Breaking News

Though area COVID numbers are still above the state’s average, area officials are feeling confident in opening up to try to get back to normal life. Fresh off Saturday’s “Meet me on Main” in Nanuet, in which area restaurants showcased their outdoor dining options, Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says more events and re-openings are coming soon…

Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht says they’re doing the same in his area, particularly for the seniors…

The next Clarkstown “Meet Me on Main” event is expected to be held next month, time and place to be determined.

A Rockland County corrections officer has pleaded guilty to official misconduct and promoting prison contraband. Rockland’s D-A Tom Walsh says 39 year-old Christopher Taggart of New City was sentenced by Judge David Zuckerman to two years of probation. He has also resigned as a corrections officer from the sheriff’s office. He was originally charged last July on two counts of promoting prison contraband, and several counts of official misconduct.

New York’s new marijuana law has raised more questions than answers for Rockland’s sheriff, who is steadfast in his opposition to it. Lou Falco told “The Morning Show” Wednesday that as long as a person has less than three ounces of pot, it can legally be smoked wherever regular cigarette smoking is permitted…

Orangetown supervisor Teresa Kenny says it’s undetermined at the moment, but her guess is the town will likely opt out of selling marijuana, but that could change…

Haverstraw supervisor Howard Phillips says he’s not sure what the town will do either, and he, personally, has very mixed feelings about it…

The adult-use cannabis program is projected to bring in $350 million annually and add up to 60,000 new jobs across the state. It could be at least a year before sales begin.

The Public Service Commission is now involved in the investigation at the fatal Spring Valley fire last month that killed two, including volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd. The Journal News says low water pressure from SUEZ-New York hydrants hampered firefighters’ ability to get water, and instead they had to run lines two-thirds of a mile from Route 45 to the Evergreen Court Home for Adults on Lafayette Street. Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski wants the PSC to study whether the village and town can handle increased development. SUEZ-New York’s Director of External Affairs Bill Madden says the company is deeply saddened by the loss of life from the fire and is cooperating fully with authorities.

The Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center isn’t going anywhere. After months of rallying to keep the facility in Orangeburg, Rockland State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick told “The Morning Show” yesterday, it won’t be closed to help trim the state budget, saving 130 local union jobs…

The move to keep the center open in Rockland had bi-partisan support. Instead of moving patients to the Bronx, the center will stay open, ensuring that hundreds of Hudson Valley families can continue to receive inpatient mental health services for their children locally.

Meanwhile the governor announced late yesterday the budget has been finalized. The 212 billion dollar spending plan includes police reform, expanded childcare, mobile sports wagering, public and private green investment projects, a temporary increase in taxes on those earning over 1.1 million dollars, and a 1 billion dollar small business, arts, entertainment and restaurant relief package for businesses and other organizations recovering from the pandemic. It also repeals the protections granted in last year’s budget to health care facilities, nursing homes and health care professionals in the early weeks of the pandemic.