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NY Ranks High Among Best States To Raise Family, New Study Finds: Here's Where, Why NY Ranks High Among Best States To Raise Family, New Study Finds: Here's Where, Why
NY Ranks High Among Best States To Raise Family, New Study Finds: Here's Where, Why According to a new report ranking the US states on a scale of the best places to raise a family, New York State ranks among the top 10. New York State is one of the best states in the country to raise a family — according to a study released on Monday, Jan. 8 by WalletHub, which ranked the Empire State as number five. The personal finance company used the following metrics to score each of the 50 states, then take the totals to complete a final ranking: Family fun (including the share of children who live near a park, share of families with young children, number of attractions, and mo…

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by Sophie Grieser
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's How To Make Sure Your N95, KN95 Masks Aren't Fake COVID-19: Here's How To Make Sure Your N95, KN95 Masks Aren't Fake
Covid-19: Here's How To Make Sure Your N95, KN95 Masks Aren't Fake As many consumers seek quality masks amid the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, some sellers are advertising counterfeit N95 and KN95 masks that do not provide the standard level of filtration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that well-fitted KN95s offer better protection against COVID-19 than cloth masks, and well-fitting approved respirators, such as N95s, offer the best protection. Federal officials have released tips on how to know if a mask you're purchasing is legitimately approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH,) whi…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
COVID-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning COVID-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning
Covid-19: Sale Of Fake Vaccine Cards Prompts FBI Warning The FBI has issued a warning about individuals selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and advertising them online. The agency said individuals should not purchase or make fake vaccine cards, and not fill in blank cards with false information, as it could put people's health at risk. "By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19," the FBI said. The FBI added that using an official government agency seal, like The Department of Health and Huma…

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
Google's First-Ever Retail Store Will Open Soon In NY Google's First-Ever Retail Store Will Open Soon In NY
Google's First-Ever Retail Store Will Open Soon In NY After conquering the Internet, Google is set to take over brick-and-mortar retail sales with its first-ever physical store, and it will be in New York. Google announced on Thursday, May 20 that it will be opening up the store in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, where it will sell everything from Pixel phones to Nest products, Fitbit devices, and Pixelbooks. Customers will have the option of shopping online at the Google Store and picking up their orders in the store or physically shopping on location. According to the company, “throughout the store, visitors will be able to experience how …

