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

Railroad Gates Malfunction Half-Mile From Fatal Crossing In Valhalla Railroad Gates Malfunction Half-Mile From Fatal Crossing In Valhalla Railroad Gates Malfunction Half-Mile From Fatal Crossing In Valhalla
Railroad Gates Malfunction Half-Mile From Fatal Crossing In Valhalla VALHALLA, N.Y. -- Commuter railroad crossing gates malfunctioned Wednesday at Lakeview Avenue in Valhalla, about a half-mile south of last month's deadliest crash in Metro-North's history. An MTA police officer observed the crossing gates were continuously in the down position at around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, and as a result, traffic on Lakeview Avenue near the Taconic State Parkway was getting backed up, according to Aaron Donovan, a Metro-North spokesman. "We issued a directive to engineers to stop their trains before the crossing and ensure that there were no cars on the tracks before…
Edgemont Junior-Senior High School Closed Due To Power Outage Edgemont Junior-Senior High School Closed Due To Power Outage Edgemont Junior-Senior High School Closed Due To Power Outage
Edgemont Junior-Senior High School Closed Due To Power Outage EDGEMONT, N.Y. -- A power outage overnight at Edgemont Junior-Senior High School resulted in the school being closed Wednesday. Electricity was working at the Greenville and Seely Place elementary schools, which both opened as normal for Edgemont pupils at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Edgemont School District officials said there will be no phone or e-mail service in the district until the problem has been fixed. Emergency calls only are being taken at 914-574-3908. School officials notified parents of the power outage at about 10 p.m. Tuesday. It's suspected Tuesday's high winds and down…
Good News In Mamaroneck: Rosa's La Scarbitta Ristorante Reopens After Flood Good News In Mamaroneck: Rosa's La Scarbitta Ristorante Reopens After Flood Good News In Mamaroneck: Rosa's La Scarbitta Ristorante Reopens After Flood
Good News In Mamaroneck: Rosa's La Scarbitta Ristorante Reopens After Flood MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Frigid February temperatures burst a fire sprinkler system at Rosa's La Scarbitta Ristorante, closing the popular eatery for nearly three weeks. Grande notizia: The popular restaurant at 215 Halstead Ave. in the Village of Mamaroneck is back in business after some major repairs and renovations covered by insurance. Rosa Merenda, owner and chef at Rosa's, said her life has mostly returned to normal now because cooking and being around customers is her passion in life. "I just want to thank my customers for being patient,'' Merenda said on Tuesday. Merenda is a n…
Westchester Legislators Ask Court To Recover $17 Million In Housing Money Westchester Legislators Ask Court To Recover $17 Million In Housing Money Westchester Legislators Ask Court To Recover $17 Million In Housing Money
Westchester Legislators Ask Court To Recover $17 Million In Housing Money WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The Westchester County Board of Legislators authorized County Attorney Robert Meehan on Monday to seek a federal judge's help recovering up to $17 million lost during a dispute with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD withheld the money, primarily Community Block Development Grants, from towns and villages throughout Westchester -- including many not cited for failing to provide affordable housing.  HUD has said it withheld the money because County Executive Rob Astorino did not submit an "Analysis of Impediments" acceptable to the federal age…
Blind Brook Schools Superintendent Abruptly Resigns Without Explanation Blind Brook Schools Superintendent Abruptly Resigns Without Explanation Blind Brook Schools Superintendent Abruptly Resigns Without Explanation
Blind Brook Schools Superintendent Abruptly Resigns Without Explanation RYE BROOK, N.Y. -- William J. Stark, the superintendent of schools in Blind Brook-Rye, resigned abruptly on Monday without explanation. The Blind Brook Board of Education planned to accept his resignation during a special meeting Monday evening. Stark had two years left on his contract with the school district, according to a report by LoHud. The school board planned to appoint Jonathan Ross, who is assistant superintendent for finance and facilities, as interim superintendent, effective Tuesday.  Stark, 68, was hired in 2007 as high school principal and became superintendent the …
Mamaroneck Girls' Relay Team Places Fourth At National Championships Mamaroneck Girls' Relay Team Places Fourth At National Championships Mamaroneck Girls' Relay Team Places Fourth At National Championships
Mamaroneck Girls' Relay Team Places Fourth At National Championships MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The Tiger Girls' 4x800-meter relay team recorded the fourth fastest time in the country on Saturday during the New Balance Nationals at the Armory in Manhattan. Their time of 9:07.63 set a Westchester County and Mamaroneck High School record, and placed the Tiger foursome just five seconds behind the winning relay team from Western Branch, Va., which set a new U.S. high school record. Taking home bronze medals and All-America status were: MHS freshman Lauren Shpiz and juniors Lauren Chapey, Katie DeVore and Shari Rauls.  
White Plains Enjoys Wet St. Patrick's Day Parade White Plains Enjoys Wet St. Patrick's Day Parade White Plains Enjoys Wet St. Patrick's Day Parade
White Plains Enjoys Wet St. Patrick's Day Parade WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Despite a delayed start due to steady rain, hundreds of spectators clad in green lined up for White Plain's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday. Here are some photos courtesy of Brian Donnelly. Check back to Daily Voice for more photos from the parade.
Putin's Whereabouts Stir Discussion In Westchester Putin's Whereabouts Stir Discussion In Westchester Putin's Whereabouts Stir Discussion In Westchester
Putin's Whereabouts Stir Discussion In Westchester WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't been seen in more than a week, prompting people -- including local politicians -- to wonder why. On Thursday, Putin's spokesman said the president would not attend a meeting with the Federal Security Service which he usually attends. But as the Washington Post reported, Putin was "absolutely" healthy according to Dmitry Peskov, before adding that the president's handshake was so strong it could  “break your hand.” Putin's absence came a day after he unexpectedly canceled a trip to Kazakhstan. "The visit has been cancele…
White Plains Students Get Fun Lesson In Healthy Eating White Plains Students Get Fun Lesson In Healthy Eating White Plains Students Get Fun Lesson In Healthy Eating
White Plains Students Get Fun Lesson In Healthy Eating WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- With the help of a rapper and author wearing a hatful of doughnuts, students at three schools learned a lesson in eating healthy on Thursday. It marked Joy Feldman's second annual visit to Richard J. Bailey Elementary School in Greenburgh, where a short, funny movie based on her book "Is Your Hair Made of Donuts?" was played for the youngsters. Eileen McGuire, principal at the Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School in White Plains, said her school was delighted to get selected for a visit by Feldman, a "food rapper" named Mr. Deep Positivity and members of the F…
Harrison Plans Affordable Housing Next To Metro-North Station Harrison Plans Affordable Housing Next To Metro-North Station Harrison Plans Affordable Housing Next To Metro-North Station
Harrison Plans Affordable Housing Next To Metro-North Station HARRISON, N.Y. -- Facing increasing pressure to build affordable housing in Harrison, town and county officials have agreed to include seven low-cost units near the Metro-North railroad station. A 143-unit housing complex is planned on 3.3 acres owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- now a train station parking lot -- at the corner of Halstead and Harrison avenues. Five percent of the units developed by AvalonBay Communities will offer below market, affordable rents. “The Harrison Town Board has been working on this project for years,” Harrison Supervisor Ron Belmont said…
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