Articles by Michael Hill and Tom Hays

Elsa Soaks New York City and New England As It Races Up East Coast

The fast-moving storm Elsa lashed New York City and New England with heavy rain and high winds Friday, flooding streets, toppling trees and hindering some rail service. Maximum sustained winds from the storm were 50 mph by late afternoon as …

Epstein Estate Vows Compensation for Accusers Who Drop Damage Lawsuits

The estate of Jeffrey Epstein wants to set up a fund using the late financier’s fortune to compensate women willing to forgo a spate of lawsuits seeking damages for sexual abuse, according to a court document filed on Thursday. In …

Police: GPS Failed to Warn Bus Driver Before New York Overpass Crash

The out-of-state driver of a charter bus full of high school students that crashed into a low-hanging overpass on a Long Island parkway was using a non-commercial GPS device that didn’t warn him about the hazard in time to prevent …

Security Measures to be Reviewed After Panic at New York’s JFK Airport

Poor communication among police, private security and other personnel contributed to a mass panic that erupted at a New York City airport when loud cheers for Usain Bolt somehow led to a false report of gunshots, according to a review …

Ex-New York Senate Leader Skelos, Son Get Prison Terms

A once-powerful New York politician convicted of using his position as Senate majority leader to help his son extort hundreds of thousands of dollars was sentenced May 12 to five years in prison after each asked for mercy for the …

Jury Finds Ex-N.Y. Senate Leader Skelos, Son Guilty in Corruption Trial

The former New York State Senate leader and his son were convicted on Dec. 11 of federal extortion charges, the second time in a month that one of New York’s most powerful politicians was run out of office by a …

Officials: 8 Victims of N.Y. Blast Died of Smoke, Burns, Trauma

Eight people killed in a suspected gas explosion that leveled two Manhattan apartment buildings in New York died of either blunt trauma, smoke inhalation or burns, officials said Monday. The autopsy results were released as investigators continued to examine the …

NYC Mayor Says City Conducting Review of Sandy Rebuilding Efforts

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio asked frustrated New Yorkers for patience on Monday as the city labors to reboot its efforts to help those hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy. “It is self-evident that the pace has been a …

Judge Approves $712.5M Settlement Deal for 9/11 Responders

Some recounted their days at the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center. Some fought back tears. Some complained that no amount of money would make them whole. Despite the mixed emotions, most of the responders on Sept. 11, 2001, …

Federal Judge Signs off on Deal for 9/11 Responders

Some recounted their days at the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center. Some fought back tears. Some complained that no amount of money would make them whole. Despite the mixed emotions, most of the responders on Sept. 11, 2001, …