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Legislation

‘Disguised’ Vapes Shaped Like School Supplies Targeted In Crackdown To Protect NY Kids ‘Disguised’ Vapes Shaped Like School Supplies Targeted In Crackdown To Protect NY Kids
‘Disguised’ Vapes Shaped Like School Supplies Targeted In Crackdown To Protect NY Kids Westchester County is moving to ban e-cigarettes designed to look like everyday items — the latest step in a growing effort to curb youth vaping.  In an announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 22, County Executive Ken Jenkins unveiled new legislation that would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices disguised as common objects such as pens, toys, drink containers, and backpacks.  "These products are disguised as smartphone cases, toys, drink containers, backpacks, and other common items," Jenkins said, adding, "While they may appear harmless, these devices are intended …
DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips' DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips'
DJs, Dog Walkers, Uber Drivers: See Who May Qualify For 'No Tax On Tips' From bartenders and cooks to podcast hosts and social media influencers, a wide range of jobs are included under a so-called "no tax on tips" rule. The Treasury Department has released a sweeping preliminary list of jobs that may not have to pay federal tax on tip income. The provision is part of the spending law previously named the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that Congressional Republicans passed in July. The draft includes restaurant servers and bartenders, hairdressers, taxi drivers, tour guides, and even digital content creators. To qualify, a job must have "customarily and regu…
NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know
NY Expands Crossbow Use To Battle 'Overgrown' Deer Herds: Here's What To Know New York hunters will soon have more access to crossbows to help manage what state officials say is a skyrocketing deer population.  Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill sponsored by State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner that legalizes crossbows for big game hunting anywhere longbows are permitted.  The new law, which took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature on Tuesday, Aug. 26, also reforms outdated equipment standards and establishes safety buffer zones around homes and other occupied buildings, according to Harckham and Woe…
Oops: Pot Shops Planted Too Close To NY Schools, State Admits Oops: Pot Shops Planted Too Close To NY Schools, State Admits
Oops: Pot Shops Planted Too Close To NY Schools, State Admits New York’s budding cannabis industry just got smoked by a math mistake. Dozens of cannabis dispensaries across New York are facing the possibility of relocation—or closure—after state officials admitted to miscalculating how close shops were to nearby schools. The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has acknowledged that its prior guidance for measuring the legal distance between dispensaries and school grounds did not comply with state law. Under Cannabis Law §72(6), dispensaries must be at least 500 feet from a school’s property line—a stricter interpretation than the agency ha…
Bus Crash That Killed Band Director, Teacher In Hudson Valley Caused By Faulty Tire: NTSB Bus Crash That Killed Band Director, Teacher In Hudson Valley Caused By Faulty Tire: NTSB
Bus Crash That Killed Band Director, Teacher In Hudson Valley Caused By Faulty Tire: NTSB A charter bus crash that killed two Long Island educators on a Hudson Valley highway in 2023 was caused by a damaged tire, according to the final accident report. The report – released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday, July 24 – found that prolonged underinflation and prior impact damage caused the left-front tire to blow. That sent the bus careening through a cable barrier and tumbling down an embankment on I-84 in Wawayanda on Sept. 21, 2023. At the time of the accident, the bus was carrying 40 members of Long Island’s Farmingdale High School marching band – …
Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes
Most US Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Dyes The vast majority of the nation's ice cream makers have agreed to make their treats without artificial food colorings by 2028. The International Dairy Foods Association has pledged to phase out the synthetic dyes by the end of 2027, the trade group announced on Monday, July 14. The IDFA represents dozens of companies that make more than 90% of the nation's ice cream products. The companies will phase out certified artificial colors from ice cream and frozen dairy desserts made with real milk. Those dyes include Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Y…
'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund 'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund
'Tool For Bribery': Sens. Blumenthal, Warren Want Rules For Trump’s Presidential Library Fund Two high-ranking Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to tighten the rules for how sitting presidents raise and use donations for their presidential libraries, citing practices linked to President Donald Trump. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are backing the bill alongside Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), according to CBS News. “Donald Trump is using his presidential library as a tool for bribery while he is still in office,” Warren told CBS. She added, “Many of the donations to Trump's …
Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule
Medical Debt Returning To Americans' Credit Reports After Judge Reverses Biden-Era Rule A federal judge in Texas has overturned a Biden-era rule that removed medical debt from Americans' credit reports. Judge Sean Jordan scrapped the regulation in a ruling on Friday, July 11. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized the rule on Tuesday, Jan. 7, about two weeks before former President Joe Biden left office. The decision came exactly a week after President Donald Trump signed the previously named "One Big Beautiful Bill" into law. Experts warn that the Republican-backed budget reconciliation legislation makes sweeping cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, while incr…
Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study
Nicotine Poisonings Surge Among Babies, Young Kids: Study Poisonings among young children have risen sharply as products like nicotine pouches and vaping liquids become more popular, according to a new study. US poison control centers received 134,663 reports of kids six years old and younger ingesting nicotine from 2010 through 2023, according to the study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday, July 14. In a shorter timeframe, the researchers found that nicotine poisonings rose by more than 760% from 2020 to 2023. The study said that two children died from ingesting e-liquids and 39 suffered "major eff…
Ban On ICE Agent Masks Proposed By NY Lawmaker Ban On ICE Agent Masks Proposed By NY Lawmaker
Ban On ICE Agent Masks Proposed By NY Lawmaker New York lawmakers are considering a bill that would bar federal immigration agents and other police officers from hiding their identities while on duty. The legislation – titled the Mandating End of Lawless Tactics (MELT) Act — was unveiled this week by Democratic Assemblymember Tony Simone. If passed, it would prohibit officers at all levels, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from covering their faces or failing to display identifying information such as a badge number or name while operating within New York state. The measure includes exceptions for protective gear w…
Here's How Many NY Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study Here's How Many NY Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study
Here's How Many NY Families May Lose SNAP Benefits Under Trump's 'Big Beautiful' Law: Study Northeast families are expected to be among the hardest hit under sweeping federal cuts to food benefits in the Republican-backed law previously named the "One Big Beautiful Bill," according to a new study. President Donald Trump signed the spending bill into law on Friday, July 4, after the GOP narrowly passed it through both chambers of Congress. Among many massive changes, the bill is forecasted to cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by $186 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 20% reduction is the largest cut in the history of SNAP be…
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why
M&M's, Skittles Reportedly Resisting Push To End Artificial Food Dye Use: Here's Why One of the nation's largest candy makers is pushing back on a years-long effort to remove artificial food dyes from its products, according to reports. Mars, the McLean, Virginia-based company behind popular candies like M&M's, is resisting the federal government's effort to remove synthetic food colorings, The New York Times reported on Monday, July 7. This comes as more than a dozen food giants like Kraft Heinz, General Mills, PepsiCo, ConAgra, and Nestlé have agreed to eliminate the artificial dyes from their US products by the end of 2027. Federal agencies have tried for y…
Adult Websites Would Require Age Verification Under Proposed NY Law Adult Websites Would Require Age Verification Under Proposed NY Law
Adult Websites Would Require Age Verification Under Proposed NY Law New Yorkers trying to access adult websites may soon need to prove they’re 18 or older, under a proposed state law designed to shield minors from sexually explicit content. The bill, introduced by Republican State Sen. Jake Ashby, would require any pornographic website operating in New York to verify a user’s age before granting access. Verification would be done using tools like government-issued IDs, credit card payments, or other commercially accepted systems that confirm age through public records. The legislation targets “sexual material harmful to minors” and defines that broadly—ra…
Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive
Inside The Mansion Tax: Why Selling A House In New Jersey Just Got Way More Expensive New Jersey’s luxury real estate market was thrown into turmoil after lawmakers passed a sweeping mansion tax bill on Monday, June 30, shifting the state’s high-end realty transfer fee from buyers to sellers and adding steep new tiers up to 3.5%. Under the new law, Assembly Bill 5804, sellers of homes over $1 million will absorb what had historically been a 1% buyer-paid fee, with significant increases for higher-value properties. The rates for sellers rises to: 2% over $2 million 2.5% over $2.5 million 3% over $3 million 3.5% over $3.5 million That means a seller of a $4 million home will …
Hochul Leads '26 Governor’s Race Against GOP Challengers, But Fails To Hit 50%, Poll Shows Hochul Leads '26 Governor’s Race Against GOP Challengers, But Fails To Hit 50%, Poll Shows
Hochul Leads '26 Governor’s Race Against GOP Challengers, But Fails To Hit 50%, Poll Shows Gov. Kathy Hochul holds a commanding early lead over three potential Republican challengers in the 2026 New York governor’s race, fresh polling shows. Hochul leads Rep. Elise Stefanik by 23 points, 47 to 24%, Rep. Mike Lawler by 20 points, 44 to 24%, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by 25 points, 44 to 19%, according to a Siena College poll released Tuesday, July 1. However, she’s still falling short of the 50% mark in every matchup, and more than a quarter of voters remain undecided, pollsters found. “While the early leads seem large, Hochul is not hitting the ‘magic’ 51% mark …
Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party' Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party'
