Jon Craig

Reporter

[email protected]

Pleasantville native Jon Craig is special editor for the Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Daily Voice sites. He is also the primary reporter for Daily Voice Plus Politics in Westchester and Fairfield.

Jon graduated from Cornell University and received his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Across a 35-year career, he's worked as a reporter for daily newspapers in Chicago, New York, Ohio & Washington, D.C and as managing editor for weekly newspapers in Rye, White Plains and Harrison.

Jon also writes periodically for the Cornell Chronicle.

Career Highlights:

  • Covered Metro-North train wreck that killed a motorist and five commuters, 2015
  • Researched state investigative project for PublicIntegrity.org, 2011-12
  • National MADD award for database analysis of repeat drunk drivers in Ohio, 2008.
  • Henry F. Guggenheim Fellow, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2010.
  • Sentenced to jail for protecting confidential sources (won on appeal), 1999.
  • Broke 30th anniversary story about Kent State shootings — using FBI records, resurrecting theory a student informant triggered fatal National Guard volley, May 2000.
  • Covered Ground Zero after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
  • Uncovered voting problems before & during presidential recount in Ohio, 2004.
  • Witnessed botched Death Row execution of Romell Broom in 2009, one of more than a dozen I covered; Wrote about three inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life without parole.
  • Won IRE, SDX and multiple national & state awards for series led by Erik Kriss investigating New York General Assembly. 1994.
  • Guest lecturer at universities in NY & Ohio. Taught Syracuse high school journalism class.
  • Co-authored IRE-award winning series on illegal restraints/beatings at juvenile detention centers. Gov. Mario Cuomo had NY inspector general confirm what Hart Seely and I found at Division for Youth & fired top directors, 1993.
  • Survived Air Force Kool School training at North Pole, 1996.
  • Covered Persian Gulf wars, including 2002 bomb missions from Turkey and stateside Army/Air Guard training. 1991.
  • Supervised overnight coverage of Pan Am Flight 103 after Libyan bomb killed 35 Syracuse University students over Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988.
  • Covered aftermath of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s fatal plane crash from Cape Cod, 1999.
  • Greeted Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as Cornell Sun sports editor during daily's 100th anniversary dinner in May 1980. 

