Fair 50°
Politics
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers Voters in New York are being warned about scammers who are trying to confuse them ahead of the state’s primary elections. The New York State Board of Elections has received reports from voters across the state who have received unsolicited text messages from an outside group pushing incorrect polling place information. “The State Board would like to remind voters that the best place to get information about elections and voting is directly from the New York State Board of Elections and the County Boards of Elections,” the agency said in a press release Monday, June 24. “Voters are enc…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Big changes are on the horizon for those TikTok and Instagram feeds. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation Thursday, June 20, meant to combat what lawmakers called “addictive” social media algorithms aimed at minors, the first such law in the country. Under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, social media companies will be required to display content chronologically for users under 18 unless they get parental consent allowing them to show content that is selected algorithmically instead. Content that is algorithmically curated relies on a user’s behavior and past …

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
What's Your Sign? Zodiac License Plates Unveiled By New York DMV What's Your Sign? Zodiac License Plates Unveiled By New York DMV
What's Your Sign? Zodiac License Plates Unveiled By New York DMV Curious about someone’s zodiac sign? Just check their license plate. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Wednesday, June 5, introduced its latest series of custom license plates: the 12 zodiac signs. Astrology enthusiasts can select their corresponding zodiac symbol, like a scorpion for Scorpio, a bull for Taurus, or a lion for Leo. Plates can be purchased on the DMV’s website, over the phone, by mail, or through a local DMV office.  Drivers can expect to pay $60 for an assigned plate number or $91.25 if they opt for a personalized one. New Yorkers can already …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why
NY County Training Armed Residents To Be 'Special Deputy Sheriffs': Here's Where, Why A New York county is training armed residents who could be deputized during emergencies and natural disasters. With the state's second-largest police force of 2,600 sworn officers, Nassau County posted a notice in March in local newspapers and other news outlets for a team of provisional emergency special deputy sheriffs "for the protection of human life and property during an emergency," said County Executive Bruce Blakeman in coordination with Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco. In the advertisement, Blakeman said the "special deputies" will have no police powers unless …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General
Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General New York Attorney General Letitia James urged New Yorkers to be on high alert for increasingly common online romance scams that lead to the victims making fraudulent investments. Also referred to as “pig butchering” schemes, the perpetrators of such crimes will work to gain trust with their victims, “fattening” them up so they willingly provide the scammer money, James said in a Thursday, June 6 press release. Victims are usually targeted via dating websites and apps, social media, and unsolicited text messages. Earlier report - NY Resident Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: …

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by Sophie Grieser
Politics
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians ‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians New York politicians wasted no time reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a federal ban on bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more quickly. In their 6-3 ruling Friday, June 14, with conservatives in the majority, the high court sided with a Texas gun store owner who surrendered his bump stocks after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. He later sued to get them back. The ATF’s regulation, issued under the Trump administration with his full support, came about after the 2017 Las Veg…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Powerful Storms, Then Sweltering Heat Coming To NY, Hochul Warns: 'Take Every Precaution' Powerful Storms, Then Sweltering Heat Coming To NY, Hochul Warns: 'Take Every Precaution'
Powerful Storms, Then Sweltering Heat Coming To NY, Hochul Warns: 'Take Every Precaution' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is warning residents to take precautions ahead of a barrage of threatening weather, including severe storms followed by a dangerous heat wave. Hochul's announcement comes as predictions call for a cold front to arrive in the state on Friday, June 14, which is expected to produce thunderstorms with heavy downpours and damaging wind gusts. According to Hochul's office, the storm system could bring several hazards along with it, including flash flooding, dangerous traveling conditions, and power outages.  Related Report - Timing Shifts For Severe Storms W…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Brand-New Mobile ID Launches In NY, Promises 'Convenience, Security' Brand-New Mobile ID Launches In NY, Promises 'Convenience, Security'
Brand-New Mobile ID Launches In NY, Promises 'Convenience, Security' Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New Yorkers can now have a digital version of their state-issued driver's license or identification right on their smartphones. Hochul and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles announced on Tuesday, June 11 that the new program, New York Mobile ID, was now available to all New Yorkers. Available to anyone with a smartphone, New York Mobile ID (or MiD) is a highly secure digital version of a state-issued driver's license, learner’s permit, or non-driver identification card that can be used at nearly 30 TSA security checkpoints across the country. …

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by Sophie Grieser
Politics
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature 'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature New Yorkers with felony convictions could soon serve on court juries after state lawmakers passed legislation reversing the lifetime ban on such service. The New York State Assembly on Friday, June 7, passed the “Jury of Our Peers Act,” which would allow those convicted of felonies to serve on New York juries once they are released from prison or have otherwise satisfied all of their sentencing requirements. Advocates say the move will help rectify an underrepresentation of minorities on juries. “Black New Yorkers have been systematically denied the right to serve on juries as they are dis…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Updated List Of Scheduled Red Lobster Closures Includes 5 New NY Locations Updated List Of Scheduled Red Lobster Closures Includes 5 New NY Locations
Updated List Of Scheduled Red Lobster Closures Includes 5 New NY Locations Red Lobster plans to close more restaurants just weeks after it filed for bankruptcy, according to a new report. In a bankruptcy petition filed on Sunday, May 19, the company listed assets of $1 billion and liabilities of $10 billion. Days before the filing, dozens of Red Lobster locations were listed as "temporarily closed" on the company's website, including these New York locations: Kingston, Scarsdale, Nanuet, Poughkeepsie, Stony Brook In an updated list of closures reported by CNN on Thursday, June 6, five new locations in New York have been added to the list, including it…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination A Florida-based company is recalling whole cucumbers that were shipped to 14 states, but may be contaminated with Salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. According to the FDA, the cucumbers subject to recall are dark green, between 1.5 inches and two inches thick and between five to nine inches long. Officials made note that mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in the recall. FDA The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons between Friday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 21 to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributor…

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by Zak Failla
News
Police To Target Speeding, Aggressive Drivers During NY Enforcement Crackdown Police To Target Speeding, Aggressive Drivers During NY Enforcement Crackdown
Police To Target Speeding, Aggressive Drivers During NY Enforcement Crackdown Speeding drivers, watch out — police in New York are set to crack down on aggressive motorists during a weeklong enforcement crackdown.  The "Speed Week" enforcement initiative, which will begin on Monday, June 3, and continue through Sunday, June 9, will target speeding and aggressive drivers throughout New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. During the initiative, State Police will conduct additional patrols and actively monitor highway work zones to watch for drivers who violate New York's "Move Over" law.  Troopers will use both marked and Concealed Identity Traffic Enfor…

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by Ben Crnic