‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians ‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians New York politicians wasted no time reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a federal ban on bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more quickly. In their 6-3 ruling Friday, June 14, with conservatives in the majority, the high court sided with a Texas gun store owner who surrendered his bump stocks after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. He later sued to get them back. The ATF’s regulation, issued under the Trump administration with his full support, came about after the 2017 Las Veg…
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature 'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature New Yorkers with felony convictions could soon serve on court juries after state lawmakers passed legislation reversing the lifetime ban on such service. The New York State Assembly on Friday, June 7, passed the “Jury of Our Peers Act,” which would allow those convicted of felonies to serve on New York juries once they are released from prison or have otherwise satisfied all of their sentencing requirements. Advocates say the move will help rectify an underrepresentation of minorities on juries. “Black New Yorkers have been systematically denied the right to serve on juries as they are dis…
Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial
Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial A New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump of all charges in his alleged hush money trial, finding that he falsified business records to buy an adult film star’s silence and influence the 2016 presidential election. The historic verdict, the first adjudication and conviction of a former US president, was reached shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, after around 10 hours of deliberation. Seven men and five women on the jury unanimously found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree that were filed by Manhattan District Attorne…
'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly 'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly
'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly Two years after a young mother from New York was stabbed to death by her mother’s ex-boyfriend, state lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at closing the dangerous loophole that led to her killing. On Tuesday, May 21, the New York Assembly passed “Melanie’s Law,” allowing judges to expand orders of protection for immediate family members or household members of named victims of domestic violence, regardless of their age. The legislation is named after Melanie Chianese, who was stabbed to death on May 29, 2022, inside the Dutchess County residence in Wappingers Falls that she shared with …
'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers 'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers
'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers New York lawmakers are considering new legislation aimed at protecting sex trafficking survivors and closing a legal loophole often used by their abusers. The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act (STSJEA), introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, would decriminalize prostitution and automatically expunge all prior convictions for prostitution. If passed, the bill would also: Eliminate a loophole in New York State law that prevents sex abusers from being charged with promotion of prostitution when they traffic people to themselves Prevent people from being charged as a…
Too Traumatic? School Lockdown Drills Would Be Reduced Under NY Bill Too Traumatic? School Lockdown Drills Would Be Reduced Under NY Bill
Too Traumatic? School Lockdown Drills Would Be Reduced Under NY Bill Some New York state lawmakers want to reduce the number of school lockdown drills that are held each year over concerns they could be harmful to students’ mental health. A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon would cut back the number of required lockdown drills from four per year to two. Schools would still have the option of conducting more drills if they chose to. The legislation would also mandate that school drills be conducted in a “trauma-informed, developmentally age-appropriate manner,” and would permit parents to opt their children ou…
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities 'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities New York state lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at expanding the definition of drugged driving amid a rise in fatal crashes. A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Mannion and co-sponsored by two Republicans would change the definition of “drug” in the vehicle and traffic law to include any substance or combination of substances that impairs one’s ability to drive. Under current state law, drivers who are obviously impaired by a drug can only be arrested and prosecuted if the substance they are on is listed in a specific section of the Public Health Law. The problem, proponent…
'I Don't Really Care': DA Flashes Badge, Phones Chief During Tense NY Traffic Stop 'I Don't Really Care': DA Flashes Badge, Phones Chief During Tense NY Traffic Stop
'I Don't Really Care': DA Flashes Badge, Phones Chief During Tense NY Traffic Stop A district attorney in upstate New York is under fire after she was caught on video berating and disobeying a police officer after refusing to pull over for a traffic stop. The tense exchange between Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley and a Webster Police Department officer on Monday, April 22, was captured in a 26-minute video recorded by the officer’s body camera. In the footage, the officer is seen approaching Doorley’s garage moments after she parked her SUV after ignoring his attempts to stop her for speeding. “I’m sorry, I’m the DA. I was going 55 coming home from work,” Doorley tells t…
NYers' Views On Transgender Athletes, Other Hot Button Issues Revealed In Fresh Polling NYers' Views On Transgender Athletes, Other Hot Button Issues Revealed In Fresh Polling
NYers' Views On Transgender Athletes, Other Hot Button Issues Revealed In Fresh Polling In an age where Democrats and Republicans can't seem to agree on anything, fresh polling shows New Yorkers on both sides of the aisle still have some common ground on a few hot button issues. Strong bipartisan majorities support safeguarding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and enhancing protections for the LGBTQ community, a Siena College poll released Monday, April 22, showed. Specifically, 80 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of Republicans, and 72 percent of independents favored safeguarding access to IVF for all Americans, the poll found. Related Report: 'Blatantly Illegal…
Key Witness In Trump Trial Has Strong Ties To Westchester Key Witness In Trump Trial Has Strong Ties To Westchester
Key Witness In Trump Trial Has Strong Ties To Westchester A key witness in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial who allegedly helped bury negative stories involving him has close ties to Westchester, including a university in the county from which he graduated.  Former media executive David Pecker, the former CEO of the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media, Inc., became the first witness to testify in Trump's criminal trial on Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23,  The 72-year-old Pecker testified that he had used "catch and kill" tactics to buy rights to stories casting Trump in a negative light and then decl…
'Goodbye For Now': George Santos Ends NY Congressional Bid 'Goodbye For Now': George Santos Ends NY Congressional Bid
'Goodbye For Now': George Santos Ends NY Congressional Bid Just a month after launching his independent congressional bid, disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos is withdrawing from the race. The ex-Republican lawmaker from Long Island announced that he was ending his campaign for the state’s 1st District, representing eastern Suffolk County, in a post on X Tuesday, April 23. “I have decided to withdraw from my independent run for #NY1,” Santos said. “I don’t want my run to be portrayed as reprisal against [Republican] Nick Lalota… Although Nick and I don’t have the same voting record and I remain critical of his abysmal record, I don’t want …
Trump Trial: New Poll Reveals How NYers Feel About Hush Money Case Trump Trial: New Poll Reveals How NYers Feel About Hush Money Case
Trump Trial: New Poll Reveals How NYers Feel About Hush Money Case As the first day of testimony wrapped up in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial, new polling showed that a majority of New Yorkers consider the prosecution warranted. A Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday, April 22, showed that 54 percent of respondents said the trial is “legitimate,” while 30 percent saw the prosecution as a meritless “witch hunt.” Broken down by party, 77 percent of Democrats and 44 percent of independents called the proceedings a “legitimate trial to determine whether Trump is or is not guilty of criminal behavior.” Meanwhile, 66 percent of …