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An area state lawmaker thinks the state budget, already late, will be wrapped up before the Passover-Easter break in less than two weeks. The legislature passed a budget extender to keep the state government running through Thursday. Rockland State Senator Bill Weber of the 38th District says it’s important to cut spending, but also to pay the bills the state has…

Two main sticking points in the budget negotiations include reforming the state’s criminal evidence-sharing laws and the expansion of involuntary commitments of mentally ill people. This is the fourth consecutive year lawmakers missed the budget deadline.

Nothing was found to be harmful after a Ramapo resident last night brought a suspicious envelope he said he got in the mail to the Ramapo Police Station. Ramapo Police say the envelope was moved to a secure area outside of Police headquarters where it was later tested by Rockland County HAZMAT. The substance was identified and was not harmful. They didn’t say what the substance was. Ramapo Police warn all residents if you get something suspicious in the mail, don’t touch, smell, or transport it. Instead, call 911, and wait for emergency responders to handle it. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you do handle something suspicious.

A recent rate hike for a local power company isn’t going over well with some area lawmakers. Orange County State Senator James Skoufis of the 42nd District is particularly disturbed that the Public Service Commission approved the increases, and he says he’s looking to advance legislation that would cap utility profits, reduce utility executives’ salaries, launch audits by an independent third-party, among other reforms. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says he recognizes the company’s costs are changing, however…

The PSC approved new three-year delivery rates for Orange & Rockland Utilities’ electric and natural gas services earlier this month. According to O&R, average monthly electric bills for residential customers using 600 kilowatt hours per month will go up 4.6 percent this year, 3.3 percent next year, and 3.5 percent in 2027. Average monthly total gas bills for the same customers using 100 cubic feet per month would increase by 10.9 percent this year, 3.5 percent next year, and 3.8 percent in 2027.

A Stony Point man was arrested earlier this week by New York State Police on charges of child sexual exploitation. The State Police Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Haverstraw says they arrested 69 year-old Benjamin Kreinen on Tuesday. They accused him of having around 10,000 images and videos consistent with child sexual exploitation. He was charged with Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16, a Class E Felony. He was released and is due back in the Town of Stony Point Court on April 15th.

Another accident in Rockland involving a child getting hit by a car. News 12 is reporting the latest incident happened in Monsey just before 8:30pm Tuesday on College Road near Wallenberg Circle. An 11-year-old boy was reportedly hit by a car heading northbound, and the driver remained on the scene. The victim was taken to Westchester Medical Center, though his injuries are reportedly not considered serious. News 12 says this is the second time this month that a child has been struck by a car in the area. A ten year-old girl was hit last Monday while riding her bike around 9pm on Ronald Drive in Monsey. She was rushed to Westchester Medical Center in critical condition. The driver in that incident also stayed on-scene. No charges have been filed in either case and both incidents are under investigation by Ramao Police.

Convicted Killer’s Attempt to Reverse Decision Rejected for 8th Time
The eighth time was not the charm for a convicted killer who sought to have his conviction overturned. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says that decision came down Tuesday from Rockland County Court Judge Kevin Russo. Amer Zada was convicted in 1980 of killing 17 year-old Shirley Smith in a parking lot in Nyack. He was also convicted of Attempted Sodomy in the First Degree and Aggravated Sexual Abuse. At his trial, Zada was represented by the famous defense attorney, William Kunstler.