KJOY spent the morning at Crossroads Farm in Malverne to get the scoop from Malverne Mel, Nassau County’s famous prognosticator! Six more weeks of winter? Early spring? Find out what Mel had to say here:
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran joined Jamie Thursday morning to discuss how Nassau County is dealing with COVID-19.
Check out this awesome duet remix of “Cold Heart” with Elton John and Dua Lipa!
The family of a Farmingdale student involved in last week’s fatal bus rollover in Orange County has filed the first lawsuit against the bus company and driver.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the Supreme Court of Orange County on behalf of Lawrence Doreson of Massapequa and his 14-year-old daughter, accuses Regency Transportation and bus driver Lisa Schaffer of “failing to properly keep, control and maintain the motor vehicle so as to prevent the incident herein.”
An exact cause for the crash is still under investigation, but attorneys say the cause was either mechanical or human error.
Bus carrying high school students to band camp crashes, killing 2 and seriously injuring others | AP News
Creator: NBC New York Credit: AP
The owners of Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse in Stony Brook are facing at least a dozen lawsuits from customers who fell ill at the restaurant earlier this month.
Lawsuits were filed this week against the now closed restaurant and its parent company, MDBL Corp, on behalf of a teenage dance team of about 10 girls who all became ill after eating at the restaurant.
The Health Department says the restaurant mishandled and improperly stored cooked rice – causing 28 people to get food poisoning.
After attending the Chiefs’ Week 3 game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Taylor Swift will watch Travis Kelce and the Chiefs take on the Jets on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, according to multiple reports.
Swift and Kelce are rumored to be dating.
Photo: Reed Hoffmann/ AP
(AP) A man who climbed the platform at a campaign event in western New York last year and grappled with Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a federal officer.
David Jakubonis, 44, faces up to a year in prison and a hefty fine at his sentencing, which is scheduled for December, U.S. Attorney for the Western District Trini Ross said in a news release.
At the campaign rally near Rochester, New York, in July 2022, Jakubonis approached then-U.S. Rep. Zeldin while carrying a keychain with two sharp points. According to prosecutors, the two men struggled, and Jakubonis pulled Zeldin down before being subdued.
Jakubonis’ attorneys said the Army veteran was drunk and was trying to get to the microphone. In October, he was released from jail to an alcohol treatment program.
Attorney John DeMarco said the misdemeanor plea was “a solid example of justice being reached.”
In an email, he said, “This disposition is a positive result for Congressman Zeldin as a crime victim, a good result for David Jakubonis, a disabled and decorated veteran, who has demonstrated great resolve in his recovery efforts, a good result for veterans who deserve to have their special equities considered in a circumstance like this.”
In this image taken from video provided by WHEC-TV, David Jakubonis, left, brandishes a sharp object as he attacks U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, right, as the Republican candidate for New York governor delivered a speech in Perinton, N.Y., Thursday, July 21, 2022. Jakubonis, 43, has been charged with attempted assault, arraigned and released, a Monroe County sheriff’s spokesperson said. WHEC-TV via AP
Suffolk AME President Daniel C. Levler Hails Romaine’s ‘Proven Executive Leadership Experience and His Ability to Work Across the Aisle to Move Suffolk County Forward’
BOHEMIA, NEW YORK (September 28, 2023) — The Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees, Suffolk County’s largest public sector union with 6,000 active and 4,000 retired workers, today announced their endorsement of Ed Romaine for Suffolk County Executive.
“Over the past decade, Suffolk County’s essential workers have helped steer our County through the storms of the financial crisis, the pandemic, the personal data breach, and many other significant challenges,” said Suffolk AME President Daniel C. Levler. Now more than ever, our members and our fellow residents need a County Executive with proven executive leadership experience and the ability to work across the aisle with both parties in the Suffolk County legislature to keep Suffolk County moving forward. We need a Suffolk County Executive who understands the critical role our members play in providing essential government services 24/7. We need a County Executive who understands that those vital government services cannot be performed without a serious investment in safe staffing levels across every county department. For all of these reasons, Suffolk AME proudly endorses Ed Romaine for Suffolk County Executive. Our members know Ed from his time in the legislature and from his time at the helm of the Town of Brookhaven, and most importantly, Ed knows us! We will do all that we can to help Ed prevail on Election Day and we look forward to working with him to guide our County through the challenges that lie ahead.”
“AME workers are the backbone of county government,” said Ed Romaine. I am pleased that the people who provide essential government services and who move this county forward, have placed their trust in me for County Executive. I look forward to working with the President, the Board and all of the members to ensure a safer and more affordable Suffolk County.”
