Public Radio 'Legend' Karen DeWitt Signing Off After 34 Years: ‘It’s Time To Go’ Public Radio 'Legend' Karen DeWitt Signing Off After 34 Years: ‘It’s Time To Go’
Public Radio 'Legend' Karen DeWitt Signing Off After 34 Years: ‘It’s Time To Go’ After more than three decades of covering New York State government and politics, public radio journalist Karen DeWitt is signing off. The longtime Capitol Bureau chief for the New York Public News Network will file her last story on Friday, June 21, she announced on X Tuesday, April 30. “Finally, I get to use this phrase: ‘Some personal news,’” DeWitt said. “It’s been a fabulous ride, but it’s time to go.” Since 1990, DeWitt has informed listeners on Albany affairs via the network's dozen public radio stations across the state, including WAMC in Albany, WLIW on Long Island, and WNYC in N…
Driver Killed In Area Highway Crash Injuring Second Victim Driver Killed In Area Highway Crash Injuring Second Victim
Driver Killed In Area Highway Crash Injuring Second Victim See new update: Selkirk Woman Killed In Head-On SR 85 Crash In Bethlehem One person is dead, and another is hospitalized following a three-vehicle highway crash in the region. The Albany County wreck happened just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 1, in Bethlehem, on State Route 85 near the Albany city limits. Bethlehem Police said one driver was pronounced dead at the scene while a second motorist was taken to Albany Medical Center with unspecified injuries. A third driver involved in the wreck was not injured. Authorities did not reveal the deceased victim’s name, age, or hometown. Be…
Mega Millions Player Wins $1 Million At Popular Store In Region Mega Millions Player Wins $1 Million At Popular Store In Region
Mega Millions Player Wins $1 Million At Popular Store In Region A Mega Millions player walked away with a cool $1 million cash after winning the second-place prize on a ticket purchased at a lucky Hudson Valley store. The winner picked all five numbers -- 10-18-27-37-61 and a Powerball of 5 -- but failed to pick the Powerball to win the large haul of cash for the Tuesday, April 30 game, said New York Lottery officials. The ticket was purchased in Orange County at the Smokes 4 Less store on Plank Road in Newburgh. No word yet on who the winner is. The winning numbers for the Mega Millions game are drawn from a field of one to 70, and the Mega Ball is d…
Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme: Pair Of Former Execs In Region Sentenced Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme: Pair Of Former Execs In Region Sentenced
Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme: Pair Of Former Execs In Region Sentenced Two former high-ranking executives have been sentenced for stealing millions of dollars from their employer in Westchester County through a fraudulent scheme involving sham companies and fake invoices. The two worked at OrthoNet, a healthcare claims processing company based in White Plains. Shawn Rains, age 57, of Le Bouscat, France, who was previously convicted of mail fraud conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy after a two-week trial, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Northern Westchester resident Joseph Maharaj, age 42, of Goldens Bridge, had pl…
'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones 'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones
'Every Parent's Worst Fear': Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany Freshman With Brain Swelling, Broken Bones A University at Albany student remains hospitalized with serious injuries after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver on a dirt bike. Long Island resident Alexa Kropf, age 18, of Floral Park, was hit at around midnight Saturday, April 27, while walking along Hudson Avenue, just blocks from the UAlbany campus. When officers arrived, they found the freshman lying in the roadway with a serious head injury and a broken leg, according to Albany Police. Witnesses told investigators that Kropf was struck by a man who was driving an illegal dirt bike at a high rate of speed while weaving and ou…
Brothers Found Guilty In Killing Of Plattekill Man Brothers Found Guilty In Killing Of Plattekill Man
Brothers Found Guilty Of Killing Plattekill Man Two brothers have been found guilty of killing a man found lying dead in his driveway in the region. Orange County resident Junando Dawkins, age 30, of Newburgh, and his brother, Juwaugh Dawkins, age 34, of Jacksonville, Florida, were convicted on Monday, April 29, in Ulster County Court of murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. According to the Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji, in January 2023, a homicide investigation was conducted by the New York State Police into the death of Daniel Spotards, a 41-year-old father of two, whose body was found at t…
Man From Region Headed To Prison, Admits Rape Of Child, DA Says Man From Region Headed To Prison, Admits Rape Of Child, DA Says
Man From Region Headed To Prison, Admits Rape Of Child, DA Says A Hudson Valley man is headed for prison after pleading guilty to rape of a child under the age of 13. Orange County resident Liborio Nieto, age 28, of Middletown, was sentenced on Monday, April 29, to 10 years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision. He will also be registered as a sex offender. According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, Nieto admitted to the rape of a child under the age of 13. Hoovler thanked the Orange County Child Abuse Investigation Unit for their investigation and the arrest of Nieto. “The sexual abuse of a child is always an intolerab…
Severed Remains: 2 Charged With Murdering Couple From Region As Gruesome Details Revealed Severed Remains: 2 Charged With Murdering Couple From Region As Gruesome Details Revealed
Severed Remains: 2 Charged With Murdering Couple From Region As Gruesome Details Revealed Months after the mutilated remains of a Hudson Valley couple were found strewn across Long Island, prosecutors have charged two suspects with their murders. Jeffrey Mackey, age 36, and Alexis Nieves, age 33, both of Amityville, were arraigned on additional charges of murder and related offenses in Suffolk County Court on Friday, April 26 in the killings of Malcolm Brown and Donna Conneely. Prosecutors said the couple was stabbed to death after entering Mackey and Nieves’ Amityville residence on Railroad Avenue on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Earlier Report: Dismembering Dead Body Would Be Fel…
$1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Covid-19 Fraud Scheme: NY Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway
In Fursuit: Search For Cubs Underway After Mama Bear Killed On Taconic State Parkway Despite social media buzz and some help from a couple of drone operators, there’s still no sign of a family of black bear cubs days after their mama was struck and killed on a highway in the region. The Columbia County incident happened Friday evening, April 19, on the Taconic State Parkway near Exit 99 in the hamlet of Spencertown. Two or three 10-pound cubs that are still nursing were left orphaned when the adult bear was hit and killed, according to the wildlife nonprofit Lucky Rehabilitation Center. “We located the body of their mom and will be gathering hair samples this morning in th…
Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Shootings In Region Hours Apart Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Shootings In Region Hours Apart
Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Shootings In Region Hours Apart Two people were injured in separate shootings in the region that occurred hours apart. Both incidents happened in Albany, with the first shooting reported shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the city’s West Hill neighborhood, near Clinton Avenue and Quail Street. Albany Police said a 21-year-old man walked into the emergency department at Albany Medical Center Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper thigh and hand. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The victim told police that he had been outside with a group of people when he was shot. No other informat…
Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report
Criminal Investigation Opened In Helicopter Crash Killing NY National Guard Members: Report Officials have launched a criminal investigation into a National Guard helicopter crash near the southern border that killed two members from New York and a third victim, ABC News reports. The incident – which saw a UH-72 Lakota helicopter go down near Rio Grande City, Texas, on Friday, March 8 – is now the focus of an investigation by the Starr County Sheriff’s Office into whether there was any criminal wrongdoing, officials told the outlet. That investigation is separate from a parallel probe being conducted by the Department of Defense. So far, authorities have not publicly said what cau…