Day Care Scam, Fake Rides, Bogus Prescriptions: NY Fraud Cases Emerge In $6.5B DOJ Sweep Day Care Scam, Fake Rides, Bogus Prescriptions: NY Fraud Cases Emerge In $6.5B DOJ Sweep
Day Care Scam, Fake Rides, Bogus Prescriptions: NY Fraud Cases Emerge In $6.5B DOJ Sweep Several New York defendants and companies are among those swept up in a nationwide health care fraud takedown that federal officials said involved more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims.  The US Department of Justice announced the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown on Tuesday, June 23, charging 455 defendants across 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories. Those charged include 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, according to federal officials.   The takedown also included civil settlements, provider exclusions, billing privilege revo…
NYC Ranked Second For Fourth Of July Celebrations In US, New Study Says: Here's Why NYC Ranked Second For Fourth Of July Celebrations In US, New Study Says: Here's Why
NYC Ranked Second For Fourth Of July Celebrations In US, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast cities have some of the best and worst Fourth of July celebrations in the nation, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2026 list of Best & Worst Places for Fourth of July Celebrations on Wednesday, June 24. The study scored the 100 largest US cities on 18 factors, including food and hotel prices, fireworks shows, attractions, safety, walkability, and weather. Data came from public records, tourism offices, and national databases as of Wednesday, May 27. "The Fourth of July is one of the most beloved holidays in America, allowing many of us to not only celebrate ou…
'Mom' Heard Before Parents Executed, Daughter Charged: DA 'Mom' Heard Before Parents Executed, Daughter Charged: DA
'Mom' Heard Before Parents Executed, Daughter Charged: DA Chilling new details have emerged more than three years after a Pennsylvania couple and the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont, allegedly by suspects with ties to a cult-like group, have been arrested. Michelle Jacqueline Zajko, 33, of Media, Pennsylvania, has been charged with murdering her parents, Richard and Rita Zajko, after a years-long Pennsylvania State Police investigation uncovered digital, ballistic, financial, and surveillance evidence tying her to the killings, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse announced on Wednesday, June 24. Richard Zajko, 72, and …
Dunkin' Launches Fourth Of July Menu With Patriotic Treats: See What's On It Dunkin' Launches Fourth Of July Menu With Patriotic Treats: See What's On It
Dunkin' Launches Fourth Of July Menu With Patriotic Treats: See What's On It Dunkin' is celebrating the nation's 250th birthday with several patriotic drinks, treats, and collectible merchandise. The chain's Fourth of July-themed menu launched nationwide on Wednesday, June 24. Dunkin's lineup features colorful beverages inspired by summertime flavors, along with festive donuts decorated in red, white, and blue. The rollout is also highlighted by the Eagle Cup, which will be available nationwide on Monday, June 29, while supplies last. The cup costs $10.99 and includes a free medium beverage, along with a promotional code that unlocks $3 medium Refreshers o…
Major Retailer Adding Bath & Body Works Products In Huge Partnership Major Retailer Adding Bath & Body Works Products In Huge Partnership
Major Retailer Adding Bath & Body Works Products In Huge Partnership Some of the country's most popular body care and home fragrance products will soon be available at a major beauty retailer. Bath & Body Works announced a new partnership with Ulta Beauty in a news release on Tuesday, June 23. A special selection of Bath & Body Works products will launch in participating Ulta stores nationwide and on the chain's website starting on Sunday, July 12. The collaboration marks a major expansion for Bath & Body Works as the company looks to reach customers beyond its own stores and digital platforms. "We're continuing to expand our…
Man Who Killed, Dismembered Mother Of 4 In Hudson Valley Convicted After Over Decade Man Who Killed, Dismembered Mother Of 4 In Hudson Valley Convicted After Over Decade
Man Who Killed, Dismembered Mother Of 4 In Hudson Valley Convicted After Over Decade After more than a decade since the crime, a Pennsylvania man has been convicted in the 2014 murder of a Hudson Valley, NY mother whose dismembered remains were found in the woods weeks after she was reported missing.    Keymarroo Guiden, 53, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was found guilty on Tuesday, June 23, of second-degree murder in the 2014 killing of April Parker, 31, of Monticello, the Sullivan County District Attorney's Office announced.  The verdict came after a 12-day trial prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Puma and Executive Assistant Distr…