ABOUT SUFFOLK AME
With over 11,000 active and retired Suffolk County Workers, The Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees (AME) is the largest public sector union in Suffolk County. AME represents a large majority of Suffolk County Government workers in areas such as the Child Support Enforcement Bureau, Consumer Affairs, Civil Service, Crossing Guards, District Attorney, Finance & Technology, Family Services, Fire Rescue Emergency Services, Health Services, Labor Dept, Medicaid, Medical Examiners, Parks Dept, Patient Care, Police Civilian, Police Emergency, Public Works, Sheriff/Probation Civilians, Social Services, Suffolk County Community College, Vector Control and more.
The Commissioner of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Erik Kulleseid and Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight say the Ryder Cup, golf’s pre-eminent event, will take place at Bethpage State Park in 2025.
An expected 225,000 fans will converge on the park.
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — DNA from Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann’s cheek swab matches the DNA that authorities had previously collected from a pizza crust and used to link Heuermann to one of the victims, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.
Heurmann, 60, was arrested July 13 on murder charges in the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, three of the women whose bodies were found along a remote beach highway on Long Island, and has been named as the the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman.
He pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail at Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead.
At the time of his arrest, prosecutors said they had analyzed DNA from a pizza crust that Heuermann had discarded in a Manhattan trash can and matched it to DNA from hairs found on Waterman’s body. Prosecutors then got permission from the court to collect DNA from a cheek swab of Heuermann as further proof of his link to Waterman’s killing.
“The buccal swab erases all doubt,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told the judge, according to Newsday.
The arrest of Heuermann, an architect, came 13 years after police searching for a missing woman found 10 sets of human remains buried in the scrub near Long Island’s remote Gilgo Beach.
Authorities suspected that a serial killer had committed some of the murders but have long said they did not believe all of the victims were killed by the same person. The majority of the killings remain unsolved.
Prosecutors told Suffolk County Court Judge Timothy Mazzei on Wednesday that they had turned over thousands of documents to Heuermann’s defense team.
Heuermann told the judge he has been spending two to three hours a day reviewing the evidence against him.
Heuermann’s lawyer disputed the significance of the DNA sample. “There is nobody on the face of the earth that is credible is going to say that hair is my client’s hair,” defense attorney Michael Brown said outside the courtroom, according to the New York Post.
Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann appears in Judge Tim Mazzei’s courtroom at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. His lawyer, Michael J. Brown, is at left. James Carbone/Newsday via AP
DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.
The recalls cover multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Kia’s Sorrento SUV.
Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short, which can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven.
The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.
Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners. Kia says in documents that it will send notification letters to owners starting Nov. 14. For Hyundai the date is Nov. 21.
Hyundai reported 21 fires in the affected vehicles in the U.S., and another 22 “thermal incidents” including smoke, burning and melting of parts, the documents say. Kia reported 10 fires and melting incidents.
Hyundai said in a statement that owners can continue to drive the vehicles and that no crashes or injuries have been reported. The automaker said it was doing the recall to ensure safety of its customers.
The company said an O-ring in the antilock brake motor shaft can lose sealing strength over time due to the presence of moisture, dirt and dissolved metals in the brake fluid, causing leaks. The new fuse limits the operating current of the brake module, the statement said.
In a statement, Kia said an engine compartment fire could happen in the area of the brake control unit due to an electrical short that results in excessive current. The statement says the exact cause of the short circuit is unknown and that there have been no crashes or injuries.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, questioned why the companies aren’t fixing the leak problem and why they are waiting so long to send letters to owners.
The remedy is replacing one fuse with another, but brake fluid can still leak, potentially causing a safety problem, Brooks said.
“Why not fix the problem?” he asked. “What you’re not doing here is fixing the O-ring and the leak that’s causing the problem in the first place. You’re combatting a symptom or part of the problem without actually fixing the underlying design issue.”
Brooks also questioned why NHTSA is allowing the companies to only replace a fuse, and why owners aren’t being sent interim letters immediately warning them of a serious problem. “You would think that you should be notifying those owners right now that they shouldn’t be parking in their garages or their house could catch fire,” he said.
Statements from both companies don’t address why the fluid leaks aren’t being repaired or why it will take about two months to notify owners by letter. Spokespeople for both companies said they would check into the questions.
NHTSA said that under the federal motor vehicle safety act, automakers can choose the remedy to fix a defect. The agency said it will monitor the effectiveness of the repairs and open an investigation if warranted.
In addition, automakers have 60 days to notify owners of recalled vehicles by letter, but often the mailings can happen sooner, the agency said.
NHTSA also issued a statement Wednesday warning owners to park the vehicles outdoors until repairs are made.
Affected Kia models include the 2010 through 2019 Borrego, the 2014 to 2016 Cadenza, 2010 through 2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage, the 2015 to 2018 K900, the 2011 to 2015 Optima, the 2011 to 2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul, the 2012 to 2017 Rio, the 2011 to 2014 Sorento, and the 2010 to 2011 Rondo.
