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Politics
Election 2024: Can NYers Snap Pic Of Completed Ballot? Here's What To Know Election 2024: Can NYers Snap Pic Of Completed Ballot? Here's What To Know
Election 2024: Can NYers Snap Pic Of Completed Ballot? Here's What To Know Think twice before snapping that Election Day selfie. While New Yorkers may be tempted to commemorate their participation in this year’s highly consequential election by taking a photo of their ballot, doing so is actually a crime. Under state law, it is a misdemeanor offense for a voter to snap a picture with their completed ballot. “Any person who shows his ballot after it is prepared for voting, to any person so as to reveal the contents, or solicits a voter to show the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor,” reads the text from New York State election law. According to the New York State B…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fake Social Media Post In Region About School Violence Leads To Arrest Of 13-Year-Old Fake Social Media Post In Region About School Violence Leads To Arrest Of 13-Year-Old
Fake Social Media Post In Region About School Violence Leads To Arrest Of 13-Year-Old A 13-year-old from the region has been charged with falsely reporting an incident after allegedly making a social media post stating that a mistaken lockdown at the school they attend was due to students and staff being harmed. The student was arrested on Monday, Oct.  28, at Liberty Middle and High Schools for the post made on Friday, Oct. 25, from Liberty. According to Liberty Police Chief Steven D'Agata, early on Oct. 25, both schools briefly went into a lockdown due to an accidental activation of the school's automated warning system due to maintenance. D'Agata said there was no t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
NY Commentator Kicked Off CNN Mid-Show After Suggesting Muslim Journalist Is Terrorist NY Commentator Kicked Off CNN Mid-Show After Suggesting Muslim Journalist Is Terrorist
NY Commentator Kicked Off CNN Mid-Show After Suggesting Muslim Journalist Is Terrorist A political commentator from New York was pulled off a CNN panel mid-show and banned from the network after suggesting that a Muslim journalist was a terrorist. The stunning attack unfolded on the network’s “News Night with Abby Phillip” on Monday night, Oct. 28, during a heated roundtable discussion of former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden the day before. Scroll down to watch video of the incident. As the panelists discussed inflammatory and racist remarks that were made by rally speakers, progressive commentator Mehdi Hasan, who is of Indian descent and Muslim, a…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Capitol Riot: Man From Region Convicted Of Participating In Jan. 6 Breach, Posting Selfie Capitol Riot: Man From Region Convicted Of Participating In Jan. 6 Breach, Posting Selfie
Capitol Riot: Man From Region Convicted Of Participating In Jan. 6 Breach, Posting Selfie A 35-year-old member of the Proud Boys from Westchester has been convicted of felony charges in connection to his participation in the deadly riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal officials announced. White Plains resident William Pepe, formerly of the Dutchess County city of Beacon, was found guilty of charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6 breach following a bench trial before US District Judge Timothy Kelly, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced on Wednesday, Oct. 23.  According to federal officials, on the morning of Jan. 6, 2…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Here's How Regions's Sean Combs Broke Social Media Silence After Sex Trafficking Arrest Here's How Regions's Sean Combs Broke Social Media Silence After Sex Trafficking Arrest
Here's How Regions's Sean Combs Broke Social Media Silence After Sex Trafficking Arrest Almost a month after his arrest for federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, hip-hop mogul and New York native Sean Combs has broken his silence on his social media pages.  On Tuesday, Oct. 15, a post appeared an on Instagram page belonging to Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County's Mount Vernon and will stand trial in May for federal charges.  Although the post is the first to be made following Combs's arrest, it does not address the allegations against him; instead, it celebrates the birthday of the embattled star's young 2-yea…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region 12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region A 12-year-old student in the region was charged with making a terroristic threat at a junior/senior high school. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Fallsburg. According to Fallsburg Police Chief Brendan Pavese, the juvenile allegedly made the threats on Snapchat and included a picture of the Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School auditorium.  The threats, which mentioned shootings, came to the attention of police and school authorities via parents and students, both the police and school said. After receiving the information, the police department worked a…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Shooting Outside Home Of Former NY Gubernatorial Candidate Zeldin Nets Gunman 12 Years Shooting Outside Home Of Former NY Gubernatorial Candidate Zeldin Nets Gunman 12 Years
Shooting Outside Home Of Former NY Gubernatorial Candidate Zeldin Nets Gunman 12 Years The gunman in a broad daylight shooting that injured two teenagers outside the New York home of former Rep. Lee Zeldin will spend more than a decade behind bars. Long Island resident Noah Green, age 20, of Shirley, was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to attempted murder and related charges. 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: Gunman Admit…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
TikTok 'Cultivates Addiction' For Kids, Harming Their Mental Health, NY AG’s Lawsuit Alleges TikTok 'Cultivates Addiction' For Kids, Harming Their Mental Health, NY AG’s Lawsuit Alleges
TikTok 'Cultivates Addiction' For Kids, Harming Their Mental Health, NY AG’s Lawsuit Alleges TikTok knowingly harms young users’ mental health all in an effort to turn a profit, a new multistate lawsuit alleges. New York Attorney General Letitia James was among a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general who filed a lawsuit against the social media platform on Tuesday, Oct. 8, alleging fraudulent and deceptive business practices, among other offenses. According to the complaint, TikTok falsely claims its platform is safe for young people despite “addictive features” that worsen their mental health and body image issues. Those features include around-the-clock notifications lea…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bear Caught On Camera In Region: Here's Where Bear Caught On Camera In Region: Here's Where
Bear Caught On Camera In Region: Here's Where Residents in Northern Westchester, stay bear-aware: one of the massive animals was seen strolling behind a home in the area, officials said.  The bear was seen walking behind a residence in North Salem on Titicus Road near the Baxter Preserve, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said in a post on social media. The sighting was captured by a camera used by enthusiasts to take pictures of animals, Lucas said.  "Please take your bird feeders in!" Lucas wrote on social media.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, residents can protect themse…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
2 Juveniles Nabbed For Making Threats Against Schools In Region: Police 2 Juveniles Nabbed For Making Threats Against Schools In Region: Police
2 Juveniles Nabbed For Making Threats Against Schools In Region: Police Two 11-year-old children were caught for allegedly making social media posts containing threats of violence at certain Hudson Valley schools. The threats were made in Ulster County around 8:45 p.m. and were aimed at Ulster County Schools, said Ulster County Sheriff’s Capt. Joseph Sciutto. According to Sciutto, the Sheriff’s Office quickly initiated an investigation into the threats, which were being shared and circulated on a social media platform, Sciutto said. He added that the Sheriff’s Office successfully traced the source of the messages and identified the responsible juveni…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Laughing Emoji Leads To Resignation Of School Board Member From Region Laughing Emoji Leads To Resignation Of School Board Member From Region
Laughing Emoji Leads To Resignation Of School Board Member From Region A Hudson Valley school board member resigned after receiving backlash from a social media post in which she placed a laughing emoji to respond to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Dawn Kitz, a South Orangetown Central School District board member, resigned effective Wednesday, Sept. 25, saying she held herself responsible and "I apologized" to offended community members. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Kitz, who joined the board earlier this year, complained during the meeting and on Facebook, saying she had faced an "extremely challenging situation" since joining the boa…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Juvenile From Region Nabbed For Making 'Non-Specific' School Threat, Police Say Juvenile From Region Nabbed For Making 'Non-Specific' School Threat, Police Say
Juvenile From Region Nabbed For Making 'Non-Specific' School Threat, Police Say A juvenile was charged with allegedly making a threat of mass harm after the FBI alerted the New York State Police of a school threat made in the region on TikTok. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Wappinger. Trooper AJ Hicks said an investigation determined the "non-specific threat originated from the town of Wappinger.  Investigators located and arrested the minor soon after, Hicks said. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Dutchess County Family Court. This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates. 

