New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In Schools New Poll Reveals NYers' Views On Banning Cell Phone Use In 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…
Teenage Girl Accused Of Threatening Shooting At School District In Hudson Valley Teenage Girl Accused Of Threatening Shooting At School District In Hudson Valley
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…
School Threat Leads To Delayed Start For District In Hudson Valley School Threat Leads To Delayed Start For District In Hudson Valley
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,"…
Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents' Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents'
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…
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues
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…
Gunman Admits To Broad Daylight Shooting Injuring 2 Outside NY Home Of Former Rep. Lee Zeldin Gunman Admits To Broad Daylight Shooting Injuring 2 Outside NY Home Of Former Rep. Lee Zeldin
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'…
Iconic Actor James Earl Jones Dies At 93 In Hudson Valley Home Iconic Actor James Earl Jones Dies At 93 In Hudson Valley Home
Iconic Actor James Earl Jones Dies At 93 In Hudson Valley 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 reassurin…
Mixed Reviews, Epic Fail Taint Tom Brady's Debut As NFL Announcer Mixed Reviews, Epic Fail Taint Tom Brady's Debut As NFL Announcer
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…
New Details: Ex-Husband Shot Way Into NY Home Before Killing Woman, Her BF, DA Says New Details: Ex-Husband Shot Way Into NY Home Before Killing Woman, Her BF, DA Says
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…
NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation NYers Urged To Beware, Report AI Election Misinformation
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…
Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home
Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home New details are offering insight into the mind of an accused murderer just hours before he allegedly gunned down his ex-wife and her boyfriend inside their New York home. The Long Island killings happened in St. James, at a residence on Brasswood Road, at around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28. Suffolk County Police said Daniel Coppola, age 50, put his 15-year-old daughter into his car before going inside and shooting his ex-wife, 50-year-old Kelly Coppola, and her boyfriend, 53-year-old Kenneth Pohlman. Earlier Report: Man Kills Ex-Wife, Her BF At St. James Home, Police Say Both vic…
Bank Manager From Orange County Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law Bank Manager From Orange County Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law
Bank Manager From Orange County Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law A Hudson Valley bank manager is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to plotting to hire a hitman to murder her own brother-in-law. Orange County resident Reshma Massarone, age 40, of Pine Bush, a hamlet of Crawford, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision on Wednesday, Aug. 28, said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  “The defendant devised a chilling plan to have a member of her own family murdered for the low price of ten thousand dollars," said Williams. "Her plan was unthinkably heartless. For th…
21-Year-Old Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley 21-Year-Old Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley
21-Year-Old Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley A 21-year-old Connecticut man who was apprehended after driving to the Hudson Valley for what he thought would be sex with a 13-year-old child has been found guilty, officials announced.  The conviction of Fairfield County resident Francisco Gomez of Norwalk for attempted rape was announced on Wednesday, Aug. 28 by Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy.  According to Tendy's office, Gomez used social media to entice a 13-year-old child from Putnam County to engage in sexual activity with him. These messages were later found by the child's mother and shown to authorities, wh…
Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say
Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say A man from the region who allegedly raped a Hudson Valley 15-year-old girl and then dropped her off at school has been charged by state police.  Albany County resident Benjamin Randall, age 22, of Cohoes, was charged on Monday, Aug. 26, in Ulster County in Ellenville on rape charges. According to New York State Police Trooper Steven Nevel, the department received a complaint in April from the 15-year-old that she met Randall on a social media site in March.  After speaking online for several weeks, she agreed to meet with Randall after school. Randall picked her up and drove…
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park 27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park A 27-year-old Connecticut man is accused of carrying on a consensual sexual relationship with a 15-year-old in a neighboring county in New York, authorities announced.  Litchfield County resident Kevin Brathwaite, of Sharon, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 19, and charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, Connecticut State Police said.  The teen told police she met Brathwaite in Dutchess County at Thomas J. Boyce Park in Wingdale, where she was watching her friends play basketball. He offered to drive her home, but she declined. She was 13 years ol…
Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say
Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say A man is facing federal charges in connection with a series of bomb threats that were made against Jewish hospitals in New York. Domagoj Patkovic, age 31, of Portland, Oregon, is charged with making bomb threats and related offenses in an indictment that was unsealed in Oregon federal court on Tuesday, Aug. 20. According to prosecutors, Patkovic and others called in bomb threats to Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island beginning in May 2021. During the calls, they allegedly made violent threats and threatened to detonate explosive devices. Patkovic himself…
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted NY Rep. George Santos  Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…
YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley
YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley Social media was abuzz after YouTube star and professional boxer Jake Paul was sighted during both a police boat escort on a Hudson Valley lake and a private helicopter ride.  The sightings happened on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 15, when Paul, an internet icon who began a boxing career in 2018, was seen in Putnam County during a ride on Lake Mahopac.  Paul was seen being escorted by Carmel Police officers in videos posted to TikTok, including one from user ryzy15.  In addition to the boat ride, Paul was also seen taking a private helicopter to Petra Island in the middle of the lake that took…
