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Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence
Westchester Contractor Fails To Pay 8 Workers Over $31K: Here's His Sentence A 38-year-old contractor from Westchester has been ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines after failing to pay eight workers their wages for months, officials announced.  Artemio Fuerte, a resident of New Rochelle and the owner of Fuerte Construction LLC, was sentenced on Wednesday, July 31 to three years of probation and a $12,000 fine. This ruling came after he failed to pay over $31,500 to eight workers he employed between 2020 and 2023.  The announcement was made by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. According to the DA's Office, the Economic Cri…

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by Ben Crnic
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FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs
FEMA Denies Yonkers $5.2M In Emergency Hurricane Repairs Officials in a Westchester County city are expressing frustration after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied it over $5 million in funds needed to repair damage caused by a devastating hurricane.  In an announcement on Monday, July 29, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano revealed that FEMA denied the city over $5.2 million requested to stabilize three slopes along the Hudson River damaged by Hurricane Ida in September 2021.  According to Spano, the hurricane caused excess runoff to be channeled through a culvert under the Old Croton Aqueduct, causing "substantial damage" to th…

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by Ben Crnic
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Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Westchester: Here's Where Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Westchester: Here's Where
Bear Seen 'Making Beeline' For Garbage Cans In Westchester: Here's Where A hungry bear was seen hunting for trash cans in a Northern Westchester neighborhood, officials said. In an announcement on Monday, July 29, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas said that several bear sightings had been reported around the town.  Lucas added that the most recent sighting was reported in the area of Yerkes Road. According to Lucas, the bear was "making a beeline to garbage cans left outdoors and especially bird feeders."  "One bear can cover the entire town looking for food," Lucas said.  According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservati…

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by Ben Crnic
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Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found In Mount Vernon Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found In Mount Vernon
Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found In Mount Vernon Those spending time outside in Westchester should pack some bug repellent, as mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found throughout the county, health officials announced. According to an announcement from the Westchester County Health Department on Tuesday, July 30, the season's first batches of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus were found in:  Croton; Mount Vernon; Rye; White Plains; Yonkers. The batches carrying the virus were the first to test positive out of 45 groups collected from eight locations throughout the county, health officials said. Following the tests, hea…

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by Ben Crnic
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New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Westchester New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Westchester
New Update: Man Charged With Murder In Caseworker's Death After Attack In Westchester A 31-year-old man is now facing murder charges following the death of a beloved caseworker who he allegedly attacked in Northern Westchester while she was performing her duties, officials announced.  Peekskill resident Hasseem Jenkins was arraigned on Tuesday, July 30 in Westchester County Court on murder charges in connection with the death of 56-year-old Maria Coto, who was attacked in May, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced.  According to the DA's Office and authorities, on Tuesday, May 14 just after 3 p.m., Jenkins allegedly punched Coto in the fa…

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by Ben Crnic
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Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now A new tropical rainstorm in the Atlantic may strengthen into a named storm and affect parts of the East Coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is near the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. (See the first image above.) It could become a named storm as soon as this weekend. If that's the case, it will be called Debby. “Right now, this tropical rainstorm has a 60 percent chance of strengthening into a named storm no sooner than this weekend or early next week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno …

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by Joe Lombardi
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Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul
Over $2.7M To Go Toward Flooding Prevention Projects In Westchester: Hochul Thanks to a climate-smart grant program announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, several municipalities in Westchester will receive funds to go toward much-needed flood mitigation projects.  The funds will come from more than $7.3 million to be given to municipalities across the state as part of the Climate Smart Communities grant program, Hochul announced on Tuesday, July 23.  The grants are meant to support local projects designed to reduce flooding, increase resilience, and improve critical infrastructure, according to Hochul.  Of the $7.3 million, over $2.7 million …

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by Ben Crnic
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Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Westchester Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Westchester
Work Begins On $1.9B Water Supply Tunnel Project In Westchester A groundbreaking was held for an underground tunneling project in Northern Westchester that is planned to improve the operations of a drinking water supply used by over 9 million people, officials announced.  Work on the $1.9 billion Kensico-Eastview Connection tunneling project began in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, July 23, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced.  The two-mile-long tunnel, which will run around 500 feet below ground, will run between the Kensico Reservoir and the Catskill-Delaware Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Facility in…

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by Ben Crnic
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Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos
Cameo Agrees To Pay NY $25K For 'Misleading' Promotional Videos Cameo will pay dozens of states, including New York, for failing to ensure customers knew that promotional videos on its site were actually paid endorsements. Baron App Inc., owner of the popular celebrity-shoutout-ordering website, agreed to pay $100,000 in penalties to 30 states as part of a settlement agreement reached Wednesday, July 24. New York will receive $25,000 of that, state Attorney General Letitia James said. Cameo found itself in hot water after launching its “Business Cameo” service in 2020, allowing companies to hire celebrities to record videos endorsing their services. A…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Westchester Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Westchester
Work Begins On $220M, 5-Story Care Tower At Hospital In Westchester State and local officials were there to celebrate the groundbreaking for a $220 million tower at a Northern Westchester hospital that will contain more than 100 patient rooms.  The groundbreaking for the Critical Care Tower at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla was held on Wednesday, July 24, and was attended by elected officials including New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. The $220 million project, to be located next to the hospital's main tower, will be 162,000 square feet and five stories when completed. It will house 128 "private, state-of-the-art" pa…

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by Ben Crnic
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Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns
Brand Of Jalapenos, Green Peppers, Green Beans Recalled Due To Listeria Concerns A recall has been issued for a brand of peppers and green beans due to potential Listeria contamination. ALDI Inc. announced it is recalling Freshire Farms jalapenos, green peppers, and green beans in connection to an earlier recall by Wiers Farm and R.S. Hanline Co. The full product details, with product name, package description, and UPC code, are: Jalapeno 8 oz. bag 4099100087680 Green Pepper 16 oz. (3 pack) bag 4099100087598 Green Beans 16 oz. bag 4099100087826 The affected product was sold at select ALDI stores in New York,  Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Re…

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by Joe Lombardi
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NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring Northeast Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring Northeast Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring Northeast Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles Nearly two months after blasting off from Florida’s Space Coast, a pair of NASA astronauts – including a Massachusetts native – still have no idea when they’ll return to Earth. In a mission update Thursday, July 25, NASA and Boeing leaders still could not commit to a return date for Starliner pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore. The pair – serving as guinea pigs of sorts for Starliner’s first crewed mission – remain in limbo aboard the International Space Station after numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with the spacecraft’s thrus…

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by Michael Mashburn