Republicans retook the Nassau County Legislature on Tuesday, even as Democratic incumbent Legislator Joe Scannell, whose 5th District seat was widely considered to be vulnerable, defeated challenger Chris Browne in a close race. more

Too often, we hear the horror stories of DWI. A drunken driver rips apart a family, maiming or killing a father, a mother, a brother or sister. Since the outbreak of World War I in 1914, more Americans have died in drunken driving crashes than in both World Wars and the Vietnam War combined — 594,161 U.S. soldiers compared with 1.6 million DWI victims and counting, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. more

A 57-year old Rockville Centre resident, identified as “Baby” John Alevis, was among 19 men arrested on Oct. 1 on federal felony charges in connection with what authorities described as a gambling, sports betting and loan sharking ring with ties to organized crime, that operated in New York City and Westchester. more

The public is invited to the League of Women Voters' candidates forum on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, 1125 Broadway, Hewlett. Details... more

Each year, drunken drivers cause deadly accidents and claim innocent lives. Their stories often become local and sometimes national lore, cautioning others about the potentially deadly consequences of a crime that some see as socially acceptable. But there is another type of loss that goes with drinking and driving, I recently learned. One that may be considered insensitive or politically incorrect to discuss. Three defense attorneys I interviewed saw the possible loss of one's reputation and even future employment as an unfair fate that befalls many of their clients. I contacted the lawyers after the Nassau County Police Department and the district attorney's office gave me a firsthand look at what a DWI arrest entails. Police simulated my arrest for DWI, including everything from handcuffing me to locking me up. Later, the district attorney's office brought me to District Court, where I took a tour of holding cells, courtrooms and assistant district attorneys' offices. I wrote about the experience for Herald readers. But as I spoke with defense lawyers, expecting to hear mainly about the financial burden of a DWI conviction, I learned that some of the most serious consequences for the convicted are harder to quantify. more

Jose Toribio of Maspeth, Queens, owner of the F&M Mini Mart at 148 E. Park Ave. in Long Beach, was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny and misuse of a food stamp device on Sept. 24. more

"Four DWIs [is what] it took before that woman killed my child," said Deena Cohen, president of the Long Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Cohen was speaking before an assembly of about 50 students at Seaford High School, arranged by State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a Republican, and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat who is up for re-election. Cohen’s 21-year-old daughter, Jodi, was killed by a drunk driver 20 years ago. "I need you to understand the importance of [not] drinking and driving and drugging and driving," Cohen told the students. "The pain never goes away, ever ... The pain is still here. The 20-year number did something to my head. Jodi is gone almost as long" as she was alive. Tears were welling up in students' eyes as Cohen spoke. more

William Walsh was in handcuffs when he was led into the courtroom of Nassau County Court Judge David Ayres on Sept. 10 for the start of a preliminary hearing on the admissibility of evidence in the murder case against him. more

Republican Chris Browne will have one fewer tool to use in his bid to unseat incumbent Nassau County Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) come November. And if some county Democrats have their way, Browne will be fighting a legal battle over allegations of fraud as well. more

Ronald Gordon of Long Beach spent the summer working as an intern at the Nassau County District Attorney’s office. D.A. Kathleen Rice said Gordon, who is a student at Touro Law School, gained … more