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COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US
Covid-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US New so-called "FLiRT" COVID-19 variants have quickly become the most dominant in the United States, and authorities are monitoring their rise as summer approaches. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the two members of the  “FLiRT” group, KP.2, is now No. 1 among strains nationally, accounting for about 24.9 of all current infections. The JN.1 strain had been dominant in the US before the emergence of KP.2. Both variants are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron strain. The No. 4 variant in the US, KP.1.1, which makes up …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Planters Nuts Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination Concerns Planters Nuts Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination Concerns
Planters Nuts Recalled Due To Listeria Contamination Concerns A pair of Planters nuts products are being recalled due to possible contamination with the bacteria that causes listeria. Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling the two Planters products that were produced at one of its facilities in April, according to an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, sti…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY
HS Sweethearts Killed In Out-Of-State Crash; Fundraiser Seeks To Transport Remains Back To NY Sam Cullen and Suzie Kedar were planning on spending the rest of their lives together when tragedy struck. The Long Island natives and Farmingdale High School sweethearts were killed in a car crash in Washington State on Thursday, May 2. Details about the wreck were not immediately available. Their deaths came just two days after the 28-year-old Cullen, a Petty Officer in the US Navy stationed outside of Seattle on Whidbey Island, picked up an engagement ring that he planned on giving to Kedar, according to relatives. “They had plans on Friday morning to look at houses together with a real…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Wild Fox In Region Tests Positive For Rabies Wild Fox In Region Tests Positive For Rabies
Wild Fox In Region Tests Positive For Rabies A health department in the region has confirmed that a fox has tested positive for the rabies virus. The fox, which was euthanized, was found in Sullivan County in the town of Bethel, said officials with the Sullivan County Department of Public Health. The department said people exposed to the fox are currently receiving treatment. Rabies occurs commonly throughout the state, mostly occurring in wild animals, including raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, and woodchucks. Domestic animals, often including cats, cattle, and dogs, account for less than 10 percent of the reported rabies cases. …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
New Update: UAlbany Freshman Severely Injured In Hit-Run Awake After Week In Coma New Update: UAlbany Freshman Severely Injured In Hit-Run Awake After Week In Coma
New Update: UAlbany Freshman Severely Injured In Hit-Run Awake After Week In Coma Relatives of a University at Albany student from Long Island who was severely injured in a hit-and-run crash are celebrating a major milestone in her long recovery. Alexa Kropf, age 18, of Floral Park, is no longer in a medically induced coma and is breathing on her own, her family announced in an update on GoFundMe Monday, May 6. “We are deeply grateful for all your prayers. Prayer has incredible power!” said campaign organizer Christine M. Earlier Report: Hit-Run Leaves UAlbany's Alexa Kropf Severely Injured Kropf remains in critical condition at Albany Medical Center Hospital mo…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Attempted Murder: Former Hudson Valley HS Football Star Indicted For Stabbing Man Attempted Murder: Former Hudson Valley HS Football Star Indicted For Stabbing Man
Attempted Murder: Former Hudson Valley HS Football Star Indicted For Stabbing Man A former Hudson Valley high school football star has been indicted for allegedly stabbing a man without provocation, seriously wounding him. Related: Suspect Nabbed After Victim Stabbed Outside Home In Quiet Hudson Valley Neighborhood Elijah Dean, age 23, who grew up and graduated from high school in Rockland County and is now a resident of Orange County, was charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault, and criminal possession of a weapon on Friday, May 3, said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II. The incident occurred in Rockland County shortly after 8:30 …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Welfare Fraud Task Force Makes 2 Arrests In Region Welfare Fraud Task Force Makes 2 Arrests In Region
Welfare Fraud Task Force Makes 2 Arrests In Region Two women from the region have been nabbed for alleged welfare fraud. The arrests occurred in Sullivan County in Monticello on Friday, April 12, and Thursday, April 25. According to the Sullivan County Welfare Fraud Task Force, the following arrests were made:  Drewcilla R. Noel, age 31, of Monticello, was arrested on Friday, April 12, and charged with grand larceny and theft of services. It is alleged that Noel utilized Medicaid Medical Transportation services on various dates beginning June 2023 and continuing through December 2023 with multiple transportation compan…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Alert Issued For Area 13-Year-Old Missing 2 Days Alert Issued For Area 13-Year-Old Missing 2 Days
Alert Issued For Area 13-Year-Old Missing 2 Days Police are asking for help in locating a 13-year-old girl from the region who has been missing for two days. Saratoga County resident Natalia Andrew, of Halfmoon, was last seen on Saturday, May 4, according to sheriff’s officials. Andrew is 5-foot-4 and 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black short sleeved t-shirt with white lettering, jeans, and plaid sneakers. Investigators said she may have traveled to south Troy. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543. …

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Brewster Police Department Loses Second Officer In 2 Weeks At Age 55 Brewster Police Department Loses Second Officer In 2 Weeks At Age 55
Brewster Police Department Loses Second Officer In 2 Weeks At Age 55 A Hudson Valley police department is facing the sudden loss of an officer for the second time in two weeks.  New, updated report - Funds Raised For Fallen Brewster Officer Jose Colon's Family In a statement on Sunday, May 5, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced the loss of Brewster Police Officer Jose Colon, who died on Friday evening, May 3 at the age of 55 while off-duty.  A cause of death was not released.  According to Brewster Police, Colon was an "excellent officer" who spent two decades with the New York City Police Department and two months in…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley City Names New Police Chief Hudson Valley City Names New Police Chief
Hudson Valley City Names New Police Chief A Hudson Valley city has named a new police chief, a 16-year department veteran. Newburgh City Manager Todd Venning announced Monday, May 6, that Lt. Brandon Rola had been appointed the City's Chief of Police. Rola is a decorated 16-year department veteran who has risen through the ranks since beginning his policing career in 2008.  "Chief Brandon Rola represents the very best of the City of Newburgh Police Department: an officer who rose through the ranks with unimpeachable integrity, selfless acts of heroism, an unwavering commitment to our community, and innate …

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by Kathy Reakes
Weather
Long-Range Summer Outlook For Severe Weather, Temps Released: Here's What To Expect Long-Range Summer Outlook For Severe Weather, Temps Released: Here's What To Expect
Long-Range Summer Outlook For Severe Weather, Temps Released: Here's What To Expect Spring has sprung, but the thermometer must not have gotten the memo, as plenty of raw days have made it feel more like fall. But when it comes to the summer, in the words of Ron Burgundy, expect things to escalate really quickly. According to AccuWeather's brand-new outlook for the summer of 2024, it's going to be a hot season for most areas of the United States, including the Northeast. The anticipated heat will contribute to an uptick in severe weather, AccuWeather says. "Severe weather events can be frequent in June and part of July," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Head of …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Sam Ash To Close All Locations, Including 5 NY Stores, After 100 Years In Business Sam Ash To Close All Locations, Including 5 NY Stores, After 100 Years In Business
Sam Ash To Close All Locations, Including 5 NY Stores, After 100 Years In Business The largest family-owned chain of musical instrument stores in the nation has announced it will be closing all its locations. Sam Ash Music was founded in 1924, has locations in more than a dozen states, and is headquartered on Long Island, in Hicksville. It currently has 27 stores, including five in New York (White Plains, Carle Place, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Forest Hills), two in New Jersey (in Springfield and Cherry Hill), two in Pennsylvania (in Philadelphia and King of Prussia), one in Connecticut (in New Haven), and one in Virginia (in Richmond). The Ash family made the announcemen…

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by Joe Lombardi