4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New York, Northeast 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New York, Northeast
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New York, Northeast An earthquake was felt in several states along the East Coast, including New York and Connecticut, late Friday morning, April 5. Click here for a new, updated story - 4.0 Magnitude Aftershock: NY Feels Additional Tremors The US Geological Survey said the quake, which occurred at 10:23 a.m. measured a 4.8 on the Richter scale, and had a depth of 0.62 miles. It reportedly originated in Hunterdon County, New Jersey in the borough of Lebanon, about 60 miles west of midtown Manhattan. It shook buildings across New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and was even felt as far away as Boston…
8-Year-Old Who Froze To Death Inside NY Garage Was Failed By Child Protective Services: Jury 8-Year-Old Who Froze To Death Inside NY Garage Was Failed By Child Protective Services: Jury
8-Year-Old Who Froze To Death Inside NY Garage Was Failed By Child Protective Services: Jury A scathing grand jury report found that Child Protective Services (CPS) workers in New York had ample opportunities to save an 8-year-old boy whose years of abuse at the hands of his ex-NYPD officer father culminated in him freezing to death inside a garage. The 71-page report, made public Thursday, April 4, found that Suffolk County CPS received at least 10 reports of abuse or neglect from Thomas Valva’s teachers in the two years leading up to his January 2020 death inside the garage of his Center Moriches home. Valva died of hypothermia after he and his 10-year-old brother Anthony w…
Solar Eclipse: How NYers Can Keep Furry Friends Safe During 'Astronomy Event Of Decade' Solar Eclipse: How NYers Can Keep Furry Friends Safe During 'Astronomy Event Of Decade'
Solar Eclipse: How NYers Can Keep Furry Friends Safe During 'Astronomy Event Of Decade' Ahead of the upcoming total solar eclipse – dubbed the astronomy event of the decade – pet owners should also be prepared. The total solar eclipse, slotted to occur on Monday, April 8, will follow a path of totality across just 15 states on the eastern side of the United States, including much of western and upstate New York. Between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. that day, the moon will pass between the sun and the earth, blocking out all light for a few minutes for those in the zone of totality – which includes Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Lake Placid, and Plattsburgh. Places farther away…
23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester 23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester
23-Year-Old Man Gets Decades In Prison For Sexual Offenses Against 3 Children In Westchester A 23-year-old Westchester man will spend decades in prison for engaging in sexual acts with three children whom he physically and psychologically abused over several years, officials said. New Rochelle resident Jason Ricketts was sentenced on Thursday, April 4 to 21 years in prison for sexual acts involving three children, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.  According to the DA's Office, Ricketts' crimes began in 2019, when he befriended children as young as 8 years old by going to locations where young people gathered and convincing them and their parent…
Eclipse Prison Lockdown Violates NY Inmates’ Religious Rights, Lawsuit Claims Eclipse Prison Lockdown Violates NY Inmates’ Religious Rights, Lawsuit Claims
Eclipse Prison Lockdown Violates NY Inmates’ Religious Rights, Lawsuit Claims Click here for an updated story: Six Woodbourne Inmates Permitted To View Eclipse After Suing Over Religious Rights Several New York prison inmates are suing the state over a planned lockdown at correctional facilities during the upcoming total solar eclipse. The federal lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of New York on Friday, March 29, on behalf of six inmates who are incarcerated at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County. It states that although they come from varying backgrounds and hold different religious beliefs, “they have each expressed a sincerely held r…
Fire Chief Retires After Over 30 Years Of Serving City In Westchester: 'Made Great Strides' Fire Chief Retires After Over 30 Years Of Serving City In Westchester: 'Made Great Strides'
Fire Chief Retires After Over 30 Years Of Serving City In Westchester: 'Made Great Strides' After over three decades serving his community, a Westchester fire chief is celebrating his retirement.  New, updated report - New White Plains Fire Chief Claudio Petriccione Sworn In White Plains Fire Department Chief Douglas McMath has retired from his position after two and a half years, the department announced on Tuesday, April 2. McMath's retirement marks the end of 31 years spend serving White Plains, according to fire officials. In a post on social media, the department said McMath "made great strides for this department by standing up for us when necessary, an…
