State Police are trying to figure out what happened after they found a car in flames with a person inside, dead, on the Palisades Parkway in Stony Point yesterday morning. Troopers found a dark-colored vehicle on the shoulder at exit 16 around two in the morning fully engulfed in flames, in a snowbank and facing west. The Stony Point Fire Department arrived on the scene and put the fire out, and it was then that Troopers saw the person inside the car. The investigation into the incident continues.
Republicans and Democrats Join Chorus of Voices Urging More Checks on NY Governor’s Executive Emergency Powers
While area and state Republicans are calling for investigations and executive emergency power rollbacks for New York governor Andrew Cuomo since the nursing home scandal exploded last week, some area Democrats are doing the same. Rockland state senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick and 13 other Democrats, including North Rockland and Orange County state senator James Skoufis, announced Friday they want to see the Governor’s emergency powers come to an end as soon as possible. Reichlin-Melnick says a vote could come as early as next week…
Rockland assemblyman Ken Zebrowski told “The Morning Show” yesterday that the state still needs to be able to respond efficiently when it’s needed…
The legislature returns to Albany next week and the matter could be taken up and voted on then.
Area Democrats and Republicans Trade Barbs Over Governor, Local Reps
While the GOP calls for action on the governor and North Rockland and Orange County State Senator James Skoufis, a Democrat, area Democratic party leaders are pounding away at Stony Point and Orange County assemblyman Colin Schmitt, a Republican, calling for his resignation. In a joint statement yesterday, Democratic Party committees of Rockland, Ulster and Orange Counties said while their Republican counterparts “shamelessly politicize the deaths of our fellow New Yorkers” they looked the other way when Assemblyman Schmitt “literally boarded a January sixth bus of DC-bound seditionists to root on their efforts to overturn an election.” At the time of the January sixth attack on the Capitol, Assemblyman Schmitt said he was “disturbed by the assault” and said there was “no justification” for the violence. He also defended boarding the bus that morning that was heading to D.C., noting they were members of the group “Orange County Right to Life,” which he described as “a peaceful and faith-based organization.” Yesterday on “The Morning Show,” Schmitt insisted Senator Skoufis is the one who needs to resign…
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said “there’s nothing to investigate” over that conference call with Democratic lawmakers last week, including senator Skoufis, during which the governor’s Secretary admitted under-reporting the number of deaths in the state’s nursing homes. Senator Skoufis could not be reached for comment.
COVID-19 by the numbers now, here in Rockland, we lost seven more to COVID since the numbers were last reported on Friday, the total is 865. We’ve got 54 hospitalized confirmed with coronavirus, and 1,610 active cases. Our total case count is 36,954, that’s 707 more than last Friday.
Construction Worker Rushed to Hospital After Incident While Working at Ramapo College
A construction worker was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center yesterday after being seriously injured by a valve cap while working at Ramapo College in Mahwah. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said what was originally characterized as an explosion turned out to be a blown gasket, the worker was struck in the head and shoulder. Published reports said workers were conducting a pressure test on a cooling line at the Peter P. Mercer Learning Commons Library when the incident occurred yesterday morning. OSHA is investigating the incident. No word on the worker’s condition.
Bardonia Man Killed After Being Struck by Train in NJ
A Bardonia man was killed Monday after being struck by a train in Neptune, New Jersey. The Asbury Park Press reports 54 year-old Stephen Mangold was hit by the northbound train shortly before noon Monday. No one on the train was reported injured. NJT police were investigating.