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Babylon Facebook Marketplace Scammer Admits Dragging Victim With Car, Breaking Man's Pelvis Babylon Facebook Marketplace Scammer Admits Dragging Victim With Car, Breaking Man's Pelvis
Babylon Facebook Marketplace Scammer Admits Dragging Victim With Car, Breaking Man's Pelvis A Long Island man admitted to a violent robbery stemming from a Facebook Marketplace scam that left the victim seriously injured. Jordan Behling, 23, of Wheatley Heights, pleaded guilty to robbery and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Dec. 19, in connection with the June 2023 incident Prosecutors said Behling arranged to sell a PlayStation 5 console to the victim through Facebook Marketplace. When he arrived at the victim’s home in an SUV, the victim handed him $280 in cash through the car window. But instead of handing over the PS5, Behling sped off while the victim wa…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Grounded: FAA Temporarily Bans Drones Over Parts Of Long Island Amid Mystery Sightings Grounded: FAA Temporarily Bans Drones Over Parts Of Long Island Amid Mystery Sightings
Grounded: FAA Temporarily Bans Drones Over Parts Of Long Island Amid Mystery Sightings Think twice about launching that drone. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued temporary flight restrictions over parts of Long Island on Friday, Dec. 20, amid mysterious drone sightings in the region. Restrictions are in effect until Sunday, Jan. 19, over locations determined by the FAA to be critical infrastructure sites, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. Among the Long Island locales on the list are Oceanside, Roslyn Heights, Levittown, Melville, and Commack. "Since mid-November, New York has been carefully monitoring reports of drone activity and we have been communic…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Spectators Beware: Street Takeover-Watching Would Be Illegal Under Suffolk Co. Proposal Spectators Beware: Street Takeover-Watching Would Be Illegal Under Suffolk Co. Proposal
Spectators Beware: Street Takeover-Watching Would Be Illegal Under Suffolk Co. Proposal Long Island leaders are taking aim at so-called street takeovers, which have injured spectators and blocked emergency vehicles in recent months. A proposal introduced by the Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday, Dec. 17, would make it illegal for a spectator to attend the reckless stunts. “Spectators will no longer be able to gather in crowds, blocking traffic and encouraging this dangerous behavior without any consequences to themselves,” Allen Bode, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County DA’s office, said at a press conference held Wednesday, Dec. 18. The Suffolk County proposal follows …

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by Michael Mashburn
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Armed Duo Steals $140K From Victim Outside Long Island Bank, Police Say Armed Duo Steals $140K From Victim Outside Long Island Bank, Police Say
Armed Duo Steals $140K From Victim Outside Long Island Bank, Police Say Two alleged armed robbers are behind bars months after a victim lost six figures in cash outside a Long Island bank. Gloria Chamorro, 32, and Luis Lizardo, 45, both of Brooklyn, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and related charges Thursday, Dec. 19. Nassau County Police said the duo approached a 36-year-old man outside the Bank of America on Jerusalem Boulevard in Hicksville shortly before 9 a.m. on July 29. Working with three others, Chamorro and Lizardo forcibly removed a bag from the victim that contained $140,000 in cash, police said. As the group fled, one of the subjects fla…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now
Flu Cases, Hospitalizations Rising Dramatically In New York: Here's What To Know Now Flu activity is now widespread across New York State, prompting an advisory from authorities. Under this declaration by State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, healthcare workers who are not vaccinated against the flu must wear masks in certain settings to protect vulnerable patients. “The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against infection,” said Dr. McDonald. “It’s not too late to get vaccinated and ensure you don’t miss out on holiday celebrations.” Flu cases are surging across the state.  As of Saturday, Dec. 14, more than 23,000 cases have been r…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In New York Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In New York
Backyard Fossil Jackpot: Ancient Mastodon Jaw Unearthed In New York A backyard in New York became the site of a remarkable prehistoric discovery when a homeowner unearthed a complete and well-preserved jaw of a mastodon, an ancient relative of modern elephants. Alongside the jaw, researchers also uncovered a toe bone fragment and a piece of a rib. The discovery began in the Hudson Valley when the Orange County resident noticed two large teeth protruding from the soil beneath a plant near the home in Scotchtown, according to the New York State Museum in a social media post on Tuesday, Dec. 17. After further digging revealed additional teeth, experts from th…

