Orange County, NY, Middletown | featured news

ALBANY — The Democrat-controlled New York Legislature passed its spending plans for the next fiscal year on Wednesday, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo doubled down on his vow to refuse to sign a state budget that doesn't make the 2 percent property tax permanent.The Democrat told an audience at a community center in Hicksville on Long Island that there's no way he'll sign off on a new spending plan that doesn't include a provision making the tax cap permanent."And I will tell [...]

They have been a staple of science fiction films for decades, from the iconic speeder bikes in "Return of the Jedi" to the jet bike from "Looper."Now a California company says it's taking orders for a real-life flying motorcycle powered by five modified jet engines on the base of the aircraft.Dubbed the "Speeder," the $380,000 vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft will reach at least 150 mph, have a 45-mile range and be able to travel as high as 15,000 feet when it debuts next [...]

MIDDLETOWN — Residents lined up well before the city clerk's office opened Wednesday morning to get some of the first-ever Middletown identification cards.City Clerk John Naumchik estimated 65 people received the new photo IDs on Wednesday.People were lined up at 8:30 a.m. Naumchik said he went ahead and opened the office 15 minutes early to accommodate the crowd.The process takes 10 minutes from start to finish, once a person makes it through the line, he [...]

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed state regulators to investigate damage to power substations outside Buffalo after nearly 27,000 utility customers lost electricity service over the weekend.The Democrat made the announcement Sunday in Hamburg, where damage to three substations caused outages to about 26,800 customers Saturday night.Cuomo says a high-capacity transmission line fell and took down other lines, knocking out power across an area just south of [...]

ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $2.3 million is available to help New York farmers deal with climate change impacts to their businesses.County Soil and Water Conservation Districts can apply for grant funding on behalf of local farmers.Eligible projects may focus on reducing carbon footprints, saving energy, improving soil health, increasing irrigation capacity and emphasizing water management to mitigate the effects of drought, as well as heavy rainfall and [...]

NEW YORK (AP) — New York's attorney general has opened a civil investigation into President Donald Trump's business dealings, taking action after his former lawyer told Congress he exaggerated his wealth to obtain loans.A person familiar with the inquiry said Attorney General Letitia James issued subpoenas Monday to Deutsche Bank and Investors Bank seeking records related to four Trump real estate projects and his failed 2014 bid to buy the NFL's Buffalo Bills.The [...]

When Christopher Freeman’s son FaceTimed him in tears Monday afternoon from school, the 27-year-old father knew something was wrong.The boy told Freeman that a teacher at Bear Lakes Middle School in West Palm Beach, Fla., had “slammed him,” according to Freeman’s statement to Palm Beach County School District police, and while they were on the video call, Freeman saw an adult grab the boy.The phone went flying and the call ended, so Freeman hurried [...]

ALBANY — The New York chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics expressed support Tuesday for state legislation that would allow minors to get vaccinated without parental consent.Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, of Albany, and Sen. Liz Krueger, of Manhattan, recently introduced a bill that would authorize anyone 14 or older to get immunizations even if their parents object. The two Democrats say too many parents believe unsupported online claims that vaccines are unsafe. [...]

CRAWFORD – Former town clerk Jolene Roy has been charged in the theft of approximately $20,000 from town accounts.State police said Tuesday that Roy, 44, of Pine Bush, has been charged with third-degree grand larceny and first-degree tampering with public records, both felonies, and second-degree falsifying business records, a misdemeanor.The state comptroller’s office and Crawford town police assisted state police in the investigation.Roy had [...]

ELLENVILLE – An Ellenville man is facing multiple charges after he threw knives at a woman on Saturday night, village police said.Ellenville police said Sean Nader, whose age was not available, arrived at the Emerald Pond Estates in an intoxicated condition around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. When he was unable to get into an apartment, he ripped the door and frame off and threw it in the snow.Police said Nader grabbed three knives and went upstairs, where he told a woman [...]