Breaking News

Israel has approved a United States-brokered cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it went into effect early this morning. The Associated Press reports the deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and requires Hezbollah to leave the southern part of the country, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Rockland Congressman Mike Lawler covering the Hudson Valley’s 17th district, says the next step would be to end fighting in the Gaza Strip with Hamas, which he says needs to release the remaining hostages, including seven Americans, who were taken October last year…

The Hill reported that President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team was briefed on the cease-fire deal.  

Gunfire reportedly rang out early this morning in Ramapo, and police are investigating. That’s according to News 12. They report the incident allegedly occurred on East Eckerson Road between Mallory Road and Edward Lane in Hillcrest around 12:30 this morning. Police tell News 12 it appears to have been a targeted incident, and it wasn’t random. No other information was available.

Pomona Man Arrested, Charged with Selling Drugs
A Pomona man has been arrested and accused of selling drugs after cocaine and fentanyl pills were found in his home. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says 40 year-old Richard Fernandez was busted after a five-month investigation and search warrant executed at his home. Walsh says Investigators with the DA Drug Task Force recovered the drugs and other pharmaceutical pills during the search. Fernandez was arraigned in Town of Haverstraw Justice Court and released per New York State guidelines. It’s unclear when his next court date is.

Now that the congestion pricing plan has been given the green light by the governor to move forward in January, Rockland County is resuming its lawsuit against it to try to keep it from being implemented. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says the MTA’s spending plan will take the funds raised from the toll and put it into projects that have little to do with Rockland commuters, making it entirely unfair to them and many other west-of-Hudson drivers. Day says Governor Kathy Hochul’s attempt to get mileage out of offering a lower fee than last June is hardly transparent…

The new plan is expected to charge most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan and go below 60th Street, but in 2028 it’ll go up to $12 and then $15 in 2031. There are carve-outs for emergency vehicles, buses and transportation for the elderly, the disabled, and for those with health conditions who can’t use mass transit. Rockland County District Five Legislator, Minority Leader Lon Hofstein of Clarkstown, says, as usual, Rockland commuters end up losing out more than others…

The plan cleared its final obstacle Friday, getting approval from the Federal Highway Administration to begin the program as a pilot project. It still faces opposition from area Congressional representatives who are looking to cut federal funding to the MTA if congestion pricing does go though.  

A corrections officer with the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department has been arrested on more than 100 child porn charges. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says the investigation that led to 44 year-old Daniel Dworkin of Valley Cottage began with an online cyber tip report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Walsh says that eventually led to a search of his home and electronic devices…

Dworkin was arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court and bail was set at $500,000 cash. The matter was adjourned to next Monday.

With the Orange County fires more than 90 percent contained and rain here and more on the way, officials are breathing a little easier now. In an update yesterday afternoon, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said more than 400 fire departments statewide with over 1,300 personnel have fought the fires across the state, including National Guard Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters that conducted more than 550 water drops with 500,000 gallons of water just for the Jennings Creek wildfire in Sterling Forest. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says after a few smaller fires in his town, the rain that’s here is a welcome sight for the Lake Deforest reservoir, which is hurting…

Today’s rain is helping to put the remaining fires out, but it’s not likely to make much of a dent in the drought situation. The State of New York has upgraded the Hudson Valley from a Drought “Watch” to a Drought “Warning.” That means while there are no water usage restrictions in place, residents are asked to voluntarily conserve water. A Drought “Warning” is the second of four levels in the state’s drought advisories. Third level is “Emergency,” and fourth would be “Disaster.”