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by Joe Lombardi
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First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US
First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Health officials have confirmed the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the announcement on Wednesday, Dec. 18 saying the infection was diagnosed on Friday, Dec. 13, following contact the patient made with sick and dead birds from a backyard flock. The case was reported in Louisiana and marks the first H5N1 case in the US linked to exposure to backyard poultry.  Since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. H5 is generally less severe than…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Lives Stolen: These Are 7 Names Behind Gilgo Beach Murder Indictment Lives Stolen: These Are 7 Names Behind Gilgo Beach Murder Indictment
Lives Stolen: These Are 7 Names Behind Gilgo Beach Murder Indictment As accused serial killer Rex Heuermann faces his seventh murder charge, the stories of his alleged victims – young women whose lives were tragically and violently cut short – offer a haunting reminder of the human toll behind the Gilgo Beach case. Here’s a closer look at the seven victims named in the indictment: Melissa Barthelemy, 24 Melissa Barthelemy Suffolk County Police Described by family as a talented hair stylist from the Bronx, she dreamed of opening her own salon. She was last seen alive on July 10, 2009, in her basement apartment on Underhill Avenue.  Barthelemy’s…

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by Michael Mashburn
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CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days
CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Mangione is charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder. Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland native, had fled New York City after the high-profile targeted assassination outside the New York Hilton in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 4.  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. UnitedHealthcare After a days-long manhunt, Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsy…

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by Joe Lombardi
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NJ Escort IDd As 7th Victim Of Giglio Beach Serial Killer, Police Say NJ Escort IDd As 7th Victim Of Giglio Beach Serial Killer, Police Say
NJ Escort IDd As 7th Victim Of Giglio Beach Serial Killer, Police Say Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was formally charged with murdering a seventh victim. Heuermann, 60, of Massapequa Park, was indicted for second-degree murder in the killing of Valerie Mack in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday morning, Dec. 17. Mack, a 24-year-old Wildwood, NJ woman was working as an escort when she disappeared in 2000. A group of hunters discovered her skeletal remains wrapped in a plastic bag in a wooded area of Manorville in November 2000. She had been decapitated, and both of her hands had been severed from her body, prosecutors said. Her right leg had a…

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by Michael Mashburn
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CEO Murder: Stunning Poll Shows Shift In Views Among Young Americans CEO Murder: Stunning Poll Shows Shift In Views Among Young Americans
CEO Murder: Stunning Poll Shows Shift In Views Among Young Americans A new national poll from Emerson College reveals a startling trend among young American voters: More respondents aged 18 to 29 believe the targeted assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was acceptable than those who do not. The poll highlights a sharp generational divergence on the issue. A total of 41 percent of voters aged 18-29 find the killer’s actions acceptable, 24 percent somewhat acceptable and 17 percent completely acceptable), while 40 percent find them unacceptable. Noting that 68 percent of voters overall reject the killer’s action, Spencer Kimball, executiv…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Iconic Waldorf Astoria To Reopen After Years-Long Makeover: Here’s When Iconic Waldorf Astoria To Reopen After Years-Long Makeover: Here’s When
Iconic Waldorf Astoria To Reopen After Years-Long Makeover: Here’s When An iconic New York hotel will soon be reopening after a years-long renovation. The Waldorf Astoria is on track to be up and running in the spring. It has been closed for renovation since February 2017. The hotel's online reservation system went live last week. An announcement on its website states, "We are opening Spring 2025 and are now accepting reservations for stays and groups beginning September 2025." Known for its Art Deco design and rich history, the Waldorf Astoria has been a symbol of luxury since its original opening in 1931. Over the decades, it has hosted countless celebriti…

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by Joe Lombardi