Hyundai models covered by the recall include the 2011 to 2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid, the 2012 to 2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster, the 2013 to 2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe, the 2014 to 2015 Equus, the 2010 to 2012 Veracruz, the 2010 to 2013 Tucson, the 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and the 2013 Santa Fe Sport.
Owners can go to www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is affected.
Hyundai and Kia have been plagued by fire problems since 2015. The Center for Auto Safety successfully petitioned U.S. regulators to seek recalls in 2018 and says on its website that the automakers have recalled more than 9.2 million vehicles for fires and engine problems, not including the recalls announced Wednesday. More than two dozen of the recalls involved over 20 models from the 2006 through 2021 model years.
In addition, NHTSA is investigating 3 million vehicles made by the automakers from the 2011 through 2016 model years. NHTSA says it’s received 161 complaints of engine fires, some of which occurred in vehicles that had already been recalled.
In June 2018, NHTSA said it had received owner complaints of more than 3,100 fires, 103 injuries and one death. Hyundai and Kia were fined by NHTSA in 2020 for moving too slowly to recall vehicles that were prone to engine failures.
FILE – The Hyundai company logo is displayed Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Littleton, Colo. Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S., Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production.
The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America and their joint negotiating committee all voted to accept the deal, two days after the tentative agreement was reached with a coalition of Hollywood’s biggest studios, streaming services and production companies. After the vote they declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to start on scripts at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
Late-night talk shows — the first to go dark when writers walked out on May 2 — are likely the first shows that will resume. Scripted shows will take longer to return, with actors still on strike and no negotiations yet on the horizon.
The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves in early October, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the guild told members in an email.
Two demonstrators pick up signs outside the Paramount Pictures Studio in Los Angeles, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Negotiations between striking screenwriters and Hollywood studios have resumed and will continue Thursday, the latest attempt to bring an end to pickets that have brought film and television productions to a halt. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
An end in sight? Striking writers and Hollywood studios spend second full day in negotiations
After Tuesday’s board votes, the contracts were released for the first time to the writers, who had not yet been given any details on the deal, which their leaders called “exceptional.”
The three-year agreement includes significant wins in the main areas writers had fought for – compensation, length of employment, size of staffs and control of artificial intelligence – matching or nearly equaling what they had sought at the outset of the strike.
The union had sought minimum increases in pay and future residual earnings from shows of between 5% and 6%, depending on the position of the writer. The studios had wanted between 2% and 4%. The compromise deal was a raise of between 3.5% and 5%.
The guild also negotiated new residual payments based on the popularity of streaming shows, where writers will get bonuses for being a part of the most popular shows on Netflix, Max and other services, a proposal studios initially rejected. Many writers on picket lines had complained that they weren’t properly paid for helping create heavily watched properties.
The writers also got the requirement they sought that shows intended to run at least 13 episodes will have at least six writers on staff, with the numbers shifting based on the number of episodes. They did not get their desire for guaranteed staffs of six on shows that had not yet been ordered to series, settling instead for a guaranteed three.
Writers also got a guarantee that staffs on shows in initial development will be employed for at least 10 weeks, and that staffs on shows that go to air will be employed for three weeks per episode.
On artificial intelligence, the writers got the regulation and control of the emerging technology they had sought. Under the contract, raw, AI-generated storylines will not be regarded as “literary material” — a term in their contracts for scripts and other story forms a screenwriter produces. This means they won’t be competing with computers for screen credits. Nor will AI-generated stories be considered “source” material, their contractual language for the novels, video games or other works that writers may adapt into scripts.
Writers have the right under the deal to use AI in their process if the company they are working for agrees and other conditions are met. But companies cannot require a writer to use AI.
Still-striking members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists returned to the picket lines earlier Tuesday for the first time since the writers struck their tentative deal, and they were animated by a new spirit of optimism.
“For a hot second, I really thought that this was going to go on until next year,” said Marissa Cuevas, an actor who has appeared on the TV series “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory.” “Knowing that at least one of us has gotten a good deal gives a lot of hope that we will also get a good deal.”
Writers’ picket lines had been suspended, but they were encouraged to walk in solidarity with actors, and many were on the lines Tuesday, including “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, who picketed alongside friend and “ER” actor Noah Wyle as he has throughout the strikes.
“We would never have had the leverage we had if SAG had not gone out,” Weiner said. “They were very brave to do it.”
Sept. 21, 2023. Negotiations between striking screenwriters and Hollywood studios have resumed and will continue Thursday, the latest attempt to bring an end to pickets that have brought film and television productions to a halt. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The funeral for Beatrice Ferrari who was killed in the last weeks bus crash will be held today at St Kilian Parish in Farmingdale
Farmingdale band director Gina Pellettiere funeral will be tomorrow. Farmingdale High School will be closed Thursday so people can attend Pellettiere’s funeral.