Mostly Cloudy 52°
Politics
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In Covid-19 Cases Lawmakers in a New York county approved a controversial bill criminalizing mask wearing amid a summer bump in COVID-19 cases. On Long Island, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the “Mask Transparency Act” by a vote of 12-0 on Monday night, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in the county. It also gives private businesses the right to prohibit masks on their premises. It grants exceptions for health or religious reasons, though that distinction will be determ…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
NY Mom Claims To Find Human Blood In Daughter's Burger King Meal: 'She Is Traumatized' NY Mom Claims To Find Human Blood In Daughter's Burger King Meal: 'She Is Traumatized'
NY Mom Claims To Find Human Blood In Daughter's Burger King Meal: 'She Is Traumatized' A New York mother is considering a lawsuit against Burger King after claiming she found human blood in her daughter’s meal. Erie County resident Tiffany Floyd, of the hamlet of Getzville, recounted the horrifying incident in a now-viral TikTok video posted Friday, July 26. In the clip, Floyd recounts how she stopped by a Getzville Burger King for lunch with her 4-year-old daughter and went through the drive-through. “Obviously, I’m a busy mom, I just gave her the bag to eat the food,” she said. “And I heard, ‘Mom, I don’t want ketchup.’” Floyd then grabbed the bag of hamburger and fries, …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head has expanded a recall of deli meat products due to possible Listeria contamination. Click here for a new, updated story: Boar's Head Facing Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall  The company said on Tuesday, July 30, that it is now recalling approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  This expansion includes 71 products produced between Friday, May 10, and Monday, July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said. They have “s…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns
Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns A recall has been issued for a brand of peppers and green beans due to potential Listeria contamination. ALDI Inc. announced it is recalling Freshire Farms jalapenos, green peppers, and green beans in connection to an earlier recall by Wiers Farm and R.S. Hanline Co. The full product details, with product name, package description, and UPC code, are: Jalapeno 8 oz. bag 4099100087680 Green Pepper 16 oz. (3 pack) bag 4099100087598 Green Beans 16 oz. bag 4099100087826 The affected product was sold at select ALDI stores in New York,  Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Re…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says 2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says Two people died, and dozens of others sickened in a Listeria outbreak tied to deli meats in several states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-eight people across 12 states had been sickened between late May and mid-July, the CDC says. The deaths occurred in New Jersey and Illinois, health officials said. All 28 individuals had been hospitalized as of Friday, July 19. According to the CDC map, seven illnesses were reported in New York; six in Maryland; two in New Jersey; two in Virginia; two in Massachusetts; and one in Pennsylvania. Click here for the…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
Swimming Discouraged At 14 Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns Swimming Discouraged At 14 Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns
Swimming Discouraged At 14 Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns You’ll want to think twice about taking a dip in these Long Island beaches. The Nassau County Department of Health issued an advisory Thursday, July 18, against swimming at 14 beaches known to be impacted by stormwater runoff. Health officials said recent heavy rainfall in the region may have led to elevated bacteria levels that exceed the New York State standards for bathing water quality. The following beaches are included in the advisory: Centre Island Sound – Bayville Creek Club – Lattingtown Lattingtown Beach – Lattingtown Laurel Hollow Beach – Laurel Hollow Morgan Sound – Glen Co…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity COVID-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity
Covid-19: NY Hospitalizations Well Above Same Period Last Year Amid Increase In Virus Activity As new highly contagious COVID-19 variants emerge, authorities are reporting that statewide hospitalizations in New York have significantly increased compared to the same period last summer. With social gatherings increasing during the summer months and high temperatures forcing people indoors, New York Gov. Kathy Hocul stated on Saturday, July 6, that New Yorkers should get tested if they have symptoms.  In addition, they should also follow the usual precautions, including current CDC guidance, stay current with COVID vaccines, and seek appropriate treatments if necessary. “While we …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases COVID-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases
Covid-19: New LB.1 Variant Sees Climb In Infections Amid Nationwide Uptick In Cases Cases of a new COVID-19 variant are on the rise nationally as the spread of the virus overall is climbing, according to brand-new data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). The highly contagious variant, LB.1, now accounts for 17.5 percent of US cases in the two weeks ending Saturday, June 22. LB.1 cases have more than doubled since May, and some experts think it could be on a path to surpass two offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant who are part of the so-called "FLiRT" group: KP.3 and KP. 2. Combined, those two subvariants account for mo…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Bacteria Scare: 63 Long Island Beaches Closed After Heavy Rainfall Bacteria Scare: 63 Long Island Beaches Closed After Heavy Rainfall
Bacteria Scare: 63 Long Island Beaches Closed After Heavy Rainfall Health officials on Long Island have advised against going to over 60 local beaches after a period of heavy rainfall could lead to elevated bacteria levels. On Thursday, June 27, the Suffolk County Health Department announced an advisory against bathing at 63 beaches. The warning will stay in place until 5 a.m. on Friday, June 28. Officials said the decision is based on the potential bacteria levels at these beaches, which currently exceed New York State standards due to the recent rainfall in the area. Related: Here's Timing For Next Round Of Storms Taking Aim At Northeast Aft…

SHARE

by Sophie Grieser
News
Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says
Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says Approximately 70 ice cream products sold by multiple brands including Friendly's and Hershey's are being recalled due to a possible presence of listeria, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. The brands were recalled this week by Totally Cool, Inc. based in Owings Mills, MD, which has stopped the production and distribution of the affected products due to FDA sampling. Some of the most popular items recalled include: Friendly's 60 fl oz Celebration Ice Cream Cake 40 fl oz Strawberry Krunch Ice Cream Cake; Hershey's 38 fl oz vanilla and chocolat…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says
Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Despite a recall notice and multiple warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, Dollar Tree continued to sell applesauce pouches containing lead for weeks, federal officials say. The popular retail chain was issued a letter from the FDA this month regarding the WanaBana fruit puree pouches, distributed by Negasmart. "As described below, laboratory analysis of multiple lots of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, including finished product samples collected from Dollar Tree stores, detected extremely high concentrations of lead," the letter reads.  "... you conti…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
Stay Out: Swimming Not Recommended At Several Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns Stay Out: Swimming Not Recommended At Several Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns
Stay Out: Swimming Not Recommended At Several Long Island Beaches Over Bacteria Concerns Long Islanders hoping to hit the beach will have to choose wisely as swimming is not recommended at several locales due to possible bacteria concerns. An advisory issued Thursday, June 6, by the Suffolk County Department of Health said recent heavy rainfall may have resulted in elevated bacteria levels at 55 county beaches. The beaches are located in areas that are heavily impacted by stormwater runoff and, because of their enclosed nature, undergo limited tidal flushing. Health officials recommended against swimming or other contact until the waters have been flushed by two successive tid…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn