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Christmas Eve Blaze: Support Pours In For Hudson Valley Family Who Lost Home (UPDATE) Christmas Eve Blaze: Support Pours In For Hudson Valley Family Who Lost Home (UPDATE)
Christmas Eve Blaze: Support Pours In For Hudson Valley Family Who Lost Home (Update) A Hudson Valley family who lost their home in a devastating Christmas Eve fire is now receiving overwhelming support from their community as they begin their rebuilding process. The blaze broke out shortly after 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, at a Putnam County home on North Salem Road in Southeast. Following the tragic incident, the residence's family was left without a home, according to the Brewster Fire Department. During the fire, the family, including two children, a husband, wife, and the wife’s mother, managed to evacuate before firefighters arrived, though one fami…

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by Ben Crnic
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COVID-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms The XEC COVID-19 variant, first identified in Europe, now accounts for 45 percent of cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Click here for a new, updated story - COVID-19: Virus Levels Now Surging In These States As infections tick upward, public health experts are urging vigilance. The strain, a mix of earlier Omicron subvariants, exhibits symptoms similar to Omicron and its predecessors. These include: Congestion,  Runny nose,  Cough,  Shortness of breath,  Fever or chills,  Fatigue.  Not…

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by Joe Lombardi
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$4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says $4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says
$4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says More than $4.3 billion has now been recovered for victims of Bernie Madoff’s massive and infamous Ponzi scheme, the Justice Department announced, as part of a decade-long effort that has compensated over 40,000 people worldwide for nearly 94 percent of their losses. The DOJ says  its 10th and final distribution from the Madoff Victim Fund (MVF), provided more than $131 million to over 23,000 victims. The latest distribution marks the culmination of a decade-long effort to recover and return forfeited funds tied to Madoff's fraudulent investment empire. Most victims, primarily small inv…

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by Joe Lombardi
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‘Arts And Crafts Project’: New Westchester Logo Sparks Controversy ‘Arts And Crafts Project’: New Westchester Logo Sparks Controversy
‘Arts And Crafts Project’: New Westchester Logo Sparks Controversy Westchester has a new logo after more than 20 years—however, some online commenters are less than happy with what it decided on.  In an announcement on Thursday, Dec. 26, Westchester officials unveiled the county's new logo, which they say symbolizes connection, progress, and the natural beauty that defines the area.  The rebranding, unveiled alongside the county’s transition to a “.gov” domain, replaces the old logo, which prominently featured the county’s previous website address.  “The residents of Westchester County are linked," County Executive George Latimer said,…

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by Ben Crnic
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Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul
Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul The iconic Katz's Deli in Manhattan has agreed to make significant accessibility improvements and pay a $20,000 penalty following a federal lawsuit. The settlement, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim, resolves allegations that the historic deli violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A consent decree outlining the required changes was entered on Sunday, Dec. 29, by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. “The corrections and modifications agreed to by Katz’s Deli will give individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy one of New York City’s most pop…

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by Cecilia Levine
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This Westchester Town Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings This Westchester Town Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings
This Westchester Town Named Among Safest In Country In New Rankings If you're looking for peace and quiet, you may want to settle down in one of three Hudson Valley towns named among the safest places in the country in new rankings by MoneyGeek.  In their list of the 25 Safest Small Cities and Towns in the US released on Monday, Dec. 16, the personal finance website ranked towns from Westchester, Putnam, and Orange counties among the country's municipalities with the lowest crime numbers.  The following towns were named:  Yorktown, which took No. 6; Carmel, which took No. 7; Wallkill, which took No. 8. In order to make their rankings, Money…

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by Ben Crnic
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Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks
Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks A sharp increase in norovirus cases is sweeping the United States, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Often called the "stomach flu," norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The CDC reports 41 outbreaks in the first week of December alone, surpassing levels recorded in prior months. This spike aligns with the virus's typical winter peak but underscores the need for heightened vigilance this season. Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, surfaces, and …

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by Joe Lombardi
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New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA
New Findings Clear Man In Decades-Old Westchester Murders, Point To Other Involvement: DA A groundbreaking investigation has identified two new suspects in a 1996 double homicide in Westchester, clearing a man previously charged in the case, officials said. In an announcement on Monday, Dec. 30, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office said that its Conviction Review Unit identified two new suspects in the November 1996 double homicide of 79-year-old Archie Harris and 35-year-old Betty Ramcharan at Harris’s Eastchester home.  Harris, a millionaire, and Ramcharan, his home health aide, were both killed at Harris's mansion.  Follow…

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by Ben Crnic
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Here's When New Yorkers Must Meet REAL ID Deadline Here's When New Yorkers Must Meet REAL ID Deadline
Here's When New Yorkers Must Meet Real ID Deadline Time is winding down for New Yorkers to get their federally compliant REAL ID or Enhanced ID/driver's license ahead of a crucial deadline. Starting Wednesday, May 7, 2025, standard driver’s licenses or non-driver IDs will no longer be accepted for boarding domestic flights or entering certain federal facilities.  To comply with new federal regulations, residents must obtain a REAL ID or Enhanced ID, both of which are available at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices. A REAL ID, which meets the federal standard, can be used for domestic flights and accessing fe…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified mutations in the the first severe bird flu case in the US that may increase its ability to infect humans.  These mutations, found in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, play a key role in helping the virus attach to cells in the upper respiratory tract. This discovery stems from the first severe US case of H5N1, involving a Louisiana resident over 65 who had direct contact with infected backyard birds.  Earlier report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Notably, these mutations weren’t present in the bird sam…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Good Samaritan Rescues Jet Skier On Frozen NY Canal (VIDEO) Good Samaritan Rescues Jet Skier On Frozen NY Canal (VIDEO)
Good Samaritan Rescues Jet Skier On Frozen NY Canal (Video) A New York woman is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a jet skier who became stranded on a frozen canal, sending him into frigid waters. The dramatic rescue unfolded on Thursday, Dec. 26, on Long Island's Poospatuck Creek in Mastic Beach, after a jet skier found himself stuck and sinking in the icy water. Kayla Masotto, a nearby resident, sprang into action after spotting the man struggling in the freezing canal. Video shared on Instagram shows Masotto walking out onto the thin ice with her paddleboard to reach the man, whose arms and legs had gone numb from the cold water. A second …

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by Michael Mashburn
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Judge Overturns NFL Lineman's Father's Conviction In Decades-Old Mount Vernon Robbery (UPDATE) Judge Overturns NFL Lineman's Father's Conviction In Decades-Old Mount Vernon Robbery (UPDATE)
Judge Overturns NFL Lineman's Father's Conviction In Decades-Old Mount Vernon Robbery (Update) Following the discovery of new evidence and constitutional violations, a judge has vacated the conviction of the father of an NFL lineman who served years in prison for a Westchester robbery decades ago.  In an announcement on Friday, Dec. 27, the Westchester County DA's Office said a judge overturned the conviction of 67-year-old Jeffrey Koonce, who was found guilty of robbery and weapons possession in 1983 in connection with a 1981 armed robbery at a Mount Vernon social club.  District Attorney Miriam Rocah said her office’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) uncovered evide…

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by Ben Crnic