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Saturday, nov 9
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Politics
Hudson Valley HS Grad AOC Issues Warning After Presidential Election
US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to social media following Tuesday's presidential election to reflect on the Democratic Party's poor showing. In a live stream on Instagram on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat who represents New York's 14th congressional district consisting of parts of the Bronx and Queens, addressed followers to discuss the election results including the re-election of former President Donald Trump. "We are about to enter a political period that will have consequences for the rest of our lives,” Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, said during the li…
News
No, The FBI Says It Isn't Investigating 301 Election Bribery Claims Or Other Lies
The Federal Bureau of Investigations said it has seen a rise in fake stories using the agency's name and insignia being shared online in an attempt to undermine the recent presidential election. The FBI cited four fake stories being shared on social media trading on the agency's reputation to give credence to lies. Those included a video stating that “at least 301 electors reported attempted bribery and blackmail" from a political party, the agency said in a news release. Another claimed that agents had tried to cover up the bribery scheme by pressuring news media outl…
Politics
'Not What We Voted For:' Kamala Harris Delivers Concession Speech After Losing To Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris has addressed the nation for the first time after losing the 2024 Presidential Election to Donald Trump at her alma mater, Howard University. "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for not what we voted for," the vice president said. "but hear me when I say the light of America’s promise will always burn bright." Harris urged her supporters to keep fighting before saying, "We must accept the results of this election." The veep said that she spoke to Trump and congratulated him on his victory, "and told him we will help him and h…
Politics
Election Day Traditions, Superstitions Run Gamut: 'Make Nachos, Drink Heavily'
After months of endless campaign ads, fundraising texts, rally speeches, and plenty of late-night TV fodder – who could forget, “They’re eating the dogs!!” – you’ve finally cast your ballot. Now what? If you’re like most politically minded Americans, you’ll be glued to wall-to-wall TV coverage, or constantly refreshing (doom scrolling?) your social media feed until a winner is finally projected in the presidential race. Spoiler alert: it could take days. And election-related stress is no joke: A majority of Democrats and Republicans said concern over the presidential race was spiking their …
Schools
Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…
News
Euthanasia Of NY's 'Peanut The Squirrel' Sparks Viral Outrage; Lawmaker Demands Investigation
Outrage is swirling after New York wildlife officials seized and later euthanized beloved social media sensation “Peanut” the squirrel. Chemung County resident Mark Longo, of Elmira, took to Instagram Wednesday, Oct 30, telling his 581,000 followers that Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers had seized the animal, which he rescued in 2017 after its mother was struck by a car. “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness,” he wrote. “To the people who called (DEC), there’s a special place in hell for you.” In a…
Politics
Election 2024: Can NYers Snap Pic Of Completed Ballot? Here's What To Know
Think twice before snapping that Election Day selfie. While New Yorkers may be tempted to commemorate their participation in this year’s highly consequential election by taking a photo of their ballot, doing so is actually a crime. Under state law, it is a misdemeanor offense for a voter to snap a picture with their completed ballot. “Any person who shows his ballot after it is prepared for voting, to any person so as to reveal the contents, or solicits a voter to show the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor,” reads the text from New York State election law. According to the New York State B…
Police & Fire
Fake Social Media Post In Region About School Violence Leads To Arrest Of 13-Year-Old
A 13-year-old from the region has been charged with falsely reporting an incident after allegedly making a social media post stating that a mistaken lockdown at the school they attend was due to students and staff being harmed. The student was arrested on Monday, Oct. 28, at Liberty Middle and High Schools for the post made on Friday, Oct. 25, from Liberty. According to Liberty Police Chief Steven D'Agata, early on Oct. 25, both schools briefly went into a lockdown due to an accidental activation of the school's automated warning system due to maintenance. D'Agata said there was no t…
Politics
NY Commentator Kicked Off CNN Mid-Show After Suggesting Muslim Journalist Is Terrorist
