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9 Westchester Beaches Closed Through Weekend Over Bacteria Concerns 9 Westchester Beaches Closed Through Weekend Over Bacteria Concerns
9 Westchester Beaches Closed Through Weekend Over Bacteria Concerns Nearly a dozen beaches across Westchester County have been closed through the weekend after more than 3 inches of rain raised concerns about bacterial contamination in the water.  The Westchester County Department of Health announced the closures on Friday, Aug. 21, after 3.28 inches of rain fell over the previous 24 hours, according to county officials.  The affected beaches are in New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, and Rye: New Rochelle: Hudson Park Beach, Davenport Beach Club, Greentree Country Club, and Surf Club on the Sound; Mamaroneck: Harbor Island Park, Beach Point Club, Orienta…
First Responders Get Affordable Housing Priority In This Westchester Village Thanks To New Law First Responders Get Affordable Housing Priority In This Westchester Village Thanks To New Law
First Responders Get Affordable Housing Priority In This Westchester Village Thanks To New Law First responders, healthcare workers, and veterans will get priority for future affordable housing units in a Northern Westchester village under a newly adopted law.  The Croton-on-Hudson Board of Trustees unanimously approved the measure, which has now gone into effect, village officials announced on Friday, Aug. 21.  Local Law No. 9 of 2026 changes Croton's zoning code by creating occupational preferences for Affordable Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing units. Under the new system, first responders will receive the highest priority, followed by medical service employees…
West Point Names New Superintendent — Here's Who He Is West Point Names New Superintendent — Here's Who He Is
West Point Names New Superintendent — Here's Who He Is A West Point graduate and longtime Army officer with decades of command experience has returned to the Hudson Valley to lead the U.S. Military Academy. Maj. Gen. James B. Bartholomees III was promoted to lieutenant general and officially took command as West Point's 62nd superintendent on Monday, Aug. 17, succeeding Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland, West Point Public Affairs announced.  The change of command ceremony was held at Eisenhower Hall.  Bartholomees, a 1995 West Point graduate, most recently served as commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii. …
NY Ranked Among 5 Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why NY Ranked Among 5 Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why
NY Ranked Among 5 Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why The Northeast has some of the most fun states in the country, but several others landed near the bottom of a new ranking. WalletHub released its 2026 list of the Most Fun States in America on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The study compared all 50 states across 26 metrics of entertainment, recreation, and nightlife, including restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, national park access, music festivals, bars, casinos, and recreation spending. The personal finance website split the study into two main categories: entertainment and recreation, which made up 80% of the score, and nightlife, which ac…
Nursing Home To Close, Displacing Nearly 100 Residents In Hudson Valley Nursing Home To Close, Displacing Nearly 100 Residents In Hudson Valley
Nursing Home To Close, Displacing Nearly 100 Residents In Hudson Valley A Sullivan County nursing home housing nearly 100 long-term residents is set to close as county officials grapple with mounting financial pressures. The Care Center at Sunset Lake in Liberty will begin the closure process after the New York State Department of Health approved Sullivan County's plan, county officials announced on Wednesday, Aug. 19.  The county-owned facility currently houses 93 long-term residents and employs 86 people, officials said. “This is not something the County wanted to do, but our challenging finances and the lack of ability to transfer operations to our con…
These Are Hudson Valley's Best High Schools, New Rankings Show These Are Hudson Valley's Best High Schools, New Rankings Show
These Are Hudson Valley's Best High Schools, New Rankings Show U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026-27 list of the best high schools in the country, with several Hudson Valley schools landing among New York's top 100.  The new rankings, released Tuesday, Aug. 18, rank nearly 18,000 public high schools across all 50 states and Washington, DC, out of more than 27,000 reviewed.  U.S. News scored schools on six factors: college readiness, which carried the most weight at 30 percent; state assessment proficiency and state assessment performance, at 20 percent each; and underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and …
