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Police & Fire
Internet Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At School In Region Internet Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At School In Region
Internet Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At School In Region An internet threat has led to the early dismissal of a Hudson Valley school. Related: Threat To Hudson Valley School 'Not Credible,' Police Say The incident occurred in Dutchess County at Dutchess BOCES in Poughkeepsie on Friday, Sept. 20.  According to Irwin Goldberg of the Dutchess BOCES, the administration was alerted to an internet threat affecting the campus.  "We take the safety of our campus, students, and staff very seriously," Goldberg said. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office was contacted immediately, and an investigation began.  Goldberg said that…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Casting Call: Ready For Part In New Netflix Show? Now's Your Chance Casting Call: Ready For Part In New Netflix Show? Now's Your Chance
Casting Call: Ready For Part In New Netflix Show? Now's Your Chance If you're an aspiring actor, now's your chance to work with stars Tina Fey and Steve Carell in a new comedy coming to Netflix.  The new show, "The Four Seasons," will be filming in Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie from Monday, Oct. 14 to Friday, Oct. 18, and is looking for all genders and ethnicities (ages 18+) to portray college students to work as paid background actors (no experience required). The comedy is based on the 1981 film of the same name, which starred Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. Alda, a recurring guest on Fey's hit sitcom "30 Rock," is also one of the producers of th…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Woman Admits Setting Fire To Home In Region With Daughter, Grandchildren Inside, DA Says Woman Admits Setting Fire To Home In Region With Daughter, Grandchildren Inside, DA Says
Woman Admits Setting Fire To Home In Region With Daughter, Grandchildren Inside, DA Says A woman has pleaded guilty to attempted arson in connection with intentionally setting fire to a Hudson Valley home with her and her grandchildren inside. Niagara County resident Itita Washington-Thompson, age 48, of Niagara, made the plea on Monday, Sept. 16, said Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi. Parisi said: "This case is a chilling example of how a domestic incident or dispute can escalate to dangerous extremes."  The incident occurred on Friday, May 24, at Hammersley Avenue in Poughkeepsie. According to officials and court documents, Washington-Thompson…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police To Target Aggressive Drivers In Town In Region: Here's Where Police To Target Aggressive Drivers In Town In Region: Here's Where
Police To Target Aggressive Drivers In Town In Region: Here's Where As aggressive drivers flood the roadways, a town in the region will increase traffic enforcement to address the issue. The patrols will occur in Dutchess County in the town of Poughkeepsie in the coming weeks. According to the town of Poughkeepsie Police, officers will actively monitor for violations such as speeding, unsafe lane changes, passing red lights, and other dangerous driving behaviors.  "Our goal is to enhance road safety and ensure a secure driving environment for everyone," the department said. The enforcement will take place throughout the town limits.

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Teen Accused Of Making Threat Against Student At High School In Region Teen Accused Of Making Threat Against Student At High School In Region
Teen Accused Of Making Threat Against Student At High School In Region A teen was charged with making a terroristic threat after allegedly threatening to shoot a student outside a private school in the region. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Wednesday, Sept. 4, when police responded to the home of an Our Lady Of Lourdes High School student for an anonymous terroristic statement threatening to target the victim with a gun after school in Poughkeepsie. According to Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police, an investigation determined the terroristic threat was made by Jacob J. Leo, age 19, of Pleasant Valley. Leo, who was never a student at the…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Big Lots Expands Store Closures Amid Bankruptcy Filing: Here's Rundown Of NY Closures Big Lots Expands Store Closures Amid Bankruptcy Filing: Here's Rundown Of NY Closures
Big Lots Expands Store Closures Amid Bankruptcy Filing: Here's Rundown Of NY Closures Discount retail chain Big Lots has filed for bankruptcy as its list of planned store closures expands. It currently has around 1,425 stores nationwide. The company announced on Monday, Sept. 9 that it will sell its assets to an affiliate of private equity firm Nexus Capital Management. In announcing initial store closures late in late July, Big Lots said a bankruptcy filing could be coming. Stores in the Northeast now slated for closure are as follows: New York Delaware Avenue, Buffalo South Ogden Street, Buffalo Route 5 & 20, Canandaigua  Voice Road, Carle Place Centereach …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Region Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Region
Person Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train In Region A person was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train in the region. The incident occurred in Dutchess County around 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 8, in New Hamburg, a hamlet of Poughkeepsie. According to Dave Steckel, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the person was struck by a Metro-North train on the tracks near the New Hamburg station. No passengers were injured on the train, which was delayed for about an hour. officials said.   The victim's name has not yet been released, and notification is pending. The Metro-North Police are inves…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region
Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region A 19-year-old was killed in a two-vehicle crash after he allegedly ran a red light in the region, striking another car. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Monday, Sept. 2, on Route 9 near the Alpine Commons in the town of Wappinger around 10 p.m. According to Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police, an initial investigation determined a 2006 Honda 999, driven by Orange County resident Dante Crespo, age 19, of Monroe, was northbound on Route 9 and ran a red light striking a 2009 Lexus ES250 making a lefthand turn into the Alpine Commons parking lot. Troopers and responding em…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Store In Region Permanently Closes After 37-Year Run Store In Region Permanently Closes After 37-Year Run
Store In Region Permanently Closes After 37-Year Run After 37 years of business in the region, a popular discount store has decided to close its doors permanently. Located in Ulster County, the Kingston Just-A-Buck and Beyond store at 264 Plaza Road in Kingston Plaza said it has decided to close this location.  "We are so grateful for the wonderful staff and customers we have met and shared the last 37 years with," store officials said. "We will surely miss you all. Much thanks for all of your support throughout the years, it has been greatly appreciated." The store held deep discount sales until the final day in the last week of Augus…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver In Region Man Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver In Region
Man Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver In Region A man was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash in the region. The incident occurred in Ulster County around 9 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, in the town of Woodstock near the intersection of Maverick Road. According to Trooper Steven Nevel of the New York State Police, a preliminary investigation revealed that a 68-year-old Kingston man was riding his bike and traveling south on Route 375 when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that fled the scene.  The man was transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie, Nevel said. He is listed in critical but stabl…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Region Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Region
Students' Cell Phones Will Be Locked Up At This Middle School In Region A funny thing happened at a Hudson Valley high school last year when students were required to lock up their cell phones during the day—it worked, and now the middle school is joining the club.  Poughkeepsie Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said the Yondr pouch program was launched in Dutchess County at Poughkeepsie High School in April.  Rosser wrote in his school newsletter that the program has changed its culture and improved attendance and engagement since its inception. This fall, district officials are expanding the program to Poughkeepsie Middle School. “The su…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man From Region Nabbed For Slaying Of Sneaker Reseller 'Upscale Cracc' Man From Region Nabbed For Slaying Of Sneaker Reseller 'Upscale Cracc'
Man From Region Nabbed For Slaying Of Sneaker Reseller 'Upscale Cracc' Police have arrested and charged a New York man in the June murder of a popular Bayonne, NJ sneaker reseller who went by the name, Upscale Cracc, in Lower Manhattan. Jayquan Straker, age 35, of Poughkeepsie, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon in the Tuesday, June 25 killing of Javier Osorio-Mejia, in SoHo, the NYPD announced. Rest in peace to Upscale Cracc, born Javier Osorio-Mejia, a reseller who was a mainstay at sneaker releases in New York City for years. If there was a lineu…

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by Cecilia Levine