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Westchester County Journal NewsWestchester County Journal News
New York City named world's top destination for literary tourism

New York City named world's top destination for literary tourism

A new study ranked New York City No. 1 for literary tourism, citing its bookstores, book festivals and strong interest in book-related attractions.
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Florida Man Arrested for Credit Card Fraud After Booking Staycation with Client's Card

Florida Man Arrested for Credit Card Fraud After Booking Staycation with Client's Card

Jesse Modzel, a handyman operating a family cleaning business named Breezy Clean, has been arrested by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) for allegedly using a client's credit card to book a 'staycation' at a Palm Coast resort and make payments to his business. Detectives from the General Assignment Unit traced the transactions back to Modzel after he reportedly changed the billing description on his business account to conceal the fraudulent activity. Sheriff Rick Staly stated that Modzel believed he was entitled to the staycation 'on his client’s dime.' The FCSO is encouraging anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Modzel or Breezy Clean to contact them, as this is not his first arrest for theft. The incident highlights the importance of checking references and criminal history before granting individuals access to one's home.
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Chinese National Arrested in Michigan for Alleged Role in $1 Million Nationwide Fraud Scheme

Chinese National Arrested in Michigan for Alleged Role in $1 Million Nationwide Fraud Scheme

A 24-year-old Chinese national, Xiangbo Sun, has been arrested in Allegan County, Michigan, in connection with a nationwide fraud scheme that allegedly scammed over $1 million from individuals across the United States. This includes nearly $500,000 from an elderly Michigan woman. Sun, who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in May, was apprehended during a sting operation at the elderly woman's home. The victim had been contacted by individuals claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission, who falsely stated her identity had been stolen and threatened her children's identities if she didn't comply. She was convinced to withdraw money from her retirement and savings accounts, depositing hundreds of thousands with 'secure couriers' in the form of gold coins. The Allegan County Sheriff's Office, along with Kent County detectives, set up the sting after the woman reported that couriers were scheduled to pick up an additional $60,000 in cash. Aerial drones and plainclothes detectives were used to surveil the...
Wilmington Star-NewsWilmington Star-News
Wilmington's connection to one of the world's most famous paintings

Wilmington's connection to one of the world's most famous paintings

The subject of one of the world's most famous paintings lived in Wilmington.
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Fourteen States Issue Joint Guidance to Reaffirm Civil Rights Protections Against Disparate Impact

Fourteen States Issue Joint Guidance to Reaffirm Civil Rights Protections Against Disparate Impact

Fourteen state attorneys general have released a joint guidance document to reaffirm the principle of disparate impact in civil rights law. This concept recognizes that discrimination can arise not only from intentional bias but also from seemingly neutral policies or practices that disproportionately disadvantage protected groups. The guidance emphasizes that such policies may be unlawful if they are not job-related and consistent with business necessity. This action comes amid a broader shift in federal policy that has been moving away from enforcing disparate-impact protections. The attorneys general assert that federal agencies and the President lack the authority to rewrite laws passed by Congress or alter protections established by the Constitution or federal and state laws. The coalition of states involved includes Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. The document aims to clarify the curre...
Palm Beach PostPalm Beach Post
South Florida one of the worst areas to be a single mom, study finds

South Florida one of the worst areas to be a single mom, study finds

A new study ranks the Miami metro area, including Palm Beach County, as one of the worst places for single mothers in the U.S. Here's why.
Vote WatchVote Watch
Does Massachusetts Count Ballots That Arrive After Election Day?

Does Massachusetts Count Ballots That Arrive After Election Day?

Explaining the rules for mail-in ballots in Massachusetts, including postmark and receipt deadlines for state and federal elections.
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Massachusetts Appeals Court Upholds Email-Based Settlement Agreement

Massachusetts Appeals Court Upholds Email-Based Settlement Agreement

The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently affirmed the enforcement of a settlement agreement that originated from a brief email exchange. This decision, highlighted in the case of New England Preservation and Development, LLC v. Town of Fairhaven, underscores that a formal, signed settlement agreement is not always necessary for a contract to be legally binding. The dispute involved a lawsuit filed by a developer against the Town of Fairhaven. During settlement communications, the plaintiffs' counsel sent an email outlining two key terms: a meeting between the Select Board and the plaintiffs' representatives regarding the project, and a subsequent stipulation of dismissal. The email also mentioned that the terms would be 'memorialized in a very simple Settlement Agreement,' subject to agreement on 'other standard terms.' Despite the plaintiffs failing to attend the scheduled meeting after the Select Board accepted the proposal, the Superior Court granted the town's motion to enforce the settlement, a decisi...
TheStreetTheStreet
Walmart's billion-dollar robot push runs into trouble

Walmart's billion-dollar robot push runs into trouble

Walmart is counting on warehouse robots to keep shelves stocked and orders moving, but technical problems and rising costs are complicating its plans.
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Raytheon Secures U.S. Navy Contract for Advanced Radar Upgrades and Advances Counter-Drone Technology

Raytheon Secures U.S. Navy Contract for Advanced Radar Upgrades and Advances Counter-Drone Technology

Raytheon, a business of RTX, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop advanced target-detection capabilities for naval radar systems. This initiative involves Raytheon's Advanced Technology team designing and testing signal and data-processing algorithms and integrating software upgrades. The goal is to enhance the detection range, sensitivity, and efficiency of naval radars, enabling them to identify smaller objects at greater distances and more quickly recognize potential threats. The software enhancements will undergo laboratory and field testing before potential integration into Raytheon's SPY-6 family of radars and other future naval systems. Work for this project is scheduled to take place at facilities in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Andover, Massachusetts, through 2031. Concurrently, Raytheon has completed three developmental tests of its upgraded Coyote Block 2C+RM interceptor, which features a tactical rocket motor for improved launch speed and flight per...
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Adirondacks named best fall foliage destination in U.S. for 2026

Adirondacks named best fall foliage destination in U.S. for 2026

Priceline ranked New York's Adirondack region No. 1 among the country's top fall foliage destinations based on hotel searches for autumn 2026.
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Former Bank Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Dementia Patient of $126K in Rhode Island

Former Bank Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Dementia Patient of $126K in Rhode Island

Carlos Bras, 41, of East Providence, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is also ordered to pay $126,000 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. Bras pleaded guilty in May. While working as a 'relationship manager' at Santander Bank in Seekonk, Bras accessed the account of a 78-year-old dementia patient, conducting numerous unauthorized transactions starting around May 2023. These transactions included transferring money into his wife's account and obtaining a debit card in the victim's name for personal use. Prosecutors stated that Bras accessed the Milford man's account 88 times. The scheme was uncovered when Santander Bank's internal fraud detection unit flagged suspicious activity and alerted the Seekonk Police Department. Investigators later discovered that Bras fabricated a real estate contract in Portugal to make it appear as though the victim was purchasing land from Bras's wife, a contract ...