Breaking News

Updated – 5/27/20 12:27pm: Former Hillburn Mayor, Ramapo legislator and former Ramapo Central School District administrator Brian Miele died yesterday. In 2014, Miele pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors, stemming from his approval of nonexistent educational credits that boosted the pay of his daughter and wife, who were both teachers in the school district. According to the Journal News, prosecutors estimated Miele cost taxpayers $2.6 million, initially charging him in a 187-count indictment carrying a maximum of 25 years in prison. Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht said his thoughts and prayers are with the Miele family. No other details about the cause of death were available. He was 70 years old.

In an interview with WRCR, Hillburn’s current mayor, Joseph Tursi, went down a list of accomplishments Miele had, including building a new youth center, improving the area’s water system and standing up to former governor Mario Cuomo who wanted to shut down the 4th street bridge for repairs. Mayor Tursi called Tuesday “Hillburn’s saddest day.” Miele was a trustee from 1975 to ‘77, then served as mayor from ’77 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2009. He also served in the legislature during a good portion of the 90’s. He was 70 years old.

Orangetown Police arrested Jason Max Jabouin on charges of second degree murder and other charges for the fatal shooting of 30 year-old Ryan Franklin of West Haverstraw on Friday morning in Nyack. The shooting took place at 10:05 am on South Midland Avenue. The 33 year-old Jabouin, of West Haverstraw, was nabbed early Saturday morning after a traffic stop at in Maryland.

The Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to meet all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state’s regional phased reopening plan starting Tuesday, May 26th. The governor said Saturday that the Mid-Hudson Valley has now identified enough contact tracers to meet the state’s guidelines, and the tracers are being trained in preparation for the Mid-Hudson Valley entering phase one, which includes construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that Rockland County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. The Governor previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term, and a total of 51 counties can now resume elective surgeries.

The capital region is the latest to get the go-ahead to enter phase one of New York’s re-opening, that happened yesterday. But Rockland, which is in the mid-Hudson region, has yet to clear the last two hurdles. Rockland assemblyman Ken Zebrowski says it could happen soon…

Religious institutions across the state can now begin holding gatherings of 10 people or fewer. In his daily coronavirus press briefing yesterday, governor Andrew Cuomo said he’ll be working with the state’s Interfaith Advisory Council to safely get back to full-service ceremonies as soon as possible…

COVID-19 by the numbers now, the state has confirmed around 354,000 total cases of coronavirus across the state and nearly 23,000 deaths. In Rockland, the state says we’ve got over 12,800 reported cases, and the Rockland Health Department confirms 612 deaths here in the county, with just one over the last 48 hours.

The 56 year-old Wesley Hills man killed last week in a crash on Grandview Avenue just west of Union Road has been identified. Erol Belizaire died in the single-car accident. Ramapo Police say he was the only occupant in the car at the time.