Jon Craig's Contributions

Proposed Dutchess County Budget Cuts Property Tax, Restores Family Services Proposed Dutchess County Budget Cuts Property Tax, Restores Family Services Proposed Dutchess County Budget Cuts Property Tax, Restores Family Services
Proposed Dutchess County Budget Cuts Property Tax, Restores Family Services POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, for a second straight year, proposed cutting the property tax levy without reducing services or programs. Molinaro detailed his tentative 2016 county budget of $456 million on Wednesday during a speech at Marist College, while noting county government has its smallest workforce in 32 years.  Next year's budget plan reduces the county property tax levy by more than $1 million and seeks to reduce the property tax rate for the first time in eight years -- by 1.6 percent. If adopted by the Republican-controlled Dutchess County Legi…
Three Hospitalized, Including 3-Year-Old, After Staatsburg House Fire Three Hospitalized, Including 3-Year-Old, After Staatsburg House Fire Three Hospitalized, Including 3-Year-Old, After Staatsburg House Fire
Three Hospitalized, Including 3-Year-Old, After Staatsburg House Fire STAATSBURG, N.Y. -- A two-alarm house fire in Staatsburg sent three people to Dutchess County hospitals on Saturday, fire officials said. A 3-year-old child was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center and two elderly residents were taken to Northern Dutchess Hospital after a fire broke out shortly after noon at 7 South Cross Road, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal. Staatsburg Fire Chief Keith Varley told The Journal that the fire started on the second floor of the multi-family dwelling and spread to the roof.  Firefighters from Staatsburg and Hyde Park brough…
New Tappan Zee Bridge Lands Federal Bus Transit Money New Tappan Zee Bridge Lands Federal Bus Transit Money New Tappan Zee Bridge Lands Federal Bus Transit Money
New Tappan Zee Bridge Lands Federal Bus Transit Money This story has been updated TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $10 million in federal aid to improve bus rapid transit over the new Tappan Zee Bridge, officials announced on Monday. Spokesmen for U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Westchester/Rockland, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said that the federal DOT granted the state Department of Transportation money for new bus stations, ramp signals and other high-tech upgrades along Interstate 287 between Suffern and White Plains to provide more reliable bus service via Ta…
Ex-Westchester Coach Is Charged In College Grade-Fixing Scheme Ex-Westchester Coach Is Charged In College Grade-Fixing Scheme Ex-Westchester Coach Is Charged In College Grade-Fixing Scheme
Ex-Westchester Coach Is Charged In College Grade-Fixing Scheme This story has been updated. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Tyrone Mushatt, former head basketball coach at Westchester Community College, was arrested Thursday on felony charges related to a "grade-fixing scheme,'' according to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore. DiFiore and State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced that Mushatt, 42, of 3563 Boller Ave. in the Bronx, was arraigned in Town of Mount Pleasant Court on a felony complaint charging him with nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument. He faces up to seven years in state prison on each felo…
Pre-Election Rancor, Rhetoric Ramp Up In Mamaroneck Pre-Election Rancor, Rhetoric Ramp Up In Mamaroneck Pre-Election Rancor, Rhetoric Ramp Up In Mamaroneck
Pre-Election Rancor, Rhetoric Ramp Up In Mamaroneck MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- As Election Day approaches, campaigns are heating up in the Village of Mamaroneck. Democrats seeking to unseat incumbent Mayor Norman Rosenblum and Deputy Mayor Louis Santaro, both Republicans, released a video from village Board of Trustee meetings showing the three-term mayor clashing with Democratic Trustee Ilissa Miller, and earlier with a former school board president.  The campaign video -- titled "Is Chivalry Dead In the Village of Mamaroneck?'' -- replays public meeting footage from Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Television. The LMC-TV clips capture Rosenblu…
Harrison High Student Returns From South Korea Harrison High Student Returns From South Korea Harrison High Student Returns From South Korea
Harrison High Student Returns From South Korea HARRISON, N.Y. -- Harrison High School sophomore Mark Rigano had a unique front row view of history on a recent visit to South Korea. Rigano, a member of the Young Marines of Westchester for the past four years and who holds the rank of sergeant, was selected by the unit commander, Lucian Caldara, to make this historic trip across the world. Caldara served in the Marine Corps and was stationed in South Korea. “My visit to South Korea was the greatest experience of my young life,” Rigano said. “It was an incredible opportunity and invaluable experience to be able to immerse myself in the cul…
Voters' Forum For Mamaroneck Mayor, Village Trustee, County Legislature Voters' Forum For Mamaroneck Mayor, Village Trustee, County Legislature Voters' Forum For Mamaroneck Mayor, Village Trustee, County Legislature
Voters' Forum For Mamaroneck Mayor, Village Trustee, County Legislature  MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- With seats up for election at the town, village and county levels on Tuesday Nov. 3, the League of Women Voters of Larchmont-Mamaroneck is hosting a candidates’ forum at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Town of Mamaroneck Courtroom, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck. Candidates in contested elections for county legislator, Mamaroneck village mayor, and one Mamaroneck village trustee race will debate each other as they answer questions from the League of Women Voters as well as members of the audience.  Candidates running unopposed for Mamaroneck Town Supervisor and two Mama…
Greenburgh Massage Parlors Ordered Shut Down After Police Make 10 Arrests Greenburgh Massage Parlors Ordered Shut Down After Police Make 10 Arrests Greenburgh Massage Parlors Ordered Shut Down After Police Make 10 Arrests
Greenburgh Massage Parlors Ordered Shut Down After Police Make 10 Arrests GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Two suspected massage parlors were shut down in Scarsdale by the Town of Greenburgh Building Department on Wednesday after police arrested 10 people for failing to have the proper professional licenses. Members of the Greenburgh Police Street Crime Unit completed a short-term investigation this week into the Unauthorized Practice of a Profession occurring at two massage establishments within the township. Nine people were charged with violating New York State Education Law Unlicensed Practice of a Profession. And eight were charged with felony Unauthorized Practice of a…
Missing Westchester Teen Found Missing Westchester Teen Found Missing Westchester Teen Found
Missing Westchester Teen Found This story has been updated. GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- A 15-year-old girl reported missing in New York City on Sunday has been found and returned home, Greenburgh officials said on Wednesday. Treia (pronounced TRAY-AH) Boozier ran off after an argument with her mother, police said. The incident occurred while traveling through New York City with Boozier exiting the vehicle in the area of The Jacob Javits Center at 655 West 34th St. in Manhattan. Greenburgh Police Chief Chris McNerney confirmed that the Woodlands High School student had been located in the Bronx on Tuesday and was en route home t…
Playland Manager Gets 5-Month Extension On Option To Run, Renovate Park Playland Manager Gets 5-Month Extension On Option To Run, Renovate Park Playland Manager Gets 5-Month Extension On Option To Run, Renovate Park
Playland Manager Gets 5-Month Extension On Option To Run, Renovate Park RYE, N.Y. -- Recognizing more time is needed to complete the necessary "due diligence" Westchester County and Standard Amusements have agreed to a five-month extension of the option agreement for Standard Amusements to invest $25 million in Playland and start taking over management of the county-owned park in Rye next year, officials said on Monday. The extension, which has the support of County Executive Rob Astorino, Westchester Board of Legislators Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, and Nicholas Singer, a Harrison native and co-founder of Standard Amusements, extends the option period …
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