Fair 48°
News
George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans
George Santos' Ex-Campaign Treasurer Admits Role In Reporting Thousands In Fictional Loans The woman who once oversaw the finances of embattled New York Rep. George Santos’ congressional campaign has confessed to filing fictional finance reports on his behalf, saying he was well aware of the scheme. Nancy Marks, a former campaign treasurer during Santos’ two congressional bids, pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Oct. 5. She admitted that she and Santos, a Republican whose 3rd District represents parts of Nassau County and Queens, recorded phony campaign finance reports stating that Santos had…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Sea Lion Briefly Escapes From Central Park Zoo During Rainstorm Sea Lion Briefly Escapes From Central Park Zoo During Rainstorm
Sea Lion Briefly Escapes From Central Park Zoo During Rainstorm Record-breaking rainfall from a slow-moving coastal storm system resulted in dangerous flooding and travel nightmares in and around New York City on Friday, Sept. 29. But it proved to be an opportunity for a rogue sea lion named Sally, who was able to briefly escape from her enclosure at the 6.5-acre Central Park Zoo in midtown Manhattan, where around 6 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. "A female sea lion at Central Park Zoo was able to swim out of her pool due to flooding of the plaza caused by severe rains in New York City today," Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Record-Breaking Rainfall: These Are Highest Totals From Severe Storm, 5-Day Forecast Record-Breaking Rainfall: These Are Highest Totals From Severe Storm, 5-Day Forecast
Record-Breaking Rainfall: These Are Highest Totals From Severe Storm, 5-Day Forecast Parts of the Northeast, mainly in and around New York City, saw their highest single-day rainfall totals in decades from a potent coastal storm system that will finally make its way out of the region on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 30. In the hardest-hit areas, water levels are decreasing but may take until early Saturday afternoon to drop below flood stage, the National Weather Service said. The highest rainfall total reported on Friday, Sept. 29 is on Long Island: 9.1 inches in Valley Stream. Just a few miles due west, John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens saw 8.65 inches, b…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
‘Exceptional Kid’: Junior Firefighter Among Severely Injured In Deadly I-84 Bus Crash ‘Exceptional Kid’: Junior Firefighter Among Severely Injured In Deadly I-84 Bus Crash
‘Exceptional Kid’: Junior Firefighter Among Severely Injured In Deadly I-84 Bus Crash Support is pouring in for a high school student and aspiring firefighter who was among those severely injured in a New York charter bus crash that killed two teachers and injured dozens of students. Audrina Crocitto was onboard the Regency charter bus carrying members of the Farmingdale High School marching band from Long Island to a camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania when it careened off I-84 in Orange County, in the town of Wawayanda, and rolled several times down an embankment Thursday, Sept. 21. The crash injured at least 43 students and killed the school's band director, 43-year-old Gina P…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
Duo Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring Out Of Westchester Massage Parlors: Feds Duo Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring Out Of Westchester Massage Parlors: Feds
Duo Accused Of Running Prostitution Ring Out Of Westchester Massage Parlors: Feds A husband and wife face charges after allegedly running an extensive prostitution business out of multiple New York massage parlors, including several in the Hudson Valley.  Putnam County residents Hong Ru Lin, age 50, and Kena Zhao, age 45, both of Putnam Valley, were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 14 for allegedly running a prostitution business out of numerous massage parlors in Putnam, Westchester, Queens, and Manhattan, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced. According to federal officials, Lin and Zhao started running the prostitution ring in Septem…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Weather
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Westchester Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Westchester
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Westchester With a new round of storms moving from west to east, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for much of the region. The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 for southeastern New York and areas in western as well as coastal Connecticut.  Potentially damaging wind gusts are the primary threat, with potentially damaging hail also possible, according to the National Weather Service. Localized heavy rainfall and lightning are also possible. In New York, the following counties are covered by the watch: New York City: Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (Manhattan…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Support Swells For Vietnam Vet Exonerated Of 1975 Rape In Westchester Support Swells For Vietnam Vet Exonerated Of 1975 Rape In Westchester
