Breaking News

A U.S.-born Israeli military officer who had ties right here in Rockland has been confirmed as one of the fatalities in last year’s October 7th terror attack in Israel. That’s according to The Journal News. It was believed that Omer Neutra was still being held hostage, but officials have now confirmed he was killed in the attack on a music festival in Israel. He grew up on Long Island but spent summers at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. On social media, his colleagues from Camp Ramah said “There are no words to express the heartbreak we feel” about his death. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said yesterday that U.S. flags on New York buildings would be flown at half-staff today, to coincide with funeral services being held on Long Island. Neutra was 21 years old.

Two Hudson Valley men have been arrested and charged in connection to a shots-fired incident late last month in Hillcrest. Ramapo Police say a 22 year-old from Yonkers and a 19 year-old from Newburgh were charged with Attempted Murder, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment and Conspiracy for last Monday’s incident on East Eckerson Road. Police say at least nine shots were fired from a passing vehicle, though none of the shots appears to have hit anyone. The unidentified suspects were arraigned in Ramapo Town Court. No additional details were available and the incident remains under investigation. If you have any information regarding the incident contact the Ramapo Police Department Investigations Division at 845-357-2400.  

Body Found in Chestnut Ridge
Ramapo Police were looking for clues after a body was found in a local park. That’s according to News 12. The body was found Friday at Children’s Park in Chestnut Ridge. Police have reportedly been using metal detectors to search through the leaves on a trail in the park and a creek that runs through it. No other information was available.

Bronx Man Charged with DWI in Sloatsburg
A Bronx man was arrested in Rockland last week and charged with driving while intoxicated with a child in the car. New York State Thruway Police from Tarrytown say 45 year-old Genaro Garcia-Cortes of the Bronx was in violation of Leandra’s Law when they spotted him around 3AM November 24th in a Nissan pick-up truck parked with its headlights on at the Ramapo Service Area. They encountered him apparently sleeping in the driver’s seat, smelling of alcohol, keys in the ignition and an empty beer bottle in the front cup holder. They also found a ten year-old girl in the car. Garcia-Cortes was arrested and after testing him at the Tarrytown barracks, police say he had a blood-alcohol content of .15 percent. He was processed, issued traffic tickets, and he is due back Sloatsburg Village Court next month.

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.