Obama Slams Trump’s ‘Strange Obsession’ With Him: Watch Obama Slams Trump’s ‘Strange Obsession’ With Him: Watch
Obama Slams Trump’s ‘Strange Obsession’ With Him: Watch A long-running political rivalry is getting a fresh round of blunt words. Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump’s repeated focus on him during a new interview on the "All the Smoke" podcast, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, which can be viewed here. The episode was recorded at the newly unveiled Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side. Obama was asked about Trump’s frequent attacks and references to him. "The thing about it is, look, you’ve gotta ask him what it is. ... The obsession. I obviously have a room in his head. A suite in his head,” …
Walmart Deal Days Are Back Walmart Deal Days Are Back
Walmart Deal Days Are Back This is not the week to casually open a shopping app unless you are prepared to meet a discounted vacuum, a patio upgrade, or a dorm-room essential that somehow jumps straight into your cart. Walmart Deals runs from Monday, June 22, through Sunday, June 28, with thousands of offers online, in the Walmart app, and in stores nationwide, according to the Bentonville, AR-based retailer. Shoppers can browse the latest Walmart Deals including savings on electronics, fashion, toys, collectibles, furniture, skincare and early back-to-school finds. This year, Walmart Deals overlaps with Amazon Prim…
Child Drowning Deaths Rising, New Federal Report Reveals: What To Know Child Drowning Deaths Rising, New Federal Report Reveals: What To Know
Child Drowning Deaths Rising, New Federal Report Reveals: What To Know Federal regulators are warning about a rise in young children drowning as families spend more time around the water during the summer. A total of 379 children younger than 15 died by drowning in pool- or spa-related incidents in 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a report released on Wednesday, June 24. That was up 6% from 359 deaths reported in 2022. The increase comes as drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 4. "This year's report makes clear that these tragedies continue to take an unacceptable toll on American families," sai…
Drones Caught Dropping Drugs, Cell Phones Into Hudson Valley Prisons Drones Caught Dropping Drugs, Cell Phones Into Hudson Valley Prisons
Drones Caught Dropping Drugs, Cell Phones Into Hudson Valley Prisons Correction officers at two Hudson Valley correctional facilities intercepted drone-delivered packages containing drugs, cell phones, and other contraband in separate incidents, union officials said.  The incidents happened at Wallkill Correctional Facility in Ulster County on May 26 and at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining on June 8, the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association announced on Tuesday, June 23.  The first such incident at Wallkill Correctional Facility happened at around 1:15 a.m., when an officer assigned…
Man, 20, Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old Child In Hudson Valley Man, 20, Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old Child In Hudson Valley
Man, 20, Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old Child In Hudson Valley A 20-year-old man has been jailed after allegedly raping a 14-year-old child in Orange County, police said.  Wallkill resident Ryan Geoffrey Hablow, 20, was arrested on Tuesday, June 16, the Town of Montgomery Police Department announced on Tuesday, June 23.  According to the department, police began investigating a complaint of an adult man engaging in a sexual act with the young victim. This investigation led to Hablow's arrest.  He was charged with second-degree rape and remanded to the Orange County Jail on a $2,000 cash bail, police said.
Hookup Turns Deadly: NY Woman Indicted For Killing Sleeping Man In Parents' Home (UPDATE) Hookup Turns Deadly: NY Woman Indicted For Killing Sleeping Man In Parents' Home (UPDATE)
Hookup Turns Deadly: NY Woman Indicted For Killing Sleeping Man In Parents' Home (Update) What police describe as a hookup gone wrong ended with a Long Island man dead in his father's arms and a woman now indicted on a murder charge. Kristin Sculley, 22, of Massapequa, was arraigned Wednesday, June 24, on a grand jury indictment charging her with Murder 2nd Degree in the death of Robert "Bobby" Michael Carragher III, 28, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced. Investigators said Carragher and Sculley met up at a bar before returning to the Beaumont Avenue home in Massapequa that he shared with his parents. At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, Sculley b…
Unpredictable June Bootids Meteor Shower Set To Peak Unpredictable June Bootids Meteor Shower Set To Peak