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Longtime NY Resident Catherine Zeta-Jones Posts Nude Photo: Here's Why Longtime NY Resident Catherine Zeta-Jones Posts Nude Photo: Here's Why
Longtime NY Resident Catherine Zeta-Jones Posts Nude Photo: Here's Why Longtime New York resident actress Catherine Zeta-Jones found a new meaning for the term "birthday suit" in a new social media post.  The 55-year-old actress posted a naked photo of herself on Instagram on Thursday, Sept. 25 to celebrate both her birthday and that of her husband, acclaimed actor Michael Douglas, who turned 80.  The post shows Zeta-Jones standing over a bathroom sink wearing nothing but her high heels. In the caption, the actress said the photo was "gift option two" for her husband, after golf balls. "After over 25 years of sharing my birthday day with my hu…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Alex Jones' InfoWars Up For Auction To Pay Sandy Hook Victims' Families: Report Alex Jones' InfoWars Up For Auction To Pay Sandy Hook Victims' Families: Report
Alex Jones' InfoWars Up For Auction To Pay Sandy Hook Victims' Families: Report The tools Alex Jones used to build his conspiracy theory and supplement-hawking empire could soon be yours, NPR reported.  A court-appointed trustee will soon begin to auction off pieces of Free Speech Systems, the parent company of InfoWars, to pay back the families of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting victims, the report continued.  Jones owes them $1.5 billion in a defamation judgment after he claimed the massacre, which killed 26 people — 20 of them children – was a hoax.  The trustee will sell everything from chairs and production equipment to the InfoWars brand name, th…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest
Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest One person has been charged in connection with an alleged threat of a shooting at a school in the region after an online post was brought to the attention of police by the public.  The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Fallsburg. According to the Fallsburg Police Department, an arrest was made concerning the threat on Snapchat. Dr. Ivan Katz, the superintendent of schools for the Fallsburg Central School District, said students, parents, and the public also alerted district officials to the threat. "These threats, which mention shooting, are circulating t…

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by Kathy Reakes
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
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
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…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Threat Leads To Delayed Start For School District In Region Threat Leads To Delayed Start For School District In Region
Threat Leads To Delayed Start For School District In Region 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,"…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
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'…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
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…

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by Josh Lanier
Sports
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…

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by Josh Lanier
News
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
'Despicable': Woman Who Intentionally Set Fire To Capital Region Home Sentenced 'Despicable': Woman Who Intentionally Set Fire To Capital Region Home Sentenced
'Despicable': Woman Who Intentionally Set Fire To Capital Region Home Sentenced A 23-year-old New York woman who admitted to setting fire to a home with several people inside will spend up to seven years behind bars, authorities said.  Allexus Pecoraro, of Erieville in Madison County, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in the first degree and was sentenced to two-and-a-third years to seven years in prison, the Albany County District Attorney's Office said.  Pecoraro was accused of starting a fire on the porch at 489 Hudson Avenue in Albany on May 8, 2022. The home is near the College of Saint Rose. The blaze gutted the house…

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by Josh Lanier
News
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bank Manager From Region Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law Bank Manager From Region Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law
Bank Manager From Region 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…

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by Kathy Reakes