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Iona College Men's Basketball Forced To Cancel Remainder Of Regular Season COVID-19: Iona College Men's Basketball Forced To Cancel Remainder Of Regular Season
Covid-19: Iona College Men's Basketball Forced To Cancel Remainder Of Regular Season Iona College will have a more difficult shot to make the NCAA Tournament this year after being forced to cancel the remainder of its men’s basketball regular season due to COVID-19. The college announced on Monday, Feb. 22 that the five remaining scheduled regular-season games have been canceled after another Tier 1 member of the team tested positive, requiring quarantines, which left the team with too few student-athletes to fill out the roster. Iona, which is 8-5 overall and 6-3 in the conference, is scheduled to begin its conference tournament on Monday, March 8. The Gaels are coming off…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY State Sues Amazon For Allegedly Failing To Protect Workers During Pandemic COVID-19: NY State Sues Amazon For Allegedly Failing To Protect Workers During Pandemic
Covid-19: NY State Sues Amazon For Allegedly Failing To Protect Workers During Pandemic New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the state has filed a lawsuit against Amazon for allegedly failing to keep employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. James announced on Wednesday, Feb. 17 that a lawsuit has been filed in state Supreme Court against the tech giant over its alleged failure to provide adequate health and safety measures for employees at the company’s New York facilities when the outbreak first started. An investigation into Amazon’s practices was opened by James’ office in March last year following multiple complaints about an alleged lack of precauti…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: NY Launches Real-Time COVID-19 Report Card For Schools COVID-19: NY Launches Real-Time COVID-19 Report Card For Schools
Covid-19: NY Launches Real-Time Covid-19 Report Card For Schools A new type of “report card” is coming to New York schools to provide parents and teachers up-to-date information on the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during a COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Sept. 8 that he is signing an Executive Order that will require schools, local health departments, labs, and other testing sites to provide the state with information regarding the virus. The new information being gathered from multiple sources will be posted in an online dashboard and include: Positive cases by date of students and staff in each individua…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public COVID-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public
Covid-19: State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Now Available To Public Guidelines sent to school districts when the formula that will be used to reopen schools across New York State was announced are now available for the general public. Under the formula, schools can reopen if the region is in Phase 4 and the daily COVID-19 infection rate is five percent or lower over a 14-day average. But if the regional infection rate is greater than nine percent using a seven-day average after Saturday, Aug. 1, schools will then have to close, in effect, "an emergency stop button," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in announcing the formula on Monday, July 13. The determination for …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: First Scripted US TV Series Resumes Production Amid Pandemic COVID-19: First Scripted US TV Series Resumes Production Amid Pandemic
Covid-19: First Scripted US TV Series Resumes Production Amid Pandemic One of the nation’s longest-running television shows has become the first scripted American television show to resume production amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bold and the Beautiful, the popular soap opera which has aired on CBS since 1987, returned to the studio to resume production last month, with its first new episode since March scheduled to air on Monday, July 20. Since restarting production, the show has put several safety precautions in place, and have been social distancing to the best of their ability. It first resumed to its Television City stages on Wednesday, June 17, with f…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says COVID-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says
Covid-19: These Steps Are Needed To Safely Reopen Schools, NY State Teachers Union Says With the state set to announce in less than a month plans for reopening schools in the fall, the New York State Teachers Union has offered guidance on how to best get students back in the classroom. NYSUT President Andy Pallotta released a statement following New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announcing an official timeline for when a decision will be made on school reopening. COVID-19: NY State Sets Timeline For Making Decision On Reopening Schools The state will provide public guidelines from the New York State Education Department to districts on Monday, July 13, and school districts will have…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY Schools, Colleges Will Remain Closed Through End Of Academic Year COVID-19: NY Schools, Colleges Will Remain Closed Through End Of Academic Year
Covid-19: NY Schools, Colleges Will Remain Closed Through End Of Academic Year New York schools and colleges will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Cuomo announced that he was extending the original May 15 schools shutdown through the rest of the academic year as a precaution to help stop the spread of the virus. A determination on summer school programs is expected by the end of May, Cuomo said. “Given the situations and precautions that would have to be put in place to open schools with new protocols, we decided to close schools for the rest of the year,” Cuomo said. “How do …