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches In an at-times rambling conversation plagued by tech glitches that jumped from fawning praise to forced questions, former President Donald Trump laid out his clearest thesis for his campaign: Vote Trump to preserve American supremacy around the globe and avoid a World War.  The conversation began about the assassination attempt on Trump's life. Musk said he was stunned at how close Trump was to losing his life. The former president said even his doctors couldn't believe his luck.  The former president said it was most likely divine intervention that saved his life. https://t.c…
'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park 'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park
'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park In an election cycle filled with ridiculous news stories with more dangerously sharp twists than an unregulated carnival rollercoaster, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped one of the weirdest news stories of this year on Monday, Aug. 5.  The presidential candidate announced he left a dead bear cub in Central Park because he thought "it would be fun for people." It wasn't, and Kennedy has been turned into a meme overnight.  Related: RFK Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park It all began after Kennedy posted a video of him telling the story to Rosea…
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In Covid-19 Cases Lawmakers in a New York county approved a controversial bill criminalizing mask wearing amid a summer bump in COVID-19 cases. On Long Island, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the “Mask Transparency Act” by a vote of 12-0 on Monday night, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in the county. It also gives private businesses the right to prohibit masks on their premises. It grants exceptions for health or religious reasons, though that distinction will be determ…
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park In an apparent effort to get in front of a weirder-than-weird story about a baby bear, Independent presidential candidate Robert J. Kennedy, Jr. came clean on X and solved a 10-year-old mystery. Kennedy released the video on X on Sunday, Aug. 4, explaining to Roseann Barr that a story in the New Yorker is true about how he picked up a dead baby black bear in the Hudson Valley off the road in Orange County while falconing in Goshen in 2014. In the video, the former Northern Westchester County resident who lived in Bedford tells Barr how "a woman in a van in front of me hit a bear and killed …
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors A 23-year-old Hudson Valley man has been charged with sexual exploitation of minors to engage in alleged sexual activity. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Wednesday, July 31, that Rockland County resident Oscar Lemus of Haverstraw was arrested and detained following an investigation. As alleged in the complaint, Lemus is accused of allegedly using the screen name “lemus.xp” to meet a 14-year-old girl on social media and persuade her to meet him in Rockland County to engage in sexual activity. In March, Lemus also engaged in sexual activity …
New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb
New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb An 18-year-old who had been the target of a multi-state manhunt for the murder of a Hudson Valley man was found hiding in an out-of-state Airbnb.  Earlier Report: Teenage Suspect In Haverstraw Murder Of 29-Year-Old Nabbed In South Carolina Rockland County resident Yandie Martinez of Haverstraw was nabbed around 1:20 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in Piedmont, South Carolina, for the Monday, July 1, murder of Christian Alvarado in Haverstraw. According to Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould, Martinez allegedly shot and killed Alvardo inside a vehicle in the area of W…
Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job
Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job Employees from a Hudson Valley town bid farewell to their police chief, who resigned to take a new position. For the past 11 years, Police Chief Keith Dworkin has called Dutchess County and the Fishkill Police Department home, but on Friday, July 19, he said goodbye to take another position as chief in the village of Millbrook. In a Facebook post, the department said Dworkin had worked tirelessly during his four years as chief to promote community outreach, encourage public relations, and increase resident confidence in the police department. "Under his leadership, the community policing u…
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former President Donald Trump unveiled his vice presidential running mate late Monday afternoon, July 15.  US Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, age 39, was announced as the pick by Trump on Truth Social just ahead of his appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The post reads as follows: "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Ma…
Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks
Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks As part of an initiative to promote physical and mental health among young New Yorkers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that pool entry fees will be waived at state parks this summer. “Summer is here – get offline and get outside.” On Tuesday, July 2, Hochul announced that for the rest of the summer, there will be no entry fees at New York State Parks pools. It’s part of the “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign, which encourages young people and families to prioritize their mental and physical health by taking a break from social media to enjoy recreation and social gatherings outdoors. Poo…
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips ‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips Social media is abuzz with outrage after a New York mother accused an ice cream shop owner of withholding customer tips that were given to her 15-year-old son and other employees. In a post on a community Facebook page Monday, July 1, the Long Island resident said her son quit his job at the Hauppauge business after the owner allegedly told him he “can’t figure out” how to separate tips that customers paid using a debit or credit card on his point-of-sale system. “I am not one who tips for every little thing, but people were tipping these kids on their credit cards, which they really apprec…