A political commentator from New York was pulled off a CNN panel mid-show and banned from the network after suggesting that a Muslim journalist was a terrorist. The stunning attack unfolded on the network’s “News Night with Abby Phillip” on Monday night, Oct. 28, during a heated roundtable discussion of former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden the day before. Scroll down to watch video of the incident. As the panelists discussed inflammatory and racist remarks that were made by rally speakers, progressive commentator Mehdi Hasan, who is of Indian descent and Muslim, a…
News
Capitol Riot: Former Beacon Man Convicted Of Participating In Jan. 6 Breach, Posting Selfie
A 35-year-old member of the Proud Boys from Westchester has been convicted of felony charges in connection to his participation in the deadly riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal officials announced. White Plains resident William Pepe, formerly of the Dutchess County city of Beacon, was found guilty of charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6 breach following a bench trial before US District Judge Timothy Kelly, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced on Wednesday, Oct. 23. According to federal officials, on the morning of Jan. 6, 2…
News
Here's How Hudson Valley's Sean Combs Broke Social Media Silence After Sex Trafficking Arrest
Almost a month after his arrest for federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, hip-hop mogul and New York native Sean Combs has broken his silence on his social media pages. On Tuesday, Oct. 15, a post appeared an on Instagram page belonging to Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County's Mount Vernon and will stand trial in May for federal charges. Although the post is the first to be made following Combs's arrest, it does not address the allegations against him; instead, it celebrates the birthday of the embattled star's young 2-yea…
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region
A 12-year-old student in the region was charged with making a terroristic threat at a junior/senior high school. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Fallsburg. According to Fallsburg Police Chief Brendan Pavese, the juvenile allegedly made the threats on Snapchat and included a picture of the Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School auditorium. The threats, which mentioned shootings, came to the attention of police and school authorities via parents and students, both the police and school said. After receiving the information, the police department worked a…
News
Shooting Outside Home Of Former NY Gubernatorial Candidate Zeldin Nets Gunman 12 Years
The gunman in a broad daylight shooting that injured two teenagers outside the New York home of former Rep. Lee Zeldin will spend more than a decade behind bars. Long Island resident Noah Green, age 20, of Shirley, was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to attempted murder and related charges. Prosecutors said Green was riding in a stolen SUV with another individual when they spotted three rival gang members walking along Saint George Drive West in Shirley at around 2:20 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2022. Earlier Report: Gunman Admit…
Politics
TikTok 'Cultivates Addiction' For Kids, Harming Their Mental Health, NY AG’s Lawsuit Alleges
TikTok knowingly harms young users’ mental health all in an effort to turn a profit, a new multistate lawsuit alleges. New York Attorney General Letitia James was among a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general who filed a lawsuit against the social media platform on Tuesday, Oct. 8, alleging fraudulent and deceptive business practices, among other offenses. According to the complaint, TikTok falsely claims its platform is safe for young people despite “addictive features” that worsen their mental health and body image issues. Those features include around-the-clock notifications lea…
News
Bear Caught On Camera In Hudson Valley: Here's Where
Residents in Northern Westchester, stay bear-aware: one of the massive animals was seen strolling behind a home in the area, officials said. The bear was seen walking behind a residence in North Salem on Titicus Road near the Baxter Preserve, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said in a post on social media. The sighting was captured by a camera used by enthusiasts to take pictures of animals, Lucas said. "Please take your bird feeders in!" Lucas wrote on social media. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, residents can protect themse…
Police & Fire
2 Juveniles Nabbed For Making Threats Against Hudson Valley Schools: Police
Two 11-year-old children were caught for allegedly making social media posts containing threats of violence at certain Hudson Valley schools. The threats were made in Ulster County around 8:45 p.m. and were aimed at Ulster County Schools, said Ulster County Sheriff’s Capt. Joseph Sciutto. According to Sciutto, the Sheriff’s Office quickly initiated an investigation into the threats, which were being shared and circulated on a social media platform, Sciutto said. He added that the Sheriff’s Office successfully traced the source of the messages and identified the responsible juveni…
