News

The search and rescue operation for a long-distance swimmer believed to have drowned during a 120-mile marathon swim down the Hudson river last week has reportedly been called off. 67-year-old AIDS researcher Charles Van der Horst of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was last seen on the second-to-last leg of the swim near Fort Washington Park by the George Washington Bridge mid-afternoon on Friday. That part of the “8 Bridges Hudson River Swim” started at the Tappan Zee Bridge. The marathon swim covered 120 miles over seven days, starting June 8th at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge between Hudson and Catskill. Organizers cancelled Saturday’s final leg from the George Washington Bridge to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge while the search for Van der Horst continued.

A Brooklyn man is scheduled to return to Sloatsburg Village Court next week after he was arrested last week for DWI with his young kids in the car. New York State Police say 44 year-old Vladimir Savichec of Brooklyn had a 0.27 blood alcohol content after he ran out of gas on the Thruway. His children, a 2 and a 4-year-old, were in the car with him. He’s due back in court next Wednesday.

Retail giants including Walmart, Target and Macy’s were among a group of 600 companies and trade groups that have asked the president to end the trade war with China and drop the tariffs. They’re concerned they could lead to job losses and harm consumers and the economy. Rockland Congresswoman Nita Lowey told “The Morning Show” Friday it’s hard to get a handle on the president’s strategy when it’s mostly done via social media…

Published reports said Sunday that India is now imposing increased retaliatory tariffs on 28 U.S. products including apples, almonds and walnuts.

The Hudson Valley Humane Society of Pomona could use some volunteers to help them keep area animals safe. Leslie Anderson is a volunteer with the Humane Society and says they could use some help in their thrift shop, which helps raise funds for the group…

They could also use volunteers to help in the kennel with the various dogs and cats and other animals that are there. You can get an application form at the Hudson Valley Humane Society, located on 200 Quaker Road in Pomona or go to their website, HVhumane.org and click on “Volunteer.”

Both houses of the New York State legislature yesterday passed a bill that
would end religious or non-medical vaccine exemptions to help stop the
spread of the measles. The governor signed the bill almost immediately.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day called the bill “a great step forward”
and the Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said the bill
will “make a world of difference for those who need it the most.” Rockland
state senator David Carlucci says a separate bill was also passed that
would require a state-funded vaccine awareness campaign...

The new law gives unvaccinated students 30 days to prove they've gotten
the required shots.