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Lifestyle
Best Burgers: Hudson Valley Eatery Makes Final 4 In Statewide Competition Best Burgers: Hudson Valley Eatery Makes Final 4 In Statewide Competition
Best Burgers: Hudson Valley Eatery Makes Final 4 In Statewide Competition For the second year in a row, a Hudson Valley restaurant has made the "final four" for the best burger in New York. Last year, Orange County staple Ben's Fresh, located in Port Jervis, took home the prize for the "People's Choice" award, but did not win the overall Best Burger honor, which went to Ale 'n' Angus Pub in Syracuse for the second straight year.  This year, Ben's is going for the top spot of Best Burger. Hosted by the New York Beef Council, the contest kicked off with nominations from consumers, and restaurants were encouraged to advocate for votes from their customers to g…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
New Service Area On I-87 Featuring Lots Of Amenities Opens In Hudson Valley New Service Area On I-87 Featuring Lots Of Amenities Opens In Hudson Valley
New Service Area On I-87 Featuring Lots Of Amenities Opens In Hudson Valley Motorists in need of a coffee or a pit stop can now enjoy that and a lot more at a new service area on I -87 in the Hudson Valley. The new service area in Ulster County, located in the town of Plattekill, (is now open to the public. The location is the sixth new service area to open on the New York State Thruway as part of the $450 million project to redevelop and modernize all 27 thruway service areas, said the New York State Thruway Authority. The Plattekill Service Area is located on I-87 northbound between Exit 17 and Exit 18. The facility is more than 20,000 square feet, making it one …

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Restaurant Once Owned By Richard Gere Closes In Bedford: 'We Are So Grateful' Restaurant Once Owned By Richard Gere Closes In Bedford: 'We Are So Grateful'
Restaurant Once Owned By Richard Gere Closes In Bedford: 'We Are So Grateful' A restaurant once owned by famed actor and Northern Westchester resident Richard Gere has announced its closure.  The Barn at Bedford Post, located in Bedford at 954 Old Post Rd., announced that it closed earlier in the year after more than three years under its current ownership, according to the eatery's website.  A message posted on the restaurant's website by the owners said that "We are so grateful to have been a part of this amazing community."  "We look forward to sharing future experiences with you!" the message continued. No other reason for the closing was given.&n…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
20 Years Later: Arrest Made In 2003 Murder Of Hudson Valley Woman 20 Years Later: Arrest Made In 2003 Murder Of Hudson Valley Woman
20 Years Later: Arrest Made In 2003 Murder Of Hudson Valley Woman Click here for an updated story: New Details Released After Arrest Made In 2003 Murder Case Of 20-Year-Old Hudson Valley Woman After two decades, New York State Police have made an arrest in the murder case of Megan McDonald, who was found dead in a field in the Hudson Valley. Orange County resident Edward V. Holley, age 42, of Wawayanda, was arrested on Thursday, April 20, and charged with killing the 20-year-old, said Trooper Steven Nevel.  McDonald's body was found in Orange County on Saturday, March 15, 2003, in the field off Bowser Road in the town of Wallkill. Earlier report: Mur…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Duo Arrested After Pursuit Ends In Crash On I-684 Duo Arrested After Pursuit Ends In Crash On I-684
Duo Arrested After Pursuit Ends In Crash On I-684 Two people were taken into custody after a police pursuit in the Hudson Valley ended in a crash, authorities said.  The incident happened in Putnam County on Thursday afternoon, April 13, when state troopers saw a vehicle traveling northbound on Interstate 684 in Southeast that was wanted in regards to a stolen property complaint, according to Trooper Beau Duffy of the New York State Police Public Information Office.  Troopers tried stopping the car, but it continued and a pursuit began. Eventually, the driver lost control and crashed into a guard rail on the Exit 10 off…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents
School Swatting Threats: 50 NY Districts Report New Round Of Incidents More than 50 school districts across New York reported receiving swatting threats of an active shooter. The districts reporting the incidents on Tuesday, April 4 were located on Long Island, in Central New York, the Southern Tier, and the North Country, authorities said.  "I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school - swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers, and families," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Tuesday. On Thursday, March 30, numerous school districts reported receiving swatting calls of…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say
School Swatting Incidents Occurring Across NY, State Police Say Authorities are investigating numerous incidents of schools in New York state receiving swatting calls claiming there is an active shooter in the building, state police said.  The threatening calls were received by schools on Thursday morning, March 30, and have all been found to be false, state police announced.  The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats. pi…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Polio Confirmed In Wastewater In Hudson Valley For First Time In Months Polio Confirmed In Wastewater In Hudson Valley For First Time In Months
Polio Confirmed In Wastewater In Hudson Valley For First Time In Months The polio virus has been discovered in Hudson Valey wastewater for the first time in months, according to state officials. The New York State Department of Health confirmed the presence of poliovirus in Rockland County wastewater for the first time since October. This single positive result was collected in February and has so far been followed by non-detections in wastewater samples, but unvaccinated residents should still act now to protect themselves, said Rockland County officials.  Rockland officials are also reminding residents who are not vaccinated to do so with increased trav…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Powerball Ticket Worth $50,000 Sold At Store In Hudson Valley Powerball Ticket Worth $50,000 Sold At Store In Hudson Valley
Powerball Ticket Worth $50,000 Sold At Store In Hudson Valley A winning third-prize Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was sold at a lucky Hudson Valley store. The winning ticket, which correctly picked four matching numbers, and the Powerball, for the Monday, March 20 game was sold at the Orange County Smokes 4 Less store in Newburgh, said New York Lottery officials. The winning numbers were: 1-27-32-47-67 and the Powerball was 14. The winning numbers for the Powerball game are drawn from a field of one to 69. The Powerball number is drawn from a separate field of one to of 26. The Powerball drawing is televised every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at…