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Dutchess County Seeks Testing For Every Nursing Home Resident COVID-19: Dutchess County Seeks Testing For Every Nursing Home Resident
Covid-19: Dutchess County Seeks Testing For Every Nursing Home Resident With limited supplies, Dutchess County officials have vowed to work to have all residents at the county's 13 nursing home to be tested for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) will work together with the 13 nursing homes in the county to test each resident. The county will kick off the effort with a pilot program with Wingate at Beacon nursing home, where the county's limited supplies of swaps and protective gear should be enough to test each resident. “The health and safety o…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
COVID-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections COVID-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections
Covid-19: Amazon Warehouse Workers To Stage 'Mass Call Out' For Greater Safety Protections This story has been updated. Hundreds of Amazon employees are planning a “mass call out” by calling in sick this week to protest the company’s response during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At least 300 Amazon employees have pledged to not go into work beginning on Tuesday, April 21, according to worker rights group United for Respect. “Amazon's response to the coronavirus outbreak has unnecessarily put the lives of Amazon employees at increased risk and exposure,"  the group wrote online. "There are now over 130 warehouses where employees have contracted COVID-19 (Coronav…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Trader Joe's In Westchester Temporarily Closes After Worker Dies COVID-19: Trader Joe's In Westchester Temporarily Closes After Worker Dies
Covid-19: Trader Joe's In Westchester Temporarily Closes After Worker Dies A Trader Joe's in Westchester has temporarily closed after a staff member died due to complications from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The store is on Route 22 (727 White Plains Road) in Scarsdale. The store will also undergo additional precautionary cleaning and sanitization before reopening on Thursday, April 9. Trader Joe's also announced on Monday, April 6 that five other stores across the nation are also temporarily closed for cleaning, including in Garden City. "At Trader Joe’s, there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our crew members and custome…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Walmart Will Begin Taking Temperature Of Employees As They Report To Work COVID-19: Walmart Will Begin Taking Temperature Of Employees As They Report To Work
Covid-19: Walmart Will Begin Taking Temperature Of Employees As They Report To Work In an effort to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Walmart employees will soon have their temperatures taken as they arrive to work in an effort to protect customers and fellow co-workers. In an announcement on Tuesday, March 31, John Furner, CEO, and president, said the temperature checks just another step in the company's effort to follow CDC guidelines such as handwashing in preventing the spread of COVID-19. "As our company and country continue to deal with the spread of COVID-19, we remain focused on the health and safety of our associates," he said.  Store…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
COVID-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening COVID-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening
Covid-19: $500M New Legoland Location In Hudson Valley Scraps Planned July 4th Opening The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) isn't only causing havoc with just about every American's life, it's also doing the same to their planned getaways. On Tuesday, March 31, Legoland New York announced that its planned opening for Saturday, July 4 has been delayed until sometime in 2021, due to the pandemic. “Nothing is more important to us than the health, safety, and security of our team, the partners we work with, and the communities we serve,” said Legoland New York Resort divisional director Stephanie Johnson.  Johnson said the pandemic has affected businesses worldwide, and by waiting,…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Children's Center In Northern Westchester Closes After Employee Tests COVID-19 Positive Children's Center In Northern Westchester Closes After Employee Tests COVID-19 Positive
Children's Center In Northern Westchester Closes After Employee Tests Covid-19 Positive A Northern Westchester children's center has closed until the end of March after an employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Ossining Children's Center, located on South Highland Avenue, made the announcement on Facebook following the positive diagnosis. Howard Milbert, the center's executive director, said on Facebook that he understood the post may have been alarming, but it was the fastest way to get the word out. "We made the decision to post the information because we needed to get the information to you as quickly as possible," Milbert said. "The health and …

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: NY Archdiocese Catholic Elementary Schools Extend Closures To April 20 COVID-19: NY Archdiocese Catholic Elementary Schools Extend Closures To April 20
Covid-19: NY Archdiocese Catholic Elementary Schools Extend Closures To April 20 The coronavirus crisis has hit the Catholic Church amongst the hardest, with the planned closure of elementary schools in the Archdiocese extended into next month. Michael Deegan, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools announced that elementary schools within the archdiocese will be extending their closure until Monday, April 20to ensure the safety of students, staff, and parents. "Informed by the current CDC guidelines and in consultation with other health professionals, the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools made this decision out of concern for th…

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by Zak Failla
News
'We Must Take Additional Action Locally,' Rockland County Exec Says After COVID-19 Fatality 'We Must Take Additional Action Locally,' Rockland County Exec Says After COVID-19 Fatality
'We Must Take Additional Action Locally,' Rockland County Exec Says After Covid-19 Fatality Updated story - COVID-19: Rockland To Declare State Of Emergency Just hours after it was announced New York state's second fatality related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus was a Suffern resident, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said additional safety measures must now be taken. The person who died was 64 years old and "had other significant health problems which were likely contributory to death," Rockland County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Laura Carbone confirmed late Saturday afternoon, March 14. There are now 13 positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Rockland County. …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Staffer Self-Quarantines But Area High School Stays Open COVID-19: Staffer Self-Quarantines But Area High School Stays Open
Covid-19: Staffer Self-Quarantines But Area High School Stays Open A staff member at a Rockland high school whose children attend one of the Westchester schools closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak is under self-quarantine, though the school remains, open officials said. South Orangetown Schools Superintendent Robert Pritchard alerted parents to the situation in a letter sent on Thursday, March 5 regarding the staff at Tappan Zee High School. Neither the staff member nor his family has experienced any symptoms. According to Pritchard, the risk to students and staff is minimal and the district was advised to operate normally. All South Orangetown sc…