Man Assaults FBI Officer In Westchester, Gets Nearly 2 Decades In Prison Man Assaults FBI Officer In Westchester, Gets Nearly 2 Decades In Prison
Man Assaults FBI Officer In Westchester, Gets Nearly 2 Decades In Prison A 27-year-old man will spend nearly two decades in prison for assaulting a Federal Bureau of Investigation officer while leading authorities on a chase and firing gunshots into a crowd in Westchester.  New Rochelle resident Darren Smith, age 27, was sentenced on Tuesday, April 2 to 230 months in prison for assaulting an FBI officer during a September 2020 pursuit in Yonkers, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. According to federal officials, on September 25, 2020, Yonkers Police officers pulled over the car Smith had been driving. He then spe…
Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens
Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Production has been halted at the largest producer of fresh eggs in the United States after bird flu was discovered in chickens. Cal-Maine Foods reported that one of the company’s facilities located in Parmer County, Texas, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), resulting in depopulation of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, or approximately 3.6 percent of its total flock. "Production at the facility has temporarily ceased as the company follows the protocols prescribed by the USDA," Cal-Maine said in a statement, noting that it is working to s…
Croton-Harmon Train Station May Flood During Storm Croton-Harmon Train Station May Flood During Storm
Croton-Harmon Train Station May Flood During Storm Officials are warning commuters that tidal flooding may affect a busy Northern Westchester train station during a multi-day storm.  An anticipated tidal flooding event will likely affect the Croton-Harmon Train Station parking lot area on Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4,  Croton-on-Hudson village officials announced on Tuesday, April 2.  According to officials, the flood levels are expected to reach their peak on Thursday morning around 7 a.m., when high tide occurs. High tide will also happen on Wednesday at 6 p.m., officials added.  The tidal flooding event …
Solar Eclipse: NY Prisons Will Be Locked Down During Celestial Spectacle Solar Eclipse: NY Prisons Will Be Locked Down During Celestial Spectacle
Solar Eclipse: NY Prisons Will Be Locked Down During Celestial Spectacle Among those eagerly anticipating next week’s total solar eclipse are New York’s prison inmates, but not all of them will catch the celestial spectacle. Twenty-three state prisons fall directly within the “path of totality,” meaning they will experience up to three and a half minutes of total darkness during the “Great Northern American Eclipse” on Monday afternoon, April 8. Out of precaution, all 23 of those correctional facilities will be locked down and operate on a holiday schedule, Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) told Dai…
26-Year-Old Raped Woman After Breaking Into Hudson Valley Home, Jury Finds 26-Year-Old Raped Woman After Breaking Into Hudson Valley Home, Jury Finds
26-Year-Old Raped Woman After Breaking Into Hudson Valley Home, Jury Finds A 26-year-old man could spend decades behind bars after being convicted of breaking into a Hudson Valley home and raping a woman. Rockland County resident Rigoberto Castro, age 26, of Spring Valley, was found guilty on rape and burglary charges by a Rockland County jury following a two-week trial on Tuesday, April 2. Prosecutors argued that Castro forcibly raped the victim, a woman previously known to him, on Sept. 12, 2022. During the attack, he held a belt to the woman’s neck and hit her multiple times. He raped the victim again on the following night after breaking into her Spring Valle…
Long-Duration Storm: Be Ready For Wintry Mix, Power Outages, Flooding, Hochul Warns NYers Long-Duration Storm: Be Ready For Wintry Mix, Power Outages, Flooding, Hochul Warns NYers
Long-Duration Storm: Be Ready For Wintry Mix, Power Outages, Flooding, Hochul Warns NYers Ahead of an upcoming storm system expected to last several nights, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents across the state to prepare for snow, heavy rains, power outages, and flooding.  According to the latest predictions, the storm is expected to arrive in the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Long Island on Tuesday, April 2, and continue through Thursday night, April 4, bringing poor travel conditions and likely power outages along with it, Hochul announced.  Related Report - Strengthening Nor'easter Will Bring Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds, Up To 2 Feet Of Snow In Spo…