A Haverstraw man with four previous felony convictions was arrested earlier this week accused of fleeing a traffic stop, eventually crashing into a car and a school bus. Stony Point Police lieutenant Greg Becker says 58-year-old Israel Figueroa Rivera was pulled over on Route 9W south early Tuesday afternoon for a routine traffic stop for driving without a front license plate or registration sticker. As the officer approached the car he reportedly sped off towards the Haverstraw. Becker says Rivera was driving recklessly, ran several red lights, eventually coming to Railroad Avenue where he sideswiped another car and collided with the bus. Only the driver was on board, there were no children there. Becker says Rivera tried to run away, eventually he was caught by the police. Becker says he had cocaine and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He was arrested on several charges, taken to the Rockland County Jail, and he’s due back in Stony Point Justice Court on May 2nd.
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Twenty days since the deadline has passed and there’s still no state budget here in New York. 97th District Assemblyman John McGowan says a fourth budget extender had to be passed, and if the Majority can’t agree on the budget, they’ll need to pass a fifth extender early next week. Earlier in the week Rockland State Senator, Bill Weber, said he thought there had been some progress…
Meanwhile a report on the website, “City and State New York” said a Queens senator was sponsoring a new bill that would keep the governor from getting her salary until the budget gets passed. A state law passed 25 years ago prevents legislators from collecting their pay, but not the governor.
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New York’s governor vows the state will always be a place that protects women’s rights. That pronouncement comes after a Texas judge last week halted the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone (miff-ah-PRISS-stone). Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul called abortion a fundamental right, and criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who recently signed a law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy…
New York U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she was concerned activist judges might not stop at abortion pills…
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the state wasn’t going to sit by and watch hard-fought freedoms get taken away…
The federal appeals court has granted the Justice Department’s emergency request to put on hold the blocking of the FDA’s authorization of the abortion pill, which has been available for 22 years. CNBC reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued an order on Wednesday allowing the pill to remain available without tighter restrictions until at least late tonight, when a decision from the nation’s highest court is expected.
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How will you be celebrating Earth Day tomorrow? Saturday marks the 53rd celebration of this planet that we call home. Howard Phillips heads up Rockland Green, the county’s recycling group, and he says residents have done a great job doing their part for the environment…
Earth Day is an annual event held on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. You can find out more by visiting EarthDay.org.