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Salon Crash: Alleged Drunk Driver Who Killed Off-Duty Cop, 3 Others In NY Charged With Murder Salon Crash: Alleged Drunk Driver Who Killed Off-Duty Cop, 3 Others In NY Charged With Murder
Salon Crash: Alleged Drunk Driver Who Killed Off-Duty Cop, 3 Others In NY Charged With Murder An alleged drunk driver who crashed his SUV into a New York nail salon, killing four people, including a police officer, was charged with murder. Long Island resident Steven Schwally, age 64, of Dix Hills, was formally indicted on four counts of second-degree murder, plus 24 other felonies and nine misdemeanors, in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Aug. 1 District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Schwally had just left a liquor store and was intoxicated when he crashed his SUV into Hawaii Nail & Spa, located in Deer Park on Grand Boulevard, going nearly 80 miles per hour on Friday, June 28…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Former Library Business Manager In Westchester Steals Over $43K: Here's Her Sentence Former Library Business Manager In Westchester Steals Over $43K: Here's Her Sentence
Former Library Business Manager In Westchester Steals Over $43K: Here's Her Sentence The former business manager of a public library in Westchester has received her sentence for stealing more than $43,000 over several years, officials announced.  Mamaroneck resident Mary Soto, age 62, who was once the business manager at the Mamaroneck Public Library, was sentenced to three years of probation for stealing from the institution between 2016 and 2023, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, July 31.  According to the DA's Office, between May 2016 and February 2023, Soto stole around $43,940 from the library's bank accounts in th…

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by Ben Crnic
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Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence
Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence A 38-year-old contractor from Westchester has been ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines after failing to pay eight workers their wages for months, officials announced.  Artemio Fuerte, a resident of New Rochelle and the owner of Fuerte Construction LLC, was sentenced on Wednesday, July 31 to three years of probation and a $12,000 fine. This ruling came after he failed to pay over $31,500 to eight workers he employed between 2020 and 2023.  The announcement was made by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. According to the DA's Office, the Economic Cri…

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by Ben Crnic
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FEMA Denies City In Westchester $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs FEMA Denies City In Westchester $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs
FEMA Denies City In Westchester $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs Officials in a Westchester County city are expressing frustration after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied it over $5 million in funds needed to repair damage caused by a devastating hurricane.  In an announcement on Monday, July 29, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano revealed that FEMA denied the city over $5.2 million requested to stabilize three slopes along the Hudson River damaged by Hurricane Ida in September 2021.  According to Spano, the hurricane caused excess runoff to be channeled through a culvert under the Old Croton Aqueduct, causing "substantial damage" to th…

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by Ben Crnic
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Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where
Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Northern Westchester: Here's Where A hungry bear was seen hunting for trash cans in a Northern Westchester neighborhood, officials said. In an announcement on Monday, July 29, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said that several bear sightings had been reported around the town.  Lucas added that the most recent sighting was reported in the area of Yerkes Road. According to Lucas, the bear was "making a beeline to garbage cans left outdoors and especially bird feeders."  "One bear can cover the entire town looking for food," Lucas said.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservati…

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by Ben Crnic
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Season's First Batches Of Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found In Westchester: Here's Where Season's First Batches Of Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found In Westchester: Here's Where
Season's First Batches Of Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Found In Westchester: Here's Where Those spending time outside in Westchester should pack some bug repellent, as mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found throughout the county, health officials announced. According to an announcement from the Westchester County Health Department on Tuesday, July 30, the season's first batches of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus were found in:  Croton; Mount Vernon; Rye; White Plains; Yonkers. The batches carrying the virus were the first to test positive out of 45 groups collected from eight locations throughout the county, health officials said. Following the tests, hea…

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by Ben Crnic
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New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Peekskill New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Peekskill
New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Peekskill A 31-year-old man is now facing murder charges following the death of a beloved caseworker who he allegedly attacked in Northern Westchester while she was performing her duties, officials announced.  Peekskill resident Hasseem Jenkins was arraigned on Tuesday, July 30 in Westchester County Court on murder charges in connection with the death of 56-year-old Maria Coto, who was attacked in May, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.  According to the DA's Office and authorities, on Tuesday, May 14 just after 3 p.m., Jenkins allegedly punched Coto in the fa…

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by Ben Crnic
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Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now A new tropical rainstorm in the Atlantic may strengthen into a named storm and affect parts of the East Coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is near the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. (See the first image above.) It could become a named storm as soon as this weekend. If that's the case, it will be called Debby. “Right now, this tropical rainstorm has a 60 percent chance of strengthening into a named storm no sooner than this weekend or early next week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno …

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by Joe Lombardi
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Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul
Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul Thanks to a climate-smart grant program announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, several municipalities in Westchester will receive funds to go toward much-needed flood mitigation projects.  The funds will come from more than $7.3 million to be given to municipalities across the state as part of the Climate Smart Communities grant program, Hochul announced on Tuesday, July 23.  The grants are meant to support local projects designed to reduce flooding, increase resilience, and improve critical infrastructure, according to Hochul.  Of the $7.3 million, over $2.7 million …

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by Ben Crnic
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Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Northern Westchester Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Northern Westchester
Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Northern Westchester A groundbreaking was held for an underground tunneling project in Northern Westchester that is planned to improve the operations of a drinking water supply used by over 9 million people, officials announced.  Work on the $1.9 billion Kensico-Eastview Connection tunneling project began in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, July 23, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced.  The two-mile-long tunnel, which will run around 500 feet below ground, will run between the Kensico Reservoir and the Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Facility in…

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by Ben Crnic
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Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo will pay dozens of states, including New York, for failing to ensure customers knew that promotional videos on its site were actually paid endorsements. Baron App Inc., owner of the popular celebrity-shoutout-ordering website, agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties to 30 states as part of a settlement agreement reached Wednesday, July 24. New York will receive $25,000 of that, state Attorney General Letitia James said. Cameo found itself in hot water after launching its “Business Cameo” service in 2020, allowing companies to hire celebrities to record videos endorsing their services. A…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Northern Westchester Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Northern Westchester
Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Northern Westchester State and local officials were there to celebrate the groundbreaking for a $220 million tower at a Northern Westchester hospital that will contain more than 100 patient rooms.  The groundbreaking for the Critical Care Tower at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla was held on Wednesday, July 24, and was attended by elected officials including New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. The $220 million project, to be located next to the hospital's main tower, will be 162,000 square feet and five stories when completed. It will house 128 "private, state-of-the-art" pa…

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by Ben Crnic