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

Harrison Senior Gets His Wish And More: School Lunch Break With The Mayor Harrison Senior Gets His Wish And More: School Lunch Break With The Mayor Harrison Senior Gets His Wish And More: School Lunch Break With The Mayor
Harrison Senior Gets His Wish And More: School Lunch Break With The Mayor HARRISON, N.Y. -- Mayor Ron Belmont joined Harrison High School students for lunch recently after accepting an invitation from senior Adam Murray. The lunch at the newly renovated Student Union was special for Belmont, and for Murray for a number of reasons, including the fact it was Murray's longtime wish to meet the mayor. Throughout his tenure as Harrison village mayor and town supervisor, Belmont hosts lunches with constituents.  Adam, who has cerebral palsy and is a student in the Functional Academic Skills Education (FASE) program at Harrison High, said he was captivated by Tow…
Parker Hosts Third Rye Playland Meeting With Potential Park Operator Parker Hosts Third Rye Playland Meeting With Potential Park Operator Parker Hosts Third Rye Playland Meeting With Potential Park Operator
Parker Hosts Third Rye Playland Meeting With Potential Park Operator This story has been updated. RYE, N.Y. -- If you missed the last two meetings about the future of Rye Playland, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker hosted a third meeting Monday at the Rye Free Library, 1061 Boston Post Road. Parker, a Rye Democrat, invited the executives of Standard Amusements LLC to the meeting. They were among three finalists answering County Executive Rob Astorino's request for proposals (RFP) to take over operations of the county-owned amusement park. A video of Monday night's public meeting can be viewed here:  After the abrupt withdrawal by Astor…
Eastchester Projects Left Undone Due To County Road Budget Backlog Eastchester Projects Left Undone Due To County Road Budget Backlog Eastchester Projects Left Undone Due To County Road Budget Backlog
Eastchester Projects Left Undone Due To County Road Budget Backlog WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky asked on Monday, Nov. 17, asked why Westchester's road and bridge budget has built up a $1 billion backlog of unfinished projects when the infrastructure is visibly crumbling. "The amount of backlog has grown tremendously,'' said Shimsky, a Democrat from Hastings-on-Hudson, during a conference call with reporters. "The question is, 'Is this work going to get done?" Projects are detailed in County Executive Rob Astorino’s Proposed 2015 Capital Project Budget, which Shimsky reviews as chair of the county Board of Legislators I…
Mamaroneck Field Hockey Team Wins Class A State Championship Mamaroneck Field Hockey Team Wins Class A State Championship Mamaroneck Field Hockey Team Wins Class A State Championship
Mamaroneck Field Hockey Team Wins Class A State Championship MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The Mamaroneck field hockey team won its second state championship in program history Sunday, blanking Sachem East, 5-0. The Tigers went into the Class A state final at Maine Endwell High School near Binghamton declaring they had unfinished business: In 2011, Mamaroneck lost to Sachem East in a heartbreaking overtime title game. That 3-2 loss to the Flaming Arrows of Section 11 came down to penalty shots.  Mamaroneck dominated Sunday's game from start to finish, led by Grace Fitzgerald and Ellie and Karen Seid. The winning team was greeted back home by fans and fi…
Harrison Teen Remembered For His Smile, Passion For Baseball, Love Of Life Harrison Teen Remembered For His Smile, Passion For Baseball, Love Of Life Harrison Teen Remembered For His Smile, Passion For Baseball, Love Of Life
Harrison Teen Remembered For His Smile, Passion For Baseball, Love Of Life HARRISON, N.Y. -- More than 1,000 people filled St. Anthony of Padua Church in West Harrison Thursday to celebrate the 16-year-old life of Andrew Louis Gurgitano, who died suddenly on Saturday from a stroke. Father Christopher Monturo ventured from his prepared remarks to remember a high school girlfriend, also 16, who died in an auto accident in 1987. Monturo said he stayed in bed for four days, with the covers over his head. "I didn't want to see anybody anymore,'' he recalled. "I thought the light of my life had gone out forever." But then other friends arrived to share stories an…
