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COVID-19 Pandemic

$1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Covid-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …
Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children On Long Island, More: Health Dept. Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children On Long Island, More: Health Dept.
Midwife Fakes Vax Records For Thousands Of Children On Long Island, More: Health Dept. A New York midwife was found to have faked over 12,000 vaccines for children on Long Island and as far away as Erie County. Jeanette Breen, a licensed midwife who ran Baldwin Midwifery, located in Baldwin, Nassau County, was issued what the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) dubbed an “unprecedented” fine of $300,000 for her scheme. Starting at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, Breen began supplying patients with a series of oral pellets called the "Real Immunity Homeoprophylaxis Program." These fake pills are marketed as an alternative to vaccination by an out-of-stat…
LI Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' LI Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process'
LI Rep. George Santos Dodges Expulsion From House: 'Victory For Due Process' New York Rep. George Santos, who admitted to lying about his background and is facing nearly two dozen federal criminal charges, is claiming victory after an effort to expel him from Congress failed. The freshman Republican lawmaker from Long Island, whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, easily survived a resolution brought by his fellow New York Republicans to oust Santos from the House on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The resolution failed with 179 members voting in favor and 213 voting against. Nineteen members voted “present.” Earlier Report: George Santos Pleads Not…
COVID-19: IRS Workers From Suffolk County Stole Thousands In Relief Funds, DA Says COVID-19: IRS Workers From Suffolk County Stole Thousands In Relief Funds, DA Says
Covid-19: IRS Workers From Suffolk County Stole Thousands In Relief Funds, DA Says Two IRS employees from Long Island are accused of pocketing thousands of dollars in relief funds meant to help small businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tina White, age 36, of Bellport, and Shawana Williams, age 45, of Centereach, were arraigned on grand larceny charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Oct. 12. According to prosecutors, White and Williams applied for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration in the summer of 2020, claiming to be business owners struggling due to the pandemic. White claimed to be the chief operating …
Northport-East Northport School District To Welcome New Superintendent Northport-East Northport School District To Welcome New Superintendent
Northport-East Northport School District To Welcome New Superintendent A Hudson Valley school district is searching for a new superintendent of Schools following the resignation of the current one. Dr. Dave Moyer, superintendent of the Arlington Central School District in Dutchess County said he has taken a new superintendent position with the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District on Long Island beginning in January 2024. "Together we accomplished a great deal in a short period of time," Moyer said in a letter to the school community. "That is thanks to your collective commitment to our children, our community, and our school district." The…
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed
Mystery No More: Backers Of George Santos' $500K Bond In Federal Criminal Case Revealed After more than a month, the question of who backed the half-million-dollar bond to free embattled New York Congressman George Santos from custody while his federal criminal case plays out has finally been answered. Documents unsealed in US District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Thursday, June 22, show that Santos’ father, Gercino dos Santos, and his aunt, Elma Preven, are the co-signers on his $500,000 bond. Santos' lawyer had argued that publicizing his relatives' identities could subject them to harassment from news organizations, but the judge rejected the plea. The 34-…
COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Long Island Woman Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say COVID-19 $14.7M Scheme: Long Island Woman Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say
Covid-19 $14.7M Scheme: Long Island Woman Tried Stealing From Relief Program, Feds Say Two men from Westchester and a Long Island woman face charges after participating in a more than $14 million scheme to steal from a program created to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials said.  New Rochelle resident Glenroy Walker, age 65, Mount Vernon resident Gary Wheeler, age 46, Freeport resident Sherril Baez, age 50, and three others are charged with scheming to steal more than $14 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Tuesday, June 6.  The …
Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant
Waiter Guilty Of Fatally Stabbing 'Dedicated' Busboy, Father Of 2 At Long Island Restaurant A former waiter at a Long Island restaurant is facing decades in prison after being convicted of fatally stabbing his co-worker during an argument over tips. A Nassau County jury found David Jimenez-Salazar, age 25, of Farmingdale, guilty of first-degree manslaughter Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the death of Elvin Padilla at the La Candela Restaurant in Hicksville in July 2020. Prosecutors said it was around 10:40 p.m. on July 16, 2020 when Jimenez-Salazar got into an argument with Padilla, a 37-year-old father of two and busboy at the restaurant. Padilla had accused him of shorting him $20 from th…
ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37 ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37
ABC News 'This Week' Executive Producer Dies At Age 37 ABC News "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" executive producer Dax Tejera died suddenly on Friday, Dec. 23. He was 37 years old. Tejera died of a heart attack, Mediaite reports, citing ABC News president Kim Godwin. He is survived by his wife, Veronica, and their daughters, Sofia and Ella. "As EP of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Dax’s energy, passion and love for that show, ABC News, and you, shined every Sunday morning," Godwin said in a note to network staff obtained by adweek.com. "That same love was extended to his precious girls." View this post on I…
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022
NY Labor Dept. On Track To Pay Over $110M In Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims In 2022 The New York State Department of Labor is on track to pay out more than $110 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced. A department investigation revealed that insurance fraud accounted for more than $11 million in benefits payments in August 2022 alone. The benefits were paid out almost exclusively to those who were already working while also collecting unemployment insurance payments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor’s office said. Hochul said the state plans to go after those who received fraudulent benefits payments and…
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment
New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment A log of alleged harassment by their teacher dubbed the “Pedo Database” that was created by eight middle school boys in New England is now part of an official investigation into the teacher, The Boston Globe reports.  The Rhode Island teacher, who works at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, has been placed on administrative leave amid a probe into numerous claims of inappropriate behavior, including that he made female students dance for him, the outlet reports. One of the former students, now a 15-year-old high school student, told The Boston Globe that he and several other male…
COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud A woman from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 67, of Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The loans were issued to Hackstadt herself, various friends and relatives, and several companies that she controlled, prosecutors said. In all, investigators said she received more than $1.6 million between April 2020 and June 2021 through two separat…
Discount Supermarket CEO Makes ‘Price Promise’ Pledge As Inflation Rate Soars Discount Supermarket CEO Makes ‘Price Promise’ Pledge As Inflation Rate Soars
Discount Supermarket CEO Makes ‘Price Promise’ Pledge As Inflation Rate Soars With inflation skyrocketing across the country, causing the price of food and other merchandise to surge, one supermarket head vowed to keep a tight rein on costs for customers. Aldi US CEO Jason Hart penned a “price promise” letter to consumers this week making a pledge to keep costs down at the discount supermarket chain. Aldi CEO Jason Hart.Aldi “Saving you money is what we do best,” he wrote. “And in times like these, I’m incredibly proud to underscore this commitment to you: no matter what happens in the world around us, Aldi will always be the low-price leader in every community w…
Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System
Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System The personal data of nearly a million New York students has been compromised by hackers attempting to alter grades, investigators announced. In January, Illuminate Education, a taxpayer-funded software company that tracks grades and attendance for the New York City Department of Education, was targeted, resulting in the data of approximately 820,000 students being made available. Specifically, officials said that the hackers gained access to students’ names, birthdays, ethnicities, English-speaking, special-education, teacher schedules, and free-lunch statuses, though information including …
COVID-19: LI Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Virus-Related Fraud Scam COVID-19: LI Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Virus-Related Fraud Scam
Covid-19: LI Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Virus-Related Fraud Scam A New York doctor will spend time behind bars after being sentenced for spending millions of dollars obtained through fraudulently obtained small business loans during the pandemic in an effort to live a luxury lifestyle. Long Island resident Konstantinos Zarkadas, who had a Nassau County practice in Glen Cove, was sentenced in federal court to 51 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 emergency relief funds. In addition to his prison term, Zarkadas was also ordered to pay approximately $3.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty in November 2021 t…
Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says
Here's How Long It Should Take To Get A Tax Refund After Filing, IRS Says With tax season rapidly approaching, many Americans have started filing and are now anxiously awaiting their refund check from the IRS. Despite facing a backlog and staffing issues due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans can expect their refund checks to arrive within weeks of filing their taxes, according to officials. Once filed, the IRS said that Americans can expect their refund money to arrive within 21 days, pending certain delays. The cash can also be tracked approximately 24 hours after filing through the IRS website. Where’s My Refund? According to the IRS, in 2022, …
