To help those struggling with rising costs, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that the state's minimum wage will be increasing when the new year begins.  Effective on Monday, Jan. 1, the minimum wage in Westchester County, Long Island, and New York City will increase to $16 per hour, and $15 per hour in the rest of the state, Hochul announced on Monday, Dec. 11.  The current minimum wage in Westchester, Long Island, and New York City is $15 per hour, while it is $14.20 in the rest of the state.  According to Hochul, the increases come thanks to an agreement between her a ..read more

A former police chief from Connecticut who led a department in Northern Westchester is being remembered for his lifetime of public service. Fairfield County resident Fred Gambino, Jr. of Brookfield, the former chief of the North Castle Police Department, died on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the age of 86, the department announced on Monday, Dec. 11.  Born in White Plains in 1937, Gambino graduated from White Plains High School before going on to serve in the Marine Corps.  After this, he then began a long career in law enforcement by joining the New York State Police. He eventually joined ..read more

After years of requests from residents, a new dessert bar has opened in a space adjacent to a popular pizzeria in Westchester for those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth.  Constantino's Ice Cream and Dessert Bar, located in Hartsdale at 13 East Hartsdale Ave., opened for business on Saturday, Dec. 9, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner announced.  The new dessert shop is located in a space right next to the Constantino's pizzeria at 15 East Hartsdale Ave., and comes after years of requests from residents for an ice cream shop, Feiner said. When owners Michael and Rob ..read more

A beloved author of two novels who was fatally struck by a Metro-North train in Northern Westchester is being remembered for his talent and passion for his craft.  Chappaqua resident David Burr Gerrard died on Friday, Dec. 8 at the age of 42 after being struck by a Harlem Line train at Chappaqua station at around 9 a.m., according to an MTA spokesperson.  Earlier Report - ID Released For Chappaqua Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train Gerrard had been a successful author who wrote two novels, "Short Century" and "The Epiphany Machine," according to his website.&nb ..read more

A powerful, wide-ranging storm packed with high winds and heavy rain leading to pockets of flooding is causing travel difficulties during the morning commute on Monday, Dec. 11. The massive system arrived on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 10. Sustained winds of 25 to 30 miles per hour with gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour are expected to continue through Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.  A widespread 2 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected across the region, with locally higher totals of 5 to even 6 inches possible.  At around 6:30 a.m. Monday, a radar imag ..read more

Would you like a Turmeric Spiced Latte with that? You may be asked that question if you visit CosMc's, McDonald's brand-new spinoff restaurant that has just launched its first location -- in Bolingbrook, Illinois, about 30 miles outside of Chicago, with a handful of additional outposts planned in the coming months. There will be no fries -- or burgers, for that matter -- at CosMc's, a new small-format, beverage-led concept that McDonald's say is "truly out of this world." Filet-O-Fish? No.  Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich - yes. You can get the breakfast classic Egg McMuffin ..read more

As a powerful storm accompanying a cold front sweeps through New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to remain prepared. The system arrived in the region around midday on Sunday, Dec. 10, with heavy rain quickly following. Related story: Power Outages, Travel Disruptions, Flooding Possible From Potent Windswept Rainstorm  Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley will see several inches of rain and strong winds that could cause flooding and power outages North Country, Mohawk Valley, Central New York, Capital District and Upper Mid-Hudson regions will also see he ..read more

Saskia Keeley has spent the last eight years in the West Bank, bringing Israeli and Palestinian women together to, in her words, break down barriers and build bridges of empathy. Her photography workshops allow the women to foster connections with one another. “At that time, I got to experience the camera in a whole new way, by seeing it as a tool for dialogue, understanding, and transformation,” she told Daily Voice. After returning to the US, Keeley vowed to continue serving populations that in her eyes have been “deprived of humanity and dignity.” Saskia Keeley. Saskia Keeley “I have fo ..read more

The identity has been released of a local resident who was killed after being struck by a Metro-North train near a station in Northern Westchester County. The incident happened on Friday, Dec. 8 around 9 a.m., when the person on the tracks at Chappaqua station was struck by a Harlem Line train, according to a MTA spokesperson. On Saturday, Dec. 9, the MTA identified the person as 42-year-old David B. Gerrard, a resident of Chappaqua. As a result of the incident, Harlem Line trains were delayed by around 10 to 15 minutes. All trains returned to normal service by 11 a.m., officials said. Earl ..read more

Moments after it was announced that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was resigning, Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok followed suit. Magill, whose testimony to Congress on antisemitism earlier this week sparked widespread outrage, resigned on Saturday, Dec. 9. Bok later announced his resignation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Magill remains a faculty member at Penn Carey Law and will stay on as president until an interim president is appointment, UPenn Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok said in announcing the news Saturday evening. And Liz Magill has resigned a ..read more