's Why Denny's will close 30 more restaurants than expected, as the diner chain accelerates its efforts to shutter underperforming locations. Denny's will shut down between 70 and 90 restaurants in 2025, the company said in a news release and earnings call on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The chain closed 88 restaurants in 2024, bringing the total to nearly 180 closings expected by the end of 2025. While Denny's hasn't revealed which restaurants are on the closing list, the already shuttered locations were open for an average of 30 years. "In any mature brand, when restaurants have been opened that lo…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Truck Overturns On I-287 In Westchester Truck Overturns On I-287 In Westchester
Truck Overturns On I-287 In Westchester A truck landed on its side on Interstate 287 in Westchester.  The crash happened on Thursday, Feb. 13 just before 10 a.m., when a box truck overturned on Interstate 287 East near the Exit 12 ramp to Interstate 95 South, according to New York State Police.  Two people inside the truck were able to get themselves out with minor injuries. The scene has since been cleared and all lanes are open. Posted by Westchester Fire Wire on Thursday, February 13, 2025

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Home In Hudson Valley Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Home In Hudson Valley
Blaze Prompts Evacuation Of Home In Hudson Valley Firefighters responded to an active chimney fire in Dutchess County on Wednesday evening, Feb. 12, prompting residents to evacuate. The fire, which happened at a home in the hamlet of Chelsea, was reported just before 7 p.m., with crews arriving to find heavy smoke inside the home and flames coming from the chimney. All residents had safely evacuated the house before firefighters arrived, according to the Chelsea Fire Company.  Chelsea Fire Company crews searched the inside of the home and requested help from the City of Beacon Fire Department, which sent a ladder truck to access …

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by Ben Crnic