News
Laughing Emoji Leads To Resignation Of Hudson Valley School Board Member
A Hudson Valley school board member resigned after receiving backlash from a social media post in which she placed a laughing emoji to respond to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Dawn Kitz, a South Orangetown Central School District board member, resigned effective Wednesday, Sept. 25, saying she held herself responsible and "I apologized" to offended community members. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Kitz, who joined the board earlier this year, complained during the meeting and on Facebook, saying she had faced an "extremely challenging situation" since joining the boa…
Police & Fire
Dutchess County Juvenile Nabbed For Making 'Non-Specific' School Threat, Police S
A juvenile was charged with allegedly making a threat of mass harm after the FBI alerted the New York State Police of a school threat made in the region on TikTok. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Wappinger. Trooper AJ Hicks said an investigation determined the "non-specific threat originated from the town of Wappinger. Investigators located and arrested the minor soon after, Hicks said. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Dutchess County Family Court. This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Lifestyle
Longtime Hudson Valley Resident Catherine Zeta-Jones Posts Nude Photo: Here's Why
Longtime New York resident actress Catherine Zeta-Jones found a new meaning for the term "birthday suit" in a new social media post. The 55-year-old actress posted a naked photo of herself on Instagram on Thursday, Sept. 25 to celebrate both her birthday and that of her husband, acclaimed actor Michael Douglas, who turned 80. The post shows Zeta-Jones standing over a bathroom sink wearing nothing but her high heels. In the caption, the actress said the photo was "gift option two" for her husband, after golf balls. "After over 25 years of sharing my birthday day with my hu…
News
Alex Jones' InfoWars Up For Auction To Pay Sandy Hook Victims' Families: Report
The tools Alex Jones used to build his conspiracy theory and supplement-hawking empire could soon be yours, NPR reported. A court-appointed trustee will soon begin to auction off pieces of Free Speech Systems, the parent company of InfoWars, to pay back the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting victims, the report continued. Jones owes them $1.5 billion in a defamation judgment after he claimed the massacre, which killed 26 people — 20 of them children – was a hoax. The trustee will sell everything from chairs and production equipment to the InfoWars brand name, th…
Police & Fire
Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest
One person has been charged in connection with an alleged threat of a shooting at a school in the region after an online post was brought to the attention of police by the public. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Fallsburg. According to the Fallsburg Police Department, an arrest was made concerning the threat on Snapchat. Dr. Ivan Katz, the superintendent of schools for the Fallsburg Central School District, said students, parents, and the public also alerted district officials to the threat. "These threats, which mention shooting, are circulating t…
Schools
New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools
With the new school year comes renewed debate over the use of cell phones in the classroom. Among New York parents of school-age children, 77-percent support barring cell phone use in schools during the day, a Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” poll found. Most parents, 72-percent, said they still want their child to have their phone on them in case of an emergency, the poll found. Earlier Report: Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children The poll was conducted by 600 parents with at least one child under the age of 18 in New York Cit…
News
Teenage Girl Accused Of Threatening Shooting At School District In Hudson Valley
A teenage girl has been accused of making a threat to a high school in the Hudson Valley. On Thursday night, Sept. 19, in Rockland County, the Town of Haverstraw Police Department said it was made aware of a potential threat of a shooting that would occur on Friday, Sept. 20, in the North Rockland School District. Officers and detectives immediately began investigating the claim and were able to locate the individual who created a social media post. After an investigation, it was found that this claim was false. The Town of Haverstraw Police Department charged the 16-yea…
News
School Threat Leads To Delayed Start For District In Hudson Valley
A school threat led to a delayed start for a district in the Hudson Valley. At 5:55 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, in Putnam County, administrators were notified of a "possible, non-specific threat made by an individual" in the Carmel High School community. This information was immediately shared with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office so that it could be investigated, according to a statement by the Carmel Central School District. "This threat was not directly related to Carmel High School or any district school, but was a statement made on a group chat on Discord regarding a school threat,"…
