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

Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Among 53 Newest Graduates At Police Academy Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Among 53 Newest Graduates At Police Academy Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Among 53 Newest Graduates At Police Academy
Putnam County Sheriff's Deputy Among 53 Newest Graduates At Police Academy PURCHASE, N.Y. -- A new Putnam County sheriff's deputy was among the 53 proud law enforcement officers to strut across the stage on Friday as a graduate of the Westchester County Police Academy. Hundreds of family members, many of them active or retired from law enforcement careers, stood and cheered as their loved ones' names were called during a ceremony at SUNY Purchase. "You can hoot and holler all you want,'' Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino told the audience.  Joseph Sadowski received a training certificate as the latest officer hired by the Putnam County Sheriff's Dep…
Funeral Service On Friday In Larchmont For Elizabeth 'Dibby' Purves, 83 Funeral Service On Friday In Larchmont For Elizabeth 'Dibby' Purves, 83 Funeral Service On Friday In Larchmont For Elizabeth 'Dibby' Purves, 83
Funeral Service On Friday In Larchmont For Elizabeth 'Dibby' Purves, 83 LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- Funeral services are set for Friday for Elizabeth "Dibby" Purves, 83, a former longtime resident of Larchmont. Mrs. Purves died peacefully on Tuesday at her home in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Friday's service begins at noon at St. John's Episcopal Church, 4 Fountain Square in Larchmont. Dibby Purves, originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., moved to Larchmont with her husband, Ned, in 1962 where they lived until 2005. Mrs. Purves was a graduate of the University of Michigan and a talented artist. She worked for many year as a sculptor, then later as a lands…
Mamaroneck Baseball Team, Tennis Players Honored As State Champions Mamaroneck Baseball Team, Tennis Players Honored As State Champions Mamaroneck Baseball Team, Tennis Players Honored As State Champions
Mamaroneck Baseball Team, Tennis Players Honored As State Champions This story has been updated. MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The Mamaroneck Board of Education recognized the Mamaroneck High School varsity baseball team and a pair of tennis doubles players on Tuesday night for winning state championships. The baseball team won its third Class AA state title in eight years on Saturday with a 9-2 win over Saratoga Springs. Hope and Courage Crawford became State doubles champions in tennis on May 30. On Thursday, Tiger baseball team captains -- pitcher Kumar Nambiar, Andrew Sommer, Anthony Pecora and Jason Kreinces -- have been invited to appear on the next c…
Rye City School District Appoints Rod Mergardt Interim Athletic Director Rye City School District Appoints Rod Mergardt Interim Athletic Director Rye City School District Appoints Rod Mergardt Interim Athletic Director
Rye City School District Appoints Rod Mergardt Interim Athletic Director RYE, N.Y. -- The Rye City School District has hired Gerard “Rod” Mergardt as its interim director of physical education, health and athletics while searching for a permanent director.   Mergardt was appointed on Tuesday night by the Rye Board of Education and will begin work on July 1. Mergardt has served as an interim athletic director for four school districts in Westchester County as well as one in Connecticut since retiring in 1996 after 26 years working as athletic director for the Bedford Central School District. Mergardt succeeds Rob Castagna of Ridgefield, Conn., who is leavi…
Harrison Police Arrest Georgia Suspect In Elaborate Phone Scam Harrison Police Arrest Georgia Suspect In Elaborate Phone Scam Harrison Police Arrest Georgia Suspect In Elaborate Phone Scam
Harrison Police Arrest Georgia Suspect In Elaborate Phone Scam HARRISON, N.Y. -- Harrison police investigators arrested a telephone scam suspect in Georgia, a department spokeswoman said Tuesday. A two-month investigation resulted in the arrest of Enoch Sarkodie, 29, of Marietta, Ga., according to police. The investigation began when a police officer was dispatched to the home of a Harrison senior citizen on a larceny complaint.  The victim, a 90-year-old female, reported receiving several phone calls from a male caller who said his name was Mark Freedman. The caller said he was a lawyer representing the victim’s granddaughter, who had just been…
Legislators, Astorino Pleased With Playland Management Deal Legislators, Astorino Pleased With Playland Management Deal Legislators, Astorino Pleased With Playland Management Deal
Legislators, Astorino Pleased With Playland Management Deal RYE, N.Y. -- Monday's vote to approve a private management contract to operate Playland Amusement Park through 2030 attracted near unanimous praise from Westchester County legislators. By a 17-0 vote, the Board of Legislators OK'd County Executive Rob Astorino’s agreement with Standard Amusements for the management of Playland. Standard Amusements will invest $25 million into Playland's revitalization over the next five years, shoring up the future of the county-owned park in Rye. “This deal meets our three goals for preserving Playland by reversing the losses for taxpayers, putting the…
State Legislature Gains Reputation As One Of Nation's Most Corrupt State Legislature Gains Reputation As One Of Nation's Most Corrupt State Legislature Gains Reputation As One Of Nation's Most Corrupt
State Legislature Gains Reputation As One Of Nation's Most Corrupt ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York residents have suspected it for years, but now it's official: With both of its former leaders indicted on criminal charges, the state Legislature ranks as the most if not one of the most corrupt in the nation. Since 2005, nearly three dozen elected state officials, including at least 28 legislators, have been criminally indicted, imprisoned or resigned over accusations of bribery, stealing, extortion or sexual misconduct. One governor resigned in scandal and a comptroller was jailed for fraud. The latest to be arrested include former Senate Majority Leader Dean …
State Senate OKs Bill To Double Term Lengths State Senate OKs Bill To Double Term Lengths State Senate OKs Bill To Double Term Lengths
State Senate OKs Bill To Double Term Lengths This story has been updated. ALBANY, N.Y. -- As former leaders of both chambers of the New York Legislature face criminal charges, the state Senate on Monday passed a bill to double the length of their terms, from two to four years. The State Constitutional Amendment -- a time-intensive change in the law which still requires approval by the Assembly, governor, next legislature and New York voters -- sailed through the Republican-led Senate by a vote of 47-15.  State Sen. George Latimer, a Democrat from Rye, was the only senator from the Hudson Valley region to vote against the propos…
Baseball Camp Registration Deadline Approaching In Mamaroneck Baseball Camp Registration Deadline Approaching In Mamaroneck Baseball Camp Registration Deadline Approaching In Mamaroneck
Baseball Camp Registration Deadline Approaching In Mamaroneck MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- 21st Century Sports is about to begin its 10th year hosting weekly summer baseball camps, with July offerings in Mamaroneck, Yorktown and Danbury, Conn. Summer camp programs also are scheduled in August in Harrison, Rye, Chappaqua and Briarcliff. The summer camps are designed for players ages 5 to 13. Campers are evaluated by trainers and grouped according to both age and skill level. The staff typically includes former professional players, current college coaches and players, as well area high school coaches and athletes.  Bill Consiglio, founder & chief execut…
Larchmont's Softball Travel Team Remains Undefeated This Season Larchmont's Softball Travel Team Remains Undefeated This Season Larchmont's Softball Travel Team Remains Undefeated This Season
Larchmont's Softball Travel Team Remains Undefeated This Season LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- The Junction Girls select travel fast-pitch softball team is undefeated this season. Based in Larchmont, the team includes 7th grade girls from Valhalla, Eastchester, Port Chester and Scarsdale.. They won four national qualifiers in a row, including USSSA against 19 teams in April, PONY against 10 teams in May and USSSA against nine teams in late May. This past weekend, they played in the Take it to the Extreme Tournament in Beacon, which included 16 select teams, and they went 7-0. The Junction Girls players are all in 7th grade and most play for their local junio…
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