Free Republic

The state at the center of Democrats’ uphill drive to keep the House just gave the party the strongest signal yet that their fortunes might be reversing. After a special election campaign centered on abortion rights, turnout surged Tuesday in Democratic Rep.-elect Pat Ryan’s home turf of Ulster County — the most heavily populated section of New York’s battleground 19th District. Ryan’s margins even narrowly exceeded President Joe Biden’s performance over Donald Trump’s in the county in 2020, giving him the cushion to withstand drop-off elsewhere in the district and win a bellwether race just months before the general election.

The mother of an 11-year-old Brooklyn girl killed in a crash three days before Christmas during a state trooper’s pursuit has filed papers to sue the state, according to court records obtained by the Daily News. Lawyers for Michelle Surrency allege state Trooper Christopher Baldner, 40, killed young Monica Goods on Dec. 22 by rear-ending an SUV driven by the child’s dad, Tristin Goods. The police report, also obtained by The News, confirms Baldner’s vehicle slammed into Goods’ 2017 Dodge Journey, forcing it into a guardrail where it flipped and rolled. Monica was ejected and died at the scene. Baldner,...

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – All licensed handgun owners in Ulster County should carry their pistols. That’s the message Thursday from the Ulster County Sheriff. Ulster County is located about two hours north of New York City. “In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to please do so,” wrote Sheriff Paul J. Van Blarcum in a Facebook post. “I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety...

In response to terror threat, Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum urges citizens to 'responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm'

ALBANY, N.Y. – An upstate New York sheriff is urging residents of his county who are licensed gun owners to arm themselves when they leave home, citing recent mass shootings in the United States and Paris. "I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm," Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum, a Democrat, wrote on the department's Facebook page less than 24 hours after 14 people were shot dead in San Bernardino, California. The post quickly drew hundreds of comments, for and against it. "I'm not trying to drum up a militia of any...

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – All licensed handgun owners in Ulster County should carry their pistols. That’s the message Thursday from the Ulster County Sheriff. Ulster County is located about two hours north of New York City. “In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to please do so,” wrote Sheriff Paul J. Van Blarcum in a Facebook post. “I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety...

With Eldridge bowing out, Democrats have some options among local officials, including Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. Former state Sen. Terry Gipson has also been mentioned as a potential candidate. On the Republican side, Gibson is expected to retire at the end of his current term as he considers a run for statewide office in 2018, most likely for governor. Republicans mentioned to replace Gibson in Congress include Assemblyman Peter Lopez, Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

NYU student invents wound-closing goo By BOB FREDERICKS A brainy NYU student has cooked up a magic gel that he says can stop even heavy bleeding — an invention that could make routine bandages obsolete. Joe Landolina, 20, an Ulster County native and NYU junior, says his Veti-Gel almost instantly closes and begins healing even major wounds to internal organs and key arteries. “There’s really no way to quickly stop bleeding except to hold lots of gauze on a wound,” Landolina told The Post. “I thought if you could pour this gel into a wound, it would solidify and stop...

The man accused of shooting up a Hudson Valley mall was indicted on unrelated explosives charges, along with two friends. Robert Bonelli, Kenneth Stine and Liborio Valguanera waived an arraignment on the charges in federal court in Albany. They're accused of possessing and exploding a pipe bomb. The indictment was handed up Friday. The three men are from Glasco, about 45 miles south of Albany. Bonelli is in Ulster County Jail after being charged with shooting about 60 rounds from a rifle in the Hudson Valley Mall near Kingston last month, injuring two men. A video showing the three men...