Support Swells For Vietnam Vet Exonerated Of 1975 Rape In Westchester Nearly half a century after a 72-year-old Vietnam War veteran was wrongfully convicted of rape that he was found to have not committed, community members are coming together to help him rebuild his life.  South Carolina resident Leonard Mack, age 72, has been exonerated of a 1975 rape in Greenburgh that he was convicted of in 1976, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday, Sept. 5.  Earlier Report: New DNA Evidence Exonerates Man Of Rape In Greenburgh: DA Seeks To Vacate Conviction Following his wrongful conviction, Mack served a sentence of ove…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
News
New DNA Evidence Exonerates Man Of Rape In Westchester: DA Seeks To Vacate Conviction New DNA Evidence Exonerates Man Of Rape In Westchester: DA Seeks To Vacate Conviction
New DNA Evidence Exonerates Man Of Rape In Westchester: DA Seeks To Vacate Conviction DA officials are asking the court to vacate the conviction of a 72-year-old man who served numerous years in prison for a 1975 rape in Westchester that he was found to have not committed thanks to new DNA evidence.  The Westchester County District Attorney's Office will ask the court to vacate the conviction of South Carolina resident Leonard Mack, age 72, who spent over seven years in prison for a 1975 rape in Greenburgh, DA officials announced on Tuesday, Sept. 5.  At the time of the rape, on May 23, 1975, Mack had been accused of forcing two high school students at gunpoint int…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Beloved Deputy Town Supervisor In Northern Westchester Dies: 'Quiet, Strong, Real, Solid' Beloved Deputy Town Supervisor In Northern Westchester Dies: 'Quiet, Strong, Real, Solid'
Beloved Deputy Town Supervisor In Northern Westchester Dies: 'Quiet, Strong, Real, Solid' A beloved former town employee, husband, and father from Northern Westchester is being remembered for his ever-caring nature despite his stoic outward appearance.  Leo P. Masterson of Cross River, who worked as Comptroller and Deputy Town Supervisor for the town of Lewisboro, died on Thursday, Aug. 24 at the age of 66 after an 11-month battle with peritoneal mesothelioma, according to his obituary.  Born on Staten Island in 1957, Masterson was both a standout student and athlete and played football and baseball in high school. He then went on to continue playing baseball during hi…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
News
'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say 'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say
'High Risk, High Reward': Santos Staffer Impersonated Speaker's Aide To Fundraise, Feds Say A campaign staffer who worked to elect New York Rep. George Santos impersonated a high-level Congressional aide in order to raise money for the then-aspiring lawmaker, a scheme that Santos was well aware of, federal prosecutors allege. Samuel Miele, age 27, is charged with wire fraud and identity theft as part of a five-count indictment that was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Miele was a fundraiser for Santos’ congressional campaigns in both 2020 and 2022, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. Earlier Report: Trio Of Schemes T…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Politics
SanToast? Retired NYPD Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity' SanToast? Retired NYPD Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity'
SanToast? Retired Nypd Detective Challenging NY Rep. George Santos To 'Return Integrity' A familiar face with an impressive resume is taking on embattled Congressman George Santos, whose admitted lying streak and alleged criminal misconduct has left an indelible mark on New York -- and national -- politics. Republican Michael Sapraicone, a retired New York City Police Department detective and US Navy veteran, announced his campaign for the state’s 3rd Congressional District seat on Tuesday, July 25. The district, which the 35-year-old Santos won by seven points in 2022, represents parts of Nassau County and Queens. Related Report: Embattled Nassau Rep. George Santos 'Pr…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Weather
Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For Westchester Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For Westchester
Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For Westchester With a new round of storms heading eastward, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for much of the region. It covers all eight counties in Connecticut, and in New York, the following counties: Nassau Suffolk Westchester Putnam Dutchess Rockland Bronx Kings (Brooklyn) Manhattan Queens Richmond (Staten Island) The watch was issued just after noontime on Tuesday, July 25, and is in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for areas in yellow throughout the Northeast in the image above from the National Weather Service. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, heavy rai…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi