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Contractor Who 'Destroyed' Protected Wetlands In West Babylon Fined $121K Contractor Who 'Destroyed' Protected Wetlands In West Babylon Fined $121K
Contractor Who 'Destroyed' Protected Wetlands In West Babylon Fined $121K A Long Island contractor will fork over six figures in fines for building a parking lot on protected wetlands. Anthony Labriola and his companies, ALAC Realty and ALAC Contracting, were penalized $121,000 by New York State for illegally building on a protected area along the Carlls River in West Babylon. New York Attorney General Letitita James revealed Friday, Nov. 8, that Labriola and his companies removed trees and plants in a protected "buffer area” to build a construction vehicle parking lot and storage facility. The Carlls River freshwater wetlands are classified under the Department…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Man Admits Dumping Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Hospital, Costing $30K In Cleanup Man Admits Dumping Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Hospital, Costing $30K In Cleanup
Man Admits Dumping Hazardous Waste At Former Brentwood Hospital, Costing $30K In Cleanup A Long Island man confessed to dumping hazardous waste at a former hospital, costing taxpayers and the property owner thousands of dollars. Carleton Pulley, age 48, of Bay Shore, pleaded guilty to endangering public health, safety or the environment in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Sept. 5. According to prosecutors, a police officer witnessed Pulley unloading tires from a tractor trailer on the grounds of the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center in Brentwood in April 2023. Earlier Report: Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former LI Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands In Cleanup:…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus With No Vaccine: 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared NY Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus With No Vaccine: 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared
NY Resident Dies From Rare Mosquito Virus With No Vaccine: 'Imminent Threat To Public' Declared A New York resident has died days after contracting the state’s first human case of a rare but serious mosquito-borne virus in nearly a decade. The Ulster County resident died from complications stemming from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office confirmed on Monday, Sept. 23. It marks the first human case of EEE in New York State since 2015. Earlier Report: Human Case Of Severe Mosquito-Borne Virus Confirmed In Ulster County, First In NY Since 2015 “We’ve been informed this patient has passed away from EEE, we extend our sympathies and our hearts go out t…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break
Slithery Surprise: 12-Foot Python Attacks Crews Responding To NY Water Main Break It wasn’t exactly what crews expected to find on a busted pipe call. In the region, employees with the Albany Water Department got quite a scare on Friday, July 12, while responding to a broken 48-inch water transmission line in Tivoli Lake Preserve. Shortly after arriving on site, crews encountered a 12-foot-long snake. Albany Water initially identified the creature as a boa constrictor. Still, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) later clarified to Daily Voice that the serpent was actually a reticulated python measuring a whopping 12 feet, 10 inches long.  A DEC …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Pair Of Shark Sightings Reported At Rockaway Beach Pair Of Shark Sightings Reported At Rockaway Beach
Pair Of Shark Sightings Reported At Rockaway Beach Governor Kathy Hochul announced that state parks would be increasing their shark surveillance capabilities after two shark sightings were reported at at Rockaway Beach, causing closures. The first set of jaws was spotted at just after noon on Thursday, July 11. According to a post by the New York Police Department’s Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, the shark was captured by surveillance drones - Rockaway Beach at 86th Street. As a result, police closed down the beach from 64th to 104th streets. Be Advised! Our drones have sighted a shark at Rockaway Beach. Beach will be closed…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul
New Advisory Issued To NYers For Extreme Heat, Severe Storms, Unhealthy Air: Hochul New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay safe and hydrated as hot, humid air rolls into much of the state ahead of severe storms predicted to bring heavy rains and flash flooding.  In an announcement on Monday, July 8, Hochul warned that above-average temperatures and high humidity would arrive in the state in the next few days. This includes "feels like temperatures" at or above 95 degrees, which can cause an increased risk of heat illnesses, Hochul's office said.  Related Report - Rounds Of Thunderstorms Expected Over Span Of Days: Here's Timing In res…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Long Island Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home Long Island Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home
Long Island Man Busted With More Than 100 Animals Inside Home A Long Island man was charged with illegal possession of endangered wildlife after officials uncovered more than 100 animals, many endangered, inside his home. The unnamed North Bellmore resident's home was raided on Tuesday, Jan. 23 by officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Responding officers discovered the resident illegally possessed several regulated species including an endangered tiger salamander, two monitor lizards (venomous reptiles), and protected diamondback terrapin.  The re…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists With the arrival of fall, there is an increased risk of crashes involving deer, both the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are warning motorists. Deer are most active and more likely to enter public roadways this time of year as they search for mates during their breeding season, which is the months of October, November, and December. According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, in 2022, 41.5 percent of the crashes between deer and vehicles occurred during this three-month…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former LI Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands In Cleanup: DA Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former LI Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands In Cleanup: DA
Man Dumps Hazardous Waste At Former LI Psychiatric Center, Costing Thousands In Cleanup: DA A Long Island man’s decision to dump hazardous waste at a former psychiatric center left the property owner and taxpayers on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs, prosecutors said. Carleton Pulley, age 48, of Bay Shore, was arraigned on charges of endangering public health and related offenses in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, Aug. 30. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, a police officer witnessed Pulley unloading tires from a tractor trailer on the grounds of the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center in Brentwood on Sunday, April 23. Th…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Wildlife officers in New York got a slithery surprise on Valentine’s Day when a massive reticulated python was found on the side of a Long Island road. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers were called Tuesday, Feb. 14, with reports that a large snake had been found on the side of the road in the town of Medford, according to the agency. When officers arrived, they found the python curled up in a ball. They quickly determined that the reptile, which measured 14 feet long, was dead. Officers removed the snake from the roadway to “appropriately dispose of it,” the agency s…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries - 42,000 Pounds Of Them: Truck Hits Hutchinson Parkway Overpass Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries - 42,000 Pounds Of Them: Truck Hits Hutchinson Parkway Overpass
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries - 42,000 Pounds Of Them: Truck Hits Hutchinson Parkway Overpass This story has been updated. A truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen french fries struck an overpass on a Westchester County parkway, causing a fuel spill and a closure of the roadway's lanes in one direction.   The incident happened on Wednesday morning, Feb. 1 around 6:50 a.m., when a tractor-trailer traveling south on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale hit the Mamaroneck Road bridge, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary said.  As a result of the crash, 75 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the trailer's refrigeration unit onto the parkway and int…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Long Island Home (Developing) Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Long Island Home (Developing)
Video: Crews Responding To Boat Fire At Long Island Home (Developing) Emergency crews responded to reports of a boat fire at a home on Long Island Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29. The incident was reported at around 3 p.m. at a home in Wantagh, located near Riverside Drive and Hemlock Place. Video posted on Twitter shows a small boat fully engulfed in flames with a large plume of black smoke visible for miles. If you’re in the Bellmore area & see this cloud of smoke, it’s not a house fire but a boat fire. pic.twitter.com/qypjJlN5yV — Will Chiarucci (@WillChiarucci) December 29, 2022 Multiple agencies were called to the scene, including the state Depart…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post A New York hunter learned the hard way that if you’re going to break the rules, it’s probably best not to announce it on social media. Department of Environmental Conservation officers in Greene County were tipped off on Wednesday, Dec. 7, about a Facebook post showing a man with a deer that had been taken illegally, the department said. Officers learned that the man had moved from the Capital Region to the town of Hope in Hamilton County. Investigators there were able to track down the man’s location, where they spotted the prized buck hanging on a property. While interviewing the man, h…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks 'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks Two college students in New York had to be rescued by state Forest Rangers after getting left behind in the woods of the Adirondacks while on a day retreat. Emergency crews in Warren County were called at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, with reports that two students were lost near Dippikill Pond, located about 10 miles northwest of the town of Warrensburg. A Forest Ranger contacted the students via phone and responded to the area, where he was able to make voice contact with them, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said.  He then made his way to them a short time …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island
