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Long Island Contractor Passed Off Fake Pool Permit To Homeowner: DA Long Island Contractor Passed Off Fake Pool Permit To Homeowner: DA Long Island Contractor Passed Off Fake Pool Permit To Homeowner: DA
Long Island Contractor Passed Off Fake Pool Permit To Homeowner: DA A Long Island contractor gave a homeowner a forged building permit for a backyard pool project that had never even been submitted to the town for approval, Suffolk County prosecutors said. Robert Cortese, 39, of Huntington, and his company, Tool Time Construction Inc., pleaded guilty in connection with the fraudulent Town of Islip permit, District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced on Friday, Nov. 13. The homeowner hired Cortese and his company in May 2021 to install a pool and build a pool house at a residence in Great River, according to prosecutors. After the homeowner repeatedly asked …

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Feds Detain Twice-Deported Man In Wrong-Way I-91 Crash That Killed NY Native Hockey Player, 21 Feds Detain Twice-Deported Man In Wrong-Way I-91 Crash That Killed NY Native Hockey Player, 21 Feds Detain Twice-Deported Man In Wrong-Way I-91 Crash That Killed NY Native Hockey Player, 21
Feds Detain Twice-Deported Man In Wrong-Way I-91 Crash That Killed NY Native Hockey Player, 21 A 41-year-old Mexican national who had been deported twice was arrested following a wrong-way crash that killed a 21-year-old Connecticut college hockey player who dreamed of becoming a police officer. Guillermo Carmona-Lopez was identified as the driver in the Thursday, Oct. 16, crash on Interstate 91 in North Haven, Connecticut, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Authorities have placed an ICE detainer on him.  The victim was Ryan O'Shea, of Stony Point, New York, a University of New Haven senior and leader on the school's club hockey team. O'Shea was returning fro…
Hidden Fees Add Up: Consumers Frustrated By Sudden Surcharge Spike Hidden Fees Add Up: Consumers Frustrated By Sudden Surcharge Spike Hidden Fees Add Up: Consumers Frustrated By Sudden Surcharge Spike
Hidden Fees Add Up: Consumers Frustrated By Sudden Surcharge Spike A sudden surge in surcharges is leaving consumers frustrated and fatigued as fees pile up across industries.  From restaurants to airlines and online retailers, businesses are increasingly tacking on extra charges to offset rising costs. And customers are noticing. The trend, often referred to as "fee fatigue," has grown significantly in recent years.  According to a JD Power study, 34 percent of small businesses now add credit card surcharges, while restaurant surcharges have jumped from 16 percent in 2022 to 20 percent in 2025.  These fees, which often appear at checkout,…
These Popular Foods Could Be Risky After Age 40, Experts Say These Popular Foods Could Be Risky After Age 40, Experts Say These Popular Foods Could Be Risky After Age 40, Experts Say
These Popular Foods Could Be Risky After Age 40, Experts Say What you eat in your 20s and 30s may not hit the same way later in life, and experts say some everyday staples could quietly be working against you. As the body ages, metabolism slows, muscle mass declines, and the risk of inflammation and chronic disease increases, according to reports from The Healthy and Eat This, Not That! That shift means certain foods can have a bigger impact than many people realize. Among the biggest offenders are processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and deli cuts. These foods are high in sodium and saturated fat and often contain preservatives like nitrate…
Search Ad Scams Could Cost You: What To Check Search Ad Scams Could Cost You: What To Check Search Ad Scams Could Cost You: What To Check
Search Ad Scams Could Cost You: What To Check A routine Google search could take a costly turn before you realize anything is wrong. Scammers buy search ads that impersonate legitimate businesses, then send users to convincing fake websites, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Those pages can steal login credentials and financial information, enabling account theft. The trap starts with something ordinary: searching for a familiar company and choosing a prominent result. Criminals can copy a business’s website and use a nearly identical address, making the destination look trustworthy. The consequences can extend b…

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NY Among Nation's 10 Least Wasteful States In New Rankings: Here's Why NY Among Nation's 10 Least Wasteful States In New Rankings: Here's Why NY Among Nation's 10 Least Wasteful States In New Rankings: Here's Why
NY Among Nation's 10 Least Wasteful States In New Rankings: Here's Why Several Northeast states are among the least wasteful in the US, according to a new study. Laundry detergent company HeySunday updated its "Most Wasteful States in America in 2026" rankings for November 2026. The study ranked all 50 states based on how much waste their landfills received per resident in 2022, using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, Census Bureau, and The Recycling Partnership. Connecticut ranked as the least wasteful state in the country, with its landfills receiving just 0.05 tons of waste per resident. The Constitution State's residential recycling …

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Husband Of 'Top Chef' Star Dies Husband Of 'Top Chef' Star Dies Husband Of 'Top Chef' Star Dies
Husband Of 'Top Chef' Star Dies The husband of "Top Chef" star Leah Cohen and co-founder of a popular New York City restaurant has died at 44 years old, leaving behind his wife and their two young sons. Ben Byruch, who records show lived with Cohen in Union City, NJ, died Monday, Nov. 10, according to a Maplewood, NJ-based GoFundMe campaign launched by Lonny Sweet and Cassandre Pallas to support his family.  Byruch was the creative force behind Pig & Khao, the Southeast Asian restaurant he built alongside Cohen, who finished sixth on Season 5 of Bravo's "Top Chef," which aired from 2008 to 2009. The couple …

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Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked
Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Federal regulators are issuing an urgent fire risk warning because more than 720,000 recalled BMW vehicles can ignite even when they're turned off and parked. BMW of North America issued the recall for 720,796 vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a news release on Friday, Nov. 13. The recall involves a water pump electrical connector that may not be properly sealed.  The connector's material can break down over time, allowing water to enter and cause a short circuit. "These vehicles were previously recalled in 2024 for a water pump i…

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Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked
Urgent Recall Warns 720K+ BMW Vehicles Can Catch Fire Even While Parked Federal regulators are issuing an urgent fire risk warning because more than 720,000 recalled BMW vehicles can ignite even when they're turned off and parked. BMW of North America issued the recall for 720,796 vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a news release on Friday, Nov. 13. The recall involves a water pump electrical connector that may not be properly sealed.  The connector's material can break down over time, allowing water to enter and cause a short circuit. "These vehicles were previously recalled in 2024 for a water pump i…

National Interest

FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users Of Hidden Risks In Popular Apps FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users Of Hidden Risks In Popular Apps FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users Of Hidden Risks In Popular Apps
FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users Of Hidden Risks In Popular Apps The FBI has issued a stark warning for iPhone and Android users about serious data security risks associated with certain foreign-developed mobile apps, particularly those linked to China.  The announcement, released through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), highlights how these apps may collect and share extensive user data with foreign governments under national security laws. According to the FBI, apps developed or maintained by companies in high-risk foreign locations are subject to those countries' laws, which may require them to turn over user data to their governments.&…