Unpredictable June Bootids Meteor Shower Set To Peak The night sky is lining up one of its harder-to-predict shows. The June Bootids meteor shower is active through Thursday, July 2, and is expected to peak overnight Friday, June 26, into Saturday, June 27. The shower is usually quiet, producing only a few meteors per hour. But it has earned a reputation for surprises. Space.com reported that the June Bootids produced an outburst of up to 100 meteors per hour in 1998. Another burst in 2004 produced about 20 to 50 meteors per hour. A predicted outburst in 2010 did not happen, adding to the shower’s unpredictable reputation. ABC News report…
Dutchess County Motorcyclist, 30, Killed In Crash That Left 2 Others Hospitalized Dutchess County Motorcyclist, 30, Killed In Crash That Left 2 Others Hospitalized
Dutchess County Motorcyclist, 30, Killed In Crash That Left 2 Others Hospitalized A Dutchess County man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Columbia County that also left two other people hospitalized.  The crash happened at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, near Jackson Corners Road and Hoefer Road in the Town of Gallatin, New York State Police announced on Wednesday, June 24.  Police said Nicholas H. Hedges, 30, of Red Hook, was riding a 2014 Ducati motorcycle when he lost control. Investigators said the motorcycle slid from the eastbound lane into the westbound lane, where it struck a 2025 Kia head-on.  The Kia was driven by a 43-year-old …
Here's How Much Fourth Of July Costs Are Rising In 2026: New Study Here's How Much Fourth Of July Costs Are Rising In 2026: New Study
Here's How Much Fourth Of July Costs Are Rising In 2026: New Study The nation's 250th birthday celebration is coming with higher costs due to rising inflation and the ongoing effects of the US-Israeli war with Iran. WalletHub released its annual 4th of July Facts & Figures report on Wednesday, June 24. The personal finance website estimates Americans will spend $9.4 billion on Fourth of July food, up from $8.9 billion in 2025. In 2026, the Fourth of July also marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Semiquincentennial will arrive with countless local, regional, and national events celebrating the …
Drug Dealer Caught Selling Near Catholic School In Dutchess County Twice In 3 Weeks: DA Drug Dealer Caught Selling Near Catholic School In Dutchess County Twice In 3 Weeks: DA
Drug Dealer Caught Selling Near Catholic School In Dutchess County Twice In 3 Weeks: DA A 55-year-old man was arrested twice in three weeks after authorities said he was caught selling cocaine from a home located near a Dutchess County Catholic elementary school — and continued even after his first arrest.  Poughkeepsie resident Eugene Taylor, formerly of Beacon, was arrested on both Monday, June 1, and Friday, June 19, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force announced on Wednesday, June 24.  According to investigators, Drug Task Force agents identified Taylor as a cocaine dealer operating out of his residence on Woodcliff Avenue, located …
Drunk Driver Hits Troopers' Patrol Vehicles During Multi-Town Chase: NYSP Drunk Driver Hits Troopers' Patrol Vehicles During Multi-Town Chase: NYSP
Drunk Driver Hits Troopers' Patrol Vehicles During Multi-Town Chase: Nysp A woman accused of driving drunk led police on a multi-town chase before crashing into two New York State Police patrol vehicles, authorities said. Brooklyn A. Oakes, 20, of Hogansburg, was arrested after the pursuit along State Highway 37 through St. Lawrence County on Saturday, June 20, according to New York State Police. Troopers were alerted by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department about an active pursuit involving a black Volkswagen Passat traveling westbound on State Highway 37. The vehicle continued through Massena and Louisville before troopers located it parked on the shou…
NY Group Home Employees Used Residents' Bank Info To Make Amazon Purchases: DA NY Group Home Employees Used Residents' Bank Info To Make Amazon Purchases: DA
NY Group Home Employees Used Residents' Bank Info To Make Amazon Purchases: DA Two group home employees in Westchester County are accused of stealing more than $47,000 from residents with disabilities by using their banking information for personal purchases on Amazon, prosecutors said.   The arrests of Yonkers resident Nadajah Jackson, 28, and Staten Island resident Destiny Galan, 25, in connection with the alleged scheme were announced by Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Tuesday, June 23.  According to prosecutors, both women worked for the Association For Mentally Ill C…
Man Shows Gun During NY Road Rage Incident — Then Tracked Down By Deputies, Sheriff Says Man Shows Gun During NY Road Rage Incident — Then Tracked Down By Deputies, Sheriff Says
Man Shows Gun During NY Road Rage Incident — Then Tracked Down By Deputies, Sheriff Says A 41-year-old man is facing felony weapons charges after allegedly brandishing a handgun during a road rage incident in Putnam County — then being tracked down by deputies who took him into custody, authorities said. Brandon Tompkins, 41, of Southeast, was arrested on Saturday, June 20, following the confrontation, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, June 23.   Deputies were dispatched at around 8:15 p.m. after receiving a report of a driver threatening another motorist with a firearm during a road rage incident on Peach Lake Road (Route 121) in Southeast. Ac…
