Breaking News

Congestion pricing is one step closer to reality. The MTA Board yesterday voted to approve the pricing structure suggested by the Traffic Mobility Review Board, calling for $15 tolls for West-of-Hudson commuters, $24 for small trucks and $36 for large trucks. It also includes various discounts for city buses and yellow cabs, and other vehicles. Orange County Senator James Skoufis of District 42 says for West-of-Hudson commuters, the toll amounts to theft…

Last month, Rockland State Senator Bill Weber of the 38th District told “The Morning Show” that Rockland will likely see increased truck traffic and suffer environmental harm when the plan is implemented…

At $15 each day that comes out to about $4,000 a year to commute over the George Washington Bridge and into the pricing zone below 60th Street. If you don’t have EZPass it’ll cost $22.50 a day, or $5,000 annually. The MTA also wants to implement another 25 percent on “Gridlock Alert Days,” and they want have the ability to raise the fees next year 10 percent, just in case they feel the need. The plan is expected to bring in $1 billion for the MTA’s capital plan, and reduce congestion and pollution in Manhattan. The review board thinks they’ll see 17% reduction in the number of cars, 153,000 fewer each day. A four-month public comment period is now underway, and changes could still be made to the plan before it is implemented this spring.

Yesterday was Will’s birthday, he turned the big 2-5 – a quarter-century old. And since he rarely listens to anything Jeff says during the newscasts, you got to hear this…

William Patrick Thurston Robinette Hennessey the 3rd, 25 years old – Happy Birthday, Will!  

A local state lawmaker says people who were victims of last month’s flooding in North Rockland and Orange County have been dealing with major headaches from insurance companies that are reluctant to pay up or because they didn’t even have flood insurance. 99th district Assemblyman Chris Eachus, who covers Stony Point and portions of Orange County, says insurance companies need to be more responsive and more transparent…

Eachus says state senator James Skoufis has a similar bill in the Senate. Eachus says he is confident both bills would pass both houses and ultimately be signed by the governor.

While New York City is predicting billions of dollars will have to be spent over the next few years to handle all the migrants that have been coming here, Rockland County has several court dates pending as part of its goal of keeping the city from using area hotels as homeless shelters. County Executive Ed Day told “The Morning Show” Friday, Rockland is simply looking to enforce its laws…

Meanwhile, the New York Post is reporting two restaurants in The Redbury Hotel, Marta and Maialino, will be closing thanks to the migrant situation. The hotel closed earlier this month in order to house migrants. The two restaurants will reportedly close for good on August 25th.

Two Ramapo residents were among the injured after a van accident in New Jersey early yesterday morning. That from NJ Advance Media and NJ.com. They report a van driven by a 20 year-old New Square man went airborne on Interstate 287 in Riverdale in Morris County and rolled down an embankment. The crash reportedly happened around 3am, with the van coming off the exit ramp to Exit 53, going over a guard rail and striking multiple trees along the way. A 15-year-old from Monsey was in the front seat and was also seriously injured. Eight others in the van suffered minor injuries. The victims were not identified. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

One Charge Dropped in Fatal Woodbury Crash
Five charges remain against a Spring Valley man charged in a fatal accident last year that tied up traffic for hours on Route 6 in the Town of Woodbury. That’s according to News 12. 24-year-old Chaim Gordon was reportedly at the wheel when he was transporting New Square’s Grand Rabbi, 81 year-old David Twersky. New York State Police said Gordon lost control of his Ford Explorer, crossing the double yellow line and crashing into a car driven by 62-year-old Iksong Jin, of Monticello. He was killed in the crash, and four others in Gordon’s car were injured. One of the tickets State Police filed, that of reckless driving, was reportedly dropped earlier this week after it was allegedly filed by mistake. Five traffic tickets remain, including speeding, passing on the right, and making an unsafe lane change. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office told News 12 they found no reason to press criminal charges in the crash. State Police had no comment. Gordon is due back in court on the 23rd.

FBI Needs Help with Cold Case in Spring Valley
An unsolved homicide from more than 35 years ago in Spring Valley has the FBI offering a $10k reward for information that leads to an arrest of people involved in the case. The FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force and the Spring Valley Police Department say the body of 19 year-old Glennise Stroud, also known as “Gamma,” was found in a wooded area on September 12th, 1987 south of 244 North Main Street in Spring Valley. If you have any information about this case, contact the FBI’s New York Field Office at 212-384-1000. You can also submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.