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by Kathy Reakes
Sports
Coach On Top Of College Basketball World Spent 10 Years Guiding Team In Hudson Valley Coach On Top Of College Basketball World Spent 10 Years Guiding Team In Hudson Valley
Coach On Top Of College Basketball World Spent 10 Years Guiding Team In Hudson Valley The first-year Division I head coach who's now at the top of the men's college basketball world guides Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. But 51-year-old Tobin Anderson has strong ties to both New York and Connecticut. Bracket-busting FDU became just the second No. 16 seed to defeat a top seed when the Knights stunned Purdue 63-58 Friday night, March 17 in Columbus, Ohio. FDU was a 23.5-point underdog. "We just made history, college basketball history tonight," Anderson told his team in the locker room after the game. "From four wins last year -- it's one of the most u…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Nor'easter: State Of Emergency Declared In These NY Counties Nor'easter: State Of Emergency Declared In These NY Counties
Nor'easter: State Of Emergency Declared In These NY Counties New story - Nor'easter: Potent Storm With Gusty Winds Brings Mix Of Snow, Rain, Causes School Closures New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency ahead of a late winter Nor'easter that’s expected to bring heavy, wet snow and other challenging conditions to the region. Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare for a multi-day event that could bring more than a foot of snow to portions of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region, according to the National Weather Service. Earlier Report: Storm Watch: These Areas Expected To See Extreme, Major Impacts From Nor'easter "State agencie…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
US Army Soldier Charged In Connection To Murder Of 41-Year-Old In Hudson Valley US Army Soldier Charged In Connection To Murder Of 41-Year-Old In Hudson Valley
US Army Soldier Charged In Connection To Murder Of 41-Year-Old In Hudson Valley A months-long investigation into a murder in the Hudson Valley has led to the arrest of a United States Army soldier. Orange County resident Junando Dawkins, age 29, of Newburgh was apprehended at the US Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, New York State Police announced on Saturday, March 11. The body of the victim in the case, 41-year-old Daniel Spotards, was found in Ulster County early Monday, Jan. 2, in the town of Plattekil, on the Campbell Lane extension near Saul Trail. Spotards was located outside his residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Dawkins was indicted on the …

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by Joe Lombardi