Business
Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents'
Millions of teenage Instagram users are being forced into private accounts with enhanced security features aimed at limiting their exposure to harmful content. Meta, the social media platform’s parent company, unveiled its “Teen Accounts” feature on Tuesday, Sept. 17, automatically placing anyone under the age of 18 into a default private account. Teens with a private account must accept new followers and people who don’t follow them can’t see their contact or interact with them. It also comes with strict messaging settings, making it so they can only receive messages from people they foll…
Politics
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues
You’ve seen them on cigarettes and alcohol – now social media accounts could come with their own warnings if New York Attorney General Letitia James gets her way. James was among a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general who sent a letter to Congress on Tuesday, Sept. 10, urging lawmakers to approve US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's request for warnings on sites like TikTok and Instagram about potential adverse mental health effects for minors. Murthy made the request in June, citing new research showing that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face an incr…
News
Gunman Admits To Broad Daylight Shooting Injuring 2 Outside NY Home Of Former Rep. Lee Zeldin
The gunman in a broad daylight shooting that injured two teenagers outside the New York home of former Rep. Lee Zeldin formally confessed. Long Island resident Noah Green, age 20, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Sept. 12. Prosecutors said Green was riding in a stolen SUV with another individual when they spotted three rival gang members walking along Saint George Drive West in Shirley at around 2:20 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2022. Earlier Report: Man Charged Amid Investigation Into Shooting That Injured 2 Near Lee Zeldin'…
Obituaries
Iconic Actor James Earl Jones Dies At 93 In Dutchess County Home
James Earl Jones, the beloved actor and voice behind one of cinema's most memorable villains, died Monday, Sept. 9, at his home in Dutchess County, Variety reported. The "Field of Dreams" star was 93. No cause of death was given. Jones, a Pawling resident, is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. From the Broadway stage, the silver screen, and a galaxy far, far away, the Mississippi-born actor had a range that few others could replicate. He was a large man but could play gentle and meek characters, and his baritone voice could be calm and reassuring like in "The Lion …
Sports
Mixed Reviews, Epic Fail Taint Tom Brady's Debut As NFL Announcer
Tom Brady always seemed comfortable on a football field, but he struggled to adjust looking down on one. That seems to be the consensus review following his first day as an NFL analyst. The seven-time Super Bowl champion debuted as an NFL commentator for Fox on Sunday, Sept. 8, covering the Dallas Cowboys' 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. Though many fans were left talking about Brady's performance rather than anything in the game. Critics dinged him for his nervousness and stiffness in front of the camera. They were shocked to see a man so full of emotion and fire o…
News
New Details: Ex-Husband Shot Way Into NY Home Before Killing Woman, Her BF, DA Says
Authorities have released new details in the case of a New York couple who were shot to death inside their home. Long Island resident Daniel Coppola, age 50, of St. James, was arraigned on four counts of first-degree murder in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Sept. 6, in the deaths of his ex-wife Kelly Coppola and her boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman. Suffolk County Police found Mrs. Coppola, age 50, and Pohlman, age 52, dead from gunshot wounds inside their St. James residence on Brasswood Road shortly before midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Earlier Report: Accused Murderer Ranted About Pr…
Politics
NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation
State leaders are urging New Yorkers to beware purposely misleading election information generated by artificial intelligence. On Thursday, Sept. 5, New York Attorney General Letitia James released an online guide to help voters identify and report AI-generated “deepfakes” that can create videos depicting politicians saying or doing something they never did. Misinformation can also deceive voters on things like eligibility to vote, and where, when, or how to vote. “New Yorkers deserve to be well-informed, not misinformed, about their choices for the upcoming November elections,” James said…
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