Fair 74°
Police & Fire
Thieving Suffolk Lawyer Who Stole $400K From Clients Gets Prison Time: Authorities Thieving Suffolk Lawyer Who Stole $400K From Clients Gets Prison Time: Authorities
Thieving Suffolk Lawyer Who Stole $400K From Clients Gets Prison Time: Authorities A Long Island lawyer who admitted to stealing nearly $400,000 from her clients is headed to prison, authorities said. Daphna Zekaria, 56, was sentenced Friday, July 17 to six months in prison for the theft, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said. She’ll spent five years on probation after her release. Zekaria, of Syosset, pleaded guilty to stealing from three separate victims — though other alleged victims have spoken publicly about being scammed and not repaid by her. She took $150,000 in an escrow account in early 2022 after helping a client going through a divorce sell her h…

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by Joe Wilkinson
News
LIRR’s New Yaphank Station Opens In Bid To Reverse Dismal Ridership LIRR’s New Yaphank Station Opens In Bid To Reverse Dismal Ridership
Lirr’s New Yaphank Station Opens In Bid To Reverse Dismal Ridership The Long Island Rail Road’s new Yaphank station opened Friday, July 17, hoping to create more ridership in the area. Named Yaphank-BNL station, the new stop is three miles east of the current Yaphank station and will operate its first full schedule on Saturday, July 18. The new station is next to Brookhaven National Laboratory and will feature shuttle bus access to the site, according to MTA leaders. The lab has praised the station, with leaders telling Newsday it would improve access for “scientific collaborators from around the world.” Yaphank’s prior station had operated for more than 1…

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by Joe Wilkinson
News
Suitcases Full Of Cocaine Blow Open $100M Long Island Drug Empire: Feds Suitcases Full Of Cocaine Blow Open $100M Long Island Drug Empire: Feds
Suitcases Full Of Cocaine Blow Open $100M Long Island Drug Empire: Feds The boss of a giant drug smuggling operation that pumped $100 million worth of cocaine onto Long Island has been arrested, authorities announced Thursday, July 16. Omar Morales Negron, 36, operated out of Florida and Puerto Rico, but the drugs ended up in Long Island communities, the Justice Department said. “Morales Negron operated a sophisticated drug trafficking organization responsible for moving thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico into New York,” DEA agent Frank Tarentino said. The cocaine first arrived in Puerto Rico, where it was secretly packed into furniture, then s…

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by Joe Wilkinson
News
Brenda Fricker Dies: Oscar-Winning Actress Known For 'Home Alone,' 'My Left Foot' Brenda Fricker Dies: Oscar-Winning Actress Known For 'Home Alone,' 'My Left Foot'
Brenda Fricker Dies: Oscar-Winning Actress Known For 'Home Alone,' 'My Left Foot' An actress who could turn quiet loneliness into unforgettable humanity has died after a six-decade career. Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker died on Friday, July 17, following a period of ill health, her agent told the BBC. She was 81. Fricker became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award when she received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1990 for “My Left Foot.” She played Bridget Brown, the devoted mother of writer and painter Christy Brown, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in the acclaimed 1989 film. Fricker reached an even wider audience three years later as the rec…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Package Thief Rocks Bright Orange Hoodie In Suffolk iPad Heist: Cops Package Thief Rocks Bright Orange Hoodie In Suffolk iPad Heist: Cops
Package Thief Rocks Bright Orange Hoodie In Suffolk iPad Heist: Cops A Long Island porch pirate was caught on camera swiping a package, and police are asking for the public’s help to identify them. The suspect was wearing a bright orange hoodie, black pants, and tan slides when they took the package from a home on Manhattan Avenue in Centereach on Wednesday, June 10, the Suffolk County Police Department said. The package contained an iPad, worth $350, according to police. The suspect was captured leaving the scene in a black Mercedes-Benz. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest in the case, and anyone with in…

