Centreville Father Losing Strength To Rare Disease As Family Fights To Keep Home Safe
A Virginia father and military veteran is facing a life that is changing faster than his body can keep up with, as a rare muscle disease slowly takes away the strength he once relied on every day.
Centreville resident Marshall Eckert now faces an uncertain future as he manages Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive condition that weakens the muscles in his hips, legs, shoulders, and arms over time.
For Eckert, the shift has been steady — and unforgiving.
“What used to be automatic movements now require planning, energy, and often assistance,” his wife, Jallene Eckert, said.
Tasks m…
$3.5M Medicaid Fraud: New Windsor Couple, Third Suspect, 2 Companies Indicted In Scheme
Three people, including a couple and an Ulster County man, and two corporations have now been indicted in what prosecutors say is the largest Medicaid fraud case ever prosecuted in Orange County.
Rohail Raja and his wife, Sharma Alam, both 45 and from New Windsor, were arraigned on Monday, Nov. 10, on charges of first-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree conspiracy, accused of stealing more than $3.5 million in Medicaid funds through fraudulent billing, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The couple, who were arrested in late October as…
NJ Woman, Her Mom Charged After Scooterist Hit, Dragged By Car In Trenton: Police
A 22-year-old Burlington woman was arrested and charged after she hit a man riding a scooter with her car and fled the scene in Trenton, authorities announced Wednesday, Oct. 15.
At 4:14 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, officers responded to 65 Oakland St. and found a 32-year-old man bleeding heavily from his ear and mouth, Trenton police said. The man was run over by the vehicle and dragged underneath it, police said.
The man sustained multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, and femur, police said He also had to be intubated after his lungs collapsed, police said.
An investigation deter…
MA Named Best State For Research, Development In New Ranking: Here's Why
Many Northeast states are among the most innovative in the US, according to a new study.
SmileHub released its 2025 list of Best States for Research and Development on Tuesday, Sept. 16. All 50 states were ranked across 17 metrics, including researchers per capita, research and development (R&D) spending, patents, research facilities, and STEM education.
R&D funding in the US more than doubled over the past 15 years, climbing from $407 billion in 2010 to almost $940 billion in 2023, according to data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. That inv…
MD Ranked Second-Happiest State In Nation, New Study Finds: Here's Why
The Northeast is home to some of the happiest people in the country, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2025 list of Happiest States in America on Monday, Sept. 8. The study compared all 50 states across 30 metrics of happiness, including depression and suicide rates, work hours, income growth, unemployment, family stability, volunteer rates, and safety.
The personal finance website also measured how many adults feel active and productive, as well as factors like sleep, leisure time, and community support.
"In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-l…
MA Named Best State To Live In, New Study Says: Here's Why
From the best schools in the nation to some of the highest incomes, several Northeast states are among the best places to live, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2025 list of "Best States to Live In" on Monday, Aug. 11. The study ranked all 50 states using 51 measures of livability, from housing affordability and income growth to education, health, and safety.
Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said it's important to look beyond just economic factors.
"When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices, and…
NJ Hospital Named Among Top 20 In America: Brand-New Rankings Released
U.S. News & World Report has released its brand-new hospital rankings for 2025-26, and several East Coast facilities have earned spots on the prestigious list of the Top 20 in the nation.
The 2025-26 Best Hospitals “Honor Roll,” published Tuesday, July 29, features just 20 hospitals nationwide, selected from more than 4,500 reviewed across the country.
Hospitals earn their spot based on top performance across 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions, with scores drawn from survival rates, patient outcomes, nurse staffing, patient experience, and reputation among specialists…
$13M Medicaid Scam: NY Transport Companies Stole Millions In Taxpayer Dollars, AG Says
Several New York medical transport companies, including some in the Hudson Valley and New York’s Capital Region, are being forced to pay back millions of dollars after a sweeping Medicaid fraud investigation by the state, officials announced.
The enforcement effort, revealed Monday, June 30, targeted 25 companies across the state, including businesses in Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Columbia, Albany, and Saratoga counties. Sixteen companies have agreed to repay over $13 million in stolen Medicaid funds, and seven others are now facing lawsuits, New York Attorney General Letitia…
