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Politics
Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race
Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Among the New York races that political pundits are keeping an eye on this Primary Day is that of the journalist versus the chemist. On Long Island, Democrats John Avlon and Nancy Goroff are facing off to determine who will take on Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in November for the state’s 1st Congressional District, representing the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County. The 51-year-old Avlon is a former political analyst at CNN who previously served as a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun. He was also the chief speech writer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Ea…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent
Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent The closely-watched Democratic race between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman for New York's 16th District seat is about to come to a close as the most expensive congressional primary in history, according to reports. CBS News says nearly $25 million has been raised and spent during the race, which will be decided on Primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 25. Over half of this amount, $16 million, has been put toward anti-Bowman attack ads and was largely spent by United Democracy Project, a super PAC of the pro-Israel group American Israel Public…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers Voters in New York are being warned about scammers who are trying to confuse them ahead of the state’s primary elections. The New York State Board of Elections has received reports from voters across the state who have received unsolicited text messages from an outside group pushing incorrect polling place information. “The State Board would like to remind voters that the best place to get information about elections and voting is directly from the New York State Board of Elections and the County Boards of Elections,” the agency said in a press release Monday, June 24. “Voters are enc…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Big changes are on the horizon for those TikTok and Instagram feeds. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation Thursday, June 20, meant to combat what lawmakers called “addictive” social media algorithms aimed at minors, the first such law in the country. Under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, social media companies will be required to display content chronologically for users under 18 unless they get parental consent allowing them to show content that is selected algorithmically instead. Content that is algorithmically curated relies on a user’s behavior and past …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians ‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians
‘Sad Day’: SCOTUS Bump Stock Ruling Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation From NY Politicians New York politicians wasted no time reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a federal ban on bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire more quickly. In their 6-3 ruling Friday, June 14, with conservatives in the majority, the high court sided with a Texas gun store owner who surrendered his bump stocks after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reclassified the devices as machine guns in 2018. He later sued to get them back. The ATF’s regulation, issued under the Trump administration with his full support, came about after the 2017 Las Veg…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester County Executive George Latimer For Congress Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester County Executive George Latimer For Congress
Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester County Executive George Latimer For Congress In a stunning move, Hillary Clinton has endorsed Westchester County Executive George Latimer in the highly contested Democratic primary race against two-term incumbent Jamaal Bowman. The District 16 primary is set for Tuesday, June 25. A former First Lady and US Senato from New York, Clinton, a Northern Westchester resident who resides in Chappaqua, made the announcement on X on Wednesday, June 12. "With Trump on the ballot, we need strong, principled Democrats in Congress more than ever, Clinton wrote. "In Congress, @LatimerforNY will protect abortion rights, stand up to the NRA, and figh…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester's Latimer For Congress Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester's Latimer For Congress
Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester's Latimer For Congress In a stunning move, Westchester's Hillary Clinton has endorsed County Executive George Latimer for a hotly contested congressional seat. A former First Lady and Senator, Clinton, of Chappaqua, made the announcement on X on Wednesday, June 12. "With Trump on the ballot, we need strong, principled Democrats in Congress more than ever, Clinton wrote. "In Congress, @LatimerforNY will protect abortion rights, stand up to the NRA, and fight for President Biden’s agenda—just like he’s always done. Make a plan to vote by June 25th!" Latimer is facing off with current two-term Democrat R…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
New Poll Released On Latimer-Bowman Democratic Congressional Primary In Westchester New Poll Released On Latimer-Bowman Democratic Congressional Primary In Westchester
New Poll Released On Latimer-Bowman Democratic Congressional Primary In Westchester As the race between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman for New York's 16th District seat heats up, an all-new poll is giving a glimpse of who may emerge victorious.  Click here for a new, updated story: Stunner: Hillary Clinton Endorses Westchester County Executive George Latimer For Congress According to a poll conducted by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill released on Tuesday, June 11, Latimer currently leads Bowman 48 percent to 31 percent. Meanwhile, 21 percent of voters are still undecided.  The 16th district include…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature 'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature New Yorkers with felony convictions could soon serve on court juries after state lawmakers passed legislation reversing the lifetime ban on such service. The New York State Assembly on Friday, June 7, passed the “Jury of Our Peers Act,” which would allow those convicted of felonies to serve on New York juries once they are released from prison or have otherwise satisfied all of their sentencing requirements. Advocates say the move will help rectify an underrepresentation of minorities on juries. “Black New Yorkers have been systematically denied the right to serve on juries as they are dis…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial
Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Felony Counts In Historic NY Hush Money Trial A New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump of all charges in his alleged hush money trial, finding that he falsified business records to buy an adult film star’s silence and influence the 2016 presidential election. The historic verdict, the first adjudication and conviction of a former US president, was reached shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, after around 10 hours of deliberation. Seven men and five women on the jury unanimously found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree that were filed by Manhattan District Attorne…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly 'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly
'Melanie's Law' Closing Loophole That Led To Hudson Valley Mom's Killing Passes Assembly Two years after a young mother from New York was stabbed to death by her mother’s ex-boyfriend, state lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at closing the dangerous loophole that led to her killing. On Tuesday, May 21, the New York Assembly passed “Melanie’s Law,” allowing judges to expand orders of protection for immediate family members or household members of named victims of domestic violence, regardless of their age. The legislation is named after Melanie Chianese, who was stabbed to death on May 29, 2022, inside the Dutchess County residence in Wappingers Falls that she shared with …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers 'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers
'Protected, Not Prosecuted': NY Bill Would Decriminalize Prostitution, Target Sex Traffickers New York lawmakers are considering new legislation aimed at protecting sex trafficking survivors and closing a legal loophole often used by their abusers. The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act (STSJEA), introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, would decriminalize prostitution and automatically expunge all prior convictions for prostitution. If passed, the bill would also: Eliminate a loophole in New York State law that prevents sex abusers from being charged with promotion of prostitution when they traffic people to themselves Prevent people from being charged as a…

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by Michael Mashburn