Bald Eagle Euthanized After Being Struck By Car On Long Island A bald eagle has died after being struck by a car on Long Island, state wildlife officials announced. Suffolk County Police were called Thursday, Sept. 22, with reports of a bald eagle that had been struck by a vehicle in Manorville on the Sunrise Highway. Police requested additional support from officers with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who helped safely capture the juvenile bird and place it in a cage, the agency said. The animal was then taken to a local rehabilitator for an X-ray and further treatment. Upon closer examination, however, the rehabilitator disco…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage Lifeguards in New York are getting a pay raise. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new directive Wednesday, June 22, increasing the starting pay rates for lifeguards at state park beaches and pools, as well as campgrounds and day-use area beaches. Newly hired lifeguards at upstate facilities will see a 34-percent increase in pay from $14.95 per hour to $20 per hour. And starting pay at downstate facilities will go up 21 percent from $18.15 per hour to $22 per hour. Hochul said the idea is to better attract qualified candidates amid a staffing shortage at New York State Park and Department of E…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park
Improved Public Access Announced For Hempstead State Park Some improvements have been completed at one of Long Island’s most popular parks. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a near $4 million improvement project at the Hempstead Lake State Park to enhance public access to the park and lake, which represents the largest body of freshwater in Nassau County. The project includes the creation of nearly five miles of trails that can be used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as improved connections to the lake and ponds with a new kayak launch and fishing pier. The fishing pier at Hempstead Lake State Park.Flic…

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by Zak Failla
News
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Westchester, Police Say Residents in Westchester have been advised to be on alert after a coyote attacked a dog in the area. In Mount Vernon, the police department issued an advisory cautioning that a small dog was recently attacked near North Columbus Avenue and California Road by what was reported to be a coyote. It is the latest sighting in the area, and the first reported attack. Earlier story - Coyote Advisory Issued In Westchester After Multiple Sightings “Please remember that we share our environment with wild animals, so while it is rare that they appear in Mount Vernon, they do appear from time to time…

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by Zak Failla
News
DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island
DEC Seizes Illegal Turtles On Long Island A Long Island resident was recently ticketed for allegedly selling sick painted turtles. The turtles were found when officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation discovered an online ad offering painted turtles for sale in Nassau County in Hempstead. After discovering the ad, a DEC officer posed as an interested customer and contacted the seller who offered five painted turtles for $200, the department said. While not endangered, the turtles are native wildlife, and selling or keeping them as pets is illegal, the department added. The officers, along with investigator…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway A national study is measuring the effects of contaminated drinking water in nearly a dozen regions of the country including towns near a Hudson Valley National Guard base. The contaminants, known as PFAS, are also called “forever” chemicals because they stay in bodies for many years and have been linked to potentially serious health problems. In many cases, the source of PFAS in the groundwater is likely past use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the area. At airports and military bases, the foam is used as a fire suppressant to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. Th…

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by Jon Craig
News
Multiple State Agencies Sent To Scene Of Rockville Centre Tanker Explosion, Hochul Says Multiple State Agencies Sent To Scene Of Rockville Centre Tanker Explosion, Hochul Says
Multiple State Agencies Sent To Scene Of Rockville Centre Tanker Explosion, Hochul Says Following a gasoline tanker crash and explosion on Long Island, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed multiple state agencies to the area to help with environmental issues caused by the crash. The crash and following fire and large fuel spill in Nassau County took place around 1 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 16, when the driver of the tanker lost control and slammed into a commercial building on the Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre.  