White Plains Has New Cambria Hotel In Heart Of The City White Plains Has New Cambria Hotel In Heart Of The City White Plains Has New Cambria Hotel In Heart Of The City
White Plains Has New Cambria Hotel In Heart Of The City WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- White Plains officially welcomed the Cambria Hotel & Suites to its downtown Wednesday with a grand opening celebration. The ceremonies at 250 Main St., within sight of White Plains City Hall and Walmart, included a brass band, ribbon-cutting and beer tasting competition featuring local craft breweries. White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach declared the tastiest beer to be Bronx IPA, to the winner to the scorn of those favoring Captain Lawrence or Yonkers Brewery brands. Parent company Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s largest hotel companies, f…
West Harrison Teenagers Step Up To Support Loved Ones In Time Of Tragedy West Harrison Teenagers Step Up To Support Loved Ones In Time Of Tragedy West Harrison Teenagers Step Up To Support Loved Ones In Time Of Tragedy
West Harrison Teenagers Step Up To Support Loved Ones In Time Of Tragedy WEST HARRISON, N.Y. -- Students at Harrison High School found themselves having to cope with two tragedies this past week.  So 19 of the high school's volunteer firefighters hit the streets of West Harrison on Tuesday, with boots in hand, to raise money for two of their classmates. A high school sophomore's mother was killed by a drunken driver on Nov. 3 and an HHS junior died of a stroke on Saturday.  "We asked each other, 'What can we do for the family?' " said Mike Pellegrino, a senior who is captain of the junior firefighters. "We did it because we're a community coming together." …
Nine Mamaroneck Senior Athletes Sign Letters Of Intent For College Play Nine Mamaroneck Senior Athletes Sign Letters Of Intent For College Play Nine Mamaroneck Senior Athletes Sign Letters Of Intent For College Play
Nine Mamaroneck Senior Athletes Sign Letters Of Intent For College Play MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Nine Mamaroneck High School senior athletes committed to playing sports in college Wednesday. The student athletes either signed their National Letters of Intent or accepted their "likely" letters of admission during a ceremony at MHS's Palmer Gym. By February, Mamaroneck expects to have about 30 student-athletes signing their intentions to play sports in college.  Shown from left to right above at the signing ceremony are: Andrew Karlan (to play baseball for LIU Brooklyn), Kimi Chiapparelli (Iona, softball), Reed Malas (Bucknell, lacrosse), Anthony Pecora (Wag…
Harrison Comes Together For Gurgitano Family After Teenager's Tragic Death Harrison Comes Together For Gurgitano Family After Teenager's Tragic Death Harrison Comes Together For Gurgitano Family After Teenager's Tragic Death
Harrison Comes Together For Gurgitano Family After Teenager's Tragic Death WEST HARRISON, N.Y. -- Hundreds of friends and family members of Andrew Louis Gurgitano -- who died of a stroke Saturday at the age of 16 -- are sharing their grief, prayers, thoughts and generosity. The Harrison High School junior and baseball star died in his sleep at home. The Westchester County Medical Examiner ruled his death a natural but rare tragedy. More than 600 people have donated $63,000 to Andrew's family for funeral expenses and a scholarship fund. On this website, the teenager's family responded with this note: "On behalf of the entire Gurgitano family we cannot thank …
Fairfield Burglary Leads To Bust That Nets Charges Against Seven Fairfield Burglary Leads To Bust That Nets Charges Against Seven Fairfield Burglary Leads To Bust That Nets Charges Against Seven
Fairfield Burglary Leads To Bust That Nets Charges Against Seven HARRISON, N.Y. -- Seven people involved in a major tristate burglary ring were arrested on Tuesday, Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini announced. Marraccini said that a license plate reader that identified the plate of a vehicle believed to be involved in a Sept. 22 burglary in Purchase helped lead investigators to various suspects involved in more than burglaries in Connecticut, New Jersey and Long Island, as well as in Westchester and Putnam counties. Charged were David Tadjijev, 39, of Queens; Angelo Carzoglio, 49, of Manhattan; Rafael Sanchez, 25, of Manhattan; Marie Nikgjonaj…
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