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by Zak Failla
News
SUNY New Paltz Closed Through Week's End Due To Reports Of Tainted Water SUNY New Paltz Closed Through Week's End Due To Reports Of Tainted Water
SUNY New Paltz Closed Through Week's End Due To Reports Of Tainted Water All classes have been canceled through the end of the week at SUNY New Paltz due to reported tainted water. College officials at the campus in Ulster County said they made the decision on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to close out of an abundance of caution for the safety of students after being notified by a precautionary advisory issued by the Village of New Paltz. They said the closure will last until at least Saturday, Feb. 15. The first water notice was issued on Monday, Feb. 10, after residents complained of an "odor" and "taste" problems coming from the water supply. During an inspection, a “s…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Two More Patients Being Tested In New York City For Coronavirus Two More Patients Being Tested In New York City For Coronavirus
Two More Patients Being Tested In New York City For Coronavirus Two more New Yorkers are being tested for the coronavirus after returning from trips to China and displaying symptoms of the deadly disease. The latest patients - both under the age of 40 - recently returned from a trip to China and developed “fever and cough or shortness of breath without another common cause,” according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The patients are the fourth and fifth reported patients to be tested in New York City. Only one of the new patients has been hospitalized because “the other did not have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization…

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by Zak Failla
News
Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter Linked To Pet Store Puppies Infects 30 People Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter Linked To Pet Store Puppies Infects 30 People
Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter Linked To Pet Store Puppies Infects 30 People The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an outbreak of multi-drug resistant human Campylobacter jejuni infections that have been linked to pet store puppies in more than a dozen states. The strain has now been identified in 30 people in 13 states, including four hospitalizations. There have been no deaths linked to Campylobacter jejuni. According to the CDC, illnesses started on dates ranging from Jan. 6 through Nov. 10. Those infected range in age from 8 months to 70 years, with a median age of 34; 52 percent of infected people were women. “Epidemiologic and laborat…

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by Zak Failla
News
Soybean Product Recalled Due To Mold Potential Soybean Product Recalled Due To Mold Potential
Soybean Product Recalled Due To Mold Potential Check your cabinets. Colorado-based Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets announced that it is recalling Natural Grocers brand two-pound organic soybeans because they have the potential to contain mold. The FDA said that “consumers who may have purchased this product are advised to discontinue use and either throw it away or return it to the store for credit or refund.” The recalled product is packaged in clear plastic bags weighing two pounds and bear the “Natural Grocers” label. Only packages bearing 19-168 and 19-205 as the packed-on dates are subject to recall. The packed-on date …

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by Zak Failla
News
Cancer Fears Prompt Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS To Suspend Sale Of Zantac Cancer Fears Prompt Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS To Suspend Sale Of Zantac
Cancer Fears Prompt Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS To Suspend Sale Of Zantac Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS are all temporarily taking heartburn medicine Zantac off their shelves due to the potential presence of a human carcinogen. The move comes after a product alert was issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that the products contain low levels of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Zantac has not currently been recalled, but the FDA is researching to determine if the low levels of NDMA pose a risk. The initial report found that the amounts “barely exceed amounts found in common foods.” CVS was first to pull the product, announcing the move Saturday, Sept…