WATCH: Dog Trapped In Storm Drain Rescued By Officer In Hudson Valley WATCH: Dog Trapped In Storm Drain Rescued By Officer In Hudson Valley
Watch: Dog Trapped In Storm Drain Rescued By Officer In Hudson Valley A police officer climbed into a storm drain in Dutchess County and endured a few nips to the hand while rescuing a trapped dog before reuniting the animal with its owner, police said.  The rescue happened on Saturday, Aug. 15, after Town of Hyde Park Police Officers Wolf-Davidson and Fein responded to a report of a dog trapped inside a storm drain, the department said on Monday, Aug. 17.  After arriving, the officers located the dog and could hear him barking from inside the drain, police said. The department also released body camera footage of the rescue, showing Wolf-Davidson …
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate A new website is helping drivers see whether their license plate has been searched in Flock Safety's controversial surveillance system. HaveIBeenFlocked.com says it has compiled data on nearly 242 million unique searches involving more than 4.6 million plates. The records range between December 2021 and July 2026. According to the website, the data comes from audit logs released through Freedom of Information Act requests and Flock-provided transparency portals. "The dataset is incomplete," the website says on its FAQ page. "Few governments provide easy access to these …
Aging I-84, I-684 Bridges To Be Replaced In $24.5M Project In Hudson Valley Aging I-84, I-684 Bridges To Be Replaced In $24.5M Project In Hudson Valley
Aging I-84, I-684 Bridges To Be Replaced In $24.5M Project In Hudson Valley A $24.5 million project is now underway to replace two nearly 60-year-old bridges at a key interstate interchange in Putnam County, state officials announced.  The project will replace two 59-year-old bridges carrying the ramp from I-84 westbound to I-684 southbound in Southeast, the office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday, Aug. 17.  One of the bridges crosses I-84, while the other crosses I-684. Both will be replaced with wider structures designed to improve safety and accommodate emergency vehicles.  The new bridges will also provide 16 feet, 6 inches of c…
Well-Known Westchester Teacher Fighting For Life After Being Struck While Riding Bike Well-Known Westchester Teacher Fighting For Life After Being Struck While Riding Bike
Well-Known Westchester Teacher Fighting For Life After Being Struck While Riding Bike A beloved longtime Westchester County teacher remains hospitalized weeks after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle, prompting an outpouring of support from the community he has served for decades. Ed Gruber, a longtime educator at Eastchester High School, was riding home from City Island on the morning of Friday, July 24, when he was hit by a vehicle while riding through a crosswalk on a familiar route, according to a GoFundMe page started by Zack Berbit on Saturday, Aug. 15.  Gruber has not regained consciousness since the crash, according to the fundraiser.  Afte…
Expert Spine Care, Closer to Home in the Hudson Valley Expert Spine Care, Closer to Home in the Hudson Valley
Expert Spine Care, Closer to Home in the Hudson Valley Many Hudson Valley residents with persistent back or neck pain assume that experienced spine care means traveling to New York City. The Institute for Spine Surgery wants patients across Upper Westchester, Orange County, and surrounding communities to know that care is available closer to home. Led by board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. John M. Abrahams, the Institute treats the full range of cervical and lumbar spine conditions. With a location in Cortlandt Manor and a growing surgical presence at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, the practice is working to make spine care more acces…
Westchester Spending $43M Over Budget — Here's What's Helping Close The Gap Westchester Spending $43M Over Budget — Here's What's Helping Close The Gap
Westchester Spending $43M Over Budget — Here's What's Helping Close The Gap Westchester County is on track to spend more than $43 million above its 2026 budget, as rising healthcare, insurance, overtime, and other costs put pressure on county finances, officials said.  The county is projected to spend around $43.4 million more than budgeted this year, according to its Second Quarter Financial Forecast released by Westchester County Government. However, much of that additional spending is expected to be offset by stronger-than-anticipated revenues, officials said. The county now expects to bring in about $34 million more than originally projected, driven large…