Trump Threatens Elon Musk With Deportation After Billionaire Calls GOP 'Porky Pig Party' What started as a political breakup has turned into a full-blown war of words, with President Donald Trump now suggesting deporting Elon Musk, the former leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump escalated his increasingly personal feud with Musk on Tuesday morning, July 1, hinting that the South African-born billionaire might face scrutiny — or even deportation — under a government agency Musk once led. “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump told reporters. He made the remark before boarding Marine One en route to Florida’s “Alligator Al…
'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral 'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral
'Want To Go Home': PA Sen. Fetterman Slammed After Complaint About Missed Beach Trip Goes Viral Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman apparently would rather be building sandcastles than slogging through Senate votes. As the US Senate trudged through a grueling voting marathon on President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package, Fetterman went viral for saying what many might’ve been thinking. The Democratic lawmaker, while addressing reporters outside the Senate chamber on Monday, June 30, raised eyebrows when asked about possible timing on the bill: “Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman said, visibly frustrated during the vote-a-rama underway in Washington. “I’ve alrea…
NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill'
NC Senator Won't Seek Re-Election After Clashing With Trump Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' Sen. Thom Tillis announced he will not seek re-election just hours after voting against President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” The North Carolina Republican issued a lengthy statement following his vote against the measure, which passed 51-49. “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said Sunday, June 29. “It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.” Once a MAGA devotee, Til…
'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack 'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack
'Utterly Insane': Musk Reignites Trump Feud, Taking Aim At His 'Big Bill' In New Attack Elon Musk has reignited his feud with President Donald Trump after tensions had seemingly simmered, attacking his signature spending proposal just weeks after their public split over the same bill led to a blowout of their bromance. In a post published Saturday, June 28, on X, the 54-year-old billionaire entrepreneur warned that “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Hours after the post went live, the Senate advanced the tax-and-spend package to general debate following a razor-thin late-night vote of 51-49. …
Bill Would Require Heart Tests For Student Athletes In Wake Of NY Hockey Player's Death Bill Would Require Heart Tests For Student Athletes In Wake Of NY Hockey Player's Death
Bill Would Require Heart Tests For Student Athletes In Wake Of NY Hockey Player's Death New York lawmakers are considering mandated heart screenings for student athletes following the sudden death of a Long Island hockey player. “Connor’s Law,” introduced by Republican Assemblyman Michael Durso, would require annual cardiac screenings for all public school athletes. The bill is inspired by the tragic death of 17-year-old Connor Kasin, a beloved Massapequa High School hockey player who collapsed during a game in 2024, as Daily Voice previously reported. It would mandate that interscholastic athletes undergo yearly cardiac fitness tests, including an electrocardiogram (EKG) or …
Legislator Stalked Outside His Long Island Home: Police Legislator Stalked Outside His Long Island Home: Police
Legislator Stalked Outside His Long Island Home: Police A Suffolk County legislator and retired detective was stalked outside his Northport home by a man who repeatedly showed up in a pickup truck to intimidate his family, authorities said. Joshua Smith, 47, of Kings Park, was arrested on Indian Head Road at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, according to Suffolk County Police. Between Sunday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 18, Smith allegedly parked a white 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck in Legislator Robert Trotta’s driveway multiple times and revved the engine, police said. Trotta reported the unsettling activity to police on Wednesday…
TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports
TikTok Ban Delayed Again Despite Doubts About Trump's Legal Power: Reports TikTok will reportedly stay available in the US for at least three more months despite legal questions surrounding President Donald Trump's authority to keep delaying enforcement of the ban. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will sign an executive order to extend a pause on the ban for 90 more days, CNBC reported. An extension would push the Thursday, June 19, deadline to Wednesday, Sept. 17. The divest-or-ban bill became law in April 2024. The ban's enforcement has been postponed for a third time under Trump, who once advocated for banning the popular video app. The …
Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry
Deaths Linked To Poppy Seeds, FDA Under Fire Over Hidden Danger In Your Pantry Poppy seeds — a staple on bagels and in pastries — are at the center of a stunning public health scare that has already cost lives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Tuesday, April 8. The FDA has extended the public comment period for its Request for Information about poppy seed contamination after reports of adverse events, including respiratory arrest and death, were linked to the presence of opiate alkaloids — toxic substances naturally found in the poppy plant but not supposed to contaminate seeds FDA RFI Extension. The danger is not theoretical: at least 19 death…
Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows
Tesla Stock Rebounds As Trump-Musk Feud Hits New Lows Tesla's stock is recovering after a public feud between CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump fueled a massive selloff. Shares for the electric vehicle giant opened about 5% higher on Friday, June 6. Tesla clawed back some of the 15% lost the day before when the feud between the two billionaires exploded online. The fallout began when Musk, 53, posted on his platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that Trump would have lost the 2024 election without Musk's financial backing.  "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans …
Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon' Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon'
Trump Hits Back At Musk For Bashing Tax Bill: 'I’m Very Disappointed In Elon' Just days after presenting him with a golden key to the White House, President Donald Trump is now firing back after Elon Musk's social-media tirade against Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" tax-and-spending bill back by Trump and Republican lawmakers. Click here for a new, updated story - Gloves Off: Musk Says Trump's In Epstein Files, President Threatens To Cut SpaceX Funding The Tesla CEO and now-former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) blasted Trump’s tax-and-spending package on social media. The bill would make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent, expand the…
Hand-Held Cellphone Ban Goes Into Effect For All Drivers In PA: Here's What You Need To Know Hand-Held Cellphone Ban Goes Into Effect For All Drivers In PA: Here's What You Need To Know
Hand-Held Cellphone Ban Goes Into Effect For All Drivers In PA: Here's What You Need To Know Starting Thursday, June 5, it will be illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving in Pennsylvania — even if you're sitting at a red light. The long-awaited “Paul Miller’s Law” finally goes into effect, banning the use of any hand-held device behind the wheel for all drivers across the state of Pennsylvania. Named after Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in Monroe County in 2010 by a distracted driver, the law aims to eliminate one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. 📵 What’s banned? Using a phone to text, scroll, or make a call with it in your hand — even while stopped in traf…
All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M
All Aboard The Trump Train? Florida Rep Says Rename DC Metro Or Lose $150M A Florida congressman wants to slap “Trump Train” on DC’s subway system — and he’s threatening to cut off $150 million in federal funding unless it happens. On Thursday, May 29, Republican Rep. Greg Steube introduced the Make Autorail Great Again Act, a bill that would block all federal funds to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unless it changes its name and rebrands the Metrorail. Under the proposal, WMATA would become the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and the Metrorail system would be renamed the “Trump Train.” This is not a joke. …
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures
Airline CEOs Urge Congress To Overhaul 'Outdated' Air Traffic Control Systems After Failures Major airline CEOs are calling on Congressional lawmakers to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems, especially after recent widespread issues at Newark Liberty International Airport. The top executives sent the open letter to Congress on Wednesday, May 21. The group showed its support for a federal modernization plan to replace decades-old technology and hire thousands of new air traffic controllers. The letter was signed by executives from Alaska Airlines, American, Atlas Air, Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and UPS, along with the industry group Airline…
'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers 'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers
'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers With the clock ticking on New York’s legislative session, a Long Island district attorney is urging lawmakers to pass legislation he says is critical to saving lives. Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney and a statewide coalition of prosecutors , safety advocates, and public health leaders kicked off a series of “Days of Action” in Albany on Monday, May 12, demanding politicians pass the Deadly Driving Bill. If approved, the law would close a “dangerous loophole” in New York’s drugged driving laws, Tierney said. Under current law, prosecutors cannot pursue charges against drivers impaired by s…
This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note
This 'Over-The-Counter Medication' Will Soon Be Allowed In NJ Schools Without Doctor's Note New Jersey students are finally allowed to use sunscreen, wear hats, and bring sunglasses to school—without needing a doctor’s note. On March 31, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that requires school districts to permit students to use FDA-approved sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and during school-sponsored activities, as long as parents provide written permission, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Previously, sunscreen was classified as an over-the-counter medication, and many districts restricted its use without a medical note. The new law, sp…
Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights
Fly For ICE, Lose Millions? NY Bill Would Sever State Deals For Airlines In Deportation Flights Airlines aiding deportations without a judge’s say-so could soon hit turbulence in New York. New legislation proposed by Democratic State Sen. Patricia Fahy would block commercial airlines from receiving certain state contracts or tax benefits if they help carry out immigration deportations without a judicial warrant or legal representation for the person being deported. Fahy introduced the legislation–dubbed the SAFE AIR Act–on Monday, April 28. It is being co-sponsored by fellow Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, of Valley Stream. If approved, the bill would ensure that New Yor…