Hackensack, NJ
News
Congestion Pricing: Murphy Opposes Hochul's Program Charging Drivers $9 In Parts Of Manhattan Congestion Pricing: Murphy Opposes Hochul's Program Charging Drivers $9 In Parts Of Manhattan
Congestion Pricing: Murphy Opposes Hochul's Program Charging Drivers $9 In Parts Of Manhattan New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is pushing back against New York’s plan to revive the congestion pricing plan, expressing concerns about the impact on New Jersey commuters who regularly travel into Manhattan.  Governor Kathy Hochul's plan, which reduces daily congestion fees to $9 down from $15, aims to reduce traffic and fund transit improvements, but Murphy argues it unfairly targets New Jersey residents.  The plan would require motorists to face $9 tolls when entering certain parts of Manhattan known as the Congestion Relief Zone. The zone is comprised of Lower Manhattan south …

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Mastic-Shirley, NY
News
Shirley Man Admits Forcing Homeless Teen Into Prostitution In Exchange For Food, Shelter Shirley Man Admits Forcing Homeless Teen Into Prostitution In Exchange For Food, Shelter
Shirley Man Admits Forcing Homeless Teen Into Prostitution In Exchange For Food, Shelter A Long Island man confessed to forcing a homeless teenager into prostitution in exchange for providing her with food and shelter. Javesh Persaud, age 34, of Shirley, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Oct. 25. Prosecutors said Persaud met the 18-year-old victim in July 2023 on the now defunct website Omegle, which randomly paired strangers for virtual chats. The teen told him she was homeless and sleeping in New York City subways in Manhattan. Persaud told the girl he helped people who were without homes and offered the teen clean clot…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Great Barrington, MA
Lifestyle
This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From Berkshire County This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From Berkshire County
This Year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Is Coming From Berkshire County With Spooky Season over, attention is turning to the holidays and New York’s iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. This year’s tree is a 74-foot tall Norway Spruce from Massachusetts that was grown in Berkshire County in West Stockbridge, Rockefeller Center announced on Instagram. Weighing in at around 11 tons, it’s the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to come from the Bay State since 1959. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rockefeller Center (@rockefellercenter) The colossal tree will make the 136-mile journey to Manha…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Cortlandt, NY
Schools
Hendrick Hudson High School Student To Perform At Famous Concert Venues Hendrick Hudson High School Student To Perform At Famous Concert Venues
Hendrick Hudson High School Student To Perform At Famous Concert Venues After years of hard work, a Northern Westchester high school junior will be showcasing their talents at two iconic concert venues along with other gifted singers.  Alexandra Numeroff, a junior at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, will be performing at Manhattan's Carnegie Hall and Australia's Sydney Opera House after being accepted into the WorldStrides Honors Performance Program as an Honor Choir member.  According to Hendrick Hudson School District officials, the Honors Performance Series recognizes students for their talent, dedication, and achievements shown i…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Yonkers, NY
Business
Indoor Tennis, Pickleball Club To Open First Suburban Location At Yonkers Shopping Center Indoor Tennis, Pickleball Club To Open First Suburban Location At Yonkers Shopping Center
Indoor Tennis, Pickleball Club To Open First Suburban Location At Yonkers Shopping Center Tennis and pickleball players, grab your rackets and paddles—a new indoor facility is set to open its doors at a Westchester County shopping center.  Court 16, a New York City-based boutique indoor tennis and pickleball club, signed a lease for a new 16,500-square-foot indoor facility at the Ridge Hill shopping center in Yonkers, the club announced this week. The facility, the club's first suburban location and the first to open in Westchester, will be next to D1 Training across from Whole Foods and is set to open in the summer of 2025. According to the owners, the club offers state-o…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Yonkers, NY
News
Waterfall In NYC? Yes: It's Flowing Again After Years Thanks To Columbia University Waterfall In NYC? Yes: It's Flowing Again After Years Thanks To Columbia University
Waterfall In NYC? Yes: It's Flowing Again After Years Thanks To Columbia University When most people think of Manhattan, they're not picturing scenic waterfalls. Yet, one is now back in action after several years of inactivity.  For the first time in seven years, the Morningside Park waterfall in Manhattan resumed flowing on Friday, Oct. 4 during an event held by the New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation and Columbia University.  The waterfall flows down a rock wall into the park's pond, which was built in 1989 in a space meant for a planned Columbia gymnasium. After student protests halted this plan, the pond was put in place, complete with a wate…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Mineola, NY