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by Joe Wilkinson
News
FDA Issues Alert After Major Break In Multistate Parasite Outbreak: What To Know Now FDA Issues Alert After Major Break In Multistate Parasite Outbreak: What To Know Now
FDA Issues Alert After Major Break In Multistate Parasite Outbreak: What To Know Now A sprawling foodborne outbreak now has a much clearer trail, and health officials are warning diners not to ignore it. The FDA said on Thursday, July 16, that shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states has been linked to an outbreak of Cyclospora infections. The warning covers locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The outbreak has sickened 1,644 people who reported eating at Taco Bell, according to the FDA. At least 94 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. An analysis of food exposures in…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Cause Of Death Released For 'Jurassic Park' Star Sam Neill Cause Of Death Released For 'Jurassic Park' Star Sam Neill
Cause Of Death Released For 'Jurassic Park' Star Sam Neill The mystery surrounding the sudden death of “Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill has been resolved. Neill died from pneumonia at age 78 in Sydney, Australia, his representative told People in a report published Thursday, July 16. The illness was unrelated to the blood cancer the acclaimed actor had overcome. “Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy,” Neill’s rep said in a statement to the outlet. People report:https://people.com/sam-neill-cause-of-death-12019366 The representative issued the clarification after inaccurate…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Dangerous Haze Hangs On: Here's New Timeline For Cleaner Northeast Air Dangerous Haze Hangs On: Here's New Timeline For Cleaner Northeast Air
Dangerous Haze Hangs On: Here's New Timeline For Cleaner Northeast Air The smoky veil hanging over the Northeast is refusing to make a quick exit. Smoke from Canadian and northern Minnesota wildfires continued to affect air quality and visibility on Friday, July 17. Forecasters said the haze could remain a periodic problem through the weekend before a broader wind shift brings more substantial relief. Prevailing breezes will continue steering smoke southeast through Sunday, according to AccuWeather. Some of the smoke will remain high in the atmosphere, dimming the sun. Other pockets could reach ground level, reduce visibility, and create health concerns. Sho…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
NY Native Scott Bryce Dies: Daytime TV Star Known For Playing Scheming Characters NY Native Scott Bryce Dies: Daytime TV Star Known For Playing Scheming Characters
NY Native Scott Bryce Dies: Daytime TV Star Known For Playing Scheming Characters A charismatic television presence whose work stretched across generations of daytime and primetime hits has died. Scott Bryce, best known for originating the role of Craig Montgomery on the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns,” died on Sunday, July 12, following a battle with cancer, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 68. Bryce died in New Haven, Connecticut, The Hollywood Reporter reported. He had been diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal and stomach cancer in 2024. The cancer later spread to his brain, according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited his son, Jackson Bryce, and agent …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Craig Melvin Speaks Out After 'Today' Show Security Breach Incident Craig Melvin Speaks Out After 'Today' Show Security Breach Incident
Craig Melvin Speaks Out After 'Today' Show Security Breach Incident Craig Melvin is breaking his silence after a frightening security scare rattled one of television's best-known morning shows. The 47-year-old "Today" co-anchor reassured viewers in a late-afternoon Instagram post on Thursday, July 16, hours after an unauthorized man approached him near Studio 1A at Rockefeller Plaza. Melvin wrote: "Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow." Melvin shared the message on his verified account without adding details about …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
National Ice Cream Day 2026: Where To Get Free Scoops, Frozen Deals National Ice Cream Day 2026: Where To Get Free Scoops, Frozen Deals
National Ice Cream Day 2026: Where To Get Free Scoops, Frozen Deals Giveaways, deals, and even frozen treats for pets are returning across the country to celebrate one of summer's sweetest holidays. National Ice Cream Day 2026 falls on Sunday, July 19. President Ronald Reagan officially proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday as National Ice Cream Day back in 1984, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. The dairy trade group said that the US churned out more than 1.23 billion gallons of ice cream in 2025. The IDFA also estimates that the average American eats about four gallons of ice cream a year. The sweet t…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Popular Airline Finally Adding Wi-Fi To Flights: Here's When Popular Airline Finally Adding Wi-Fi To Flights: Here's When
Popular Airline Finally Adding Wi-Fi To Flights: Here's When Frontier Airlines is adding Wi-Fi on its planes for the first time. The Denver-based airline plans to launch its first aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi in early 2027, Frontier announced in a news release on Tuesday, July 14. SpaceX-owned Starlink will provide internet aboard Frontier's fleet.  The service is expected to support streaming, online gaming, video calls, browsing, and work during flights. Frontier will be the first US airline to offer passenger access through a new system managed directly by Starlink. Frontier said the new Wi-Fi will also help its pilots, flight attendant…

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by Chris Spiker