The crash of the tanker which was carrying some 13,000 gallons of gasoline, also caused a fuel leak, which traveled into storm sewer tunnels causing a large…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter New York State agencies have prepared emergency response assets ahead of a winter storm that could bring more than a foot of snow to parts of the state. The storm could bring heavy snow to parts of Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley regions beginning in the evening of Friday, Jan. 28, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Some areas could see between 6 and 12 inches of snow by the night of Saturday, Jan. 29. "A winter storm system moving up the coast has the potential to deliver heavy snow, gusty winds, and create dangerous travel conditions across downstate l…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California The final four New York State wildland firefighters who were battling blazes in Oregon and California have returned home after completing their two-week assignments. The four firefighters are all Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul said Ranger Bryan Gallagher, who is from Suffolk County, was a facility unit leader at the Dixie Fire in California.  Ranger Charles Kabrehl, of Warren County, also worked at the Dixie Fire as a task force leader.  Ranger Joseph Hess, from Saratoga County, worked as …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency After Tropical Depression Ida brought historic rainfall to parts of the region, flash flooding, and scores of power outages, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is directing additional state agency assets to respond to the areas impacted. The storm, which began moving through the area on Wednesday, Sept. 1, caused flooding on a number of roadways across Long Island, the lower Mid-Hudson and New York City, the state said. In Westchester and Rockland counties, New York State Fire and State Police, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation participated in about 100 rescues, the state…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida New York State agencies are preparing emergency response assets as Tropical Depression Ida is set to impact the region with heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding in some areas. The storm arrived on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and is expected to pass through by late Thursday afternoon, Sept. 2. Related story: Ida Arrives With Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds, Flash Flooding; Isolated Tornadoes Possible "The remnants of Hurricane Ida are forecast to impact downstate and eastern parts of the state, including New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson Valley, and Capital r…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred
NY Agencies Preparing For Rain, Flash Flooding Conditions Ahead Of Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred New York State agencies are preparing for widespread rain and possible flash flooding conditions as Post-Tropical Cyclone Fred is set to move through the state. The storm is expected to begin moving through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 18, and exit by midday Thursday, Aug. 19. The State Department of Transportation is preparing to patrol areas that are susceptible to flooding, and personnel are set to respond with equipment to remove debris and set up temporary closures and detours. The state said the Department of Public Service has about 5,500 workers ready to engage in damage assessment,…

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by Nicole Valinote
Weather
New York State Agencies Announce Storm Emergency Preparation Efforts New York State Agencies Announce Storm Emergency Preparation Efforts
New York State Agencies Announce Storm Emergency Preparation Efforts With a wave of potentially severe storms set to move into the New York area, state agencies have been planning their emergency response effort. Some downstate areas could experience up to four inches of rain, and wind gusts could reach up 60 miles per hour, the National Weather Service. The State said that the Department of Transportation has the following assets prepared to respond: 1,395 large dump trucks 74 wheeled and tracked excavators 306 large loaders 17 vacuum trucks with sewer jets 20 graders 15 tree crew bucket trucks 77 chippers Additionally, the state said the New York St…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
Man Injured By Black Bear While Checking Noise Outside Home In Area Man Injured By Black Bear While Checking Noise Outside Home In Area
Man Injured By Black Bear While Checking Noise Outside Home In Area A New York man was injured by a black bear after going outside to see what was in his garbage can. The attack happened around 11 p.m., Friday, June 4 in Sullivan County in the hamlet of Rock Hill. The homeowner heard a noise near the trash containers, went outside, and was reportedly scratched by the bear, said officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The man received mild injuries but was transported to the hospital for treatment, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office said. DEC is reminding residents to use caution when in the area of a black bear. They offered t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Dolphin Stranded In Mud On Long Island Freed By Police Officers Dolphin Stranded In Mud On Long Island Freed By Police Officers
Dolphin Stranded In Mud On Long Island Freed By Police Officers A dolphin stranded on land due to a low tide on Long Island was freed by officers from the Nassau County Police Department who trudged through knee-deep mud to perform the operation. The incident took place around 7:20 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, in Manhasset Bay, when the officers responded to a 911 call for a stranded dolphin, the Nassau County Police said.  When officers arrived on the scene, they found a civilian with the large dolphin who was stuck due to the low tide.  Sixth Precinct Sgt. Vitiello and Officer Owens entered the mud and made their way to assist. Nassau County Marine Bur…

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by Kathy Reakes