Rep. Lawler Challenges Dem Nominee Cait Conley To 6 TV Debates After Her Primary Win Rep. Lawler Challenges Dem Nominee Cait Conley To 6 TV Debates After Her Primary Win
Rep. Lawler Challenges Dem Nominee Cait Conley To 6 TV Debates After Her Primary Win Soon after Cait Conley secured the Democratic nomination in NY-17 and defeated opponent Beth Davidson, incumbent Rep. Mike Lawler challenged her to six televised debates ahead of November's closely watched congressional race. Conley, a combat veteran and former national security official, won the five-candidate Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 23, with 22,876 votes, or 48.87 percent, according to unofficial results from the New York State Board of Elections.  Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson finished second with 14,725 votes (31.46 percent), while Effie Guadalupe Phillips-St…
Family Taken Hostage During Raid Following NY Shooting Investigation Leads To Indictment Family Taken Hostage During Raid Following NY Shooting Investigation Leads To Indictment
Family Taken Hostage During Raid Following NY Shooting Investigation Leads To Indictment A man accused of opening fire on an Albany street before allegedly forcing his way into a home and trapping a woman and three children inside has now been indicted, prosecutors announced. Jahmel Inman, 32, of Albany, was arraigned on a 12-count indictment before Albany County Judge William Little on Tuesday, June 23, according to Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon. The indictment charges Inman with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, burglary, criminal mischief, four counts of unlawful imprisonment, and three counts of endangering the welfar…
New Storm Threat Coming After Brief, Pleasant Break: Timing New Storm Threat Coming After Brief, Pleasant Break: Timing
New Storm Threat Coming After Brief, Pleasant Break: Timing The break from wet weather will be pleasant, but brief. High pressure building into the region on Wednesday, June 24, will bring sunshine, dry conditions, and mostly light winds across much of the Northeast, according to the National Weather Service. More of the same is expected during the day on Thursday, June 25, with another mainly dry stretch from the New York City metro area into southern New England and the mid-Atlantic. Then the pattern starts to turn again. Unsettled conditions are expected to return Thursday night as a cold front approaches, triggering widespread showers and scat…
$22.5M Gold Heist: Suspect In One Of Canada's Biggest Thefts Sentenced For US Guns In Socks $22.5M Gold Heist: Suspect In One Of Canada's Biggest Thefts Sentenced For US Guns In Socks
$22.5M Gold Heist: Suspect In One Of Canada's Biggest Thefts Sentenced For US Guns In Socks A man wanted in one of the biggest gold thefts in Canadian history is facing years behind bars in the United States after a Pennsylvania traffic stop uncovered a cache of guns hidden in a rental car, federal authorities announced. Durante King-Mclean, 27, of Cambridge, Ontario, was back before a Harrisburg federal judge on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, for a 2023 case that prosecutors say exposed a cross-border weapons pipeline stretching from Florida to Canada. He had 65 handguns crammed into the trunk of a rental car, each one hidden inside a sock, authorities said. Among them were stolen weap…
M&M's Makeover Coming: What Shoppers Will Notice M&M's Makeover Coming: What Shoppers Will Notice
M&M's Makeover Coming: What Shoppers Will Notice One of America’s most recognizable candies is getting a new look. Mars plans to debut an artificial dye-free version of M&M's in August, The Wall Street Journal first reported in a story published Thursday, June 18. The new version will not include the full classic color mix at first. The dye-free M&M's will launch in red, yellow, orange, and green, according to the WSJ report. Blue and brown will be omitted from the initial release. The problem is blue. Mars has been working to replace synthetic dyes with colors from natural sources, but creating a reliable blue at a huge scale …
Popular Comedian Charged In $8.7 Million Tax Evasion Case Popular Comedian Charged In $8.7 Million Tax Evasion Case
Popular Comedian Charged In $8.7 Million Tax Evasion Case A familiar comedy name is facing a serious legal spotlight far from the stage. Carlos Mencia, 58, has been charged with 12 felony counts of state tax evasion after prosecutors said he failed to report $8.7 million in personal and corporate income from 2019 through 2024, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced in releasing the complaint arrest warrant. Mencia pleaded not guilty on Monday, June 22. His bail, initially set at $250,000 after his arrest, was reduced to $50,000, and he is scheduled to return to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Aug. 14. The complaint …