NY Doctor Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say NY Doctor Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say
NY Doctor Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud has been sentenced for attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through loan fraud. Westchester resident Ameet Goyal, age 58, of Rye, who operated The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, and Greenwich, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a seven-year fraud scheme and for obtaining government loans intended for small businesses during the pandemic. In addition t…
LEGOLAND In NY Announces Re-Opening Date, New Experiences LEGOLAND In NY Announces Re-Opening Date, New Experiences
Legoland In NY Announces Re-Opening Date, New Experiences Everything is awesome at the Hudson Valley’s newest theme park as LEGOLAND prepares for opening day with new attractions and experiences. In Orange County, the LEGOLAND New York Resort announced that it will officially be opening for its first full season on Friday, April 8 with a host of improvements, including the debut of its new water playground. In July 2021, LEGOLAND New York opened up for the first time after years in development, representing the first major theme park in the region in more than 40 years. Earlier story - New Hudson Valley Theme Park LEGOLAND Celebrates Opening, No…
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Apologizes For Comment At Anti-Vax Rally His Wife Called 'Reprehensible' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Apologizes For Comment At Anti-Vax Rally His Wife Called 'Reprehensible'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Apologizes For Comment At Anti-Vax Rally His Wife Called 'Reprehensible' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a public apology after being blasted by critics - including his own family - for making an Anne Frank reference during an anti-vaccine and mandate rally in Washington, DC. During the event on Sunday, Jan. 23, Kennedy drew the ire of many when he implied that Anne Frank had more freedom in hiding from the Nazis than people have under the current US vaccine policies. “What we’re seeing today is what I call turnkey totalitarianism. They are putting in place all of these technological mechanisms for control we’ve never seen before,” Kennedy said. “It’s been the…
Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison
Ex-State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison Embattled former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, has reportedly died at the age of 77 in a Hudson Valley prison. A Democrat, Silver was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July 2021 on corruption charges and died at the Otisville Correctional Institution in Orange County on Monday, Jan. 24, officials announced. Silver, who at one point represented most of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion under the color of off…
Orange Juice Prices Could Increase Amid Lower Yield, Report Says Orange Juice Prices Could Increase Amid Lower Yield, Report Says
Orange Juice Prices Could Increase Amid Lower Yield, Report Says Orange juice prices could increase as Florida orange groves are seeing a lower crop yield this season.  According to a January report from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Statistics Board, the 2021-2022 forecast of Florida oranges is 44.5 million boxes, which is 1.5 million fewer than the December forecast. The USDA said if the forecast is realized, the final production will be 16 percent less than last year.  ABC News reported that this lower yield could lead to higher prices, adding that prices are already high due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According…
NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage
NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage New York has a plan to address the growing shortage of school bus and truck drivers that has plagued the state of late. Under the plan presented by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state would expand the availability of road tests for Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants while permitting qualified third parties to offer the road tests, which would reduce the time it takes to get CDL drivers on the road. Much of the shortage concerns have been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we continue to fight this pandemic, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for New Yorkers, sup…
Here's Who Will Be Eligible For $5,000 Stimulus Checks Here's Who Will Be Eligible For $5,000 Stimulus Checks
Here's Who Will Be Eligible For $5,000 Stimulus Checks It is unlikely that the federal government will distribute a fresh round of stimulus checks to most Americans again, but some will qualify for some financial assistance in 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, eligible Americans received as many as three stimulus checks to help them ride out the pandemic, though a fourth is unlikely, outside of a specific group. Parents who gave birth to a child in 2021 will be eligible for a 2022 stimulus check of up to $1,400, similar to the third round that was issued in March last year. Eligible new parents who inform the IRS they had a baby — or babies …
Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island
Here's How Much Minimum Wage Will Increase On Long Island Workers in downstate New York are all getting a holiday bonus this year, as minimum wage rates get bumped for the third straight year. As of Friday, Dec. 31, minimum wage workers in Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties will see a bump in their paychecks as their hourly wages will rise to a minimum of $15, putting them on par with employees at large firms in New York City, which has been at that benchmark for three years. Minimum wage employees in those counties had previously been getting $14 an hour. Fast-food workers across New York also make $15 an hour, regardless of location, wh…
COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says COVID-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says
Covid-19: These Will Be Key Signs When End To Pandemic Is Coming, CDC Director Says The COVID-19 pandemic is now nearly two years old, and there's still no end in sight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says there are two key signs to look for down the line that are key indicators when the time comes that it does finally wind down. The first is a manageable number of hospitalizations, and the second is a significant drop in the number of daily deaths, she said in an interview with ABC News. To get there, Walensky emphasized the importance of relying on strategies that have proven to be effective, namely vaccines and mask…
New Airline Coming To Long Island MacArthur New Airline Coming To Long Island MacArthur
New Airline Coming To Long Island MacArthur It'll be a breeze to get a flight at MacArthur Airport after an upstart airline added the Long Island destination to its growing list of routes. “Breeze Airways,” which was founded by David Neelman, the mind behind JetBlue and other major airline start-ups, is set to begin flying in and out of the Ronkonkoma airport as soon as early 2022. Eight new routes will be added in February from MacArthur and Palm Beach International Airport in Florida as Breeze's 17th and 18 destinations, expanding the airline's network to 42 routes. "Breeze’s business model is to add ‘nice, new nonstop’ flights on…
Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month
Here's How Much Cuomo Will Be Collecting In Pension Payments Each Month Andrew Cuomo is no longer sitting inside the Governor’s Mansion in Albany, but he is still collecting a hefty paycheck from New York State. The embattled former governor, who resigned over the summer following an investigation into nearly a dozen of complaints of sexual harassment, received his first pension check last month to the tune of $4,219.11, according to the New York State comptroller’s office. His first payment was sent in October 2021, officials said. Cuomo's annual benefits add up to $50,629.32, which he will get the amount for the rest of his life, plus future cost of living …
CVS To Close 900 Stores As It Adjusts To Increasing Number Of Online Shoppers CVS To Close 900 Stores As It Adjusts To Increasing Number Of Online Shoppers
CVS To Close 900 Stores As It Adjusts To Increasing Number Of Online Shoppers Nearly one thousand CVS stores are set to close over the next three years as the retail giant continues to pivot away from retail and leans into the company's healthcare services. On Thursday, Nov. 18, the company announced that it planned to shut down at least 300 stores annually for the next three years as it re-evaluates its business strategy. The closures will begin in spring 2022. CVS made the announcement as it continues to contend with digital competition and online shopping, which was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the company to pivot its plans for the future. …
Here's How Many Hours Per Day A Child Spends Looking At Screens On Average, New Study Finds Here's How Many Hours Per Day A Child Spends Looking At Screens On Average, New Study Finds
Here's How Many Hours Per Day A Child Spends Looking At Screens On Average, New Study Finds Researchers have found that the average amount of time children spend looking at screens each day has doubled since before the COVID-19 pandemic. In May of 2020, children ages 12 and 13 spent an average of 7.7 hours per day looking at screens for reasons unrelated to school, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics by researchers from the University of California-San Francisco. The university shared the study's findings in an announcement on Monday, Nov. 1.  The figure is a significant increase from the 3.8 hours spent on screens each day prior to the pandemic. Researchers found that …
Family-Owned Suffolk County Bowling Alley Closes Family-Owned Suffolk County Bowling Alley Closes
Family-Owned Suffolk County Bowling Alley Closes A family-owned bowling alley on Long Island has permanently closed. The Eggert family announced the closure of Bowl Long Island at Patchogue in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Oct. 26. To all of our Guests,Employees and Family. The last 19 months have been understandably hard times. We have exhausted... Posted by Bowl Long Island at Patchogue on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 In the announcement, the owners shared the difficulties the business faced in the past 19 months due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and damage to the building. Then the landlords decided to sell the property, and the …
Ex-MLB Manager Bobby Valentine's Democratic Opponent Reflects On Mayoral Race Like No Other Ex-MLB Manager Bobby Valentine's Democratic Opponent Reflects On Mayoral Race Like No Other
Ex-mlb Manager Bobby Valentine's Democratic Opponent Reflects On Mayoral Race Like No Other To say the 2021 mayoral race in Connecticut's second-largest city, Stamford, has been like no other would be the ultimate of understatements. For starters, the Democratic nominee, State Rep. Caroline Simmons, defeated two-term incumbent David Martin after mounting a rare primary challenge. Then came the bombshell announcement by charismatic and at times flamboyant Major League Baseball legend and lifelong city resident Bobby Valentine that he was entering the race as an "Unaffiliated" candidate - and not as a Republican, Democrat, or even as an Independent. But wait, there's more. The rac…