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by Zak Failla
News
New Rockland Measles Exposure Site Announced New Rockland Measles Exposure Site Announced
New Rockland Measles Exposure Site Announced As the number of measles cases continues to grow with 262 confirmed cases in Rockland County, health officials are warning residents of a measles exposure site after an infected person visited the location. The infected person visited the Pharmacy Plus, at 728 N. Main Street, Spring Valley on Tuesday, May 28 from 1 to 2 p.m., with a risk of the exposure until 4 p.m. These times reflect the period that the infected individuals were in this area and a two-hour period after they left the area because the virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.  If you were pres…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Rockland Should Opt Out Of State's Move To Legalize Recreational Marijuana, Day Says Rockland Should Opt Out Of State's Move To Legalize Recreational Marijuana, Day Says
Rockland Should Opt Out Of State's Move To Legalize Recreational Marijuana, Day Says Rockland County Executive Ed Day is the latest leader in the state to urge "opting out" of the move to legalize recreational marijuana. In a statement on Friday, March 15, Day said the legislation needs to be totally studied before being enacted. "While medical marijuana in non-smokeable form has been helping people who have pain, recreational marijuana is not a panacea and may, in fact, make things worse," he said. "We are at a point in history where we are trying to get young people away from drugs; putting a government stamp of approval on the use of drugs is ill-advised." Ed DayFil…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Reports Of Tampons Coming Apart Prompt Recall Reports Of Tampons Coming Apart Prompt Recall
Reports Of Tampons Coming Apart Prompt Recall A popular tampon product is being stripped from shelves after parts of the feminine hygiene product was unraveling or coming apart while they were in use. Kimberly-Clark announced a voluntary recall of U by Kotex Sleek Tampons, Regular Absorbency, which were sold throughout the country, for “a quality related defect that could impact the performance of this product.” The recall is limited to products that were manufactured between Oct. 7, 2016, and Oct. 16 this year. The products were distributed between Oct. 17, 2016, and Oct. 23 this year. No other U by Kotex-brand products are subject to…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Recall Alert: Pharma Company Pulls Infant Ibuprofen From CVS, Walmart, Family Dollar Recall Alert: Pharma Company Pulls Infant Ibuprofen From CVS, Walmart, Family Dollar
Recall Alert: Pharma Company Pulls Infant Ibuprofen From CVS, Walmart, Family Dollar Tris Pharma, Inc. has voluntarily recalled a popular infant’s Ibuprofen product that is being sold at Walmart, CVS and Family Dollar. The recalled lots from the three stores include Infants' Ibuprofen Concentrated Oral Suspension, USP (NSAID) 50 mg per 1.25 mL, to the retail level. The recalled products have been found to potentially have higher concentrations of ibuprofen. According to the company, there is a “remote possibility that infants, who may be more susceptible to a higher potency level of drug, and therefore may be more vulnerable to permanent NSAID-associated renal injury.” Adv…

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by Zak Failla
News
Rockland Opens Sain Building For Hi Tor Animal Care Center Amid Ringworm Outbreak Rockland Opens Sain Building For Hi Tor Animal Care Center Amid Ringworm Outbreak
Rockland Opens Sain Building For Hi Tor Animal Care Center Amid Ringworm Outbreak Following the closure of the Hi Tor Animal Care Cente due to an outbreak of ringworm, Rockland County officials announced that the empty Sain Building will be used to provide shelter. On Friday, Nov. 23, Rockland County Executive Ed Day received a letter from the center's Board of Directors seeking any assistance the county could provide during the outbreak of ringworm, a fungal infection, that has affected the shelter's cat population. In response to that request for help, Rockland County decided to open the doors of the currently unoccupied Sain building, at 18 New Hempstead Roa…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Seven Hospitalized In Rockland Carbon Monoxide Scare Seven Hospitalized In Rockland Carbon Monoxide Scare
Seven Hospitalized In Rockland Carbon Monoxide Scare Seven people were hospitalized after police responded to a home regarding a call that a woman had fallen. When Ramapo Police arrived on the scene of the call around 10:23 p.m., Monday, they found that no was hurt, but that the home had been without power for several days and the occupants were using a gas powered generator to power lights and space heaters, police said. The generator was being operated in an enclosed deck that was attached to the residence.  Officers further found that occupants were using aluminum pans full of smoldering charcoal as a secondary heating sour…

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by Kathy Reakes