Costco Pilot Program Could Change How Members Pay Costco Pilot Program Could Change How Members Pay
Costco Pilot Program Could Change How Members Pay Costco’s checkout line may be getting a serious speed boost. The warehouse chain is testing a pre-scan system that could make the final payment step take about 8 seconds, according to multiple reports. Under the pilot, a Costco employee scans a shopper’s membership card and the items in the cart while the shopper is still waiting in line, Inc. reported. When the shopper reaches the front, the member card is scanned again at an automated pay station. The pre-scanned order then loads on the screen, and the shopper pays by tapping or swiping a card. The goal is simple: reduce the time shoppe…
Restaurant To Close, Move To Another Location After 24 Years In Hudson Valley: 'End Is Near' Restaurant To Close, Move To Another Location After 24 Years In Hudson Valley: 'End Is Near'
Restaurant To Close, Move To Another Location After 24 Years In Hudson Valley: 'End Is Near' After more than two decades serving the Putnam County community, a local restaurant has announced it will eventually close its Route 311 restaurant and downsize.  La Famiglia Bar & Grill, located at 110 Route 311 in Lake Carmel, announced on Sunday, June 21, that it is not closing at the end of the month, despite concerns from customers. However, the owners said its time in Carmel is nearing an end after more than 24 years serving the community.  "It saddens us greatly to leave [the] Carmel area after serving you all for over 24 years," the owner wrote in a message to cus…
Suspicious Fire At Abandoned Building On Route 9W In Hudson Valley Under Investigation Suspicious Fire At Abandoned Building On Route 9W In Hudson Valley Under Investigation
Suspicious Fire At Abandoned Building On Route 9W In Hudson Valley Under Investigation A fire that destroyed an abandoned building on Route 9W in Greene County is now being investigated as suspicious.  The fire happened on Thursday afternoon, June 18, when troopers responded to a fire at an abandoned building at 13066 Route 9W in Coxsackie a little after 3 p.m., New York State Police announced on Tuesday, June 23. Several drivers traveling northbound on Route 9W had reported seeing smoke coming from the structure and called 911, police said. Investigators said the building became fully engulfed in flames shortly after the initial reports were received.  Firefighte…
New Dairy Queen Blizzard Flavors, Slush Float Celebrate Summer's Return New Dairy Queen Blizzard Flavors, Slush Float Celebrate Summer's Return
New Dairy Queen Blizzard Flavors, Slush Float Celebrate Summer's Return Dairy Queen is adding several new flavors and treats to its menu just in time for summer. DQ is launching three new Blizzard Treats and a patriotic Stars & Stripes Misty Slush Float, the chain announced in a news release on Tuesday, June 23. The new items will be available at participating locations starting on Sunday, June 29. The new Blizzard Cup Lineup is inspired by the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The international flavors include Strawberry Mango-flavored Mochi, Biscoff Cookie, and Mexican-style Hot Chocolate. The Strawberry Mango-flavored Mochi Blizzard Treat features man…
Dutchess County Man Exposes Himself In Front Of Child In Supermarket Parking Lot: Sheriff Dutchess County Man Exposes Himself In Front Of Child In Supermarket Parking Lot: Sheriff
Dutchess County Man Exposes Himself In Front Of Child In Supermarket Parking Lot: Sheriff A 61-year-old Dutchess County man is accused of masturbating in front of two people, including a minor, inside a car in a Putnam County supermarket parking lot, authorities said. Pawling resident Richard S. Davis, 61, was arrested on Friday, June 19, in connection with an incident in Patterson reported in February, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, June 23.  According to the Sheriff's Office, on Feb. 21, the agency received a report of a man exposing himself and masturbating while parked at the ACME supermarket on Route 22. Two people who had been inside a n…
Trump Will Attend World Cup MetLife Finals, FIFA Prez Says Trump Will Attend World Cup MetLife Finals, FIFA Prez Says
Trump Will Attend World Cup MetLife Finals, FIFA Prez Says President Trump will be attending the World Cup finals held at MetLife Stadium next month, league officials confirmed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement on "Fox & Friends" Tuesday, 23.  The U.S. president is expected to present the winning team with the trophy on July 19, as he did at the Club World Cup Finals in New Jersey during Chelsea's trophy lift, leaving players confused. One of the biggest questions surrounding Trump's appearance at the World Cup is how it could affect traffic around MetLife Stadium. Authorities have repeatedly warned fans to expec…