Breaking News

Tensions in Israel are starting to spill over not only on college campuses around the country and in New York City but even locally as well, including dueling rallies on Route 59 in Nanuet each weekend. Rockland Sheriff Lou Falco says not long ago there was an incident at RCC that his department responded to…

President Joe Biden yesterday signed an aid package that included $26 billion for Israel. Reuters reported that Israel’s military is close to evacuating Palestinian civilians from Rafah to prepare for a ground assault on Hamas hold-outs in the southern Gaza Strip city. No timeline for that operation was given.

A Spring Valley man faces up to four years in state prison after he was convicted following a domestic disturbance last summer. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says 32 year-old Michael McCutchen was convicted on felony and misdemeanor charges in a two-day bench trial in Rockland County Court. The incident took place last July when Walsh says the unidentified victim was found bleeding from injuries to her face and body. Walsh says McCutchen became combative towards police officers as he was being arrested, requiring additional units from the Spring Valley Police Department to assist. Walsh says the victim refused to testify during the trial, but the prosecution went on without her testimony. McCutchen is in the Rockland County Jail, sentencing is scheduled for June 26th.

2 Injured in Spring Valley Apt Fire

50 are homeless and two were injured after an apartment fire in Spring Valley late Monday. Published reports said the blaze occurred around 9:30 at the Surrey Carlton Apartments on Ewing Avenue in the village. Flames were reportedly coming from the third floor at the top of the apartment complex. A woman trapped inside was brought out by neighbors. She was hospitalized suffering from smoke inhalation, she is expected to survive. An unidentified volunteer firefighter was also reportedly injured after debris fell on his head in a stairwell, he was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Two units were heavily damaged, and the Red Cross was working to find shelter for those affected by the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. If you have information, contact the Spring Valley Police Department at 845-356-7400.

A former Spring Valley building official has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Rockland District Attorney’s Office of wrongful prosecution and violating his rights. That’s according to The Journal News. Wayne Ballard was acquitted of all criminal charges and is seeking an undisclosed amount of money, claiming false arrest, malicious prosecution, prosecutorial misconduct, and civil rights violations. Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach declined to comment, as did D-A Tom Walsh. Ballard had been accused of knowingly filing a false report with the state for 2019 outlining inspections, permits, and other Building Department information.

Some well-traveled roads in Rockland County will be shut down starting today for the next few days. The Rockland County Highway Department will be closing North Pascack Road in Nanuet only in the southbound direction at the one-way tunnel between the South Pascack Road / Lawrence Street intersection and Smith Road mornings at 7:30 am until 4pm to perform utility work. For the town of Ramapo, Highway Superintendent Fred Brinn says work continues repairing potholes that have popped up over the winter…

Ramapo villages such as Airmont, Spring Valley and Suffern have their own highway departments and, as such, maintain their own roads. Haverstraw supervisor Howard Phillips says there are several roads in his town that’ll be worked on this season…

Over in the town of Clarkstown, Gilchrest Road will be temporarily closed today through Thursday, April 25th, at the railroad crossing between Stern Place and Sasson Terrace in Valley Cottage. Clarkstown Police say CSX is doing some construction upgrades. Detour signs are posted.

As they battle it out in court, the MTA is promising New Jersey will get some of the cash generated by its controversial congestion pricing plan. Published reports didn’t get specific, with the head of the MTA saying it depends on how much traffic is generated. No such money has been promised for Rockland or other areas west of the Hudson, as County Executive Ed Day and the county continue their fight in court to prevent congestion pricing from being implemented later this spring…

New Jersey claims the tolls would increase pollution in the Garden State and calls it an MTA money grab. MTA’s lawyers counter that the plan would reduce traffic without harming any part of New Jersey, but promised the MTA would help mitigate any impacts that congestion pricing might have on the western side of the Hudson. Under the plan, cars would face a $15 toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, while trucks could be charged up to $36, depending on size.