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

Garrison's Pataki Misses Another Public Event, But This Time 'It's A Boy' Garrison's Pataki Misses Another Public Event, But This Time 'It's A Boy' Garrison's Pataki Misses Another Public Event, But This Time 'It's A Boy'
Garrison's Pataki Misses Another Public Event, But This Time 'It's A Boy' This story has been updated. COLD SPRING, N.Y. -- Presidential candidate George Pataki of Garrison had to skip a groundbreaking ceremony for a new senior housing and retail project in Philipstown on Wednesday for family reasons. Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell confirmed that Pataki's daughter, Emily, gave birth overnight to a son named Patrick Arthur. Pataki, a native of Peekskill, has several other grandchildren. The redevelopment of the former Julia D. Butterfield Hospital site attracted other prominent local residents, however, including Fox News President Roger Ailes and …
Larchmont Swimmer Named To College Scholar All-America Team Larchmont Swimmer Named To College Scholar All-America Team Larchmont Swimmer Named To College Scholar All-America Team
Larchmont Swimmer Named To College Scholar All-America Team LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- Jack Spader, a 2011 graduate of Mamaroneck High School, was recently named to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America team. Brian Savard, athletic communications director for the State University of New York at New Paltz, where Spader swam competitively for the Hawks, said Spader finished his collegiate career with a 3.32 cumulative grade point average. The 2015 SUNY graduate majored in sociology and communications. Both of SUNY New Paltz women's and men's swim teams were named Scholar All-America this past season by achieving a team-wi…
New Private Park Dedicated For Public Use In Downtown White Plains New Private Park Dedicated For Public Use In Downtown White Plains New Private Park Dedicated For Public Use In Downtown White Plains
New Private Park Dedicated For Public Use In Downtown White Plains WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- White Plains elected officials joined developers on Thursday in dedicating the first privately-owned park with public access in Westchester County. Louis Cappelli, president of the Cappelli Organization, ,joined White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach, members of the Common Council and the Rev. Richard A. Kunz of Grace Church on Thursday to celebrate a new park built by Cappelli in the heart of downtown White Plains. The 11,000-square-foot park is located at Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street between Grace Church and Cappelli’s Renaissance Square development which includes …
Mayor Jumps Into Double Dutch Competition With White Plains Campers Mayor Jumps Into Double Dutch Competition With White Plains Campers Mayor Jumps Into Double Dutch Competition With White Plains Campers
Mayor Jumps Into Double Dutch Competition With White Plains Campers WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Members of the Dynamic Diplomats of Double Dutch, most recently seen on NBC-TV’s “I Can Do That,” helped kick off the 36th season of the Brighter Futures Summer Camp on Thursday at Ridgeway Elementary School.  Every summer, Lifting Up Westchester -- formerly known as Grace Church Community Center -- has provided a four-week day camp program for about 100 homeless and at-risk children from across Westchester County.  Brighter Futures Summer Camp provides an educational and fun summer camp experience with a variety of athletic and artistic programs for children who migh…
County Aims To Revitalize Former Saw Mill River Restaurant In Greenburgh County Aims To Revitalize Former Saw Mill River Restaurant In Greenburgh County Aims To Revitalize Former Saw Mill River Restaurant In Greenburgh
County Aims To Revitalize Former Saw Mill River Restaurant In Greenburgh GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Call him a romantic. First, he signed a new manager for the aging Playland Amusement Park in Rye. Now, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino wants to save the cobweb-covered Cantina Restaurant at V.E. Macy Park. It's the landmark along the Saw Mill River Parkway in the Town of Greenburgh that sticks out like a pile of rocks. On Wednesday, Astorino said he is looking for entrepreneurs with ideas to revitalize the stone and wooden structure and surrounding property at Woodlands Lake -- about one mile north of the Ashford Avenue exit in Ardsley. County governm…
Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty To Appear In Mount Pleasant Town Court Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty To Appear In Mount Pleasant Town Court Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty To Appear In Mount Pleasant Town Court
Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty To Appear In Mount Pleasant Town Court VALHALLA, N.Y. -- A 58-year-old dog owner has been charged with animal cruelty for dumping a neglected schnauzer last month after being identified by surveillance video. The SPCA of Westchester announced on Wednesday that it made an arrest in connection with the woman leaving the severely injured schnauzer named Roxy at the Valhalla Animal Hospital on the evening of June 18. Jean Regan, 58, of 3 Roberta Place in North White Plains was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and abandonment of an animal, according to Ernest Lungaro, director of the SPCA's Humane Law Enforcement Unit. …
Unique But Different Eateries Open In Scarsdale, Hartsdale Unique But Different Eateries Open In Scarsdale, Hartsdale Unique But Different Eateries Open In Scarsdale, Hartsdale
Unique But Different Eateries Open In Scarsdale, Hartsdale GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Two new, but very different restaurants began serving their specialties this week in Hartsdale and Scarsdale. On Monday, Skinny Buddha Organic Cafe opened at 6 Depot Plaza in Scarsdale, across from the Metro-North train station. Two years ago, Skinny Buddha Fitness Center co-owners Elyce Jacobson and Shaka Taffawa opened the Organic Kitchen pick-up window in Mount Kisco in response to countless requests from personal training clients wanting prepared organic meals to take home to their families. With the Organic Kitchen proving continued success, Jacobson and Taff…
Hutch Through White Plains Among State's Most Dangerous Parkways Hutch Through White Plains Among State's Most Dangerous Parkways Hutch Through White Plains Among State's Most Dangerous Parkways
Hutch Through White Plains Among State's Most Dangerous Parkways WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach were among the elected officials who held a news conference on Tuesday to draw attention to some of New York state's most dangerous parkways. Among them, according to state Department of Transportation accident statistics, are the Hutchinson River Parkway near Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains and the Cross County Parkway -- west of the Sheridan Avenue overpass as well as near the Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers. In Putnam County, the state DOT ranks Interstate-684 near the I-84 interchange as one of t…
Harrison Teens Begin Cross-Country Bike Trek For Pediatric Cancer Research Harrison Teens Begin Cross-Country Bike Trek For Pediatric Cancer Research Harrison Teens Begin Cross-Country Bike Trek For Pediatric Cancer Research
Harrison Teens Begin Cross-Country Bike Trek For Pediatric Cancer Research BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Five teenagers from Harrison, Mamaroneck and Mount Vernon are part of a team that began a 3,968-mile bicycle trek on Thursday to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research. Their 23-day cross-country journey began at the Brooklyn Bridge and ends July 24 at the Golden Gate Bridge.  The youths are riding as part of Relay X America, which gets teens active in issues surrounding children's cancer, while raising $396,800 for the cause -- or $100 for each mile ridden this month. Split into three teams of bicyclists, each will ride about 60 miles per day, with…
Man Injured During 'Rollover' Accident Near Harrison-Rye Line Man Injured During 'Rollover' Accident Near Harrison-Rye Line Man Injured During 'Rollover' Accident Near Harrison-Rye Line
Man Injured During 'Rollover' Accident Near Harrison-Rye Line HARRISON, N.Y. -- Harrison Fire Department responded to a one-car accident on Saturday night that injured an elderly man. Harrison police called the crash, which occurred shortly before 11 p.m., a "rollover."  The accident was near the bottom of Osborn Road just past a bridge in the village of Harrison. Motorists sometimes cross the double yellow line along that stretch to avoid parked cars.  The car appeared to be traveling downhill from Rye before it struck a parked car and rolled over, according to a witness. The parked car was pushed into another parked car. Nearby residents t…
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