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Politics
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities 'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities New York state lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at expanding the definition of drugged driving amid a rise in fatal crashes. A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Mannion and co-sponsored by two Republicans would change the definition of “drug” in the vehicle and traffic law to include any substance or combination of substances that impairs one’s ability to drive. Under current state law, drivers who are obviously impaired by a drug can only be arrested and prosecuted if the substance they are on is listed in a specific section of the Public Health Law. The problem, proponent…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Hudson Valley's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections Hudson Valley's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections
Hudson Valley's Tortilla Project Ups The Taco Game With Unusual Selections If you aren't burned out from tacos from Cinco de Mayo and need a taco fix, then a new restaurant in the Hudson Valley specializing in handmade tortillas (think jalapeno) and small plates might be a new favorite. Northern Westchester's The Tortilla Project, located in Baldwin Place, is making waves with foodies and Yelpers for its eclectic mix of tacos, side dishes, tapas, and craft cocktails. Opened in January and located in a strip mall, you will first notice that the small restaurant's sleek decor is not strip mall material, according to Yelpers.  One Yelper put it this way: "The v…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast 'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast
'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In NY Focus Of New Podcast An ex-cop turned podcaster is hoping to breathe new life into the cold case killings of two young women whose remains were discovered in upstate New York. On a recent episode of his true crime podcast, APB Cold Case, retired Costa Mesa, California police chief Mark Spawn discussed the murders of 18-year-old Jennifer Hammond and 19-year-old Christina White. The women disappeared in August 2003 and June 2005, respectively, and were last seen near mobile home parks in the Saratoga County town of Milton. According to New York State Police, Hammond, a native of Littleton, Colorado, was last see…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Woman Struck, Killed By SUV On Busy Orange County Roadway Woman Struck, Killed By SUV On Busy Orange County Roadway
Woman Struck, Killed By SUV On Busy Orange County Roadway Police are investigating a fatal crash on a busy Hudson Valley roadway. Click here for a new, updated story: ID Released For Woman Struck, Killed By SUV In Wallkill It happened late Friday night, May 10, in Orange County on Route 211 near Route 17 in the town of Wallkill. Police at the scene confirmed a woman was hit by a Ford Escape SUV on the westbound side and pronounced dead at around 11 p.m., according to Mark Lieb of Rockland Video Productions. The driver of the Escape remained at the scene, and the stretch of Route 211 was closed for several hours during the accident investi…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend The northern lights produced by one of the strongest geomagnetic storms to hit the Earth in two decades could be visible throughout the weekend, and scientists are warning that the storm could disrupt electrical and communication systems. Although there were clouds around on Friday night, May 10, there were numerous reports from the region of spectacular aurora displays (known as the northern lights). Those displays will continue on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, and possibly linger even longer. Severe Geomagnetic Storm conditions were first observed at Earth at 6:54 p.m. Eastern Ti…

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by Joe Lombardi
Real Estate
Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M
Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M Drew Barrymore won’t be spending ever after at her sprawling New York estate. The “E.T.” and “Scream” star listed her Long Island abode in the village of Sagaponack, converted from a barn that was originally built in 1920, for just under $8.5 million. Situated on 1.7 acres less than a mile from the beach, the charming home boasts nearly 7,000 square feet of living space that includes seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. “This exceptional compound is in a premiere A+ location among the wide open scenic fields and beaches of iconic Sagaponack,” reads the listing from Sotheby’s International Rea…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Drug Dealer Nabbed With Drugs, Gun For Second Time In 3 Weeks, Cops Say Hudson Valley Drug Dealer Nabbed With Drugs, Gun For Second Time In 3 Weeks, Cops Say
Hudson Valley Drug Dealer Nabbed With Drugs, Gun For Second Time In 3 Weeks, Cops Say An alleged drug dealer has been nabbed for the second time in three weeks by a drug task force in the region, police said. Dutchess County resident Jaylen Shaw, age 22, of the town of Poughkeepsie, was arrested on Friday, May 10, in Poughkeepsie by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task. According to Det. Sgt. Adam Harris of the task force, a continued investigation into Shaw's activities led to his arrest following a search of his home where "dangerous" drugs, a gun, and ammo were seized. Shaw was first arrested by the task force on Thursday, April 18, after a search of …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Crushed, Killed In Freak Accident At Hudson Valley Business Man Crushed, Killed In Freak Accident At Hudson Valley Business
Man Crushed, Killed In Freak Accident At Hudson Valley Business A 61-year-old man was killed in a freak accident when he was struck by a Freightliner cab that was attempting to hook up to an empty trailer at a Hudson Valley business. The incident occurred in Orange County around 9:15 a.m., Thursday, May 9, at YRC Freight, 1000 Homestead Ave., in Maybrook. According to Trooper Steven Nevel of the New York State Police, a preliminary investigation found that Stanley Weglarz, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, was assisting in the yard directing trucks to trailers when he was struck by a 2014 Freightliner cab that was attempting to hook up to an empty trailer.&nb…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Hudson Valley Sex Offender Headed To Prison For 'Severely' Beating And Robbing Man Hudson Valley Sex Offender Headed To Prison For 'Severely' Beating And Robbing Man
Hudson Valley Sex Offender Headed To Prison For 'Severely' Beating And Robbing Man A Hudson Valley Level 2 sex offender has been sentenced to prison for robbing and beating a man unconscious. Related Story: Middletown Sex Offender Charged With Violent Assault, Police Say Orange County resident David Johnson, age 47, of Middletown, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 7, to six years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision for the Sunday, March 12, 2023 incident, said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler. According to documents filed and statements made in court, Johnson approached a man entering a grocery store in the City of Mi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Hudson Valley The production company behind hit films like “The Whale,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Uncut Gems” is looking for a real-life couple to be a part of their next star-studded feature film being produced in the region. Lights, camera, action! “The Materialists,” a new feature film by entertainment company A24 and directed by Celine Song, is searching for a real-life couple for its upcoming shoot in the Ulster County town of New Paltz, which will begin on Wednesday, May 22. The couple will be portraying getting married and should fit the description of “artsy, creative down-to-e…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Second Rabid Fox Found In Region Second Rabid Fox Found In Region
Second Rabid Fox Found In Region A second rabid fox has been discovered in the region. The fox was found Wednesday, May 8, in Sullivan County in the town of Fremont. Related story: Wild Fox In Town Of Bethel Test Positive For Rabies According to the Sullivan County Department of Public Health, a dead baby fox (kit) in Fremont tested positive for the rabies virus.  People exposed to the baby are currently receiving appropriate treatment. Another rabid fox was found earlier in the week in the town of Bethel. The fox was euthanized, public health officials said.  Rabies occurs commonly throughout the stat…

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by Kathy Reakes