State Supreme Court Justice John Collins dismissed arson charges against Weldon Drayton Jr., 35, and Stephen Hernandez, 25. They were accused of torching abandoned houses in Central Islip so they could be among the first to respond to the fire station and the fires, to build credibility within the department. 


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Judge dismisses arson case against Central Islip firefighters

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A Brentwood man faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly slapped a disabled child in his care, Suffolk police said.

Health aide charged with hitting disabled 5-year-old in his care

Andrew Dykes' defense team added another attorney as the 66-year-old suspect is accused of killing Gilgo Beach victim Tanya Denise Jackson, also known as "Peaches." NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Mr. Dykes did not cause the death of Miss Jackson'

New court papers reveal details of Rex Heuermann's first 24 hours in custody. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'They include a prisoner log which noted he appeared calm'

A South Setauket father, Vincent DiStasi, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Thursday for beating his infant son to the point where he needed brain surgery. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

The infant was 5 weeks old

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The robbery occurred while about 40 people were in the Meatpacking District store on Wednesday night, officials said.

Police: Pokémon merchandise worth $100G stolen in armed robbery of NYC store

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Amir Sitafalwalla, 73, did not express remorse for his actions before he was sentenced by Judge Gia Morris, who also ordered Sitafalwalla to register as a sex offender.

Ex-doctor from Manhasset sentenced to 6 years' probation for sexual abuse of patients

The officials also acknowledged troublesome trends in assaults on public officials and a rise in youth violence.

Mamdani, Tisch highlight NYC's reduction in violent crime in first NYPD news conference

On one side of Baxter Street were backers of the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, on the other, a larger group assailing the move.

Street debates outside Manhattan court show divide over Maduro arrest

The deposed Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in federal court for the first time since U.S. forces arrested them and brought them to New York.

'I am a decent man,' proclaims Maduro, saying he is innocent of narco-terrorism charges

Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will be arraigned on multiple charges.

Maduro set to appear in Manhattan federal court today

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted some added precautions at a news conference on Tuesday.

What to know about Times Square security for New Year's Eve

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John Pilaccio pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the fatal stabbing of CVS employee Edeedson Cine Jr. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'A violent criminal record'

Authorities are looking for a thief who stole a statue of baby Jesus from a Nativity scene displayed outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge last week. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Baby Jesus stolen from Nativity scene

Nassau County police said Tasabbir Hossain, 32, of Ronkonkoma, was westbound on the eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway near Louden Avenue in Massapequa when he collided with the other driver's 2015 Acura.

Crash leaves two hospitalized

Toys of Hope is asking for donations after the organization says several hundred toys from its holiday drive were stolen Saturday.

'A holiday nightmare'

Andrew Dykes, 66, has been indicted for the 1997 murder of Tanya Jackson, whose killing was a mystery for nearly 30 years. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'A violent and horrifying act of violence'

Ex-Suffolk police officer George Trimigliozzi on Monday was sentenced to two years in prison for managing brothels in Holbrook and West Babylon. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'We do not stand for corruption'

Suffolk prosecutors say postal worker Jovanni Jamieson-Lewis stole gift cards and used them to shop at TJ Maxx. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'There definitely was a brazenness to it'

According to police, two men were arrested in connection with a secret gambling room at Silver Shears Barber Shop in Uniondale. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed has more.

'A secret room with gambling machines'

A Kings Park man, Brian Blackford, has been charged with robbing two banks in a 48-hour period. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed has more.

'Fled on foot'

Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with an alleged gang assault stabbing that seriously injured another teen. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed has more.

'Stabbed multiple times last month in a parking lot'

Austin Lynch, 18, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of Emily Finn, requested the exam at a court hearing to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

Teen charged with murder requests psychiatric exam

What began as a desperate hunt for Shannan Gilbert in the marshes near Gilgo Beach became, in three astonishing days in December 2010, the unmasking of a possible serial killer. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed has more.

'We had absolutely no idea what happened to her'

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The soft-serve ice cream dipped in melted butter and sprinkled with salt has gone viral.

Ice cream dipped in melted butter? Stew Leonard's has it

Five years after a Newsday investigation into police hiring, neither county has diversified ranks to reflect the communities they serve. Newsday's Virginia Huie and Jim Baumbach reports.

Despite 30% increase in Hispanic officers, LI police forces still overwhelmingly white

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano gets a sneak peek of "The Diplomat" Tour, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at all the places at Planting Fields Arboretum where the Netflix thriller's season 3 finale was shot.

'The Diplomat' films on LI

NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger takes a look at some of the reasons behind the decline in family-owned hardware stores on Long Island.

Declining number of family owned hardware stores

Newsday's food team tasted and ranked sheet cakes from eight supermarkets on Long Island.

The great grocery store sheet cake taste test 

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa learns what it takes to troubleshoot a pinball machine in this week's edition of LI Works.

LI Works: A wizard at fixing pinball machines

Newsday's third annual Cheer Fest was held at Hofstra University on Sunday. Participants spoke about the thrill of competing and watching teams from other divisions. Newsday's Jared Valluzzi has more.

Energy, pride and school spirit: Newsday's 3rd annual Cheer Fest

Doug DeFeo, a volunteer with the New York Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead, says it's important to him to give back to the environment as well as the individual lives of people.

Volunteers of Long Island: New York Marine Rescue Center

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed takes us to the South Fork, where, after generations of farming the land, the Ludlow family pivoted to making cheese from the milk of their cows.

Out East: Mecox Bay Dairy in Bridgehampton

New York became the first state to require health insurers to cover scalp cooling treatments, which help to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

Health insurers must cover scalp cooling treatments

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

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Newsday high school sports editor Gregg Sarra talks about a bench-clearing, parent-involved incident at a Half Hollow Hills West basketball game.

'We have to do better'

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