Lifestyle
'Jaws'? 'Amityville Horror'? This Is Best Scary Film Set In NY, Report Says (Poll) 'Jaws'? 'Amityville Horror'? This Is Best Scary Film Set In NY, Report Says (Poll)
'Jaws'? 'Amityville Horror'? This Is Best Scary Film Set In NY, Report Says (Poll) You’re gonna need a bigger TV. As another spooky season dawns, eyeballs are once again focused on the cavalcade of ghosts and goblins parading across our screens. One frightful flick in particular seems to have endeared itself to viewers in the Empire State: “Jaws” is considered the best horror movie set in New York, according to Buzzfeed. The 1975 thriller, directed by Steven Spielberg, stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, who, along with a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a homicidal shark terrorizing beachgoers in the …

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Stony Point, NY
Police & Fire
Group Stealing Mail Nabbed In Tomkins Cove After Fiery Crash: Police Group Stealing Mail Nabbed In Tomkins Cove After Fiery Crash: Police
Group Stealing Mail Nabbed In Tomkins Cove After Fiery Crash: Police A man and a juvenile were nabbed after police responded to a suspicious vehicle call. The occupants allegedly removed items from a mailbox in front of a home. The incident occurred in Rockland County around 12:10 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Tomkins Cove. According to Stony Point Police Lt. Daniel Schoales, responding officers located a vehicle matching the description on Mott Farm Road. Schoales said that when police attempted to stop the car, the driver refused to stop and fled eastbound at a high speed. He added that officers lost sight of the vehicle but came upon it shortly after, …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Port Jefferson, NY
News
Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison
Disgruntled Gambler Who Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business Gets 18 Years In Prison A 27-year-old man will spend nearly two decades behind bars for shooting two men at a Long Island business. Alexander Castillo, of the Bronx, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, Oct. 3, stemming from a shooting at a Port Jefferson pool hall. Prosecutors said Castillo spent several hours playing pool at the establishment on Dec. 28, 2022. Over the course of the evening, he placed bets on each game and lost an undisclosed amount of money. Earlier Report: Disgruntled Gambler Shot 2 At Port Jefferson Business, Jury Finds Shortly after 7 p.m., Castil…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Fairfield, CT
Politics
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Alleged Bribes, Illegal Campaign Cash: Feds Lay Out Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams Federal authorities released the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, Sept. 26, laying out their case for corruption, bribery, and misuse of public funds, reports said.  Federal investigators have charged the 64-year-old Democrat with five counts, including conspiracy to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud, and bribery, said Damian Williams, the US. attorney for the Southern District of New York in a news conference.  Click here to read the complete indictment from the SDNY. Here is what those allegations are as summari…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Bronxville, NY
Lifestyle
'Today' Show's Hoda Kotb Announces Exit To Spend Time With Kids At Bronxville Home 'Today' Show's Hoda Kotb Announces Exit To Spend Time With Kids At Bronxville Home
'Today' Show's Hoda Kotb Announces Exit To Spend Time With Kids At Bronxville Home After more than five years as co-anchor, "Today" show fixture Hoda Kotb says she will be leaving to spend more time with her family in the suburbs. The 60-year-old Kotb announced her upcoming exit from NBC's "Today" during the show on Thursday morning, Sept. 26, saying on the show that she realized it was time "to try something new" during her 60th birthday celebration in August.  "I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, 'This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.' And I thought it can't get better…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Mount Vernon, NY
News
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused Of Drugging Woman, Filming Rape In New Lawsuit Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused Of Drugging Woman, Filming Rape In New Lawsuit
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused Of Drugging Woman, Filming Rape In New Lawsuit Following his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, a woman has filed a lawsuit against hip-hop mogul and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her while recording it on film.  In a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, Sept. 24, Thalia Graves accused Combs of spiking her glass of wine and rendering her unconscious before raping her in a studio in Manhattan.  According to the lawsuit complaint, Graves met Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchest…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic